Hotel Neuchatel Cali

... our way to the lake, in a smaller town. We find that in smaller towns they are more down-to-earth, helpful, and less likely to take advantage of you.

So we pulled into a mechanic in Buga and, as usual, they fit us in right away. We tried, despartely, to express that we needed a basic service, brake recalibration, and fluids changed. After the usual back-and-forth the mechanicīs wife had an idea! She took us into their home ...

Friday 11th September
Up early to walk around Salento town one last time, snap some photos and have a coffee before heading off to Cali.
I had managed to set up a couchsurfing gig in Cali with a hot Colombian girl. Always a plus!
The bus to Cali was pretty stock standard, nothing really outstanding to look at out the window either.
Once I got to the terminal I called Irene and caught a taxi to her place, had a quick shower and we pretty much headed out ...

... and headed towards Popayan, stopping at the same places we stopped back in March before the accident. We also stopped at the scene of the accident and we could better understand what ...

... We began our Colombian adventure in Ipiales, a surprisingly calm border city where we spent one very comfy night. We visited El Sanctuario de Las Lajas, a cathedral built into a mountainside where the Virgen was said to have appeared. Truly a stunning piece of architecture, it is flanked by hundreds of plaques cemented into the surrounding hillsides thanking the ...

... luggage up off the back wheel, collapsed while he was riding. The hostel is also located among the most, and best, bike shops we had seen, and I took the opportunity to get some new brake pads, while Jesse got a new rear tire. Besides this, Cali didn't seem to have that much to offer. It has a reputation for beautiful women, which wasn't obvious. What was obvious were a lot of fake boobs, and in our neighborhood - which was upscale - a large number ...

... and had lots of bars, international restaurants that were all surrounded by a nice residential neighborhood. Anyway, we came to the revelation that we canīt take jumping on a bus, repacking and travelling everyday so weīre going to minimize what we see in Ecuador and just hit up the best places for two to four days each. That will only allow us to hit up about five places at most but at least this way we will be more relaxed and I will be able to genuinely say I visited each place.

... the neighbours had music blaring at 5 million decibals (I checked it out but there was no party..just a noisy neighbour). Dec 22nd Neiva to San Augustin Bit of a rough head this morning but managed to get to the bus terminal by 8am (the 8am bus didn't leave til 9.30 anyway..and cost $10). The bus was a small van with loads of seats thrown into it and the driver had a 'need for speed'. There was a Colombia teenage fella wearing headphones with his girlfriend behind me who started ...

... can to reach the front. I have seen them even get on the side walk so watch out for them. Remember, this is normal to them. It is illegal for two men to be on motorcycles. The reason? Because two men on a motorcycle means the one on the rear will be shooting someone down. Of course that's not always the case but that is the law. You can be given a ticket and/or your bike taken away. The locals have said because of this ...

... indigenous during our trek out there as we often came across them tending to their animals or fetching guava and banana. They were always friendly and greeted us, but the men were obviously less patient with us and never agreed to pose for a picture. Much of the story Edwin told was of the voracious Spaniards and their search for El Dorado which led to rape, murder, slavery and various other expressions of evil. In the end, they wiped out most ...

... much of the place. However, with a car and a local showing us the highlights, we really got a feel for the place. From countryside to favelas, I hope the photos can depict the place. A local treat of crushed ice, fruit, syrup and condensed milk made an excellent afternoon snack as we headed to Leo's family home to meet his parents and take an afternoon salsa lesson. Leo's Dad sells silicone implants and other items ...