Chau Colombia!!!

So thought we would add a good-bye message recounting odds and ends from Colombia.

First, there are so many different kinds of fruits down here that we don`t have in the states. The one that is most memorable is the guaynaba which is a fruit that looks like an orange from the outside but has a very hard shell that cracks when opening. On the inside is a gooey jelly with little seeds that looks a bit like frog eggs. It is really sweet if you can find a good one. On a bus ride from Pitalito to Macoa I had to sit next to the driver, being the smallest passenger, and we had a lovely conversation. He bought a bag of gyanaba, gave me one and then the rest to the army. Bribe maybe or just being nice-who knows.

In Salento we ran into our first aquaintance. So for those of you who don`t know Eliza, she is the best friend of Matt`s sister`s boyfriend. Crazy world right? Her and two friends ran up to the jeep as it was leaving for the Valle de Cocora and by some coincidence we figure out we had met her multiple times in San Francisco.

Also in Salento we went to the coffee farm of Don Elias. It is quite a small finca but the family of 8 is able to get most of their food from the farm. The grow coffee, bananas, mandarines, pineapple and limes among other things and also raise chickens and fish. They grow two types of coffee the names of which escape me. The first has a red shell and will produce coffee for about 20 years; the second has a yellow shell and produces coffee for about 10 years but is more resistant to diseases. Don Elias`grandson showed us the farm and explained the process from plant to great cup of coffee.
Steps of producing coffee:

1. pick the beans
2. shell the beans with shelling machine
3. dry the beans
4. take the second shell off the beans
5. roast the beans
6. grind
7. brew and drink!
Don Elias`farm sends most of the coffee to the regions cooperative because they do not have a license to sell in stores nor do they have a roaster big enough. They keep a small amount for themselves and to sell to tourists visiting the farm.

There was also an incredibly cute puppy and some pigs when we visited!

We also tried the Starbucks of Colombia in Cali which is Juan Valdez. It was really like a Starbuck with is frappachino´s and iced lattes and such. It was a great break from our day of shopping in the giant Cali mall called Chipichape.
Our favorite restaurant in Colombia was Crepes and Waffles. While looking for ice cream in Cartagena we asked locals for a good spot and all pointed to this places. Its a chain so we were able to get it in all the big cities and it had an entire menu dedicated to ice cream sundaes!

We have also started to cook for ourselves. It is cheaper and sometimes we just want to be able to cook the food we want to eat. We now carry around a small traveling kitchen made up of salt and pepper, olive oil, soy sauce and rice. There are fresh fruits and vegetables everywhere and generally we stay away from meat when cooking after the fiasco in Villa de Leyva.

On the bus from Popayan to San Augustin there was a commotion on the bus between another America traveler and a local. As the local was getting off the America started shouting, saying ¨give me back my money, I know you have my money.¨ The local showed him his wallet and ran off the bus. Of course Matt and I immediately checked our bags which were in the overhead compartment; Matt`s was right above us and my just behind us and sure enough ALL my money was gone. It was the equivalent to $35 US but here that is a whole day`s allowance! Thankfully, he left my credit and ATM cards, passport and camera. The other American guy was not so lucky having lost the equivalent to $140 US and his Ipod. Matt`s bag was safe, possibly due to the American figuring out soon after he had rummaged through our two bags what had happened. An unfortunate event but it could have been worse and I am thankful all I lost was $35 and no more.

Our last voyage to the border was loooong and tough. We started in San Augustin which is a small town that is known for its large statues that may have been created while taking copious amounts of drugs. We took an hour cab to Pitalito then a 2.45 hour minibus to Macoa. The toughest part of the journey was the 6 hour minibus ride through the mountains on unpaved roads to Palto. I was unfortunate enough to get a seat that was not secured in the bus so I would rock back and forth on the rocky path for about 5 hours of that wonderful trip. It was quite a beautiful journey overlooking a large lake at sunset. We debated staying in Palto a night but hearing it was only 1 hour to Ipiales we pushed on.
Tip: If ever traveling in South America add an hour or so to the time the bus companies tell you it will take to get from place to place.

This post is dedicated to two very important people. Robert, from Austria, our first and dearest friend that we met in Colombia. We shared great memories and were so lucky to have spent his last week with him before returning home. And Greg, who has been an avid read of the blog and has delighted us with his postings. (Sorry Greg, I don`t have a picture of you)