February 14, 2011
After an hour of trying to figure out where "Dreamer Hostel" is, I got it and we headed out of this crappy hotel. 15 minutes later, arrived and got unpacked off the bikes and waited for our dorm beds to become available. Nice place, they have lots of activities and nice little pool. Bought groceries at a new mall. This mall make many of ours insignificant in comparison..
Most people hanging around the courtyard, met numerous, made stew dinner and chilled. Had a billiard tournament in the evening.
Feb 15, 2011
February 13, 2011
On the road this morning to Santa Marta as we have heard that the best beaches are there. Minor chore of gettign out of town as the GPS routing is stupid with this newest map update, but at least it shows the streets of towns. About half way into our trip, we pass this cafe with the roof shaped as a sombrero. I'm looking at the roof line and Michael says, "did you see the 3 Vstroms parked out front"? We turned around, went in and met the riders from Barranquilla who paid for our drinks and invited us to follow then on their ride. We happily agreed as our destination was close at hand and we had lots of time to get there. They showed us some wonderful countryside and after about 1.5 hours we arrived in Barranquilla, they escorted us to their town's mall where the "Mac" store is and help talk for us translating. We find out that the tech works tomorrow and Mary calls a friend for an address to a local hotel. After reaching the hotel, which wanted more than it was worth and no internet, we decided to go to Santa Marta as originally planned. Arrived at dusk, the directions and posted by Google for this hostel send us into some barrio not even close to the hostel. We have coordinates for another and arrive to find it does not have parking. We drive down to the beach row and find a hotel that has lost its former glory, but its dark by now and we need to get off the street. Hot, fan has one speed (high) and cleanliness was questionable when we saw mouse droppings on the bed.
On the road this morning to Santa Marta as we have heard that the best beaches are there. Minor chore of gettign out of town as the GPS routing is stupid with this newest map update, but at least it shows the streets of towns. About half way into our trip, we pass this cafe with the roof shaped as a sombrero. I'm looking at the roof line and Michael says, "did you see the 3 Vstroms parked out front"? We turned around, went in and met the riders from Barranquilla who paid for our drinks and invited us to follow then on their ride. We happily agreed as our destination was close at hand and we had lots of time to get there. They showed us some wonderful countryside and after about 1.5 hours we arrived in Barranquilla, they escorted us to their town's mall where the "Mac" store is and help talk for us translating. We find out that the tech works tomorrow and Mary calls a friend for an address to a local hotel. After reaching the hotel, which wanted more than it was worth and no internet, we decided to go to Santa Marta as originally planned. Arrived at dusk, the directions and posted by Google for this hostel send us into some barrio not even close to the hostel. We have coordinates for another and arrive to find it does not have parking. We drive down to the beach row and find a hotel that has lost its former glory, but its dark by now and we need to get off the street. Hot, fan has one speed (high) and cleanliness was questionable when we saw mouse droppings on the bed.
February 12, 2011
Back down to Bocagrande neighborhood this morning to find the Mac store right across the street from Danny's hostel. The Mac tech is sick, come back on Monday.. Visited with Danny, then walked the beach sidewalks. Very American large city tourist trap. Enough of that. Back to the hotel, lunch and walk to "El Centro" again. Beer for me and aqua for my pooped puppy, at the Hard Rock Cafe. More walking, then back to our hotel to rinse the sweat off.
Back down to Bocagrande neighborhood this morning to find the Mac store right across the street from Danny's hostel. The Mac tech is sick, come back on Monday.. Visited with Danny, then walked the beach sidewalks. Very American large city tourist trap. Enough of that. Back to the hotel, lunch and walk to "El Centro" again. Beer for me and aqua for my pooped puppy, at the Hard Rock Cafe. More walking, then back to our hotel to rinse the sweat off.
Feb 12, 2011
February 11, 2011
This morning we pull our bikes out of the parking lot across the street from our hotel and ride up to the top of the only nearby hill to "Cerro la Popa". Mass amounts of buses were there ferrying people to and from this monument, Michael felt uncomfortable leaving our bikes unattended so we took a few pics and left. We had heard of a "Mac" store in Bocagrande and headed for it. Just as we arrived the the peninsula, police pulled us over and informed us that every 2nd Friday of the month, motorcycles were banned from the roads.... They let us turn around and take our bikes back to the parking lot. After that, we returned to our hotel and Michael as has not been feeling well. For about 3 weeks, he has been having stomach cramps and well you get the drift. We decided to take him to a hospital and have him checked out. They were really good and checked him out fairly quickly, but wanted to do some tests. They asked us to wait for the test diagnoses. To make a long story longer, we ended up spending over 6 hours at a Colombian hospital and Michael was given prescriptions for 3 or 4 things, plus instructions what to eat. Better coming from them than me. Needless to say he is on a bland diet for a week. While I was waiting for Michael, a guy sits beside me and has a "Care" card in his hand. Turns out Danny is from Vancouver and been riding Colombia for the past 4 months. While he is waiting for a tetanus shot because he was attacked by dogs on the beach, we had a great conversation and plan to meet up in Santa Marta. We are heading there tomorrow and he is thinking a few days from now.
