Off to Minca, 30th Nov. 2024

Early start today. I set the alarm for 6am and actually woke up way before. This bedroom - no A/C so if I have the fan on, it only blows at a single speed: Gail-force. If I switch it off it's stifling and Im wake up with s moth like the bottom of the budgie's cage.
Rucksack on back, I'm off to the bus stop, but the ticket office is still locked up at 6:45am. and two Colombian chaps are queuing up to get in. The staff eventually arrive - must be working on Colombian time.
It's an easy enough drive to Minca - under an hour from Santa Marta.
Minca is flouted as the hippy, backpacking, back to nature, eco-aware centres for hiking around the northern Andes.
(Y'know, the Andes - those things on the end of your armies.)
Straight away I'm liking the look of the hostel I'm booked into called Rio Elemento: On a hillside (everywhere is) gardens down to a stream, bar area next to the pool. But the pool has an added attraction - a dirty great tree at one end.
Honest, I took lots of photos, honest. (More about this shortly.)
To get my bearings, I went on a hike, as you do, but chose the long route to a 'waterfall' called Pozo Azul that's well-publicised. ( Not so much a waterfall as a stream running downstream over rocks.)
Whilst the trees etc., are 'jungley' the hike wasn't much different to, say for example, Ripponden or Hardcastle Craggs: A bit more 'wild' but then the natives in Hebden are sometimes a bit 'wild'.
Now the sad part...
Distaster! Wading/scrambling over rocks across a stream, I slipped and put my hand out to break my fall. It was the one holding my camera. :(
I tried to dry it out, but the viewing screen just flashed and flickered white. Now the darned thing's packed in completely.
Well, I've removed the SD card and battery and 'fingers crossed' I might be able to get it fixed back in the UK.
If anyone's bothered, I'm sorry for only being able to attach 4 photos from my phone, but it's iPhone only for the rest of the trip.
Had as game of dominos with a couple of lads in the bar, went into town for a schwarma and a beer, turned in for the night.Читать далее