edward has left 6 comments

edward comments on Abandonada en Bogota

go to......... Platyus hostel.....http://www.platypusbogota.com it is full of backpakers (if thats your scene) and you are welcomed as part of the family as soon as you walk through the door (phone to book as usually full), it is not glamarous and it is not expensive but if you want to make friends quickly and have people to party with go there.........if you want to go to cali let me know as I have friends (colombian) in my flat share where i lived for a few months who would happily take you out salsa dancing if there feet have recovered from my sad attempts..

edward comments on Cedula as ID??

cedula I made the border crossing two months ago and I needed my passport!

Bused from Cali, no problems that day.

edward comments on Christmas Surprise

thank you belated thanks, for the replies. I have been busy buying sparkly yellow pants, which I am now wearing whilst practising cooking Ajiaco. Pero en serio muchas gracias a todo!!

edward comments on travelling solo in Colombia: looking for tips

reply yep am travelling solo but have 3 days alone since I left home 11 months ago. You will always find friends especially if you stay in the main backpackers hostels...just look in any guide for the names and is wise to book ahead in the main cities as they are quite often full...

tierradentro...got a bus from popayan...about 4 hours no problems...just tell them you are going to tierradentro and you get dropped of at a crossroads and you can either hang arond for a colectivo, hitch or walk for 4 kms....there are loads of places to stay near the museums which are at the enterances to the sites (or most of them)....or stay up the road in san andres it is about 15 mins walk to the museums..I stayed with a lovely old lady called Marhta who rents out a couple of rooms and will feed and water you...just ask for abuela martha...the house is 30 metres up from the main shop...if you get stuck ask in the shop she looks after their kid....getting around the site is simple...just follow the paths....

it is understandable to be nervous I was when I arrived...if you go to platypus in bogota you will be sure to hook up with people going to san augustin as loads of people go there and I had no problems getting there....

not sure how crap your spanish is but when I started mine was none existant, hola was about it, but now I can converse without a worry. Lonely planet has a good phrasebook for latin america and helps alot and get a decent dictionary if you have intentions of studying from a book buy it where you are as it is very hard to find good books to learn spanish here...

re buses: I have bussed everywhere mostly at night for the long hauls and have had no problems....but you could do the same and have loads of problems so its your call.

as before any more ?? let me know

suerte

daniel

edward comments on travelling solo in Colombia: looking for tips

colombia hello. was in carataghena three and a half months ago and have finally made it as far as popayan....stayed at hotel casa de viena in cartagehna...

ciudad peridida treck was amazing, you can arrange it a miramar hotel in santa marta for 380,000 pesos, 5 nights, 6 days,,,,parque tyrona is a good place to chill out in a hammock for a week or a few days...watch out for the coconuts...

bogota is good fun stay at platypus good place to meet fellow travellers...book in advance.....san augustin and tierradentro were great...horse riding, walking, waterfalls etc etc....casa de francois was good in san augustin....stayed in someones house in tierradentro....you will probably be the only tourist...well I was anyway...no problems for me on buses etc...

coffee region is beautifull....have yet to make it leticia or the mountains but i reckon wherever you go will be great as have yet to be dissapointed with this beautifull country...

any ??? feel free to ask..

edward comments on Hotels in Cali

iguana hostel stayed in iguana hostel recently for 1 week...nice clean enviroment...backpackers...dorms or your own room plenty of choice...betty runs it...have use of kitchen...common room etc....

think drom was 10,000 pesos per night cannot remember other prices.

located very close to avenida sexta and you can get buses all over town in a jiffy...