This morning we pull our bikes out of the parking lot across the street from our hotel and ride up to the top of the only nearby hill to "Cerro la Popa". Mass amounts of buses were there ferrying people to and from this monument, Michael felt uncomfortable leaving our bikes unattended so we took a few pics and left. We had heard of a "Mac" store in Bocagrande and headed for it. Just as we arrived the the peninsula, police pulled us over and informed us that every 2nd Friday of the month, motorcycles were banned from the roads.... They let us turn around and take our bikes back to the parking lot. After that, we returned to our hotel and Michael as has not been feeling well. For about 3 weeks, he has been having stomach cramps and well you get the drift. We decided to take him to a hospital and have him checked out. They were really good and checked him out fairly quickly, but wanted to do some tests. They asked us to wait for the test diagnoses. To make a long story longer, we ended up spending over 6 hours at a Colombian hospital and Michael was given prescriptions for 3 or 4 things, plus instructions what to eat. Better coming from them than me. Needless to say he is on a bland diet for a week. While I was waiting for Michael, a guy sits beside me and has a "Care" card in his hand. Turns out Danny is from Vancouver and been riding Colombia for the past 4 months. While he is waiting for a tetanus shot because he was attacked by dogs on the beach, we had a great conversation and plan to meet up in Santa Marta. We are heading there tomorrow and he is thinking a few days from now.
Castillo San Felipe De Barajas
February 10, 2011
This morning we walked over to the "Castillo San Felipe De Barajas" and took their tour. Very interesting that the construction of this fortress was started in 1657 and had about 7 stages to it over a period of 200 years. It protected Cartagena from other countries taking over the Spanish lands in South America and was subjected to pirate attacks and sieges. Form its vantage point we were able to have a good view of the city and in particular, old Cartagena with its walls around for its protection.
After our tour of the castle, we made our way to old town centro and walked its streets as well. Beautiful Spanish architecture with the many balconies that overhang the streets below. Some building have been renovated back to their former glory days and others are yet to have face-lifts. All adds to the ambiance of this wonderful city. After over 5 hours of walking we head back to our hotel for a well deserved shower in tepid water that comes out of the one and only shower tap. Refreshing after being in 93 degree heat and equally as much humidity. After relaxing under our ceiling fan, we head out looking for a dinner venue.
This morning we walked over to the "Castillo San Felipe De Barajas" and took their tour. Very interesting that the construction of this fortress was started in 1657 and had about 7 stages to it over a period of 200 years. It protected Cartagena from other countries taking over the Spanish lands in South America and was subjected to pirate attacks and sieges. Form its vantage point we were able to have a good view of the city and in particular, old Cartagena with its walls around for its protection.
Only entrance to the castle could be burnt quickly, in case of siege.
One of the many underground tunnels, note their height,
People must have been very short back then.
After our tour of the castle, we made our way to old town centro and walked its streets as well. Beautiful Spanish architecture with the many balconies that overhang the streets below. Some building have been renovated back to their former glory days and others are yet to have face-lifts. All adds to the ambiance of this wonderful city. After over 5 hours of walking we head back to our hotel for a well deserved shower in tepid water that comes out of the one and only shower tap. Refreshing after being in 93 degree heat and equally as much humidity. After relaxing under our ceiling fan, we head out looking for a dinner venue.
Entrance to "El Centro"
Catholic Church
Narrow streets with overhanging balconies
February 9, 2011
Today we ride to Cartagena, about 175kms from here. Along the seashore for a while before turning inland. The road is in poorer shape as it is a troncial road instead of the main highway. Instead of topes (speed bumps) it has gravel, broken pavement and large potholes the size of small motorcycles to help keep our speed to a minimum roll.
