Jerico, Colombia: Finca Cabañas y Flores and relaxing!
Quiet here this evening on the farm in my Cabana! I made a video to five you an overview. Actually, I was making a Facebook live video when I lost connection. So I’ll post both below. The one on the left is of my cabana. The other is an overview of the property.
I worked on several videos yesterday but couldn’t get them uploaded. The hotel had decent wifi…until evening. Then, it continued disconnecting. These were recorded in the village of Jerico. Initially, when I arrived, I wondered if I made a mistake. The central plaza was packed! Lots of noise, lots of people, lots of traffic. Then I realized it was Sunday! Things are different on Sunday.
My hotel was right on the plaza which meant walking fewer hills. Making plans to return, I remembered how challenging it was walking the hills. My knees were so sore! If I overdid it, I suffered for days.
I went exploring and searching for a burger. I had found a place with exceptional grilled burger but it was a long walk uphill. As I started the walk, up and up, it was easy. This time! I took my time, went slow, and never felt pain in my knees! And, the burger was exceptional! I’m going to do a longer walk to revisit! They sat a platter of ribs on the table next to me and the smell really grabbed me. I’ll walk down the hill to have that tomorrow before leaving on Friday.
Below, I’m posting some of the videos I made.
From my room on the plaza. Great spot to sit, relax, people watch, read, etc. Close to everything!
Before leaving Jardin, I had to go for one more coffee! Such a lovely quiet spot with friendly people. I walked the path down to the street, sharing the forest with an Andean Motmot!
On the road to Jerico from Andes
I love riding the Chiva! I’ve not seen a tourist on any I passed. It’s a slow intimate ride with nature! At times, I could would need to tuck my arm so branches we passed wouldn’t scrape my arm. That was true on both sides of the Chiva!
When I walked up a little before 6:00, the older man sitting in his chair directing people to buses noticed me. He commented, “Chiva at 6:00 am for Jerico”….remembering me asking him for help a few days before!
This ride was different! We headed up the “normal” route. Half an hour into the journey, we met another Chiva coming down. They stopped so the Chiva ahead could pass then sat for quite a while talking. I gathered something was up!
We didn’t go more than 10 minutes and got to a section that was sloppy muddy with a motorbike that had clearly lost control coming down.
He parked the Chiva and walked up the hill checking things out. When he came back, he headed up the mud bog slowly slipping and sliding. Within 200 meters, there was a place he could back into. We turned around and headed back down!
I wondered what would happen? Would we go all the way back? Would I need to find a bus to take me?
Then I saw him pointing up another hill explaining something to a lady. I saw another road up there. Toward the bottom, we turned onto a different road, the woman got off to walk back, we continued.
Great!!! I got to see a new section of the country side! We made it an hour late!
The Chiva stopped 50 meters from my hotel. I was very early! And, my room was ready. Perfect. Below are a couple short videos showing part of the adventure!
Wide enough section for Chivas to pass. Drivers had a long conversation before we continues…for a short distance!
The colorful Chiva ahead of us!
The countryside was so lovely. However, from a moving vehicle, it was difficult getting any good video. There are a couple glimpses on this one.
Unique to Jerico
Paso Fina…fine step, is something the horses of Spanish descent do here. This went on all afternoon and into the evening. At one point, I looked down. Two riders, still on their horse, stopped at the bar below me. They were sitting in the saddle enjoying a beer!
Final photos from this Colombia Adventure
Below are a collection of photos from the last few days. It’s been such an interesting trip! The people are lovely! I have had a lot of connections ranging from hotel staff, people in shops, police, taxi drivers, bus station staff…etc. They seem curious about a gringo speaking Spanish but also to share and explore together. So lovely to connect!
