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El Canyon Del Chicamocha

By on 3. August 2009 in Colombia
For those wondering if it is worth dishing out the 30.000 COP or 15 USD for the 6 kilometer ride down and up to the other rim, La Mesa de Los Santos, well, the best view of the canyon is actually from the ?Mirador? high above on the side of the entrance gate, because you have a 360 degree view and can see the river?s meandering around a mountain

For those wondering if it is worth dishing out 15 USD for the 6 kilometer ride down and up to the other rim, La Mesa de Los Santos, the best view of the canyon is actually from the “Mirador” high above on the side of the entrance gate

The road between San Gil and Bucaramanga partly follows and even descends into this majestic canyon, providing a stunning vista with Rio Chicamocha snaking along more than 1.000 meters below. The area is desert-like, with lots of thorny shrubs, cactuses and even more goats climbing with ease through the steep terrain, tugging at twigs. Continue Reading →

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Barichara – “El Camino Real” To Guane

By on 2. August 2009 in Colombia
Again we enjoyed being emerged in complete tranquility and were quite surprised to reach Guane only after a leisurely 2 hour walk. Guane is an extremely quiet hamlet gathered around a plaza dominated by a small church made of the same okra colored blocks of stones like the churches in Barichara

We enjoyed being emerged in complete tranquility and reached Guane only after a leisurely 2 hour walk. Guane is an extremely quiet hamlet gathered around a plaza dominated by a small church

Well, there is one more major activity to do in Barichara: hiking the old “Camino Real” to the tiny village of Guane. From the viewpoint behind the cemetery, the path descending down the canyon and across the plateau below can be seen, as well as the Rio Suarez in the distance. Continue Reading →

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Barichara

By on 1. August 2009 in Colombia
This is the perfect place to relax and & chill out: quiet, very few travellers, at least during the week when Colombian visitors are not around and no party hostels. The whole purpose of coming here is to stroll through the cobbled streets, marvel at the unique colonial architecture and drop in a few churches

Barichara: quiet, very few travellers, at least during the week when Colombian visitors are not around and no party hostels. The whole purpose of coming here is to stroll through the cobbled streets, marvel at the unique colonial architecture and drop in a few churches

“El Pueblito Mas Lindo De Columbia”

Nothing less does this colonial village claim to be. So after “the land of adventure” we set camp in “Columbia’s most beautiful village”. When we arrived on a Sunday at around 03:00 pm you could hear a pin drop: nothing, no cars, hardly any people, no music from bars or backyards, the town had simply shut down for the hot hours. Continue Reading →

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San Gil – La Tierra De Aventura

By on 31. July 2009 in Colombia

 

There is more challenging rafting down Rio Suarez, but Gilles wanted more, he reached for the sky. Tied to an instructor he took to the air over the ?Zona Tabaca? for about 20 minutes. This is the first time Heidi felt that she really missed out on something, because of her own mental limitations

Reaching for the Sky: tied to an instructor, Gilles took to the air over the “Zona Tabaca” for about 20 minutes

This rather unremarkable little town chose this high-flying title “the land of adventure”, because it attracts lots of tourists who sign up the various adrenaline-pumping activities. White water rafting ranging from a comfortable class 1 to a frightening class 5 is high on the agenda, followed by kayaking, caving, paragliding, abseiling, horseback riding, mountain biking, paint ball, bungee jumping and eco-walks are others we can remember. Continue Reading →

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Baby Kronosaurus & Miniature Stonehenge

By on 30. July 2009 in Colombia
El Fosil is a must excursion from Villa de Leyva. Here, a 120 million year old baby ?Kronosaurus? fossil is on display, at the very place where it was found in 1977. Since its tail went missing, it is only 12 meters in seize, making it the world?s largest complete fossil of this pre-historic marine reptile

El Fosil, a 120 million year old baby “Kronosaurus” fossil is on display, at the very place where it was found in 1977

El Fosil is a must excursion from Villa de Leyva, which you can do either on horseback, as we did, or with a jeep. Here, a 120 million year old baby “Kronosaurus” fossil is on display, at the very place where it was found in 1977. Since its tail went missing it is “only” 7 meters in seize, making it the world’s largest complete fossil of this pre-historic marine reptile. Continue Reading →

