Signs we saw in Colombia, Part 3

By Jack Brummet, South American Travel Ed.

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Signs we saw in Colombia, Part 2

By Jack Brummet, South American Travel Ed.

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Signs we saw in Colombia, Part 1

By Jack Brummet, South American Travel Ed.

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Colombia photographs: boats along the Palomino/La Matuy beach

By Jack Brummet, Colombia Travel Ed.

All along the fantastic and deserted beach we lived on at the eco-palapa joint near Palomino, property lines were often demarcated by old dinghys, prams, canoes, and rowboats. . .often with amazing textures, colors, and half-baked repairs. . .

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Police roadblocks in Colombia

By Jack Brummet, South American Travel Ed.

On our seven hour journey from Palomino to Cartagena, we were stopped in numerous policia roadblocks/inspections--both local and federale.  

On our way there, we saw none.  I don't know if it's random or there was some triggering event.  This area is very close to Venezuela and we have heard there are problems with smuggling from there.  

Maybe I've seen too many movies, but you sort of half expect something to go wrong and for the shooting to begin.  And you therefore sit very still, obedient, with as pleasant a mug as you can muster.  And it's all fine in the end.  

I know we probably wouldn't be able to visit this great place without the strides they have made wiping out the warlords and narco-cartels.

Police in Colombia

By Jack Brummet, in Colombia

A view of the square from our balcony in San Gil. An amazing amalgam of locals, Colombian tourists, Europeans (as usual in our travels, mostly Germans. Dutch), and a few Aussies fill the square tonight. On a Sunday night!  It IS a holiday tomorrow. . .

 Very few Americans (USA variety) are here. It is amazing how many cops are everywhere...maybe a dozen in the square. This was even more true in Bogota. I guess it's not surprising, considering the events of the recent past. They've only had things under control and relatively peaceful for a few years. 

An interesting fact I learned today--the Colombian version of the DEA owns and is slowly selling off 80,000 homes and estates of the former warlords and drug kingpins. The police, BT Dubs, all wear fluorescent green vests, making them quite easy to find...or spot.

Random photos from Bogota

By Jack Brummet, South American Travel Ed.

An amazing drum band in Simon Bolivar square, in our neighborhood

The Doors bar rock club

Bogata is filled with amazing graffiti

Keelin and Mo on the corner, near our hotel

Roof clown

a Botero canvas in the Botero Museum

A painting by Miro in the Botero Museum

I have seen this sentiment about police sprayed on the wall in four continents Europe, Asia, North and South America

a Botero sculpture in the Botero Museum

Another Botero canvas

A gold mask in the museum del oro