Colombian Security for you

The hotel in Pasto was nice but very noisy so I was awake early and headed off on what was a short ride in distance but long in time. More twisty roads through the hills avoiding trucks where ever possible.

I was surprised that the countryside was so brown but it is their dry season. i stopped to take this picture in the middle of nowhere and out of the hedge popped a lady with many years but few teeth. She talked away and I think was saying that she was standing in all she had in the world. I gave her 10,000 pesos and she broke in to a gummy smile - amazing what you can do with £3.

 The Army is in evidence at most strategic places like the bridges and any decent size village. I stopped for a swig of water and a chat with these guys. From what I could gather they all have to do 2 years National Service and had been left here to guard the bridge all day! Sorry to disappoint Wilks but not a rubber glove in sight!

It only occurred to me afterwards that, if they wanted to keep my bike there wasn't anything I could do about it!

I stopped halfway at Popayan for fuel and some lunch. I also tried to get some cash but my bloody bank card has stopped working again. I have spent so much time (and money) waiting on the phone to sort this out with the bank - "your call is important to us" my arse! I will also incur their bloody charges for using my credit card for getting cash out!
I did remember to take a picture of their fruit stalls (although I think those in Ecuador were slightly better.

Cali is a large, low rise urban sprawl but with a lot of green spaces but a very grotty river running through it. Perhaps it cleans itself up a bit in the rainy season.

I was a bit disheartened when i got a map from the hotel which included the top 20 attractions................ 

 This sculpture is one of them!

It has some nice tree lined avenues and with a backdrop of the hills it is not all bad. I wasn't too sure how far one could wander in the neighbourhood but the other limiting factor was the heat, 2 hours outside was enough for me. I have probably seen more beggars in this town than any other on the tour.

If I was unsure of the streets in the day time I certainly wasn't wandering around on my own at night.

At the hotel, I kept bumping in to a US pilot with his impossibly gorgeous Colombian girlfriend. He is on secondment to help with drug crime, flying a "mini AWAC" plane around the area. He was meant to be elsewhere but it was easy to see why he had skipped down to Cali for a few days! The reason we chatted was that he has a Ducati 848 as well. It seems bikers will always find each other in a crowd.

I would concur with the often made comment that the Colombian women are the most attractive. Whilst not all are models they certainly seem to be a very attractive race. Someone told me that they have had more Miss Worlds than any other country. Another Pub Quiz winner for you!

One last word on the Olympics - the sports and news coverage has been very positive with glowing reports of just how good it was. So it is not just the Brits who think it was brilliant.