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South America - Part 3
  • Blue Brute Adventures
  • Blue Brute Adventures

South America - Part 3

Third and last time to the continent. Wrapping up with the West and North. Read more
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  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler
    2

    Now, that’s a Church!

    July 29, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Our first tourist attraction across the border into Colombia is the “Sanctuary of our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Las Lajas”. A great title for another amazing church. And, yes, the site of another miracle.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    The White City

    August 2, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Our first major city in Colombia is Popayan, the “White City” (named for its many white churches and buildings in the city centre). We really enjoyed it. Nice people and a really pleasant vibe in the downtown area.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    Cali

    August 3, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    We make our way up the every thin corridor that DFAT deems safe in southern Colombia (worth noting that they have no representation in Colombia) to the city of Cali - Colombia’s third largest city. While it has had a chequered past, in the middle of communist FARC territory and home to the infamous Cali cartel, we do not feel any less safe than in many other larger cities we have visited. It has a vibrant city centre, many lovely parks and an energetic night life.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    Valle de Cocora

    August 4, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Valle de Corcora is part of the broader Los Nevados National Park and home to the largest remaining groves of Quindio Wax Palms (which can grow up to 60m high and is the national tree of Colombia). It’s a beautiful valley and well worth the walk through the palmsRead more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    Great Statue

    August 5, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    If you travel through the northern countries of South America you will be hard pressed to find a city or town that doesn’t have a statue of Simon Bolívar. But none have interpreted his greatness quite the same way as the city of Pereira - naked on a charging horse. I’ve asked Lisa to think of something similar for me.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    Medellin

    August 8, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Not long ago Medellin was the centre of the world cocaine trade with an alarming death rate as Pablo Escobar controlled much of the city. While it still has its problems, the city has undergone significant transformation over the past two decades. Infamous Comuna 13 has now become a tourist attraction showing off its graffitied streets, and the centre of the city is dominated by Botero statues. But signs of the troubled past are still evident and are important reminders, not least led by Botero and his “bird” statues. The original was damaged in a terrorist bombing, to which Botero responded by donating an identical statue to the city.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler
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    A Rock with a View

    August 10, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    A couple of hours drive from Medellin is La Piedra del Penol. It’s not as massive as Ayer’s Rock, but is an amazing geological feature, sitting on its own, with no similar mountains in the vicinity, and providing great views of the surrounding lakeRead more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    Made it to the Caribbean

    August 15, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    After the low, highlands of the Medellin region, we head north. The mountains are replaced by hot, humid, green, wet lowlands. Not a lot of tourist value, but a lot of sugar cane. We eventually hit the north coast at Coveñas, then parallel the coast line to Barranquilla. It’s hot and very, very humid. Barranquilla is one of Colombia’s largest, oldest cities at the mouth of the huge Rio Magdalena. It’s not the prettiest city, with many of the older buildings replaced by less attractive 60s and 70s architecture. There is plenty of fruit and flowers and we manage to find a bargain hotel on booking.com to stop and rest.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    Colombian Beaches

    August 18, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ 🌩️ 30 °C

    Much of our time over the past couple of weeks has been consumed by efforts to confirm shipping of the Troopy to the US. We are stunned how difficult it is been (and we come to the conclusion that there is a great opportunity for someone to establish a half-competent shipping agency). We’ve been less than impressed with the Colombian north coast to this point, so we decide to see what else it has to offer. We head north-west along the Caribbean coastline and eventually end up in the coastal town of Palomino. The beaches still fail to meet Australian standards - the water is pleasant and (very) warm, but far from clear (which is what you get when you have massive rivers spilling into the sea). Palomino is on the backpacker’s route and there are more foreigners in this small town than we have seen since Peru.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    Santa Marta

    August 20, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    We finally have some firm(ish) shipping dates, so we turn around and head back down the coastline towards Cartagena. On the way back we stop at the port city of Santa Marta. The city centre is surprisingly quiet for a week day, until we find out that it is a public holiday (Colombia has an impressive 18 public holidays each year, including this one - Assumption Day). Everyone is at the beach and the lack of life during the day is more than made up for in the evening.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler
    1

    Cartagena

    August 24, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Our time in Cartagena is largely consumed with preparing the Troopy for shipping, but we still find time to have a good look around. During our travels we had heard mixed reviews about Cartagena - mostly from fellow-travellers who started their South American journey from the city. We thought it was great. The old walled city is vibrant and fun, and the history is fascinating. But one tip - the drainage in the old town is terrible. There was a storm the morning we departed early for the airport and the flooding which followed almost cost us our flight.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler
    2

    Land Phase Complete

    August 25, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    After a last minute delay, we deliver the Troopy to Cartagena Port to get loaded into a container bound for Miami. It’s a long, very hot and humid day (with a lot of waiting), but we finally get all the required approvals. The container is locked and sealed and there is nothing else we can do except hope for a safe, timely shipment. A quick check of the weather indicates that we look good for avoiding potential hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico (of note, Hurricane Helene arrives, with significant force, about two weeks after we pick the Troopy up in Miami). All up, over the three trips, 52,000km in South America.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler
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    San Andres Island

