Hey folks, this is the first bunch of pics i could obtain …
This is just a small selection, but see yourself: more pics on demand 😉
Arequipa - view from rooftop, the great volcanos ...
First day with Miguel
Three germans and one peruvian shaman.
That's what a sweatlodge looks like. "the turtle"
Valle de Colca, hute agave.
Miguel and me on the "mirador de condores"
on the way from Chivay to Puno, "the pampa"
Chivay - streetsellers
Nasca - on the plane
Hey folks,
i am still alive and doing well, we arrived in Cusco yesterday night(Miguel y yo).
This has been a very interesting and amazing month, so here in short what happened:
After Medellin, Colombia I decided to meet Goshy(Phillip M.), in Bogota. So i changed my plans going via Equador to Peru, to flying to Leticia and crossing the border to Peru over the amazonas, because Schuessi (another german friend to meet on the 16-04-12 in Lima) was coming to Peru. So EQU was pushed to the return part of the trip(I skipped it for Bolivia).
Leticia(COL) – Iquitos(PER) – Lima – Arequipa – Chivay, Valle de Colca – Puno(Lake Titicaca) – CopaCabana(BOL) – Sorata – Puerto Acosta – Cusco(PER).
As we landed in Leticia, still Colombia, but next to the peruvian and brasilian border, the climate changed to hot, humid and mosquitoish weather – that’s the jungle – no way in or out, only boats or aeroplanes …
But we stayed for some days. Phil and me, Mr. Mike(S) and a girl from the U.S., and as i could speak spanish the most, my job for the next days turned into a tourguide for them 😉 So we relaxed, rented motorcycles and did a day trip on the amazonas and crossed three borders within a day. That day was awesome, we went with a little motorboat over the borders of Columbia, Peru and Brasil, saw amazing animals: sloths, macaws, eagles, monkeys, snakes, spiders … and: pink dolphins! The nature and the green ambient have been one of the most impressive events on my trip – till now.
Then we took a speedboat to Iquitos, 12h into Peru. Still in the Jungle-Amazonian area, the heat was hard to handle. But you’re getting used to the sweating. I still had to get used to the “new” country with its currency, people, food and prizes. So we just checked out the city, some more animals, and some live salsa festival. Mike and the american girl went into the deep jungle for 2 days to do some “Ayuasqua-rituals”, that was to quick for me, because you need to keep a special diet some days before. And i was looking forward to the sweatlodge-ritual phil and me want to do in Lima, with a woman shaman. So we flew further on to LIMA.
The first 2 days in  Lima i got ill, for one night, with a horrible stomache. So i stood still for 2 days watching peruvian movies 😉 After recovering, we picked up Schuessi from the airport (16-04-12). And went on to the sweatlodge-ceremony, 1,5h outside of the city, with a female shaman, Mary Anne. That was a very interesting and revealing spiritual day. The day after we recovered. After one week in Lima, Miguel(Schuessi) and me decided to go on, Goshy stayed for app. 10 days in Lima to work …, as we took a plane to Arequipa, because there have been demonstrations and manifestations by the miners in Peru, closing down the Transamericana, and several streets from and to cities: Lima, Arequipa, … and some more.
As we flew to Arequipa, we met Chris(Bremen) again, and we joined him to hike in the “valley Colca”, so we had to get to Chivay first. But as the demonstrations continued in Arequipa, we had to stay “one more night” … and then got to Chivay on the next day, with a bus that left at 4 p.m. in the morning; we passed the PASS of some nice snowy mountains (5.000-6.000m), gourgious view from Arequipa. Then we hiked for three day in the beautiful valle de Colca. We hiked from 3.600m down and up again, to do some sports and to get used to the height, with all our backpacks (for me 12.8kg). It was hard on the first and the last day, but “vale la pena”(worth it).  We did hard hikes, transgressed limits. We saw wonderful nature, the river within the valley, nice and handsome indigenous people, we ate Alpaca and had a really great time.
