Off to explore the jungle

We´re off tomorrow for six days trekking to the ciudad perdida (lost city) near the Caribbean coast. But it´s not really that lost, as our guides seem pretty confident about where to find it. Five nights of hammocks and days of crossing rivers, walking past indigenous villages and scrambling up hillsides. Should be lots of fun. Back on the 4th (probably to a welcome shower and bed!).

We flew!

Paragliding, parapente here, in tandem is like sitting in a big armchair in the sky, with your legs dangling over the tree-tops below you. Until your driver (or pilot), not sure what he´s called, decides to spiral down and you leave your stomach 20 metres above you. It´s a lot of fun, but a bit challenging for someone who´s afraid of heights. Relajate (or something similar) my pilot kept on saying, ie don´t you think you should stop grabbing on to the straps so hard your knuckles are white? It was beautiful and extremely quiet from 50 metres up, but I was glad to land back on the non-moving ground. Photos to follow....

Bogota

I can't stop scratching!

We are in San Gil, the adventure tourism capital of Colombia. White-water rafting, abseiling, bungee jumping and para-gliding are just a few of the adrenalin rushes on offer. And also extreme hill-driving, as the town is perched on the steepest roads I've ever seen. Better make sure we don't forget anything in the hostel when we stroll into town....

But for me the current mind challenge is not to scratch the huge welts on my legs. I find my hand sneaking down, nails beared at any idle moment. They are the produce of a lovely afternoon spent yesterday by waterfalls just outside the town. It was idyllic- swimming, pic-nicking on exotic fruit that I've never seen elsewhere, picking mandarins straight from the trees and being bitten by small black insects who sneakily don't cause any pain when they bite, so you can't catch them at it.

Mind control. And hand control. That's what I need. Or something to distract me. I'm hoping the para-gliding we've got booked for this afternoon over the national park might do the trick.

How the other half live...

Bogota is a city divided into sectors. The North Bogotans are a lifetime away from those struggling in the South. Heavily guarded, camera-ed and electrified, beautiful houses and apartments lie on sleepy roads, where well-heeled Bogotans go for their Sunday stroll and eat brunch in relaxing cafes. All with the security that no-one with "indigenous maliciousness" will come skulking nearby. The inhabitants are a mixture of the enterprising, upper class, government-connected and drug-rich.

It's a piece of Colombia with almost European flavour, but still with a Colombian heart. We enjoyed the amazing hospitality of Monica's aunt, and a little bit of home-life after a few nights in a hostel. It was a great oasis of tranquility, if you could ignore the military with AK47s wandering around. Our only regret? Bringing English tea as a present to the owner of the only Teahouses in Colombia.

Enjoying transport in Bogota

Who would have thought that Bogota would have such an excellent transport set-up? That is despite the almost endless traffic jams. If you can bear to use public transport- which many rich Bogotans cannot- you have the TransMilenio Bus system with its own busway, and you sail past the black windowed 4 x4s with ease. Or there are collectivos that you can hop on and off wherever you wish. Better still is the Cyclovia. On Sundays a large number of the roads are closed for bicycles and walking only. Refreshments and bike mechanics are stationed along the way and the young, old, cool and lycra-clad come out on their bikes in force.

Leaving London

New hair cut...

...leaving party....

...and bus journey to Heathrow!

More photos...

And TBag bored of waiting.... (for you Roi)

Waiting in Barajas Madrid...

Our unexpected long stay in new terminal of Madrid Airport of Barajas at least gave me the chance to admire and take some photos of this amazing building.

Over night wait in Heathrow Airport

Special thanks to Tim for the ride to the bus and to Patrick for his pack lunch.

Finally in...........Madrid!

Hi all,

After all the rush, excitment and antecipation, we are finally........... stuck in Madrid.
Due to flight controllers strikes (aka fog in Madrid according to Iberia) we are stuck in Madrid until tomorrow (20th). We should land in Bogota around 4pm local time tomorrow "weather" permitting.
Apologies for the lack of photos, not enough privileges in this computer, which vaguely reminds of work!( Not a very successful way to start posting!)

Adios