March 31, Cartagena, Colombia

I took a city tour today. It was on a street car trolley type bus. Very nice but interesting as it was advertising New Orleans marti gras on the side. Not sure why. Interesting that the tour consisted of people from Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico and Canada (me). The bus first drove around the point where I walked and stopped for a photo. Ok as

I did not have my camera with me when I was walking.

Drove around the inlet and then up to a convent on the top of the hill. Great views of the city, but it was a bit hazy...not sure why but it does seem very humid today. Interesting that the convent was on the top of the hill before the Spanish build the fort! That was the next stop Fort San Felipe. A 1700 fort. Very solid rock walls, and it did not appear to have much for tunnels inside. The tunnels were very low so of course I hit my head several times! Also interesting in that the fort is outside of the city walls. I asked the guide but never did get an answer! He just said that it was a good question!

Then a drive through the wall and the old city with a stop at the dungeons. Which are now a series of souvenir shops!

Then back to the hotel. Stopped for coffee and then a nap! Relaxed but did go for a walk along the beach before dinner.


March 30, Cartagena, Colombia

Did not do much today... I found a good coffee spot...just a large local place. The coffee is great. Spent the rest of the day just walking but later in afternoon I did go down for a swim. The water is nice and warm, but it was fairly windy so got a bit wind blown and stuck all over with sand!


March 29, Cartagena, Colombia

After a short 1 hour flight I arrived in Cartagena, a city of 1 million people on the Caribbean coast. Wow, what a difference from being at 2600 m above sea level, cool, long pants and shoes to hot and humid! Great! Back to shorts and sandals!

I am staying in the new part of the city....it is a beach tourist area...lots of high rise hotels and apartments. I am in a small hotel....very small...not hot water. It is a bit of a shock to start but only for a couple of seconds! Rather nice. I am only 1 block to beach. The beach is darker sand and very shallow.

I walked along the beach and around the point to the inner harbour. A large port and naval base...but lots of high rises. The area is fairly new and there are lots of new buildings going up everywhere! It is very commercial and tourist driven but nice. But I am getting hassled all the time by people selling sunglasses, Cuban cigars, tours, massages, beer and of course selling sex. Lots of them on the street at night!
Still it is nice. Just walked today checking out the area.


March 28 Bogota, Colombia

I went for coffee after breakfast! Surprise! Then headed to the Gold Museum, but it is closed on Monday, oh well I will have to come back. So headed to the Museum of Archaeology.2 It was more to see the 17 century building. The building was huge and really something. A large 2 storey building with painted wood beams and a beautiful court yard. There was a balcony all around the inside with many windows. The building seems to have been well looked after. As for the museum is was ok, there were several clay pottery items from the pre Colombian period (pre 1492) with some pieces dating back to 500 BC.

I then headed to the National Museum.... my last day here so fitting in everything not done! But it was closed as well. So just walked around and ended up in the National Park. It is a nice get away from all the people and traffic!

Today I did not recognize the city. So very different than all the other days! It is a business day so lots of people in suits on the streets and also hundreds and hundreds of university students on the streets around hotel.

Just an interesting display...a projector on several
sheer curtains, with small fans making then move

Also all the little shops and cafes are open, They had been closed all week! This is the normal city!
There was another rain storm go through, poured rain for about 30 minutes. Good thing I was close to a coffee shop! Waited it out and headed back to hotel.

March 27, Bogota, Colombia

After breakfast I stopped for coffee.... I have been drinking so much of it.. but it is so good.... I headed to Montserrat. This is a church on the mountain top that over looks the city. It is about 3100 m above sea level, 500 m higher than the city. It was about a 20 minute walk to the bottom where you can catch a train or a cable car. I picked the cable car!

While waiting in line a young girl started to talk to me... her English was a bit rough but more than my Spanish and enough to converse. She was going to the top with her family. We talked on the way up in the cable car, and of course there were several pictures. Once at the top.. more pictures. We walked around a bit and then they invited me to share their lunch. They had brought Chinese food! It was quite good. It was great to sit and eat with them.

She was the only one that had any English...but I did pick up a few words that were being said. I decided to go, as there was a huge rain storm going through the city.... I got in line and she chased my down to say that they could drive me back to my hotel. I declined as it is not that far. It was a great afternoon. When I got to the bottom a very young girl was looking at me, so I said 'hello' and she said hello back and asked how I was, in English. I ended up speaking to her and her mother for a few minutes on the walk down! The people here have been very polite and nice. Even the beggars are polite, saying good morning, and thanking you for nothing!

The views from the top were very nice. Bogota is in the Andes, in the middle of 2 ridges. It helped that I had seen a relief map in the park previously!