After that, we went to the lake “Titicaca“, the lake is great, on 3.800 m.o.Sealevel, but all the cities we’ve been to, like Puno(COL), Copacabana(BOL) haven’t been that great, so we went on … bad weather, cold, touristy …
So we went to Bolivia by bus, crossed the border by foot and did the whole circle around the lake within 6 days, after a small stopover in the nice village of “Sorata“. Schuessi and me went up north again, towards Peru, but on the other side of the lake. We thought, that it would be a great idea, but Murphy was with us … 😉 So we went by bus to the last bolivian village, “Puerto Acosta”, but after that there were no more busses to cross the border … so we hiked again 😉 After 5 hours we arrived at Conima, and took a bus to Leticia (dirty ugly city, not worth the visit), still as illegal immigrants … and went on to Cusco, within the same day/ night.
So we are now in Cusco, to visit the famous mountain. The first thing we did this morning was to checkout the immigration office, where we have been told, that we are “clandestinos”(Manu Chao), so we “arranged” a solution, more about that, when we are through with it 😉
greets from the heart,
.fle
PS: on detailled or more infos, or translations, comment or write mail 😉
Pics, taken by others, follow 🙂
Give it a try: Hiking! Salteños(kind of a bol. empanada, but not fried)!  Skip: Sleeping in sleazy hostals at the end of the … lake Titicaca 😉 cross borders without immigration-infos 😉
Hey folks,
i am fine, relaxed 25ºC in Medellin, the city famous for Pablo Escobar and Fernando Botero. It took me some time to get here, so here is the story about my trip from the cost towards the south:
On my last day in St.Marta, after more than 5 days of not getting away, i didn’t reserve for the last night, in the “Brisa Loca”, a nice but party-like hostel, they threw me out. So i had to switch hostels, i went 7 blocks down, to the “miramar hostel”, a lot cheaper, like 10.000COP (5$ US) compared to double the price in the brisa loca. Me and a bunch of people wanted to go to “Baranquilla” for the famous Carneval over there, but like very early in the morning, because thousands of people would be going there for the saturday(the best day on carneval).
So on that fateful night, i went for a walk on my own around the block of the Miramar-hostel, at 22:30 p.m., because after more than one week in St.Marta i felt safe to do so. I really needed to go to the toilet, so i pissed at a lorry, and right after finishing, i felt a strong arm wrapping my neck, with the words: “give me everything”. As a realized, that the guy didn’t carry any weapon i wanted to give him my wallet, but i didn’t want to give him my daypack(kind of principle not to give up that soon), because i had some things in there with personal value, added up within the last weeks, like my diary, mp3-player, camera, … so i wrestled with him for about 4-5 minutes. A private security guy watched us, but he was too afraid of intervene, as i told him to help me, and that i am getting robbed, even thow he had a gun. At the end i lost the fight, with some scratches on knees, arms and a bloody nose. So i spitted some blood on the street, telling the security guy “thanks for nothing” and went back to the brisa loca to provide my sore, because i had my backpack over there, and i didn’t want to go to the “new, unknown and scary hostel. Further more i knew all of the staff, so after clearing my wounds i needed a drink, so i got 2 shots of rum and 2 cuba libre at the bar, for free;) to calm down and get rid of the shivering. I slept in the hammock on the roof top, met a nice swedish guy who played some chilled music on his iphone 🙂
So after that i was still alive, conscious again for the fundamental rules of travelling and with the awareness, that health is the most important and i give a shit on material goods 😉 – still it’s a pity for my diary and the mp3-player 😉
So i am sorry for the borrowed stuff:Â Daypack(Steffie), Camera(Dad), one-hand-knife(present of Andreas W.)
After that incident, i wasn’t in the mood to party in Baranquilla, so i only went there for the great parade in the daytime. I needed, let’s say 4-5 days to process the fight … and going out at night. So since then i stick to groups, and my new daypack is a jute-back (with the print of “Buecher haben’s in sich”), with  bootle of water, a pen and my new diary.
