Ibague in Pics, July 17 2008. By Docwilliam.

docwilliam says on Jul 17, 2008, 18:07:

"There's no time to panic"

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docwilliam says on Jul 17, 2008, 18:10:

If you are standing where I was, when this last pic was taken.....you are in a bad spot. (if you are a gringo).

"There's no time to panic"

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papiChulo says on Jul 17, 2008, 18:19:

doc... I only been thru there by bus at night... nice to see it in daylight!

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docwilliam says on Jul 17, 2008, 18:22:

Your welcom papi, I am still trying to transfer more pics.

"There's no time to panic"

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docwilliam says on Jul 17, 2008, 18:36:

Saving the best for last.

"There's no time to panic"

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docwilliam says on Jul 17, 2008, 19:10:

The pic of D.D. is also located in central. There are many miniture versions in malls throughout town.

"There's no time to panic"

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adrimm says on Jul 17, 2008, 19:43:

Great pics, very Colombia!

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MaFe says on Jul 17, 2008, 20:10:

Great pictures, thanks for sharing!

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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jake074701 says on Jul 17, 2008, 20:53:

Doc, thanks for the pics, she recognized y brought back great memories of her hometown. She lives really close to central plaza. I know some of these places and it brings to me good memories also. Thank you for the great show, well worth the night for her y made her homesick in a good since, best to you, Jake

Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

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jonny305 says on Jul 17, 2008, 21:01:

nice pics is this located like in the coast?

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webmanco says on Jul 17, 2008, 21:03:

It is located about three hours from Bogotà, on the way to Cali, far from the coast. Ibague is the music capitol of Colombia. The closest to the Coast would be Pacific Coast at Buenaventura.

Here are a few more pictures of Ibague or the way to Ibague.

http://colombiche.net/mipueblo/v/Ibague/

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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Lcacique says on Jul 18, 2008, 00:42:

Brings back a lot of memories, doc. Thanks! Keep posting photos of Ibagué whenever you have the opportunity and keep me posted. I miss it! Especially el centro. I am not sure about the name, but I think I lived about three blocks from La Universidad del Tolima. The house was located a block or two off of a major street that leads directly to Bogotá...I believe, but I am not positive. I know it was in the Eastern part of the city in a pretty quiet neighborhood. My friends operated a print shop for all of the students from the University. Damn I totally miss it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There was a pizzeria and a little bar a block away from their house where we used to pass the nights drinking aguardiente and dancing on the patio. Thanks again, doc!!! All of my video footage was lost and I didn't take many fotos thinking that I could extract them from my video footage. So it is great to see these shots!

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

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Lcacique says on Jul 18, 2008, 02:01:

Also, there is a nice park just outside of town called Reserva Santa Fe de los Guaduales. Nothing spectacular, but it is a nice opportunity to hike around a bit while learning about the flora and the fauna in the area.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

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dwmte7 says on Jul 18, 2008, 03:31:

a note of tragedy....la guadua...is rapidly becoming endangered in colombia because of americas desire for furniture made from it. they'll come in, chop down a bosque in a day--which took 200 years to grow--and leave this decimated scar in place of what was a beautiful stand of guadua. i'm told that 'eddie bauer' is the biggest offender.

those are what i call homesick photos, doc. thank you. that's one busy drug store--first pic-- what's goin on there?

dwmte

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jake074701 says on Jul 18, 2008, 05:46:

Doc, where you said that one picture is dangerous if you are a gringo. Why is that? My wife told me that is sort of like where all the people from the mountains, bring their fruits,vegetables and other things down to and are transported to the fruit y veg stands and markets. Do you live in the area of the first pics, I think wife said it was the La Polo???? barrio, sort of north east of main central plaza area. Old town pics of original Ibague are really nice and cool.

Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

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Lcacique says on Jul 18, 2008, 10:40:

Hey doc, isn't there a clothing store called Luger right next to that drugstore? And La Casa de la Cerveza, right?

More info on la Reserva Santa Fe de los Guaduales: Es una hermosa reserva ecológica de seis hectáreas, un lugar donde se ha logrado una perfecta armonía entre el disfrute y la naturaleza. Tiene 4.600 metros de senderos que disfrutará en gratas caminatas ecológicas. If nothing else, it is an excuse to get outside, walk around for a bit, and then eat a ton of sancocho.

It is right across el puente de la variante (where everyone commits suicide).






