Colombia: Bogota

On the 13th of february I arrived in Bogota, Colombia. Gigantic Bogota! The city is really spread and I could only visit a small part of it. Because of its dimensions, moving around is not so easy and a lot of time can be lost in the transport. For this first time in Bogota, I went only in the old town district called La Candelaria. During the day (and especially on Friday), this part is really active with lots of people walkin around, lots of street vendors (juices, banana chips, peanuts, fruits, toys, ...). Beside in the very center, not many tourists are in this city. One of the reason being that lots of neighborhoods are not so safe and without much touristic interest. The first time I took the bus I ended up catching a pick pocket with his fingers in my pcket just before he could steal anything; a bit later a Colombian girl got her phone stolen from her bag but the guy got caught as well, at a bus station a drunk guy tried to start a fight with me but got bitten by a security guy, ... Basically lots of hings can happen in Bogota and you should always know if the neighboorhood you are going to is safe or not; but once you know the "rules" of the city, you can really enjoy the atmospher and visit the safe regions. It was a bit frustrating for me cause I like to discover a city by just walking around without knowin exactly where I go but still very nice things can be done or seen.
From Bogota, I went on a day trip to Zipakira to visit a cathedral builded inside a former salt rock mine. Massively impressive!
On the 16th, Laura (finally!!!) arrived so that we can continue the rest of the trip together. We flew directly to Cartagena the day she arrived.

Chile: Pucon, Valparaiso & Santiago

After Puerto Varas, I went to Pucon which is a quite famous holiday destination in the lake district for Chilean and foreigners. The village was a bit too touristic for me and the beach was actually not really beautiful. The city is worth it though because of the view on the volcano and the mountains around. I went to the national park of Huerquehue to try to hike but after 1 hour my knee got all bad again so I gave up. Too bad cause there were some promising lakes and water falls... To change a bit my mind and have some fun even in this situation, I went skydiving. Pucon is an amazing place to do it as you have impressive views on the surrounding while in the plane and whil jumping. It was the first time for me and I completely loved it and will do it again for sure!
After Pucon, I went to Valparaiso for a week to do some exams for my knee. The city is really nice with tones of grafitis, super good empanadas, cool travelers to go out with, ... One can visit most of it within 3 or 4 days.
I only had one day in Santiago before catching my flight to Colombia. From what I saw of the city, it's a cool place and worthto stay a while especially if you meet some localsto hang out with. On a touristic point of view I don't think there are tones of things to do though. I had the chance to meet Isadora (wich I met in Torres del Paine) for a drink and some advices about Colombia, before heading to the airport and sleep there to catch my early flight.

Chile: Cochamo & Puerto Varas

I spent most of the next day getting ready for my next trekking. Ben left in the evening. I went a bit in the city which is actually very touristic but still nice. I went to a restaurant with great seafood in the evening and met Miguel Angel (we shared a table as both of us were alone), a spanish guy working and living in Amsterdam and who was traveling for 1 month. We spoke for more than 1.5 hours in the resto as well a bit with a couple of Argentinians behind us and with the waitresses. Great evening :)

January 17th, I took a bus in the morning with my trekkin bag (left some stuff at the hostel) and went to Cochamo valley. It's not a national park and therefor no entry fee. Lots of people go there for few days of holidays with friends or family. Mostly Chileans from santiago. The bus goes as far as the road can go at the beginin of the valley. Then there is a 3 hour hike (5 hours according to the information) to a campground called La Junta. It's in the middle of the valley with great mountains around which look a bit like Yosemite park for those who know it. It's very famos for climbers as well. I arrived at la Junta quite early so I decided to continue to he next campground as I wanted to explore a bit further the hike which goes all the way to Argentina. The second part of the hike was actually really boring: always in the trees without views, the path is destroid by he horses and full of mud; really no interest. He only cool thing was the cascade when arrivig at the camp El Arco.

The next day I went a bit further toward Argentina but leaving my bag at El Arco. Nce again not muh interest even if it was a bit better than between La Junta and El Arco. Once back at El Arco, I packed evry thi and left to go back to La Junta where I arrived in the evening.

January 19th I went on a hike to Cerro Arco Iris which is a summit next to the camping. It's only going up all the time and is pretty difficult some times with ropes and so on to be able to climb. The view from the mirrador is amazing. You can see the entire valley! I didn't go al the way to the laguna because I got an inflamation in my knee and even had to go back down to the campground walking backward because going down normaly was too painful. Just before raching the camping I went to a natural slide in the river really fu to do and with the water not too cold :)

January 20th I went back to Puerto Varas where I could finaly buy some cream for my knee which was really not getting better.

I stayed in Puerto Varas until today (27th of january) doing pretty much nothing to try to get my knee back to normal. I went to see the doctor which gave me some drugs to take for one week and told me to put ice on my knee. I'll stay in Puerto Varas until Friday at least...

January 28th I went by bus to Ensenada which is one hour away from Puerto Varas. It's a beach which is at the feet of the volacno Osorno. Super nice view and good to finaly do something!