As trees passed by at high speed, sharp curves running under the crushing power of the large tires and the altitude meters were climbed slowly but surely, I tried to imagine what would actually happen if the driver had a stroke, an unattended moment at the wheel or just hit a wall of pure insanity. There was no way, that anyone in the bus would survive a drop from the road down through the thick forest onto the floor of the valley. And the worst part was the knowledge of the nighttime sneaking in making it impossible for anyone to actually locate us if it happened. Chances of survival were slim and the stories about these kind of buses racing off the road in other countries, definitely did not make me more able to sleep. But witnessing the awaken Colombians trust in the driver, comforted me - just a bit. (more…)

I can almost smell Ecuador and the smell is sweet. I have stayed longer in Colombia than I planned, a consequence of what I can only call fascination. Colombia contains many absorbing views and the country in general has been more than generous to me. (more…)

Not really fully appreciating the presence of old carvings in large pieces of rock, the more cultural part of this journey is still ahead. Traveling across the south of Colombia, being mysteriously robbed for my shoes the next pile of rock is ahead of me, in the town of San Agustin. (more…)

I am glad I am not an archaeologist. I do not get a kick out of old items or artifacts. I like the walk, while rather quickly looking at statues, graves, urns and whatnot, but I have probably lost the ability to become awed by the great achievements of our forefathers. I like the stories behind the physical appearance, but many a time - these stories remain untold. (more…)

The 28th of October, a general election is held in Colombia. Some change is needed and while exiting the country, I need to put my fingerprint on the country. I sign up for the race for presidency and this is my political manifest. A manifest based on truth, observations and a profound interest in the wellbeing of a wonderful country. (more…)

In a shallow valley on the fringe of the Andes, a quiet village woke up to the next day of its undisturbed life. The valley is not deep and the surrounding mountains are not high, but as days commences inexplicable behaviors unfolds. (more…)

In the middle of the south region of Colombia, a desert named La Tatacoa have been formed. It is not technically a desert, but it definitely have some cacti growing there. After getting a few grains of sand in my eyes, I guess I can comply with the name: Desierto de La Tatacoa (The desert of Tatacoa). (more…)

The mountains are pulling me higher and higher. The nature is calling with its colors, freshness and vitality. The city of Manizales presents amazing adventures for the approximately 400.000 inhabitants and the stray traveler. I am back in the Andes and here, the coffee is everywhere, cheap and pretty fascinating.

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At the age of 44 years and one day, Pablo Escobar ended his reign as worlds number one cocaine dealer in the city of Medellín. His way of connect to people were to most people slightly abnormal, as he either got people killed, hooked on drugs, jailed or paid them decent bribes. I almost danced on his grave, but I never saw his white marching powder.

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Tolú - what can I say? If I were told to describe this place in one word, containing three letters, it would be: WOW. Unfortunately not in a good way and I would have needed to ask, if I could put quotes around it, and add two exclamation marks."WOW!!" is probably the only way I could, would and should describe this place, even if others could, would or should remove both the quotes and the exclamation marks. (more…)