Merida...

After a 24 hours journey we finally made it to Merida. But it was not time to relax...we were walking around for 2 hours to find a reasonably priced place to sleep - impossible in this city! The prices here have doubled since 2007.
And the only two places we wanted to visit are closed today. And anyways: Even if they have the longest cablecar in the world it isn`t worth the 28 Dollars they charge for it.
Today we go on to Caracas - Let`s see if we can find something cheap there...

In Bogotá...

After a few really great days in Palmira we continued our jouney to the capital of Colombia - to Bogotá.
Since two days now we do the obligatory sight seeing and shopping. Tomorrow we will continue to the venezoelian boarder - finally the caribean sea is close!

In Palmira...

After a few great days in the jungle (including a bath in the cristal clear river waters) we actually wanted to go to Bogotá...but the plans changed...A really nice family invited us to pass the semana santa with them. And now we have a great time here in Palmira - All inclusive, of course!
Yesterday we went fishing and tomorrow we go camping in the mountains.
On Sunday we are going to travel on to Bogotá...

Popayán...

After a few exhausting days in San Agustin we continued to Popayán today. Tomorrow we´ll go via Cali to the small jungle village of San Cipriano...

In Colombia...

On sunday we left Otavalo for Colombia. And because the journey went so well, we arrived in San Agustín today in the morning - well shaked and dog-tired.
In the area of this small village in the middle of the colombian jungle you can find many stone figures whose misteries aren't solved completely until today...
We're going to explore them on foot because our tight budget doesn't allow the splurge of a tour...but we are already used to walk....

Back on the northern hemisphere...

After our obligatory visit of the "middle of the world" we continued our journey to Otavalo. Here the biggest market in Ecuador takes place every saturday. They sell everything from handicrafts to animals and food...and in the evening there is a big cockfight - a happening we can`t miss!
On sunday we will continue to Colombia - if the political situation allows...

In Quito...

Unfortunately the planned trainride in Riobamba was not possible due to landslides and destroyed tracks. So we continued to Baños, where we enjoyed a few days exploring the surrounding countryside on foot and by bike.
Yesterday we arrived in Quito - Ecuador's Capital. The first impression is a little bit disappointing because our guidebook describes it way too picturesque. But we will see...
Tomorrow we are going to visit the "mitad del mundo" - the "middle of the world-theme park" on the ecuatorial line.