There should be a little stand selling buñuelos, avena, etc. on the other side of the bridge along a dirt road. The park is up the dirt road. It is a little tricky to find, though. You might ask someone at the stand for directions.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

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docwilliam says on Jul 19, 2008, 17:30:

Wow LQ, I believe I crossed that bridge once. And you are welcome for the pics. I believe my favorite watering hole is within two blocks of your pizzarea. I drink my beer at a corner (chicken) restr. at the main intersection you mentioned. One direction goes to UT and another to Bogota.

There is a road, which is closed to traffic for approximately 5 blocks. It ends at the Cathedral/ Town square. The Drugas store is half way down this walking, main Biz road. Roads running perpendicular are still open to traffic. It is a very old and unique corner building with a restr. on the top (I had empinadas there today).

The reason why i stated that the Farmers market is dangerous is because there are many banditos that hang out in the area. I picked up two of them (independantly) as I did a 180 and headed out. They both changed there mind by the time we made it to the corner though. Also, the National Police usually hangout there, in groups of no less than 6, and that never seems to be enough, as I have seen them take a real beating, their, a couple of times. When the Police engage their "Help" sirene, everyone around beeps their horns to cover the sound of the siren. I do not know why it is so bad in that one spot, because two or three blocks in any direction is fine. There is a really nice crafts shop (Colombian) two blocks from that place. And the reason why i said it is dangerous "for gringos" is because only a gringo would be stupid enough to take pics, out in the open, by himself, just to score some nice Jeep pics.. If you are not flashing juelry, equipment or $$$, you should be fine. I live approx. 6km from central.

The old part of Ibague may be a bit hazardus also (but good photo op). I picked up two banditos at the intersection of the 9th pic also (they split up and tried to circle me) but they changed their mind also. In other words, if you know what your doing you should not have a problem (same as anywhere else in the World).

"There's no time to panic"

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brad216 says on Jul 20, 2008, 07:49:

Thanks for the 2nd group of pictures. my sister in law goes to school there and it didn't look to good in your first set of pictures. glad that 2nd set showed a nicer part of the city.

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jake074701 says on Jul 20, 2008, 12:54:

Thank you Doc, my wife's family y her grew up about 2 blocks from central plaza near the main central bus terminal, it is about 4 blocks from the main offices of Comfatolima. I understand now better about that situation you stated about the willys coming from the mountain areas bringing in the fruits y veggies, again thanks

Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

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docwilliam says on Jul 20, 2008, 16:22:

I am glad to see that all of you like the pics. I am transfrng more to my photobucket now and hope to have them posted tonight.

"There's no time to panic"

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docwilliam says on Jul 20, 2008, 16:56:

"There's no time to panic"

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docwilliam says on Jul 20, 2008, 16:57:

sorry about the size. When i send them via email, to photobucket, they come out this large.

"There's no time to panic"

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docwilliam says on Jul 20, 2008, 16:59:

This is that business (walk through) street that I had written about

"There's no time to panic"

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docwilliam says on Jul 20, 2008, 17:00:

"There's no time to panic"

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dwmte7 says on Jul 21, 2008, 08:31:

looks like gordismo is alive and well there, too, doc.

when i first moved to colombia years ago, an over weight person was like chicken teeth...rare now, they're everywhere.

america's greatest export...obeisity... sorry world.

que dije la senora? 'send me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, and i'll fatten their ass up..................

dwmte

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docwilliam says on Jul 21, 2008, 15:12:

Douglas, what I have noticed, over the years, is that it is a sign of prosperity. I saw the same thing in Koera, the first time i was there (no overwieght people). The prosperity following the 88' Olympics changed things. When I returned 3 1/2 yrs later, i saw chubby kids running around everywhere. Herd it was the same way with Japan.

All Colombians I mingle with tell me that the REAL poor people are not overweight. So, anytime i here people talking about all the starving Colombians, the first thing I look for is "gordo".. I do not see many Ethiopian looking people around here.

"There's no time to panic"

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docwilliam says on Jul 22, 2008, 15:35:

"There's no time to panic"

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docwilliam says on Jul 22, 2008, 15:36:

"There's no time to panic"

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docwilliam says on Jul 22, 2008, 15:37:

just a few more pics from today and yesterday. The first 4 are from the UT campus area and the last is of the burned out Telecom building (leftside).

"There's no time to panic"

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