Guatapé and Jardín

Hallo Dears,

the last week I spent travelling around Medellín. The weather was not so good, and I caught some rain.
Also due to heavy rains and landslides further south around Manizales, I had to change my plans and will see where I will head next.

Both towns, Guatapé as well as Jardín were rather small, quiet townships where most of the life took place on the main plaza. The main activity there is sitting, chatting, drining coffee or beer in the evening. Just as I felt a little bit strange, sitting there every day, I saw that also the locals were always the same people sitting there...every day. A few days more and we all would have know each other, at least by sight.
The square starts to fill at 7:30am and is filled with people enjoying their time, regardless of rain or sunshine till late in the evening. So there is always something to watch. The coffee in Jardin was really good, as all the surroundings are coffee plantations.

Here are my pictures. :)

I am sending you best regards!

Renate

Medellíń - City of eternal spring...

Hallo,

I am posting again, as I think that the city Medellín deserves an extra post.
This city is amazing!! It is huge and is sprinkled over the whole valley, the red brick buildings contrasting the green surroundings of the valley.

The temperature is all-year-round moderate and very nice, therefore it is called the city of "enternal spring".

Medellín  has a ruther rugged history, being the former home of Pablo Escobar, who ruled the drug traffic during a long time in Columbia. Therefore the city has seen a lot of violence and bad times until very recently. It is not so long ago, that all finally started to turn upwards to a more peaceful athmosphere. It was therefore very intersting to wander through the neighbourhoods & barrios which all have many stories to tell.
I loved the city! It had such a friendly, peaceful and open athmosphere, which is really amazing considering its former history, and shows, how much the people strive for a finally peaceful and happy time.
I enjoyed my stay here very, very much.

Look at the pictures, and I think you will agree.

Sending you best regards from Medellín and wishing you all "Happy Easter" :)

Besos!
Renate

Last days of heat and sea

Hola a todos!

Coming "back" to a really touristy area, Cartagena, I really could experience the difference to the places I have been the last weeks:

• millions (!) of tourists (groups with bracelets and similar hats and guide :) )
• expensive restaurants (double to triple the price of other places)
• very good (but equally expensive) coffee shops
• nice places to sit in the evening sun, watching the people or the sunset with a cocktail or a beer in hand
• all types of supermarkets and all kind of things to buy
• abundant food at all times
• electricity 24h a day
• air conditioning
• running water 24h/ day
• laundries (therefore frish washed clothes ! Juchuu! :) )

For a few days this was really enjoyable, although I am happy now to have left the tourist hot spot again. I now continued to Medllin, which is inland again, leaving the carribean coast. Here the weather is different. Cooler and much more rain. Let's see how it will continue. :)

Here are the pictures for you. Enjoy!

I hope you are all fine and am looking forward to hearing from you.

Saludos & Besos! Renate

Still on the carribean coast...

Hallo,

I am well and travelling on the carribean coast. It is hot and humid and, as I am not the 100% beach-type, I have had enough of sun, palm trees and sandy beaches by now. Also I saw so many tourists in the last days, as I am currently on the "Tourist Trail", that I wish I was no tourist myself ;)

Here are my pictures: Riohacha, Palomino & Parque Nacional de Tayrona.

I am right now in Minca, which is a little bit higher up the mountains and will stay here a few days before continuing to Catagena.
After days in a hammock and no water to really wash me or my dirty T-shirts, I am happy to be back to a normal bed again.
Internet and phone coverage is still sparse and I think I will have to wait for a really good coffee till I reach Cartagena.

I am sending you my regards,

Renate

At the northernmost end of America Latina: Punta Gallinas

Hallo,

I am finally back after some days way out in the desert and at the carribean coast. I have managed to reach to northernmost point of Columbia and also of Southern America: "Punta Gallinas".

It was really a hassle and adventure of several days, first to reach Cabo de Vela and then to finally get to Punto Gallinas, but it was well worth it. It is stunningly beautiful!
But you do have to make sacrifices in terms of commodity, electricity, sweet water to wash yourself, food availability, availability of actually nearly anything (phone reception I don't even mention). :)

The downside of this part of Columbia is, that the people, who actually live there are really poor and have to live really basic, which obviously is directly connected to a negligence of collecting/storing/properly getting rid of rubbish, which leads to the fact, that really a lot of rubbish flies, lies, sticks, rolls, spreads over ... and finally litters the landscape around every home. Which makes me really sad.

However I enjoyed the trip very much, although I spent many backbreaking hours in means of transport: buses, jeeps, boats and motorcycles.
By the way...my backpack is still too heavy! :(

Take a look at the pictures and you might agree that it was worth it. :)

I hope you are all doing well and wish you a nice sping-time. :)

Abrazos, Renate