Cali Columbia

My favourite part of the trip was visiting the town of Silvia on Tuesday market day where the Guambiano Indians still wear their bowler hats and bright blue capes and skirts. The men also wear skirts and outside of Scotland this was a first for me. They travel in brightly coloured buses with all their belongings on the top of the bus even sheep and chickens! They do not like to get their photo taken but by the afternoon many of the men and women have celebrated market day and are a little more relaxed about photography. Apparently they pelt you with orange peel if you take a photo. The advantage of a long lens is that I can be unobtrusive and not get pelted.

Popayán is known as the white city and has some beautiful arched Colonial buildings. It is famous for its gastronomy and the celebration of Semana Santa (Easter). It is certainly very photogenic and has a lovely church Igelsia de San Fransisco. It is a stopping point on the way to San Agustín where the pre Columbian graves and sculptures are a 20th century discovery. There is not much to do in San Agustín at night although I did discover some salsa.

Cali is the salsa capital and you can dance salsa every night while in Cali. I stayed in a wonderful area called Barrio San Antonio and a fabulous hostel called El Viajero run by Uruguayans which offers salsa lessons and free yoga. The food found in this area is nothing short of a delight. Barrio San Antonio seems peaceful although there is a strong police presence.