Midway through our journey to Cartagena, we are navigating through a small town and are behind a normal size local motorcycle (100cc) which is behind a cargo truck. Trucks, buses and many cars always come to a complete stop before going over a topes, as this one in front of us also did. We don't know whether the motorcycle in front of us had no brakes or the driver was daydreaming, but he almost ran into the back of this truck. In the last split second, he had his feet out swerving around and because he couldn't stop went to the left and attempted to go around the truck. He couldn't see the huge semi coming in the other direction towards the topes, but when he came out from behind the truck and saw the other truck, he to scoot across the far left hand side of the road. Well, he didn't make it. The oncoming semi locked up his brakes but hit the biker and the bike went right underneath the bumper, pushing the bike onto its side. The biker, trying to get away jumped from the bike but his foot was caught under the left side. As we watched this all unfold, the truck's front right tire came to rest mid section on top of this small motorcycle's side. Plastic parts had flown everywhere like plastic confetti and we saw the rider getting up without a shoe or maybe a foot, as we rode past. There was not much we could do for the guy because of our Spanish and many people were there and running to the guy's aid, so we carried on. Just goes to show, wrong place wrong time, it can happen at anytime. Reminds us that we have to be aware and careful on this trip of ours.
Rode into Cartagena and the GPS takes us through a construction zone and we detour off this area and into some barrios (neighbourhoods). Gravel roads, single lane, at first I thought what did I get myself into and then as we watched people watching us, I was not intimidated. Their expressions were friendly. Got back on track and found the hostel we were looking for. This hostel helps people get boat charters to Panama. They were full but suggested another down the street a block. Ended up here and had to park our bikes in a parking garage for $12,000cop per day for both bikes ($6can). Went back to the first hostel and talked to a boat captain of the next leaving boat. He would not take our bikes because his boat was too small and told us that if any other boat chose to take our bikes, it would be like dipping our bikes into the ocean because the seawater would get into everything. We told him that we have reservations with the Stahlratte and his said that was our best choice, they do a great job and the boat is the biggest, we won't have a problem with the Stahlratte. So, we will have to suffer with traveling up the coast and visiting more resort towns and beaches, before our boat trip to Panama on the 26th of February.
Today we ride to Cartagena, about 175kms from here. Along the seashore for a while before turning inland. The road is in poorer shape as it is a troncial road instead of the main highway. Instead of topes (speed bumps) it has gravel, broken pavement and large potholes the size of small motorcycles to help keep our speed to a minimum roll.
Midway through our journey to Cartagena, we are navigating through a small town and are behind a normal size local motorcycle (100cc) which is behind a cargo truck. Trucks, buses and many cars always come to a complete stop before going over a topes, as this one in front of us also did. We don't know whether the motorcycle in front of us had no brakes or the driver was daydreaming, but he almost ran into the back of this truck. In the last split second, he had his feet out swerving around and because he couldn't stop went to the left and attempted to go around the truck. He couldn't see the huge semi coming in the other direction towards the topes, but when he came out from behind the truck and saw the other truck, he to scoot across the far left hand side of the road. Well, he didn't make it. The oncoming semi locked up his brakes but hit the biker and the bike went right underneath the bumper, pushing the bike onto its side. The biker, trying to get away jumped from the bike but his foot was caught under the left side. As we watched this all unfold, the truck's front right tire came to rest mid section on top of this small motorcycle's side. Plastic parts had flown everywhere like plastic confetti and we saw the rider getting up without a shoe or maybe a foot, as we rode past. There was not much we could do for the guy because of our Spanish and many people were there and running to the guy's aid, so we carried on. Just goes to show, wrong place wrong time, it can happen at anytime. Reminds us that we have to be aware and careful on this trip of ours.
Rode into Cartagena and the GPS takes us through a construction zone and we detour off this area and into some barrios (neighbourhoods). Gravel roads, single lane, at first I thought what did I get myself into and then as we watched people watching us, I was not intimidated. Their expressions were friendly. Got back on track and found the hostel we were looking for. This hostel helps people get boat charters to Panama. They were full but suggested another down the street a block. Ended up here and had to park our bikes in a parking garage for $12,000cop per day for both bikes ($6can). Went back to the first hostel and talked to a boat captain of the next leaving boat. He would not take our bikes because his boat was too small and told us that if any other boat chose to take our bikes, it would be like dipping our bikes into the ocean because the seawater would get into everything. We told him that we have reservations with the Stahlratte and his said that was our best choice, they do a great job and the boat is the biggest, we won't have a problem with the Stahlratte. So, we will have to suffer with traveling up the coast and visiting more resort towns and beaches, before our boat trip to Panama on the 26th of February.
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