Colombia

Album - Popoyan, Colombia

We took another 45 minute taxi ride to the US embassy. At 11.45 we were told they were shut for lunch and come back at 2pm. Unbelievable. Youngmi was like Basil Fawlty holding her head in her hands and going no ,no.The most wonderful security guard asked if what was wrong and he said he would try to find someone. We only needed to collect the passport with US visa and had been told it would be ready.Someone let her in and it then transpired the visa was processed but not printed. You must come back at 2pm. Nothing to do around the US embassy for 2 hours. Got the visa, taxi back, completed lots of docs for Youngmis citizenship copy application. Tried to post to Peter in Melbourne who is helping us try to get a new passport but couldnt find the post office. People kept directing us until we were going nuts with frustration.Another pizza for dinner. Lucky the Lauberge hostel was so good.
Posted docs the next morning while Youngmi tried to recover from all the traumas. A guy from Iraq told us how he went to the US embassy in Bagdad to get a US visa. Sounded dreadful.
Sat and off to Colombia. Taxi to bus station. Bus left after 19mins, Great scenery but usual coming and going of passengers had us gripping our bag firmly.5 hours later arrive in Tulcan and meet two koreans. Share taxis and border crossing with them. The guy was shouting at anyone he could find in korean.

Very strange- Ipialles to Pasto in a real luxury Bolivarian bus. Big mountains. Koala Inn hostel in Pasto had seen better days but Luis the manager was real nice and told us where it wasn´t safe to go on Sat night,basically most of the town. Had a little walk Sun morning and most people seemed to stare at us.20 seat bus Pasto to Popoyan turned into an epic journey.6.5hours of windy roads. Great mountains then red hot lower land. Jairo the conductor was finding passengers everywhere while Youngmi gripped her bag. About 10 fruit sellers got on at one point. Added to 20 passengers this appeared total chaos. Lots of army posts along the road and every bridge had army at each end,
Popoyan another white colonial town. Nice enough. Park life hostel which had a father ted film night first night. Museums and churches day one. Next day hostel outing to Sylvia for an indigineous market. First bus turns back because of guerilla activity. 6 of us at the bus station deciding what to do.Another bus company says the trouble is one hour past Sylvia and they will take us there. Two english lads Jack and Tom aged 19 are with us. Jack has taught english in Bogota for 9 months and says we should have our passports in case there is an army check.We never take ours out of the hotel if we can avoid it .Get another bus and have no trouble. Loads of indigenous people in the town. Men and womend dressed same boots, blue skirt and top and leonard cohen hat. Speaking local language. Up a street there is an army post with lots of sandbags and guns.
On way back the bus is stopped by the police. Passports? After much squirming by us Jack intervenes and in fluent spanish says we have left our passports as we were robbed. You must carry them but let us go. Fortunately the police had not asked the lady from London who was going to tell them to F off.
The photo is Jack with his passpòrt after the police got off.
Overnight bus to Medellin tonight. Said to be the best and safest?
Look forward to relaxing when we reach the caribean at cartegna