BREATHLESS IN BOGOTA After the heat and sun of Cartagena, the cold and rain of Bogota was a bit of a shock to the system. This wasn't what we signed up to! Other than a few days looking at glaciers in the south of Chile, we were expecting eight months of long hot summer weather on our trip, not wintery drizzle more like London (cue smirks and cheers from previously jealous friends and family back home!). Apart from the cold, the other thing that hit us on arrival...

KICKING BACK IN CARTAGENA After the challenges of Venezuela, we got back on track and headed West again, to Colombia. We were delighted to reach Cartagena, a beautiful colonial city on the Caribbean coast. Although we've only been on the road for two and a half weeks, this is definitely our favourite place in South America so far. Great weather, tasty and cheap food, friendly people and a welcoming hostel, and best of all, a really lively and picturesque - and sa...