Ciudad Perdida

Trip Start Nov 22, 2007
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61
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Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of Colombia  ,
Saturday, July 12, 2008

Began the six day trek through the sweltering jungle to enter the ruins of the Tayrona's ancient capitol that they abandoned shortly after the conquistadors arrived. It was never discovered by the Spaniards however as the people moved away and died out before the lazy Europeans would go up the steps that their horses could not navigate.

The walk was just more of the beautiful Colombian scenery I have grown accustomed to with many river crossings up to our chests providing relief from the heat and good swimming and diving opportunities after the successful crossings. It took three days to arrive, one day to enjoy and two days to walk back down the mountains. The city is mainly just the terraced bases of the old buildings but still has an Indiana Jones mystique about them and are quite incredible. The soldiers which are based around the trail and city (a few years back their were problems with FARC kidnappings, though the FARC do not like to take overweight people and those without boots as its too hard to get them through the jungle I learned) with whom you can trade for military contraband and also showed us some really cool 10 m jumps off random waterfalls hidden up canyons that you can only enter through climbing and diving behind other waterfalls. The river water gave me my first vomit experience since India two years back, but I suppose I can deal with the ratio of one sick night to a year of travel.

Whenever night would fall an incredible thunder and lightning storm would unleash its wrath over the jungle, only to clear up two hours later to reveal a beautiful nighttime sky. Unfortunately I was frequently interrupted by  the most annoying ten year old in the world who would constantly fish through my bag looking for cookies. Get away tubby!

After lots of sweating and probably even more weight loss I emerged from the jungle to reenergize for a night in Taganga and then spend some of my final days at the beautiful beaches of Tayrona.

The Cogi people who know live in the are have special infertile women who teach the men to mate with their women without moving. They do it only with their mind. On the night of marrigae if the girl moves it means she has been in that situation before and is in some serious trouble.  They make really nice bags as well.
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