Hi All,

Well second time lucky, Ian wrote out an entry for this last week and as we were going to post it the system crashed. Think that we are finally getting used to South American way of doing things. Well we arrived in Bogota without any problems the flight was uneventful. Got our hotel room and crashed out. Think that we were catching up on all the lost sleep of the last few weeks in London.

Friday we got up and had a walk around downtown bogota. For all the horror stories we both felt really safe. That afternoon we went to the gold museum that was set up by one of the banks to try and stop the loss of the colombian culture. Lots of amazinge intricate pieces with serious armed protection.

That night we got back to the hostel and got chating to some of the others that were there. They were all going out clubbing, and invited us along. Had a really good night. The colombian people would have to be the most friendliest people that we have ever met. In the club that night I got chatting to some girls, found out there whole entire life stories. even though there english wasn´t so hot and my spanish is non existant, we had a great time.

Saturday was a write off. all that we managed to do was book our flights to the coast. The guys were going out again that night and somehow Ian had the stamina to do it again. This time they headed to a large club called Gothica, witnessed a Argie Live PA that was mean´t to be really good while I had a early night.

Sunday we went up to Monserrat. It´s one of the hills that surrounds bogota with a church on it´s summit. We caught the cable car up to the top, there were amazing views over the whole of bogota. spent the afternoon up there chatting to a little girl and boy. The Colombian´s are so friendly!!

Monday we flew to Cartagena. Well it felt like we had landed on a different planet. Due to the altitude bogota´s weather was perfect. down on the coast it was boiling hot with extreme humidity. It really knocked us for six. got to the hotel and flaked out,that night we venture out for some food and that was about it.

The next day we awoke to the sounds of thunder. Being the caribbean and the start of the wet season we were soon to get very used to that sound. Well it was completely pissing it down so most of the day was spent watching cable and trying to teach ourselves spanish using the subtitles.

The folowing day the rain had stopped and we managed a walk around the old town which was stunning. We ran into a couple that we had met in bogota and organised to go the mud volcano with them the next day. By the afternoon the rain had started again so it was drinks and dinner time.

The next day we awoke bright and early to get the bus to the mud volcano. it was truely a unique experience. The volcano is only about 15 metres high and after walking up the step on the side you find the top of it is filled with liquid mud, about the consitancy of cream. I had assumed that it would be warm but was infact cold which suited me as i could do with all the cooling down I could get. After a rather intimate massage byt he men working there it was off down to the waters edge to get cleaned off. Then it was a mad dash to get back to our clothes. Well during this mad dash it seemed that we had to run through a forest of starving mozzies that appeared to be lying in wait for us. In all Ian has approx 50 bites over him. I was a bit luckier and only have a dozen or so. (pictures of Ian to follow)

Then it was time for us to head to Santa Marta. The 4 hour bus ride became 6 (again South America time) but we didn´t mind as we were driving through some beautiful scenary. Arrived in Santa Marta and after a look around realised it didn´t have the same picturesque old town but, the people seemed alot friendlier and not as many people trying to get us to come into there emerald shop for an exhibition (read buy things) that we had in Cartagena.

Spent a few days just relaxing, drinking freshly squeezed juices for the equivalant of about 30p on the beach front.

Now we´re back in bogota and about to catch the bus off to Villa De leyva. Againt it´s supposed to be a wonderful place filled with colonial architecture. Hope this finds you all well and we´ll post another update soon.

Love Megs and Ian.