Out for more coffee and that is a day!


March 26, Bogota, Colombia

Today turned out to be a day of art!

Started with a 2 1/2 hour Graffiti Tour walking tour. A tour of street art in one neighborhood not far from hotel.

The guide is an artist but has branched out to tours, broker of street art, coordinator of art space and an art shop owner! He was very good with lots of background to the various artists.

He never talked about tagging at all. Some of the work has been sponsored by the city and other government organizations. Apparently Bogota is supportive of this art form. The government and community organizations are even commissioning artists to do work. Most is done just by the artist with the permission of the house owners. There is a lot of talent here... but only a few actually will get paid. Amazing that there are also art works done by people from all over the world.

It was a great tour and really makes you look closer at some of it! There are even mixed media as well as sculptures. We saw 2 bird heads but also a circus cyclist and a shoe shine man and a woman fishing.

Talked to a guy that has a coffee shop, but it is a long ways away. He actually buys beans from the farmers and roasts. Very interesting. His shop is not open until Monday so not sure I will make it as he offered to show me how they roast the beans! He will also export the beans. Really interesting.

A quick lunch and then to the Botero art gallery. Turns out it is the same gallery as the Catholic icon.
Just interesting as I thought there was only sculpture, but there are many paintings as well. The gallery has a large collection of his work. They also had a few of the other famous painters...

Probably a bit too much culture for one day but it was still good. The Graffiti tour was very different from any other tour I have done. The other good thing is that is was in an area that I had not walked around. A great area with lots to see with many restaurants. I will have to go back.

March 25, Bogota, Colombia

Usual start to the day. Like yesterday the morning is cool with clear skies. It will warm up!

I headed for the National Park. I did not get too far and I caught the Good Friday procession. Marching bands, crucifixes and the stations of Christ. It is Good Friday. A huge crowd of followers.
Further along the way stopped and went up the office tower Colpatria.

They have an observation deck on the roof, about 200 metres. 50th floor? 48 by elevator and then the last 2 by stairs. Great views! The Calle 7, the main pedestrian street in the centre is very distinctive.

It took about 1 1/2 hours to get to Park. Very nice... lots of people around but still no where as busy as the centre! Nice break away from all the loud speakers flogging their goods!

A huge park with tennis courts, football fields, street hockey arena and lots of grass to sit on! There is a river running through the park but is very small and completely bricked off!

Wandered back. stopping for coffee along the way. The coffee is amazing where ever I go. GMA or Juan Valdez seem to be chains with great coffee. The coffee is good, but not the 'experience' I had at the first place! They serve with some flair!

The street is still busy at night, but no where near the number of people as in the afternoon or last night. Most shops are closed...early but I guess it is Good Friday.

I just got into a burger place just as they closed the door. This burger had to be at least 5 inches high and this is the one with the fewest number of items included! Good but too much....lots of sauces, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, ham...






March 24 Bogota, Colombia

Up at about 7, which is a sleep in for me.... and I even showered before having coffee! Not like me, but breakfast is not until 8. Simple breakfast but good. Eggs done in a mini frying pan with a small bread and of course lots of coffee. They already have me figured out.

The hotel is a small one, with small bed room but very nice and clean and the staff are good!

Out to get a coffee.... at the place I went yesterday and then to catch a walking tour of the historical centre. Very nice, but did not really go that far. into the Bolivar Square, then over to the Palace but could not get too close as they had it blocked for a while for some reason. Up the street a bit past 2 churches, already! It has only been 20 minutes. Past the Theater Colon. This is just one of several that are in the city. Walked by an art gallery which had an icon on display, La Lechuga. Solid gold and covered in emeralds.

What a place, entrance to the art gallery was free and then on the way out the security guard gives you a 200 peso coin as a souvenir! (about 10 cents). Apparently most of the places are free to enter.
I spent the rest of the day just wandering around the old part of the city. The buildings are beautiful.... old colonial and some newer modern ones!

The streets are packed with people.....it is a pedestrian street. Lots of street shows... magicians, jugglers,
actors, statues, junk food, drinks, mobile coffee places and the list goes on.....

I had 'perro' for supper! Perro means 'dog' but as in hot dog. It was from one of the vendors... actually pretty good.. lots of cheese and mustard and probably good that it was slightly dark so I could not see the colour of it! They seem to be very pink!


March 23, Bogota, Colombia

After arriving at 7 am I found that Canadians get a "special' line up... this is to pay for fee... I guess Canada must charge Colombians a heavy entry fee! Seems to be the situation.... reciprocity agreements! Oh well, I paid my fee, got my Platinum Card and off to hotel. The hotel is situated in the historical centre of the city. Beautiful old colonial style buildings. I got directions to the Tourist information centre just of Bolivar Square. What a huge beautiful square!

