Flying in San Gil

Hallo!

Before I move on, I am quickly adding another post for you: San Gil

I liked it very, very much here, because it is very relaxed, you can do a lot of things here and it is so nice and warm. :)

The most important attraction here is the Canyon in the "Parque Nacional de Chicamocha". One way to see it, is by "paragliding", which I dared to do. As a tandem-flight of course. ;)
The flight was sooooo cool, till shortly before the very end, when Andres, my flight-guide, decided to go down doing 7 fast and small pirouettes downwards. I think you cannot really imagine, how this feels. Surely some - what is is called - "G-forces" are applying in that case and my screaming was probably heard in the whole canyon :) ... and afterwards it took me about 3 hours to recover from sickness.
But it was worth it. :)

I also did some walks and visited some nearby villages.

I am really hesitant to move on tomorrow, as I like it very much here. But there is still more to come. So I keep moving. :)

Have fun with the pictures! I even managed, with the good internet I am having here, to upload a short film I did during my flight. :) :)

Un abrazo muy fuerte!

Renate

Heading slowly north - Villa de Leyva & Lago de Tota

Hallo to all of you!

I hope you are already waiting for my next post. :)

I am currently in San Gil, which is about one third up north between Bogotá and the carribean coast.

The last days I spent in Villa de Leyva and in Sogamosa near the Lago de Tota. I genuinely started to worry about my bad physical shape wandering around the villages and the near mountains, until I found out that both towns lie at 2.100m and 2.500m. Suddenly my short breath made sense. :)

I did some trecking from 2.900m up to the top of a mountain at 4.000m in the Páramo de Ocetá, which was really wonderful.

Also the lake Tota was nice and peaceful. As I walked through the town, people started talking to me and walking together with me, curios why I would be alone, as normally all, that looks like a tourist, comes at least as a package of two, if not more.
My standard answer was, that being alone sometimes has its good sides as well, and then they always laughed and wholeheartedly agreed. (Especially the women...What does this tell us?)
They also asked me interested about:

1. the agriculture and climate in Austria and 
2. why there are so many Germans to be found everywhere (Which is true...both... that they really asked me that and that you meet Germans traveling everywhere! :) :) )

I was welcomed warmly everywhere, which was really nice and comforting. Everybody greets you and smiles at you...this is something unheard of in Europe. ;)

Here the link to the pictures of Villa de Leyva and Lago de Tota.

I hope you are well and am sending you all the best!!!!

I could need some sun, by the way...but I guess you have none to spare ;)

And... enjoy your hot shower every day (!!!), because here a "hot water shower" means, that the water is not "freezing cold", but only cold. That said, I notice, that I am getting old, as - already after 2 weeks - I would give a lot for a good hot shower. (Especially consindering the fact, that up at that height, the tempatures during the nights called for themal underwear....)

XXXX
Renate

Starting in Bogotá

Hola! :)

For all of you who already asked themselves, if I am already on my way...yes, I am. :)
I spent my first days in Bogotá trying to find my way and the respective sights.

Here are my first experiences:

• I am still fighting with the order of things in my backpack.. can't find anything. I don't remember where I put what and I am constantly arranging and rearraning things, with a - each time - supposedly - better method. But I keep ransacking my whole backpack to find a new pair of socks. :( 

• The weather in Bogotá is not very comfortable. It ranges from rainy and dark, pretty cold and unfriedly to sunny and hot and I kept putting on and off clothes in a 10minutes frequence :)

• Bogota has some of the best museums I have ever seen. Very nice and interesting!

• The public transport system in Bogota is a real challenge. And I am not sure whether speaking spanish and being able to ask for the way or the right bus really helped, as I got - in a genuine attempt to help me -  multiple different answers and information from each person I asked for the same way. This did not make it easier. ;) Just hopping on any bus (with about millions of other columbians) was finally the best way to find out where they went. It was important though, that you decided to get out early enough, as leaving the bus presented its own challenge with the mass of people. Interestingly enough, the columbians laughed when I told them that I found they public transport system "a bit confusing" and did not really agree. :)

• I could live of fruits, fruit juices and empanadas alone well enough. Let's see when I will tire of them ;)

• I am not yet in full "traveling mood"... still trying the optimised approach to all things, which actually would not be necessary, as I have enough time :)

• People in Columbia are, so far, the friendliest people!!
  (Except the taxi drivers, who always cheat me on my return change and think I don't realise it, as I am not used to the bills and coins. But - hey - I am really not to argue about a few cents in my holiday...not yet. And as long as nothing more serious happens, I am ok with that. ;)

If you like to see pictures, click here.

Meanwhile I continued in a northerly direction and am currently in Villa de Leyva. I will keep you posted. It is super nice here....

Wish you all the best! Take care!

Besos!

Renate