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Other entries in Medellín

No drug barons in sight!

After few days of lazying in Taganga, we went to Cartagena. I was unable to do the excursion to Tayrona national park, as I was in a lot of pain in my ribs, following a close encounter with a wall! Also we were fed up of being eaten alive by mosquitoes and other insectes that seem to ignore the rule that they are not supposed to bite if we are covered in DEET!

Cartagena is a very beautiful coastal town, but incredibly hot and humid! It took us all day to do the 200kms from Taganga to Cartagena. We got stopped by the police for a chat, then by the militaries for a full search of our panniers, then heavy rain obliged us to take cover in what seemed to be a bus shelter. 2 young lads, marines, were so taken aback by the bikes that one of them ran off to to get his mobile phone and get his picture taken on my bike. There were lots of references to Rambo! (I posted the photos in the previous post)

We left Cartagena on the Sunday, hoping to get a less traffic and trucks on the road. We had nearly 600kms to do, and in Europe that would be 6h maximum, in Colombia it took us 2 full days!

On that day, as we stopped to get a drink form a little kiosque, I dropped the bike once again! Several guys that would look perfect as the baddies in the movies ran to help me, lift the bike and check I was ok. They helped Alistair to put back the frame as my pannier had dropped and could not be fixed to the frame. As we left, after a drink, one of them washed the headlamps and windshields with some mineral water! They were just so friendly and helpful. There was lots af hand wavings as we left!

WE found a hotel on the road, basic but clean. The following day as we stopped once again in a little place for a drink (it is incredibly hot here!) the lads there insited on paying for our drinks! After chekcing lots of hands and lots of good wishes of "suerte" (= good luck) we left.

We finally arrived in Medellin in mid aftrenoon, but it took us a long time to find our way! As usual there is never any roadsign, and asking sometimes get you on teh wrong place as people hate to say they don't know so they tell you to continue! Anywaym one biker took pity on us and as he was going to the section of town we wanted we followed him.

One word about Medellin. If I thought drivers in Colombia are bad, in Medellinm it's taken to a completely different level! I belive now that if can drive in MEdellin (and survive!) you can drive anywhere!

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