I arrived at 07.00 p.m., so i took a cab to the old part of the city, to get a bed for the night. All hostels were overloaded, so i went to a hotel, “contact”, and got a cheap single-room, that was good for the first time on this trip. Even thow the bathroom was a little disgusting … i skipped the next day to a hostel across the street, and the day after to the hostel “Makako Chill out hostel”(next story coming). As my wounds didn’t allow me to swim, nore go to the mud-volcano in “Cartagena”, i just spent 3 nights over there, trying to calm down, relax and getting my things in order again, spending the time with Luke, Mat, Dan from England, i met first in San Gil, and since then every second day on my way – very good company;)
So now i am in Medellin, feeling well and safe again. Now walking more conscious and with a better eye for the people and locations.
I am on my way to Equador, through the south of Colombia. So the very next stops are: Salento(coffee area), Cali(salsa), Popayan(ruins) and finally the border to EQU.
So i am sorry that i can’t  provide any pictures, but i’ll buy a cheap camera, so hopefully i can offer some pics on my next post.
PEACE!
René (aka .fle)
Give it a try: Guayabana fruit juice! // Carpe diem. Skip: Going out at night on your own! // Try to avoid policemen, but that’s the next story(not that bad as i sounds) 😉
Hey folks,
I decided not to go on a five day hike to the “ciudad perdida”, too expensive, and filled up with tourists 😉 – so i went to the northern desert of Colombia, “La Gujira”. It took me about 6,5h to get there, 4h on a big bus, to a crossing called “La quatro vias”, in the middle of nowhere, where some indigenous people sell food /drinks and you can switch buses for other directions. Then a short taxi ride to Ubiria, and then on some offroad track by a 4×4-Pickup to Cabo de Vela. I met some columbian guys and some Wayuu people, they speak 4 different languages, and some know a little spanish, so i could have a glimpse to there habits and life-style. No consciousness for garbage, just throwing EVERYTHING to the ground, even plastics, so there are some parts looking like “plastic gardens” 😉 kinda funny. they are wearing long dresses, and the women are putting on some black cream made of mushroom-pwder, for protection and to look nice.
So on my first night in a hammock on the beachside, i couldn’t sleep that well, because of the cold wind blowing to the seaside, and the loud music, coming from the neighbours pickup-truck-radio, playing some gujira-music till 02:00 a.m., i couldn’t understand a word 😉 so on the second night i switched hammocks and hospedaje. On the second night the wind was better, but the generator made the noise that night, because they don’t have electricity … but i had to get up at 03:30 anyway, so i didn’t mind that…
Because of the heat they are trying to do stuff in the night and early morning, so i had to hit back in the middle of the night. And here comes the goat-story: I was the last person getting on that pickup, so i didn’t see the goat at first, and sat next to his head. My first question was: “Esta muerte?”, but the goat still lived, with the legs tied, lying on the load floor. The poor animal banged the floor, on every bumper, for 1,5hours … so i didn’t actually enjoy the sunrise. Then another wayuu woman entered the pickup, and there was no space left on the cargo area, so she put her feet on the goat, on on the stomach and the other on the goats neck … for them it’s only a trading good. But the best thing over there was the starry sky @ night, amazing! no artificial lights, the sea, goats, me and the stars;)
So right now i am still stuck in the nice and warm city of St.Marta till Saturday, heading to Baranquilla, where it’s said to be the second biggest Carneval on the world, after Rio de Janeiro… 😉 So ii wish you all a nice “Fasnachtszeit” and a nice WE.
Pictures will follow … the computer i am on doesn’t have a sd-slot … 🙂
saludos del sol
.fle
Give it a try: Teco – a wayuu drink, made of white corn and camela(made of sugar cane), sold on the streets – muy rico! Skip: paying double the price for an “Aguila” in the hostel you stuck for days 😉
Hey folks,
still alive, and finally got to the coast, St.Marta. 28°Celsius, sun and nice beaches.
