Hotel Abadia Plaza Pereira

... in the alley. Renee - keeper of the travel budget - enforces a fairly strict "E" and "F" hostel selection. We don't share bathrooms with others if we can help it, although it's a necessity sometimes, and we try to avoid staying in dorm rooms unless we're left with no option. If you've ever tried to read in a bunk bed while men and woman flounce around in pyjamas blathering on about what brand of predictable sightseeing they did that day you'll know ...

... why not, its going to be fresh. i think Dad might be getting slightly pìssed at me, I refused to eat fish for 26 years at home, now im eating it all the time! Alteast he knows he can cook it for me when I get home now! <br>In the afternoon another world cup qualifier was on. Colombia vs Uraguay. Colombia got spanked and taught a football lesson. <br>More trout for tea, some more study and off to bed early as I had some hiking to do in the morning.<br><br>Thursday 10th September ...

... was a natural rock pool dammed at one end. Cold water flowed in from a stream and hot water rose between some of the rocks in the pool. If you put your foot in the wrong place you would get a hot spot but not bad enough to scald.<br><br>We relaxed and played for about 5 hours, breaking only to have lunch. There was only one bus leaving, it was the bus we came on and it left at 5pm. We had had enough by then.<br><br>We arrived back in Periera around 6-30pm. On arrival back ...

... everywhere, as far as you could see, rows upon rows regardless of the shape of the hillside. The road ascended to provide some great views of the valley and then we came into Manizales. The topography of the city was amazing, the difference in elevation from the valley floor to its highest point is as much as 2000 metres although its nominal elevation is 2153 metres. It claims to have 8 different microclimates. This was evident as we came into the bus ...

... was a map showing each of the routes. We were just aiming for the simple route which was up a 4.8km trail to a place called Acmie, and then up a short 0.8km trail to a viewing point called La Montana before returning back. We headed to the trail on the right. It was not a continuously rising pathway all the way along the 4.8km trail, with occasional more vigorous accents. It followed a rocky stream which we had to cross on a number of occasions. Bridges of logs were placed ...

... treat at the Juan Martinez Café, cappuccino for me, espresso for Christie, ice chocolate for Jody and hot chocolate for Niamh. We discussed our plans for tomorrow, should we go to Valle de Cocora, it meant a 6-30am rise and shine. We stopped at an international telephone kiosk to call Christies dad but he was out. We headed for our beds and just before lights out our washing returned clean and folded, unusual efficiency for a Sunday we thought.

... Parque del Café stopping briefly in a place called Pueblo de Tapao which we were extremely attracted to. It was alovely little townand onside it had stunning views over the valley to Armenia. There were banana trees absolutely everywhere in the valley. We couldn't help noticing a plot in the middle of town with absolutely stunning views. We jotted down the number but I&#8217;m not sure what we are going to do with it. A short time later we arrived at the entrance to the park ...

... go hiking, and he would teach me things about the land, town, and everything else we would talk about. <br><br>Salento is this old Spanish colonial town, and the architecture and colors still show it. it is a very peaceful town, one which you can walk the same streets over and over and never get tired of it. every one is outside, conversing, drinking coffee, playing games, working, or just enjoying the scenery. what surrounds the town is pure mountains and ...

... drinking, playing, whatever. kids running around, dogs dominating the streets, and amazing coffee everywhere...paradise. i found this hostal, which i really dont know what its called, but the owner is this guy named ruben who turned his house into a hostal and the place is really cool. lastnight i met three argentians, Pablo, vicky, and martin, and ended up spending the day with them today. its crazy becuase pablo had been living in daytona for the past few years ...

... br>Then off to Pereira, one of the main cities in the coffee region, not much to do but played more pool and drank some more cheap beers.<br><br>We definitely will have some cherished memories of the coffee regions, good place to chill out with the locals for a while.... now it was time to check out the Carribean coast... <br><br><br><br>