Hike Under Palm Trees
Trip Start
Nov 02, 2011
1
86
130
Trip End
May 31, 2012
Where I stayed
The Plantation House
What I did
Cocora Valley
'Tejo' at Los Amigos
Salento, Quindío, Colombia
Sunday, April 1, 2012
The Colombians have made huge efforts in cleaning up their act and it shows, it’s one of the countries I’ve felt the most safe in (apart from on the bus rides!! ;) ). Still, just the other side of the mountains is prime soil for coca production and drugs are still a way of life here. So stick to the tourist trail we did.
With Julie leading the way a quiet dinner in town ensued, before retiring to 'The Plantation House’ for the night. This hostel is owned by a English guy and his Colombian wife. The funnies thing is that after 30 years running the hostel he hasn’t lost his English accent, which makes for very interesting Spanish! Thanks Tim for all your help and sorry for the chuckles.
Next day, up bright and early we headed up to the Cocora Valley for a spot of walking in the national park. A plan for a 2.5 hour saunter was agreed and off we went following tourists on horses, between palm trees. Leaving them behind we find a waterfall and the trail is ours alone. Swinging bridges, green trees and stepping stones across the stream, took us winding up into the rain forest.
2.5 Hours seem to drift on by. The going is tough, clambering over boulders but we keep going. Arriving at a fork with some other hikers we decide to head up the bird sanctuary to see humming birds and have a drink.
The plan for a 2.5 hour yomp out of the window we take a look at the map and decide to take a different route back, via a view point and down following a car track. We arrive back at the start point, having completed a 5.5 hour hike. Weary but pleased with ourselves we jump onto the last Jeep back to town. There’s a saying amongst the Jeep drives – there’s always room for one more! Enjoy the movie!!
Bushed but with things to do we headed straight out to Los Amigos to play with gun powder. Yes you heard right. Los Amigos was recommended to us as a great place to play the game ‘Tejo’. Heading through the locals the barkeep took us in hand and showed us how to play.
Each player has a lead weight, which is thrown into a box of clay. In the box is a metal hoop, on which 4 sachets of gun powder are placed. Basically the bigger the bang the more points! Julie ‘Banger’ Bowers stole the day and my video. Nice one Banger!! I’m expecting a rematch in your back garden when we’re back!
A little later, the big boy came in to practice. It was at this point we realised the bar keep had put us on the kids alley!! The chaps had to throw much larger weights, twice the distance! And they made a lot of bangs!
JJ