First I went to San Gil, a neat small city in the Cordelleres, known for lots of outdoor activities. I did a great wild-water-rafting, a famous freaky cave (la cueva de la vaca) where you had to swim and dive 😉 So that’s why i didn’t take any picture at all, but i uploaded some on G+, see link at the end of this article.
After that i went to St. Marta, Taganga and Coste̱o Beach, and relaxed a little, and had lots of fun surfing. РMy first lesson, but i did quiet well;) Next to Tayrona Parque, built by two canadian brothers, 1 year ago.
Now i am heading towards the far north of Colombia, “La Guajira” to have a look at the desert and some indigenous people, still living there. Any tips or ticks – post ’em – thx.
Here are some more pics, Bogota, museums, pacific ocean…
Give it a try: Wild-water-rafting (4-5) on Rio Suarez! Skip: Don’t tell an english man to “Be careful” when a bus is going to knock him out – that’s impolite 😉
So now i am in again, got the most words back to mind, and feeling like i can talk spanish. I had one week of conversation class, with 2 guys from brazil and a french girl and Juan Gomez – the teacher. In this week i had classes in the mornigs, the afternoons i spent in the old town, called “La Candelaria”, visiting Museums, churches, watching a columbian movie, taking salsa-lessons, so now i am on fire of dancing, it’s big fun. In the same night i went to a place to practise my steps “La Quebracante “… i am doing well, i think 😉 I am feeling well, so the weekend can come.
En la Calle
Plaza de Aguas
Una Iglesia en la Candelaria
The Street of the volcano of the snow
That picture reminds me of a certain movie, can you guess which?
I will stay in Bogotá till sunday, and then i am heading to the north of columbia, cause the weather in the west is said to be lots of rain for the next 7 days. When i come back to Bogotá i hope to stay at George’s place, hopefully he has an own apartment then. It’s the english guy, who is working for an NGO, taking care of land-mines, so he’ll stay for about half a year, – nice guy(check the pic of the last post …).
@all: Have a nice WE – enjoy your time! (Pasalo bien, el fin de la semana, disfrutalo!)
Give it a try:Â Arepas con queso y sebolla. Skip: Meat – in some places in Columbia they serve quantity, not quality.
On Saturday, i was asked to play a featured part in a telenovella (soap) called “La Vida de Pablo Escobar”, for a big columbian broadcast station (“Caracol” – snail), but is very popular one, even in spain. The offer was a Free Taxi ride, breakfast, 25$ and lunch, so i thought could be fun …
So the producer took us up at the hostel, 2 girls form iceland, a guy from london and me. We thought that it couldn’t be such a big thing, but after 2 hours of waiting we got full dressed up, kind of 90’s style look, but check it for yourself:
el vida de pablo escobar - Caracol tele
Than the shots began, lights, cameras, Director, … real staff. I had to play the “main Actor” pretendeing to take Cocaine, in the middle of a dancefloor, in the 90’s anywhere in Spain, then look up, the upper camera was rising, and the crowd was going crazy … me included. We took 3 shots and that was it. All the other columbian actors wanted to take some pictures of us “Gringos”. After that we had lunch at the set, with all the amiable staff – great experience 😉 There will be some more pics on facebook soon, i think. – enjoy them!
Give it a try: Guayaba!!! muy rico. Skip: Cocaine!My third day and the weather is getting warmer and my cold is getting better, just some coughing … Here’s a picture of me on my first day – David F. liked to compare “before-after” appearance 😉
Up to now i am still moving in slow motion, not drinking nor smoking … to get back to my old powers soon, but even thow i visited the old town of Colombia, “La Candelaria”, had some nice food(empanadas, quadras con queso y guaqamole … etc.) and i passed the evaluation test for my spanish course next week.
Hey all,
with a slide cold i went on the trip, but i did it… i am sitting right now in Bogotà , enjoying some tea and writing my first post from Colombia, i already met a french guy, we shared the taxi. But now i am going to sleep some hours to get over the cold and the slight jet-lag, even if it’s 20:15 local time …
greets yours,
.fle
Hey folks,
last days in Germany,
greets,
.fle
Flezen 