Hotel Mudejar Cali

... right there in the mechanic shop, and showed me the computer. They had a translation program on it. So I just typed what we needed in English and it translated it into Spanish... perfect! After his wife told him what we needed he got straight to work.

We had been there about an hour when a gentelman that we had meet earlier came in with one of his friends. The friend spoke English! This kind gentelman had gone to get his ...

... away with her friends for some drinks!
First we headed to a place that serves empemjadas, some sort of fried colombian food, sort of like a dim sim, but filled with different things, chicken, beef, etc, etc. We had a few beers here before heading to the zona rosa and meeting some more friends, and drinking some more.
After some drinking games we headed to a salsa club. It was brilliant fun, but jesus, there is no way I can dance. And everyone in Colombia can ...

... I had driven off the road into the grass and there was a little lip in the grass that had made me jump and twist to the left, throwing me from the bike down onto my left leg.



We ...

... for granting miracles. A wonderful introduction to the country. Next stop was Pasto, a busy little city with a handful of cathedrals and an early curfew. It was here that Bron managed her second haircut of the trip, total success at only $6.50! She's not sure how she'll ever go back to US salon prices. Although we only planned to stay in Pasto a day or two, our first ...

... esthetic surgery' and laser skin treatment shops. Like, 4 on our street within 3 blocks. Cali is also known for its nightlife, but the prospect of fake boobs and blaring salsa music, plus the fact that I would be going out also, disinclined me to hit the town. Anyway, our guidebook compares Cali favorably to Medellin, but the people we have met say that Medellin is much nicer. We didn't go because it is a full days ride north, in the wrong direction.

After a relatively calm few days, I arrived in Cali (Colombia's salsa capital) at night, checked into a hostel, and headed out to some bars and dance clubs with some travellers I met there. There is not much to Cali during the day...It´s a warm city, with pretty bland architecture. There isn´t much to see aside from the nightlife. That is why the next night, I headed out again with the guys in my dormitory. About 3 venues later at 6am we ...

... Phil Collins songs (got me well paranoid but then he started on Sting tunes..phew). Eventually arrived in San Augustin for 1 pm. San Augustin reminds me of Salento but bigger. Nice cosy town with red faced locals (Rancho's) who wear the usual cowboy hats and boots (they all seem to be rosy cheeked round here..oh and most blokes look like Freddie with their big taches). Did some internet stuff (trying to book a hostel for Xmas in Cali...seems everyone has the same idea so it's all full ...

... women are now being used to do the shooting. I did not witness any shootings during my time there. It was empowering to see so many women on motorcycles. Business women, nurses, mothers, regular people all riding around amongst the male riders and cars. They get on their motorcycles or scooter looking ones with their high heels, dress pants or mini skirts. I have to give them a lot for their courage. Riding in that kind ...

... the natives who were the only people who knew the Sierra Nevada. Those who survived headed to higher altitudes and began a new way of life that can still be seen in the customs of the Kogui. David, the Spaniard, slept most of the day so he missed out on Edwin´s mockery of "los tios" and the death and destruction they unleashed on Colombia. The best part of the day was Edwin´s narration of the kidnappings in 2003 when he was awoken by members of ...

... in plastic surgery. I can now say I know what a fake breast would feel like be it only before it has been implanted (probably for the best). It was interesting that the family home was in a gated community and had a big metal door. Crime is a big thing in Colombia and as we have noted on numerous occasions security is everywhere. Leo's Mum made us delicious fruit juices as we attempted to learn to salsa with our ...