Postcards From Columbia
A promising start, and the crossing was painless
. Left the city border with Ecuador, Tulcan, early in the morning, by minibus, covering the remaining few kilometers of the border. Natural limits, specific, cross River Bridge Andes give fertile environment. The Ecuadorian side of any line of migration, with a quick passport stamp, and crossed the bridge carelessly in Colombia. Received my passport stamped entry effort and money in rapid exchange, and began my trip to Colombia.
In Ecuador, the Andes form the backbone of a huge place in a wide range of countries abdomen singular. After coming to Colombia, the Andes divides into three separate mountain ranges. Division is reflected heavily on the volatile along the way to Popayan, the colonial city about 200 100 miles to the north of the border with Ecuador.
Known as the first stage of the journey mountainous terrain and the air chilled green. The line starts from the formulation of their differences, wider and deeper valleys look like the way his decline begins. Soon, deep valleys turn into a free fall, picturesque valleys and arid desert landscapes today. Villagers set up small restaurants to serve passengers in transit through the archaic structures that float at the foot of the mountain on the edge.
The road is still the way to weave the river crossing, and rises suddenly rushed up, then down again, and the continuation of this roller coaster ride for several more miles of buses and trucks constant tension gear.
I must have dozed through this roller coaster ride of the soon woke up to discover the contrasting scenery outside my window is very tropical, high edges of the creeping forest of the road. This is where the trip gets interesting.
As the bus approached a small village, block by block our progress. And waved some half-dozen men dressed in camouflage bus gangs in our power to a complete stop. They identified themselves as members of a group FURC, a branch of the benign group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia's most famous. They were looking for people to volunteer hostage. I was the only foreigner on board. See the bandwidth, they quickly announced that this is due this evening at the guerrilla camp, they had a check in the open air of classic Laurel and Hardy movies, popcorn included. And the work of this appeal .... I volunteered.
Covered truck waiting for us. To keep a secret place, I was allowed men to faint eyes. Seems to be an eternal journey, bouncing around in the back of their truck. Finally we stopped and removed my blindfold. Squinting my eyes slowly to modify the light in the Black Forest. The compound of modest size. Stung my nose pungent smell of farm animals and the human race. Fortunately, appeased the smell of fresh buttered corn unpleasant odors.
Also started to sit on a log to watch movies, I saw: caramel-colored skin, and sculpture, and dressed in camouflage in the forest, and a Colombian woman presented herself at the head of FURC. This was the time lust at first sight. While the men laughing and eating popcorn FURC, we infiltration in his tent and canvas is a great passionate love.
Flowed lazily in the next day and tropical heat. Followed by a good Colombian espresso in the morning before games in volleyball between the gunmen and hostages. The guerrillas incorrectly taken hostage, and two players from the volleyball champions, one Brazilian and one Swedish. Needless to say, our team began hostage ass!
Finally arrived on Friday and despite the fact that no one in the outside world have paid my dollar ransom hostage said to the members of the FURC go back to Ecuador. Colombian women reluctantly agreed. Since he took control of intelligently helicopter from a military facility several months ago, they hope to use helicopters to transport the Jacuzzi at the home of a political luxury to their camp, to help encourage the hostage of volunteers. I told them to text me when they do.
I thought to mention that, as an alternative source of income potential, and they may consider getting on the bandwagon by creating Visits FURC eco-tourism. They thought about this new idea.
After he said goodbye, and we jumped in the truck, where he was blindfolded again, I am, then returned to the forest to civilization.
This is a version of what happened when I visited Colombia. Now ... Here is another.
One of the joys and challenges of traveling is to separate fact from fiction and truth from myth. Though far from being completely safe, have declined interviews guerrilla warfare along major travel routes in Colombia has in recent years. My trip to and from Popayan is very smooth, without incident.
Steal a bus sometimes happens, especially at night. And that it affected the habits of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or criminal only from thieves and bandits. Who knows?
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia does not have a significant impact in remote areas and villages near Popayan, but not tourists, from what I heard, and to the alarm. All the travelers I spoke with did not face any problems and was thoroughly enjoying traveling all over Colombia. The usual safeguards and precautions to travel certainly continue to apply, especially in large cities.
Popayan is a very easy city to live, especially in the colonial section of the old city: the buildings white, wrought iron balconies, the churches in every corner of the other. Popayan was the seat of power several centuries ago when the area was still under Spanish rule. Maintaining the authority abandoned later in Bogota and Popayan, and probably to his advantage, put the back seat since then.
After suffering a devastating earthquake in 1983, during the past decade and underwent a complete renewal of Popayan, and sends to overcome its former glory.
First night in Popayan I experienced an earthquake measuring 6.8 degrees while sitting in my hostel. The epicenter of the earthquake more than 150 kilometers below the surface of the Colombian coast. No harm in Popayan, just a wild ride feeling.
Hostel, and cultural facilities in Popayan are just as many beautiful women. In many cafes as well. Interior are eloquent, in reference to the date of Color posters of old cultural, and dark wooden chairs and tables, hardwood floors, and balconies, and the plaster is cracked and faded.
I drank coffee, I looked towards the door open, and a crowd of passers-by. The demonstrators marched I can imagine the guerrilla militias which operate, in the past, workers travel by horse-drawn carriages to work, and the colorful villagers move their products on the backs of llamas. Yesterday was or was two, three centuries ago. No, much has changed here in Colombia. This coffee is great!
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