From San Gil I took a 40 minute bus ride to Barichara, a beautiful little colonial town that was declared a national monument in 1978. Whilst on the bus, another example of amazing Colombian hospitality occurred. Continue reading
Category Archives: Places of historical interest
Chicamocha Canyon: Colombia
The Chicomocha Canyon in the Santander region is very large, covering over 43000 hectares and is 2km deep – deeper than the Grand Canyon. It is a striking landscape with the Chicomocha River flowing between the two steep sides. It has a 6.3 km cable car which runs right across the canyon, making it one of the longest cable car rides in the world. Continue reading
Filed under Colombia, Places of historical interest
Vélez – a small town in Santander, Colombia
My first stop on my journey to explore the north of Colombia, was Vélez in the district of Santander, where I was very fortunate to spend two wonderful days as a guest of Carmenza and her family. She grew up in Velez and her father and many relatives still live there. It is an interesting little town where people still ride their horses to the pub and cattle are traded in the centre of town. Continue reading
Filed under Colombia, Places of historical interest
Cajica, Sopo & Parque Jaime Duque
I was very fortunate to be invited by Carmenza (Camilla & Lina’s housekeeper) to visit her family in a small town just 24 km north of Bogota, called Cajica. To get there we took the TransMilenio, Bogota’s bus rapid transport system which is somewhat inadequate for the population here. It is basically 2-4 lanes in the middle of the main highway that serves buses which are either express or stop frequently. Continue reading
Filed under Colombia, Places of historical interest
Catedral de Sal, Colombia
I admit to a sense of trepidation when Ben & Maria took me to see this incredible feat of Colombian architecture. Focusing on rational thoughts like the fact hundreds of people go through this mine every day, did little to calm my racing heart, fueled by my irrational claustrophobia. Continue reading
Filed under Colombia, Places of historical interest
Inca Pisac
Today was amazing! The Castilla family invited me out to see Pisac on a glorious Sunday morning. I had been to Pisac before, a quaint town with a wonderful market. However I was in for a surprise for little did I know what was atop the hill behind the town! Inca Pisac!
The interesting thing about the Pisac ruins is that despite being the largest Inca ruins in the whole Sacred Valley, little is conclusively known about them and much is speculation, therefore I have not even attempted to summarise all I have read. One thing is for sure – the Inca terraces are still in use today. I find this quite amazing as they possible date back to the mid 1400’s.
The ruins themselves are incredible. Juan told me there were two eras at work in the masonry, which was quite evident in the style of the rock work. The skill is quite something and hard to comprehend how they could make the joins in the rock walls so precise in the earlier work. I kept thinking I wished my brother William could be here – he would appreciate it even more!
The buildings and paths were steeply built into the mountain, cleverly incorporating large boulders and the natural shape of the mountain. The views were spectacular and around every corner was something else to marvel at.
Looking across the valley from the ruins are holes scattered through the mountain side. These are tombs; thousands of them. The sad thing about looking at the holes is the knowledge that the Spaniards raided each and every one of them! The Incas believed the dead could take processions with them into the underworld so they would bury their loved ones with treasures.
Here are some of the many photos I took. If I was asked what was a “must see” in Peru then I would have to say Pisac ruins is a very close second to Macchu Piccu! It is simply amazing……
Filed under Cusco, Peru, Places of historical interest
Moray: Inca circlular ruins
I never carry much money with me in case of being robbed. For the same reason I never carry any credit or bank cards, unless I am actually going to the bank. There is the risk of running short and this is what nearly happened to me on my trip to Moray! After my excursion to Pisac yesterday (see previous blog – Pisac is amazing!), I found myself with a ticket to see other sites which was included in my entry to the Piscac ruins, so I got up early, jumped in a mototaxi to the bus terminal (which cost me one sole) and jumped on a minivan to Urubamba (1.5 S/.) Initially there were only 3 people in the minivan that back home would be a standard 9 seater. Here they are filled with 3 x 2 seaters in the back plus a bench seat at the very rear for 4, and a long thin side bench, plus a bench behind the driver’s and front passengers’ seats. So a 9 seater becomes a 19 seater.
Filed under Peru, Places of historical interest