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Argentine Folklore In Villa De Leyva

By on 29. July 2009 in Colombia
In the meantime, the young dancers waiting for their gig simply started to dance next to the stage. It kind of set the mood for what followed: a top performance of folkloristic dances from the Cordoba region presented in a firework of emotions and devotion that brought tears in your eyes

A top performance of folkloristic dances from the Cordoba region presented in a firework of emotions and devotion that brought tears in your eyes

Small flyers all over town promoted the performance of a group of dancers from Cordoba, Argentina. In a small outdoor venue the show began with great pathos: Argentine’s flag was carried in, we all rose for the country’s hymn, the directors were introduced and the Columbian people praised and thanked. Continue Reading →

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Villa de Leyva – A Colonial Gem

By on 28. July 2009 in Colombia
Having visited countless ?most beautiful colonial towns? all over Latino America, we immediately noticed this one was different. Who has ever seen a plaza 120 meters x 120 meters in seize, all cobble stone with a tiny fountain in its center, surrounded by beautifully restored colonial homes? By the way, cobble stone streets here means a kind of terrain even hard to walk in trekking shoes.

Having visited countless “most beautiful colonial towns” all over Latino America, we immediately noticed this one was different. Who has ever seen a plaza 120 meters x 120 meters in seize, all cobble stone with a tiny fountain in its center, surrounded by beautifully restored colonial homes

Tell any Columbian you made the ancient colonial town of Villa de Leyva part of your trip through Columbia and you get raving descriptions of its beauty and nothing but praise for your good judgment. Located only 160 kilometers north of Bogota, it is a very, very popular weekend destination for city dwellers, who enjoy the clean air and dry climate in this charming town. Continue Reading →

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Warming up to Bogota’s charm

By on 27. July 2009 in Colombia
On our last day in town, sunshine touched Plaza de Bolivar and the thousands of pigeons that ascend on Bogota?s most famous square to feed on the maize that children throw at them. The very same children then take great pleasure in running into the throve of pigeons making them to fly off in panic. The plaza is surrounded by churches and official buildings underlying its importance

On our last day in town, sunshine touched Plaza de Bolivar and the thousands of pigeons that ascend on Bogota’s most famous square…

On our last day in town, sunshine touched Plaza de Bolivar and the thousands of pigeons that ascend on Bogota’s most famous square to feed on the maize that children throw at them. The very same children then take great pleasure in running into the throve of pigeons making them fly off in panic. The plaza is surrounded by churches and official buildings underlying its importance. Continue Reading →

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Bogota From The Inside

By on 26. July 2009 in Colombia
Every Sunday and Holiday, 122 kilometers of Bogota?s busy streets are closed for traffic and people on bikes, skateboards, rollerblades or others simply walking or pushing a pram take over.

Every Sunday and Holiday, 122 kilometers of Bogota’s busy streets are closed for traffic and people on bikes, skateboards, rollerblades or others simply walking or pushing a pram take over.

Equipped with several phone numbers we arrived in Bogota, relatives or long time “amigos” of Leonardo, our Columbian friend and neighbor in Vienna. One was Carmen, a friend from Leonardo’s studies at the Academy of Art. Carmen’s family owns the very cozy Restaurante Rosita on the Plazoleta del Chorro de Quevedo, the supposedly very place where Santa Fé de Bogotá was founded in 1538.

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Museo Del Oro & Botero’s “Goriditos”

By on 25. July 2009 in Colombia
The Museo del Oro leaves nobody untouched. Not only does it display an unbelievable 55.000 (!) pieces made of gold and other materials, but the museum is also very cleverly organized.

The Museo del Oro leaves nobody untouched. Not only does it display an unbelievable 55.000 (!) pieces made of gold and other materials, but the museum is also very cleverly organized.

Now let’s turn to the bright side of the city. The Museo del Oro leaves nobody untouched. Not only does it display an unbelievable 55.000 (!) pieces made of gold and other materials, but the museum is also very cleverly organized. Continue Reading →

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