Convenas
We spend the morning visiting the Aviario Nacional Parque de Colombia.
This site is the largest aviary on the continent and the 4th in the world.
This large thematic park of 7 hectares reproduces an environment close to the natural habitats of birds of three ecosystems (tropical rainforest, coastal zone and desert), to accommodate more than
2,000 birds of 160 species.
We stay there for more than two hours ending with a little show.
Where are we going to spend the weekend waiting for DIAN’s will?
Campsites are not numerous and often rudimentary.
Our choice is on the campsite Cispata at 185 km ... It is far away but we have time and especially not much choice.
The road is good but busy ... We are entitled to road works that lengthen our journey, we are blocked for more than an hour in a traffic jam.
We arrive under a threatening sky and we settle in this empty campsite.
It’s the low season.
Baru peninsula
Very quiet night in this unusual place.
The workers began work and repaired the brake fluid system twice.
Little fear: the garage does not accept bank cards, only cash... We only own 600,000 COP hoping the bill doesn’t go up to more!!!
The amount is 594,000 COP or about 135 euros .... Really cheap.
We are leaving our mechanic friends in search of a ATM. We are in the countryside and banks are very rare.
After two hours of driving in all directions we finally find an ATM. Next time we will be on our guard.
We find on the peninsula of Baru a campsite with good reviews.
It is open, we ask if our camper can fit in... Yes no problem
We return to our destination ... On arrival we are surprised ... This does not correspond to the description ... We decide not to stay.
It’s getting late, we find refuge in the parking lot of the "National Aveirio de Colombia" in the middle of nature among parrots and scarlet macaws
Carthage of India
What to do while waiting for our appointment? Have the brakes checked, which have been squeaking for a few days, and check the condition of the tires.
By joining "Cartagena" we receive news from Ana who announces that our file will not be processed before the 8th by the inspector. This one is overwhelmed and our case can wait.
But is the file ok or not .... Normally everything is good for the extension ... wait and see
Knowing that, we head to a tyre seller who announces that we no longer have the desired model...
But two days ago when we asked, they were in stock ....He sold them yesterday!!!!
We crossed the city in monster traffic jams ... No rules for the driving ... We are surrounded by dozens of motorcycles forcing the passage ... It is a miracle that there are no accidents at each intersection.
At the south of the city we reach a garage specialized in brakes, always in traffic jams.
At our arrival we are taken over immediately and just after the disassembly of the front wheels , a leak in the rear brake system forms... Panic on board ... Need to disassemble the entire system and repair ... Brake fluid flowing ...
While changing the defective part and checking the brake pads, another leak forms in the front brakes ..
We have to change the hoses ... It’s getting late ...
We spend the night in the garage with the guard and his dogs.
Volcan Tomuto
Another quiet night with mosquitoes.
Since our arrival they accompany us and they are very virulent ... They’re very hungry!!!
Preparing ourselves for a long waiting, we make a very simple but consistent refuelling. We shop in a "Metro" style store accessible to all and wholesale.
Here, as in all Central America, meat is not appetizing and the choice is limited.
It is best to have lunch in a restaurant offering a "menu del dia" which consists of a soup, a main course, a drink and a sweet as dessert ... at a price of 7 to 10 euros for two.
We reach at the end of the afternoon in the parking lot of the "Volcan Tomuto"
Small volcanic mount 15 m high from where we discover a small pool of sludge reputed for their therapeutic virtues .... We have not trie dit.
We call again Ana who, to relaunch our file with the customs inspector, asks us again a bunch of documents and does not know when we will get a response to our request.
If the file is refused, we will have to leave Colombia before 18 August ..
Tayrona National Park
Infernal night ... It’s Saturday night and all the bars, restaurants or clubs close very late ... musical atmosphere guaranteed ... round the clock.
We are not very fit but decide to leave early in the direction of Cartagena des Indes for our hypothetical meeting with the DIAN in order to regularize our TIP ... not so sure!!
We rest in the early afternoon in the garden of Claudia (Casa San Martin) near the "National Park of Tayrona"
Claudia is a very welcoming hostess and at the service of her hosts. (Welcome guava juice, Colombian coffee ...) ... We are learning a lot about the living conditions in Colombia.... It shows that part of the population is living in increasing precariousness.
What we already knew by crossing the hamlets and villages along our way.
We spend a quiet night ... Finally!! but in the company of mosquitoes.
To get to the park entrance we take the local bus while traveling standing on the steps!!!
To access the park we have to buy an insurance in addition to the entrance ticket and take a minibus to reach the first beach.
The good weather is not there ... It rains intermittently making the trails very muddy and the sky is dark grey.
Tayrona National Park
Before Spanish colonization, the region was inhabited by the Tayrona tribes who left traces of their civilization.
The park includes many shrines, ancient cemeteries and ritual sites where indigenous communities continue to meet regularly for ceremonies.
The park was established as a protected national natural park in the late 1960s.
It covers 20,000 hectares of land and sea and consists of beaches, coral reefs, cliffs, mangroves, marshes and rainforest.
At the request of the indigenous communities, part of the park is closed to the public.
You follow like everyone else the only path leading to the beaches .... and there are people in both directions.
We didn’t enjoy our day .... Weather was not at its best… (muddy and slippery hiking, passage of streams ...) and we did not see the wildlife living in this park.
Lunch in a paillote and back in the opposite direction ... with a stop at the bakery to enjoy a huge delicious chocolate bread.
End of day: we are wet, muddy and our shoes filled with water.
ROAD BOOK 116
MAVROS ODYSSEE
