It's 11pm and the three of us find ourselves stranded under a bridge on a highway in Colombia's fourth largest city, Barranquilla. We do not want to be here, it's not very nice. We want to be in beautiful Cartagena, the walled colonial port city on the Caribbean coast. But half way through our three hour journey, our 'taxi' driver and his other 'passenger' have told us to get out of his Sedan and change into a larger car. Given the hour and this less tha...

Bogota and San Gil 17 July Friday 12 We had drinks in the Usaquen area which appeared lively and cool. Vic recovered quickly from the excitement of the meeting at the airport. It's always nice to be picked up from Arrivals. Particularly by people wearing ponchos. Bogota was a delight. Many thanks to Ina for being a superb guide. Saturday 13 A car ride to the quaint town of Tabio. Excellent burgers and steaks at an al fresco eatery called el Galapago www.f...

He's here

José the Jackal We arrive in San Augustin on a six hour journey which is described by various sources as "the worst road in Colombia". I would say that puts it in the Top 10 world wide, although I have been to Africa as well. The road is only 100km but is like driving over a ploughed field which ends suddenly in a cliff. It is made worse by desperately requiring the toilet for 4 of the 6 hours and my bladder can feel every bump and jolt from the shock absorber ...

I think it is fair to say that we have now seen and heard it all. Tonight in a very sweet Colombian city called Popayan we met a man from Colorado who is a "professor of backpacking". We met him through another guy, Dan, who was checking into the hostel as we were on our way out for a beer. Dan said he'd join us, and he would tell the others to come as well. 'The others' turned out to be the university professor and his four students: Tyler, Elijah, Dave and ...