Photos: Columbia | Venezuela
------------
1. The Lost City
2. Coro
3. Caracas
4. Puerto La Cruz
5. Cumana - Araya
6. Rio Caribe
7. Cumana
8. Carupano
9. Salto Angel
--------------
The weary traveller is back again with another tale to get you out of the office chairs and into that Qantas jet to see the world and experince some things that are totally different...
After leaving Cartagena, we moved along to Santa Marta and booked ourselves into the Lost City tour, for the reason of Cam having to catch a flight we convinced the guide to let us squish 6 days into 4. So we set off into the highlands of Columbia, yes we know this is the trail that the 10 tourists where kidnapped on 2 years ago and it is full of FA
RC, paramilitaries and all of the other groups that love to create havoc in Columbia but we were promised a safe journey. On the way up we almost went off the edge of a cliff in the jeep, walked and walked for the first day passing numerous villages with the local Tayrona people who´s ancestors built the city. Second day up and over mountains, down into muddy valleys and finally after 7 hrs, 8 river crossings and then literally out of the river a set of 1000 year old stairs going directly up the mountain, 3000 in total and yes we were very tired but also enthralled by the city.Set a top a mountain ridge the city sprawls out across a couple of round terraces with the main plaza totally cleared. Other terraces are still yet to be uncovered from the thick jungle. In my limited knowledge you can see the Mayan influence in the buildings (these are 500 years before the Incan Empire). A great view across the valley and beside the mosquitos that I decided have been left there to protect the place it is amazing. I calcualted that only 30,000 people have ever been to this place, makes it really special. A long hike back down to the camp and after Alberto operated on a guy with a machette wound we rested. Next morning...
MUM SKIP THIS
We took off to a operating cocain factory, yes that is right for only $10 we were shown from start to finish how to make cocain, in fact see the photo for final proof. But no I did not try and after you see what goes into it - diseal fuel, construction lime, sulphic acid and the stuff they use to clean blood from abatoir floors (this is the 95% pure stuff by the way, what you buy in NY,
London etc is far worse) - I never want to hear anyone trying it.
We felt safe here, but check first as there are problems.
A sad, sad farewell to Alberto, in 2 months he has become a very close friend, a great travelling companion and I will surely miss him (somewhere sometime we will meet again). Cam and I took off for Venezuela and found oursleves after a long day, crossing the border saw us getting checked for our passports 15 times in two hours and two complete bag searches, anyone would think that we had been to a cocain factory or something =) We arrived late but found a good hotel in Coro, next day wandered out to the sand dunes, searched long and hard to change some money and did some shopping. Next off to Caracas were we wandered around, not a great deal to see. Cam left from here, yes very sad to see my brother depart, he really wanted to stay and by the sounds of things will be back within 6 months.
So back by myself again and I took off for Puerto La Cruz with the dream of sailing for the next month around the Caribean. Searched for a boat but no one leaving so I visited some close islands with some locals, nice beaches and great clear water. Then left for Santa Fe a great little seaside town with 4 pousadas right on the sand. I spent the next 4 days chilling out, making some more buddies (another Swiss guy from Zurich of course and some German girls). Stefan and I took off to Cumana and spent the day at the salt mines and the nearby beach of Araya that I loved, white white sand and a beautiful fort sitting above, a great spot to chill out.
Then moved on to Rio caribe and the famous beaches of Medina and Pui-Pui that though difficult to get to they certainly were worth it. Had a typical Venezuelan day at the beach in Medina, brandy on the truck ride in, whiskey on the beach and beers on the way home. But the guys I met were fantastic, fed me food and invited me to stay with them in Carupano for carnival.
I went back to Cumana to see some friends and then off to Carupano for Carnival. Well not quite on the scale of Rio it was a good bit of fun, dancing in the streets to trucks with sound systems larger then the Empire State, it was a great time. The floats were a bit disappointing and I have never seen so many transexuals. very strange how accepted thy are in theis macho society.
I left for there for a hell ride across the country to the jumping off point for Angel Falls. Arrived late at night and immediately a tourist guide knocked on the door and at 6am I was off. Flew into a small village Canaima, situated on a lagoon with 4 thunderous waterfalls dumping into it, amazing location. Spent the afternoon visiting the local falls, some you could walk behind. Then in the morning took a 4 hour canoe ride up the river, a great journey through the Tepuis (flat top mountains) seeing great rainforest, amazing bizzare mountains and countless huge waterfalls. But of course nothing compares to Angel Fall, 983m vertical drop and we were lucky at this time of year as normally there is very little water. Run up to the lookout and sat in awe of the dispaly in front of us.
I am now chilling out and back up at the beaches and bying time until I meet up with Mum and dad in Denver on the 25th Feb. I may head on up to Miami for a few days depending on a friend that is there.
Miss you all and let me know how you have been....it has been 351 days since I left.
Roland
No comments:
Post a Comment