    August 28, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Now that the Troopy’s fate is beyond our control, we have about two weeks to kill before we pick it up in Miami. First stop - the San Andres Islands. A little known province of Colombia, this small island group sits in the mid-West Caribbean Sea, much closer to Nicaragua and Costa Rica than Colombia. Finally, some white sand beaches and crystal clear (very warm) water. It is all you would expect in a Caribbean island, cheap to get to (we flew with the internationally well known Wingo Airlines), and very popular with Colombians. We had an enjoyable, very humid four days exploring the main island.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler
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    Our Last Days

    September 1, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    After our time in the tropics, we fly to the capital, Bogota, for our final days in Colombia and South America. It’s a very appealing city. Vibrant nightlife, hectic pace during the working hours, some great museums (in particular the gold museum and the national museum - with more mummies to satisfy Lisa’s new obsession), and an interesting history. The view from Montserrate is fantastic (although the wait for the cable car tests our patience) and we’re fascinated by the English architecture. Walking down some streets, with pitched, tiled roofs, you could easily be convinced you were in SW London (although the weather is much better).Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    Made it to the US

    September 4, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    A little Luck is on our side and we manage to skirt a couple of hurricanes and have an uneventful trip to the US. We arrive in Miami and the Troopy is cleared by customs two days later. A couple of hiccups (we continue to struggle with the difficulties of managing to get clear, accurate advice on key requirements from shipping agents), but we finally get the Troopy out of its shipping container and we decide to head to the bottom of the Florida keys so we can start our North America phase from the very Southern point of the US.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler
    1

    Southern Florida

    September 8, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    After the spectacular drive along the Keys we have a couple of nights at Key West. We were last here about 20 years ago, but nothing has changed much. Party town at night, with some nice beaches to enjoy during the day. We drive past the "official" start of US Highway 1 before we head north. We've decided to try and reach Texas to put the Troopy in storage. It's a couple of thousand kms, but we have a couple of weeks to achieve our goal. First stop on the way is the Everglades.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    West Coast Florida

    September 11, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    We keep a watchful eye on the weather (Hurricane Francine is crossing the Louisiana coastline), as we head up the Gulf Coast of Florida. We get some repairs done near Tampa and enjoy the coastline scenery. The temperatures are much higher than usual and we manage to have a daily dip. The beaches are OK, but no comparison to our beautiful sand and water at homeRead more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    The Oldest US City

    September 15, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    We decide to see the Pacific one last time and cross northern Florida to end up at St Augustine. This is the oldest, continually occupied city on the US, first settled by the Spanish in the mid 16th century. Downtown is pleasant (although a bit kitsch) and the fort is impressive. But it is the Saint Augustine Distillery that left us with an enduring memory. Put it on your list!Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    Cape San Blas

    September 17, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    We head West, slip past Jacksonville and Tallahassee and end up on the Gulf Coast at Cape San Blas. The aftermath of the direct hit from Cat 5 Hurricane Michael 6 years ago is clear - there are no trees to be found along the 40km peninsula. But the houses have returned and the campground is very pleasant (brand new). The beach is also the nicest we have encountered in Florida.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    Party Town

    September 19, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    It was 20 years ago when we last visited New Orleans! It hasn’t changed much. Not the most attractive city on the fringes, but the French Quarter has some interesting history to keep us occupied during the day and there are plenty of restaurants and bars to keep us entertained during the evening. Fortunately, and while a little delicate, Lisa was in much better form the morning we departed this time in comparison to our last visit.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    Mouth of the Mississippi

    September 20, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Well, it used to be the mouth of the Mississippi. We take the fascinating drive south from New Orleans through the swamp and marsh country of the Mississippi delta. Amazing engineering, that only the US is capable of, as man battles nature in this harsh environment. Rain, tides, floods and hurricanes - the area is more water than land and the water is hell-bent on taking it over. We get to the end of the road at Grand Isle, where the Mississippi used to flow into the Gulf. Now it’s about 50kms to the East, and the Corps of Engineers is doing its best to keep it there. As with Cape San Blas, hurricanes have removed most of the trees from the island and there is evidence everywhere of the impact on infrastructure.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    Glen Campbell Country

    September 23, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    It’s worthy of a Glen Campbell song, so we put it on our list. Galveston! It has the infrastructure to support a large influx of tourists and the long straight beach runs for miles (many miles). But the water is grey and the waves are almost non-existent (despite having another hurricane forming off the coast). To be fair, it’s not holiday season, but we can think of many other places we would prefer. We did however, find a great brew pub and cantina.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresSouth America - Part 3Traveler

    Our Last Days on the Gulf

    September 25, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Before we head inland, we have a final couple of nights on the Gulf Coast. This time on Padre Island, the long protective barrier to the Southern Texas Coast. The water was clearer here than our last couple of beach stops. As with other areas along the coast, hurricanes over the years have removed most trees.Read more

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