Typical Spanish with municipal offices and churches on the square. There are also Parliament buildings. Great place, but yet again too many pigeons.

I go my city map and some info and then asked where the best coffee was! Just down the street....turns out it is a Barista School where they train baristas! And supposed to be world famous! What a great way to start my visit in Colombia! At a coffee shop! The very young waiter helped as there were too many decisions to make. First decide how the coffee was to be made.... French Press, siphon, cone drip filter plus several other methods, and then I had to pick my beans! Wow! I had filtered, which is a Melitta like cone that sits on the cup. He first wet the beans and then poured the water in. The coffee was excellent...smooth and tasty! I will be heading back there!

Then walked around and down the main street, Calle 7. I ended up in the Independence square which also had a planetarium. I went in. They had a star projection show on so sat through that. They did an excellent job of the presentation. They showed the various constellations... Should have had this earlier for the desert! They also have a museum which is completely interactive with many different presentations going on. It was all in Spanish but could pick up on some of it. The kids and even adults where enjoying it very much! Well worth the visit.

Then back to hotel for nap.

Out again at 6 as there is a festival going on with many displays, plays, and music going on around the city, much of it free. Tonight I went to a lighted Terra Cotta Warriors display in the parliament building! Amazing show but very busy with people. Just interesting to see the warriors and horses in colour and lit up!
Dinner and a walk along the street. Lots of people on the large pedestrian streets with performers and sellers every where....very busy! Great just to walk and watch people.

Off to bed!

March 22, In La Paz, flight to Bogota, Colombia

Rurrenabaque airport

Off to French bakery for coffee and breakfast. A great way to start the day. Multiple coffees actually.
Then to airport late morning only to find out that our flight had been changed to 4 pm, it was to be 1 pm. So spent the time just sitting outside in a small cafe/restaurant drinking more coffee and watching people. Also ended up teasing the 2 preschool kids whose mom seemed to run the place. It passed the time.

capybara - very large rodent

The 40 minute flight was good, not rough like we had heard some had. We went back to the hotel and hung around until time to head to airport at 12.30 am. Great as we met up with the G Adventures guide, she had just returned from another tour! Great to see her and amazingly she remembered our names....it had been 2 weeks!

Flight left at 3.30 am and arrived in Bogota at 7 am! Almost a 4 hour flight.

March 21, Rurrenabaque,Bolivia

Out early to see sunrise. Very nice and quiet... except for the howler monkeys that started early and kept on howling! Back for breakfast and then to go paranha fishing..... STopped in a few places but nothing, oh well the pink dolphins were around and it was interesting watching them play in the water. Apparently that when the dolphins were around, there are no paranhas or alligators!

Which is good to know considering many went swimming with the dolphins yesterday! I did not go... as this is the Amazon basin I was worried about the little fish that swims up the urine stream!


March 20, Pampas del Yacuma, Amazon Basin

Boated around in morning seeing lots of birds... paradise bird, macaws, tucans and also pink dolphins everywhere. There are also cayman and alligators everywhere! They hang around the lodge... as all the left overs get thrown in the water....they eat well...

March 19, Pampas del Yacuma, Amazon Basin

Up early and off to catch van to Amazon. But we never left until about 10.30 as we waited at the airport! Stopped for lunch in a little place and then onto the boats. Long dug out canoe type boats with 15 hp motors. Actually saw pink dolphins as soon as we left the river bank. 1 1/2 hours of traveling what seemed like circles on the river and through bushes and grasses. Amazing.

Water was very low in places the motor actually flipped out of the water. And yet they say the water is high.......not much dry land showing.

Arrived at the lodge....on stilts over the water and we are in 8 bed dorms... not what anyone expected. Millions of mosquitoes and very hot and humid... sweat with out doing anything! Dropped luggage and off to watch the sunset.

Very nice and just happened to be in a bar, on stilts as well. All of this is out in the middle of nowhere Pampas del Yacuma.


March 18, Rurrenabaque, Bolivia

Flight from Santa Cruz to La Paz and then to Rurrenabaque. Amazing flight to La Paz as we flew in very close to the snow covered mountains.

La Paz is just under 4000 metres so the tops of the mountains are not that much higher. It looked like you could almost touch them! The flight to Rurrenabaque was fun as it was in a 20 seater plane that had to be 50 years old. The runway is a single stripe that is cut out of the jungle with a very small 2 or 3 room airport! Very interesting!

Walked around town a bit and had dinner.

March 17, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Wandered around the area a bit. The area the hotel is in is very well off and very nice.


