Loving Colombia, again!

After Popayán there were four distinct parts of my journey left. The first, which I have completed, was Cali. Originally it was supposed to be Cali and environs, however, due to bad weather, a bit of a lack of adventurous spirit on my part, knowing I'll probably be back within a year or so, and surprisingly, how much I liked Cali, I never did my planned side trips - the challenging full day hike up Pico de Loro, and the river town of San Cipriano with its quirky brujita (wooden palate powered by a motorcycle placed on train tracks) way of getting there, will be for my next trip to Colombia.

I walked and I walked and I walked around the sprawling, hilly city. I didn't much care for Cali my first time here about 5 years ago, but I saw much more of it this time and just seemed to get more into the groove of the city. I went to so many different neighbourhoods, some swanky, some middle class, and some a bit rougher. The two worst that I experienced were near the bus station (of course) and a stretch on Carrera 4 close to the pretty Plaza de Caicedo park. There are many casinos on that street and many down and out people sleeping on the street.

I met up with an Australian woman who was on the PWYC tour with me on Popayán. She was in a hostel and invited a couple of other people there to join us on the tough climb up to Tres cruces.

There's the beautiful Cali River that flows through the city west to east, then northeast and finally north where it meets up with and becomes the Cauca River, one of the three major Colombin rivers that begin in the Colombian part of the Andes Mountains. I spent all of my time in the western part of the country where, apparently, the Andes mountains dominate and account for two-fifths of the area. I see no reason to doubt that as I was constantly travelling over and around mountains - I so want to ride my motorcycle here! And every city or town I've been in has had some level of up and down, Cali being the most.

There's good food in Cali with more than the usual Colombian fare, good coffee, good music - lots of salsa, of course - but all types, some nice parks, and lots of interesting neighbourhoods. Really tough hike to tres cruces for a nice workout, and pretty friendly people for a big city. A very jungly botanical gardens, and lots more.

Ok, not the most inspired writing, but I'm a bit tired. I'm in Minca now, a lovely mountain town close to Santa Marta, and I have been doing a lot of hiking to waterfalls and lookouts. Part of my prep for the big 4-day Ciudad Perdida jungle trek that begins tomorrow. Then it's back to Bogotá for 2 days, then home! Go Canada!Read more