Putumayo and it´s wonders

From La Plata we visited Gustavo´s grandmother for a couple of days, and afterwards to Mocoa in the part of Colombia called Putumayo. Amazingly green and generally very nice place with very nice people.

Gustavo lived here for a while some years ago so he knew many great places to visit. To begin with we had a treatment with nettle (braendenaelde in danish). It looks extreme, but it was a great feeling afterwards, somehow it gave energy and made my pain in the back go away for a great while.

The fact that my skin turned like this supposedly means that I have a lot of cold in my body

These are the huge nettles that were used for the treatment.

10 minutes drive from Mocoa we visited CEA (Centro Experimental Amazònico) where we saw different plants and animals from the Amazonas. They try to recover plants and species from the jungle and they also have animals that have been saved from different dangerous situations. It was a great expirience.

"I am telling you about Colombia, a country where green is all colors"

You can´t really see it in this photo, but this is a pretty big fish, around 15 kg. 

We have had great fun looking at the names and signs from the different pharmacies in Colombia, Take a look at this one for instance, it really matches the reputation that Colombia has in the world

"Pharmacy, drugs extremely cheap. The cheapest you can find", and the images really helps the whole idea :p

Close to Mocoa we went to "El Fin del Mundo" (The end of the world) a series of very beautiful waterfalls. It took around 40-50 minutes walking to reach the first one and then it was just a paradise of waterfalls where you could also take a swim. Amazing!

Crossing the bridge and starting the adventure (Dad, I thought of you, would you be able to cross?)

Arriving at the first signs of water. It doesn´t look like it but the water here was cristal clear :D 

we took a swim here, extremely cold, but nice water.

Finally at the end of the world. Amazing view !

Thinking of you Sarah, I saw a picture of you from this amazing place :D 

Looking down, very far down !

Hanging out

We have now left Colombia (yesterday) and we are now in Lago Agrio, Ecuador. It was a little strange to have to leave but new adventures are waiting here in Ecuador and I am sure it will be great as well.

Goodbye Popayán, hello Huila and San Pedro

It has been around 1 week since we left the apartment and our life in Popyán. We had a lunch with the nabours to say goodbye, with great food and good company:

Rice with shrimps

Cheers

Gustavo painted the whole apartment since the owner of the apartment required this done before we left.

Taking a short siesta mexican style

Goodbye, it has been great living here for 5 months.

Arriving in La Plata just for the traditional fiestas, San Pedro. This meant drunk people everywhere and lots of parades with traditional dance. It was great fun to expirience, especially with the dancing and the beautiful dressed:

Getting ready to see the parade on Friday

Traditional music, Rajaleñas.

Some of the dancers

This day Colombia played against Argentina in Copa America, so a lot of people were wearing the colombian football shirt, even some of the bands in the parade.

One of the instruments for San Pedro

One of the "reinas" (queens) in the parade

Traditional food for San Pedro, "lechona". It is a whole pig filled with rice and some vegestables. 

Thaliana ready for the match

Traditional dancing in the park in the evening

Some of the many beautiful ways they put the hair with lots of flowers.

Thaliana was ready for the parade on Sunday

Thalina with her great grandmother

Gustavo´s mom and sister, Paola.

Traditional shoes

Gustavo, Paola and their father, Adolfo.

I officially finished the university, now it is only a matter of paperwork. Gustavo and his family were so nice, they bought a cake and wine to celebrate, even though they found it weird that there is no graduation ceremony. It was very nice of them and we passed a great time, even though Colombia lost to Argentina: (sadly the photos turned out badly)

For San Pedro it is tradition to make an "asado huilense", so that is what they did. Kilos of meat for lunch on Sunday:

The 1st of July it was Thaliana´s birthday, 1 year old. There was a big party with baloon animals, cake and great food. Around 40 people came by to say happy birthday:

Thaliana opening our gift

Trying on her new stuff, the sandals were pretty big though, so she will have to wait to put them on.

Waiting for the guests to arrive

Thaliana and her parents, Johana and Camilo, with her big birthday cake.

Thaliana with her "tíos"

We have now left La Plataa to visit Gustavo´s grandmother in Pitalito and soon we are leaving for Putumayo (a part the south in Colombia) and then to Ecuador. Time is running out here in Colombia so it is just about enjoying the last couple of weeks here.