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Popayan crossing over to Colombia

overcast 21 °C

After 1 ½ month in Ecuador we were finally leaving. We had to leave really early as the first stretch in Colombia is supposedly still not very safe its recommended that you do it during the day. After a few hours on a bus, a short taxi trip and a long wait at the boarder we were walking into Colombia. We know that things have changed and that it is now considered a safe country, but its still felt pretty exiting being in Colombia after the reputation it used to have.

It did not take very long before the scenery to change a lot from Ecuador. Soon our minibus was driving up and down green covered mountains. The scenery was amazing; sometimes the road would be curving next to a 1000 meter cliff with rivers and waterfall. We met some really nice Colombians on the bus, who told us that it’s been raining much more this year than normal and we noticed that the road was in a very bad condition. Saw loads of landslides and big rocks that had fallen down on the road. It was one of the worst roads we´ve been on so far probably similar to the worst roads in Bolivia. In addition, they would either play some terrible music really loud or put on some horrible (and much to Laura´s annoyment very sexist) standup show. In the end the trip took about twice the time we had been told when buying the tickets. The only positive thing we can say about is that the Colombians are the friendliest people we have ever come across. We got invited to stay with the two guys that we met on the bus if we wanted.

Tired after a long bus journey we took a taxi from the station. However, we had to stop and take out money on the way. The taxi driver thought he could charge us double the fare for this and we had a big fight outside the hostel, being called load of names. Ok so there are assholes in every country, perhaps they are fewer here anyway.

It was nice to stay in a backpacker place again after having stayed in more locally owned places. Straight away we met people and it was a lot due to this that we enjoyed our time in Popayan so much. In addition to chatting to loads of people in the hostel we got to know a friendly Swedish guy and a funny English guy that we went out for drinks with. There is not really so much to do in Popayan, but it’s a nice little city to wonder around in. Most of the city is colonial style, however we wondered off a bit from the center and were shocked how run down and poor it was just a few 100 meters away. Suppose that it will take a while before the country can really be fixed and be completely safe.
A weird thing in Colombia is that anything sold in a real container e.g. a tetra pack, glass jar; plastic bottle etc is very expensive. Instead you have to buy things in plastic bags if don’t want to pay a fortune for a bottle of water. How the hell do you drink a 5 liter plastic bag or even keep it when it can’t be closed or anything? The same with milk, yogurt or other things that you want to put in the fridge? Oh well at least the beers are sold as usual, abide a bit on the expensive side.

We took a short trip to a nearby village to visit the hot springs. This was by far the prettiest setting and the coolest pools. There were 5-6 different pools, two being connected by a 60 meter long water slide, set in a landscape similar to Switzerland with waterfalls coming down from the mountains. Unfortunately we only realized on the way out that there was also a mud pool, but it was a great place anyway. Also again we were pleasantly surprised how friendly the Colombians were. People would come up to us in the pools and as us where we were from and talk about this and that. It’s horrible, but many times I still have the European mindset when random people come up and talk to me. I just can’t help thinking “ok this person will ask for money, try to sell me drugs or the person is drunk”. I would love if people could be like this at home, but most people would probably just try to ignore you if you did this and think like me or worse. Suppose I have to try it when I get back at least.

Laura being a tourist in front of one of the old churches in town

Laura being a tourist in front of one of the old churches in town

The old bridge might not be that long, but crossing it is like going to a different country, poverty and pretty scary neighbourhoods

The old bridge might not be that long, but crossing it is like going to a different country, poverty and pretty scary neighbourhoods

Henrik hiding in the bush in front of the cathedral

Henrik hiding in the bush in front of the cathedral

How cool were these hot springs, there was even a long waterslide

How cool were these hot springs, there was even a long waterslide

The view from one of the hot spring pools

The view from one of the hot spring pools

Posted by hmontonen 21:00 Archived in Colombia

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