I awoke early on day two of our coffee adventure. Somehow getting up at 5 every morning doesn’t change when on vacation. A deep-throated buzzing pulled me out from under the covers and to the window. Fascinated I watched around 20 humming birds fight for their breakfast. Dodging this way and that they zoomed around the feeders and flowers below me.
No longer sleepy I grabbed my camera and headed out to explore the grounds of the hotel. Beautiful and breathless, more on that later!
Salento was our destination for today. After an hour long taxi ride we fell out of the car and onto mountain bikes. The brakes were a bit sketchy so I traded mine for one with a bit more grip. THANK GOODNESS! Our trip was downhill on a gravel road until we turned around. You can guess how the trip back-up went! Fortunately being out in the countryside of Colombia gave me fuel for the pedal/push back up. That and not wanting to be a 40 year old wimp!
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| We smelled the sweet scent of fresh baked bread wafting from this window. Chad popped his head in and bought a loaf! |
After our exhausting ride, we grabbed a loaf of “fresh out of the oven” bread and found a restaurant to collapse in. We enjoyed fresh trout for which the area is famous before heading to the town square.
Upon seeing all the colorfully painted colonial buildings, restored antique Jeep Willys, vendors, shops and restaurants in the town square I realized this was a town that would need to be revisited in my future.
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Reacting to a large, formerly alive, beetle on Chad's shoulder.
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| Nothing like hanging onto the back of a jeep feeling the freedom of the wind in your hair. |
We hired a jeep and hopped in the back to enjoy the 30 min. ride up to the Valle de Cocora, a National reserve.
The area is famous for Colombia’s national tree, the “wax palms”, the tallest palm trees in the world. Tall, thin and at 165 feet these trees make quite an impression standing solemnly in the Andes mountains. We walked around for awhile before heading back to the jeep and anticipating a relaxed dinner back at the hotel.
- Kris
To rent bikes contact:
Hostal Plantation House
316-285-2603
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