Few Shots from Colombia

[DavidCBaker]

I flew into Bogotá two nights ago and stayed there at a decent hotel. Bogotá struck me as a very cosmopolitan city of enthusiasm and life. The infrastructure would put many US cities to shame. Apparently this isn't just the land of cocaine and coffee.

The next morning morning I got a ride (4 hours) to a little town of 8,000 people, high up in the mountains, called Villa de Leyva. The town was founded in 1572 and exists in all it's colonial beauty, largely unchanged. I haven't seen another tourist here all day.

I got in just in time to do a little wandering. Here's what I'm going to call the "smoking fountain of my friend the dog."

This little fountain is in the center of the Plaza Mayor, one of the largest town squares in the Americas. It's 130x130 yards.

Then it was off to a margarita and a terrific fresh fish (from one of the many high altitude lakes nearby) in mango and pimento.

Time is standing still.

The next day brought a little more exploring. First, a very colorful courtyard:

Then, two images from el Convento del Santo Ecce Homo, a Dominican convent founded in 1620. Something about this "faceless" nun, where the last vestiges of her humanity were removed, really struck me:

And then the way the light hit this very old couch:

Finally, two shots from Muisca observatory, from ca. 500 A.D. It's a Stonehenge-like site with about two dozen stone monoliths standing upright, planted in the earth. In this first shot you'll see that they are all in line. The shadows they cast would be measured as a means of determining planting seasons:

It was also ritualistic and symbolic, speaking to the importance of fertility. There are a half dozen very obvious phallic stones (about 25' tall), like this one:

Back home today.

[peejman]

Nice pics!

[Sidinman]

Nice, looks like you had a good time.

[Almond27]

Very cool

[Guest jackdm3]

A gringo shows up and everybody scrams! Americans really are hated everywhere.

[Volzfan]

Interesting! Thanks.

[Guest Todd@CIS]

My brother just got back from there.

He said he witnessed some of the hottest chicks on the planet.

[Hooker771]

Check out this gallery. Impressive stash.

Google Image Result for http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OJ9Q5rhD6Hw/Sq3sFIjoz_I/AAAAAAAAAf8/n1IxOaJlpYk/s320/gold+gun.jpg

[Guest UKTN]

I see we are both BMW riders as well TN Gun owners.

[Guest colombianito1021]

You are very lucky. I would love to visit Colombia right now. Did you go anywhere else?

I was born in NYC (mom and dad colombian) and grew up alternating one year in colombia and one year in the states. Now i am fluent in both languages.

[DavidCBaker]

My brother just got back from there.

He said he witnessed some of the hottest chicks on the planet.

That thought did cross my mind. Not quite like Cuba, but close behind.

[DavidCBaker]

I see we are both BMW riders as well TN Gun owners.

Cool! Join us over at BMWSportTouring.com. I'm "David" over there. I owned the board for six years, but now I just participate. I think we have 17,000 members worldwide.

[DavidCBaker]

You are very lucky. I would love to visit Colombia right now. Did you go anywhere else?

I was born in NYC (mom and dad colombian) and grew up alternating one year in colombia and one year in the states. Now i am fluent in both languages.

I didn't. Just those two places.

I grew up in Costa Rica and Guatemala, and also speak Spanish.

[eapking]

Nice pics David. Thanks for sharing them. Beautiful place.

[Guest BEARMAN]

Nice pics, very nice! thanks David.

[Guest UKTN]

I am already a member of BMW sport touring but didn't realize you once owned it!!

Both this site and the BMW one are such a good source of information.

[BlueRaiderFan]

Gotta know the camera you use. I'm in the market for one and torn on what to get.

[Guest jackdm3]

+1 over here!

[DavidCBaker]

Gotta know the camera you use. I'm in the market for one and torn on what to get.

It's a Canon 1DsMarkII, but it's been around a long time and you can get more for the money, now, like the Canon 5DMarkII.

[Tnscooter63]

Thanks for the pics, I like rocks

[setsdw]

Great pics! I love the idea of the huge town square. I imagine that used to be the way some of the small towns around here used to be.

[Guest jackdm3]

And then they put a town hall smack dab in the middle and start collecting fines and taxes.

[Chief07]

Nice pictures. Like you said, time stands still.