March 16, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Headed off today to Guembe Park. This is a mixed place with butterfly house, bird area and several swimming pools and even a mini golf area. Fairly expensive at 150 bolivianos ($30).

A great place, a sanctuary that is just out of the city and very nice. Spent some time wandering around and then the afternoon lounging by the pool, of course the pool had a waterfall. Lots of birds. Nice to see tucans and big parrots up close as well as several butterflies.

Unfortunately it was not the season for the big blue morph butterflies... but that is ok, as we saw some when doing the Death Road Bike ride.

March 15 & 14, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Very relaxing day. Breakfast in, lots of coffee and then to pool.
Happy hour.......found some cheezies and they will go well with the red wine!


March 13, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

It is so nice to be back into some warm weather, about 30 degrees and slightly humid. A drastic change from La Paz which is cool and very dry.

A very relaxing day. Off to grocery store around the corner and then relaxing by the pool. It is such a tough life.

Out for dinner at the local burger place. Nice as the waitress spoke very good English and she was a big help with the menu and also suggesting places to go while here. An early night tonight.

March 12, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

A fairly relaxing morning. Instead of the public ferry we ended up on a private boat to get back to Copacabana. Very nice. Lunch in Copacabana and then onto the bus to La Paz. 4 hours, most of which is getting through the city. We picked up our luggage at the hotel and off to the airport. We had a very nice flight to Santa Cruz except we arrived about 10 pm. Into hotel shortly after. A late night.


March 11, Isla del Sol (Sun Island), Bolivia

Up and on the ferry by 8.30 am. It was supposed to be a 1 1/2 hour ride but turned out to be a 2 1/2 hour ride. There were several stops along the way. A beautiful morning for a boat ride to the island. We arrived at the north end of the island and started to walk. There were several other boats full of people. And funny enough we saw the Hong Kong couple again on another boat. A beautiful sunny day....all day. The sun was hot but the air was still cool...maybe 20 degrees.

The total walk today was 12 km. Up and down hills....tough going at times due to the altitude...the air is thinner and you have to work harder. But the views are amazing. 

At times we could see Puno, Peru, the city we were in 5 years ago. I had no idea we were that close then! Many stops along the way for pictures and of course chatting with others. Ran into the couple from Ecuador we met last night in the restaurant.

Actually several times! The Incas were supposed to have settled here first. There is a ruin called the Sun Temple. Very simple square table with 12 stone chairs and 4 other stone chairs in a wider circle around the table. 12 for the months, and 4 for the seasons. There is also a labyrinth we ceremonies were held. The fascinating part here is there is a well that has water all year long. The area is close to the top of a mountain with no visible streams....an underground water source. How on earth did they find this.

Then continuing on..we stopped for lunch at the highest point. Great views. The total walk took about 5 hours. Slow but we did stop a lot. We arrived at hostel at about 4.30 to find Jayne and Charles (New Brunswick) sitting waiting for us. A beer, relax and chat about the day and then off to get ready fro dinner at 6.30. All very nice. Excellent meal of lake trout with vegetables rice and potato. Banana and chocolate syrup for desert!

Off to bed early...too much fresh air and exercise. The guide we have laughed a lot at us when she found out that we had hike to the dino prints and also had done the Death Road!





March 10, Copacabana, Bolivia

Up and at the hotel door at 6.45 am. Another early morning...but at least we got a coffee to go! But the bus was late.
We arrived in Copacabana about 12 noon. A long morning with a huge detour to get out of La Paz.

We had to catch a ferry across to the peninsula. Strange as the bus went on a barge with a 60 hp motor and we had to get into a small boat. Only about a 10 minute ride. Then back onto the bus. An interesting port.

Copacabana was cool as it had snowed the night before. There were still some snow on the sidewalk! And this is supposed to be the beach area of Bolivia.

This small city is on the shores of Lake Titicaca the worlds highest lake at about 3800 m above sea level....the reason for the snow. Very nice but also very touristic.

Checked into hotel and had a walk around the city, through the market and also the church. Lots of Arabic influence in the church even though it was built by the Spanish.....All the same period as the Arabic churches/monasteries built in Spain.

Then a hike up the Calvario, a climb to the top passing 14 stations. Beautiful views of the city and the lake.

Back down for happy hour. Great as a view over the lake and even though it had been cloudy all day the sun broke through for a very nice sunset! Also great as we ran into a couple from Hong Kong that were on the tour with us and the New Brunswick spent the afternoon with us..... slow separation from the group.
Then out for dinner at a local restaurant which was very good. A super day


March 9, La Paz, Bolivia

Relaxing day and did not do much other than plan the next few days.