Las Gachas, Paradise in Guadalupe!

WOW what should I say, it was awesome, stunning and unique! Definitly of the beaten tracks! Bernd gave me the hint for Las Gaschas. After a bit of research I found this Post. He describes perfect how it is and how you get there. I found Jose's Facebook page and Homepage and contacted him. He is the owner of a restaurant and hostel. We also managed to get along, with him only speaking a few world English and me Spanish. He is a great guy, who helps you as good as he can! It is definitely worth to go and a secret spot, where only a few people go, not even a lot Colombians know about the place. So if you ever be in Colombia, GOOO!!! It is cheap and really unique! 
I arrived after a day of bus driving in the evening. The last 23km took nearly one hour :D

He welcomed me at his restaurant and we grabbed straight some beer.

After a couple of beer, meeting some locals (not much English ;D) and a good dinner, I saw the hostel for 20000 peso (around 6€), but it is no real hostel you have a private room and bath, nice! After a party also the police sleeps some time there ;) 
Because Jose had no time in the morning, he organized a friend of him, who showed me Las Gachas, the reason why I came. We walked due some Farms until we got there. WOW really amazing nobody there except of us. It is really hard to get the beauty in a picture.

Cow's on the farm 

Very slippery

Friend form Jose

Waterfall at the end

After this stunning experience we continued our hike to a small Waterfall and a cave. You see nothing and then surprisingly a bat in front of you :D

The morning was really awesome, but the day wasn't over jet. In the afternoon I went with Jose to El Salitre, also a river close by.

We continued along the river until we came to the swimming hole of Guadalupe.

An amazing first day was over and the next one should be also cool. In the morning Jose and I went to a cave again. Before we arrived I got a short ride on a horse ;)

We fought us through the jungle to the cave.

From one side to the other

Because Las Gaschas were so amazing we went again. This time a lot of people are there because of the weekend. We really had fun sliding around :D 
The highlight of the day was absolutely the afternoon. 3 more people arrived at the hostel and we went on a hike to a waterfall. a thunderstorm started, so we had to hike in the rainforest by a lots of rain! We all were totally wet and dirty. But it was definitely worth it! A really nice hike and amazing spot to go! It was a bit dark, because of the weather and the end of the day, we managed to get safe and happy back :)

Secure please ;)

Amazing view :D

We walked up to get again behind  the waterfall

Sadly my time at this amazing place was already over, because I have to go back to Bogota to catch my flight to Leticia. I had to say goodbye. I saw some pictures from some other places you can go, WOW! If I ever been close again I'll coming back to see the rest, but then with better Spanish ;) Thanks a lot to Jose and his wife Claudia! The accommodation, food and the time was awesome! I highly recommend Guadalupe and especially Jose's restaurant and bar! 
Next adventure Leticia!

Cheers 
Steffen

Bogota

Next stop on my agenda is Bogota, it is going to be a short one. I'm a little bored of big cities, so I try to minimize my time in them. I only stayed two nights. First evening I tried to get up to Monserrate mountain for sunset, but I was to late... Next try on next day ;) My first night in Bogota was really unspectacular, just walked around a bit.

Next day was a full day! I went with the bus to zipaquira, where I went to Salt Cathedral. It is really amazing, they build it in a former mine in the mountain. They believe it helps them to be save by their work. At the beginning you see 14 Station, it  symbolize the different station of the cross along the suffering of Jesus.

1

4

7

9

11

12

13

Amazing, but not everything there are also different other places and also some shops were you can spend your money for souvenirs, lucky I had not so much money with me ;)

The Dome

Hall for the church service

Jesus Birth

"Saltfall"

Based on the painting in the Sistine Chapel

Shops ;)

Light show

I had a English tour with 4 other people and guess what, there where 2 other Germans. Germans everywhere :D
My time was limited, because I want to drive back to Bogota to see the Plaza de Bolivar and got up Monserrate for sunset.

Presidential house

This time I managed to be on the right time.

Church on top

Bogota was a quite stop and I did some cool things. But the next stop is going to be a real adventure. I got the tipp from my bro Bernd, so I checked it out and it looks really nice! Next stop Guadalupe in the middle of nowhere :)

Cheers
Steffen