Footloose Llama

Amazing graffiti art in Bogota, the capital of Colombia.

I could not avoid this ubiquitous arepa. It took me some time to get used to it. I found it dry, gritty, and tasteless. It's a type of grilled flatbread made of ground maize dough. Perfect for gluten-free diets. Some regions stuff them. I mostly had it plain. In time, I got used to it. I didn't mind dunking it in thick, hot chocolate. The arepas de chocolo had layers of toppings on it - kind of like a pizza - eggs, ham, white cheese, cream, and pineapple - you choose.

A popular tourist town in the department of Quindio, Salento is a part of the Coffee Triangle. The area is famous for growing and producing the majority of Colombian coffee. Jeep taxis are used to transport people, although the occasional horse and buggy is not uncommon.

Purace Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in Colombia. It is also popular as a site for condor watching. We tried driving up but didn't quite make it because of bad roads and weather conditions. On the way to the town of Purace the road was blocked by a procession. At closer look, there was a mass being held on the side of the road in honor of a Virgin, a protector of drivers.

Located in the Coconuco region, about an hour away from Popayan. The green-blue waters of the springs reach 135F at the source and 95F in the pools. Visitors can go for hikes, swim in the pools, or set up a tent to stay a few nights. This is located in a valley and the winds are usually very gusty. Tents are set up under a roof, I guess as wind protection. They are also set on wooden pallets, maybe because of the rocky ground.

The capital of Purace, a municipality in the department of Cauca, Colombia. It is located 30 km. from Popayan, and is part of a volcanic mountain range. It was a nice drive through mountains and valleys. We stopped at a roadside hut to have some fried bread, and white cheese dunked in coffee. It was certainly different.

The land of the Coconuco, Paletara, and Purace people, home to the still active Purace volcano, and the Andean condor. The Purace National Park is popular with hikers, and the many thermal springs attract many visitors.