We haven`t had a chance to post any blogs for a few days as we have been on the go since we got to Bogota. But the story of how we got here.

We got up at 3am local time, which was 2am Colombia time, as we were being collected by a driver to take u s to the airport at 4am, so we get down stairs just in time for the driver to p ick us up. Off we went, but about half way there Geoff looked in his pockets to check he had everything to discover that his passport was not there, he said he thought it was probably in his bag in the back. We got to the Airport and I stood by as Geoff disgorged his suitcase all over the floor at the airport serching for the lost passport, to no avail. There was a lot of anxiety in the air, not only from me but for him. We rang the hotel as he thought he may have left it on the sofa. The hotel people went to look and we rang back 5 minutes later. Fortunately it was where he thought he left it. The hotel assured us that it would be safe in a taxi, so we waited.... about 20 minutes later this very worried taxi driver ran up to Geoff, he had his photo inside didn`t he. There was much relief as it was now back in his possession. I am now in charge of passports.

We flew to Lima and were picked up by a very pleasant driver, who took us to Miraflores, the so called stomping ground for Peru`s wealthy families, where we met another lovely Senora who was very knowledgeable in the history of this lovely country. We took about 3.5 hours to trip all over the place and then returned to the airport for the onward flight to Bogota. The traffic was horrific, you take your life in your hands, while the drivers do battle with each other. Lima had these funnly little three wheel cars, which were taxis, they looked so dangerous, fortunately they are only allowed on side roads, so at least that relieves the other traffic from tipping one over if they ran into them. The also had small minivan buses which were all beaten up zigzaging through the traffic, causing havoc. At any time there would be several car horns going, as each driver tries to force his way in front of whoever is next to them. With our hearts in our mouth we arrived safely at the airport. Avianca airlines hand wrote all the boarding passes and a million other things to get you organized, it took for ever to get our boarding passes. So far we havn`t had any trouble with customs, but I won`t talk too soon.

We arrived at Bogota, about an hour later than we should have, so it was a long day. Camilo Zarate collected us from the airport and we arrived home here to a lovely supper and we havn`t stopped eating since. Our friends Hernando, Myriam, Camilo and Santiago have been very thoughtful and welcoming hosts. Looking through our Sth American book, Geoff`s bible on all things Sth American, we discovered that they have taken us to all the highlights of Bogota.

The first day we went by taxi to a place called Monserate, which is at the top of a mountain which overlooks Bogota, we went up by Funicular, which rose really quickly over 300 mtrs. At the top we suffered a bit of altitude sickness (lack of breath) as we then climbed up further to a lovey chapel at the top of the hill. We took lots of photos including one of a statue of Guadaloope on the next mountain. The chapel and what it meant to the people of Bogota was evident when you went into the Chapel, it was such a quiet sanctuary from the rest of the bustle of life. We then went into town and walked around the Presidencial Palace and the Parliament, the three churches, La Terceri , Veracruz and San Francisco. The Gold Musuem Museo del Oro was next, this was absolutely spectacular, with exhibits that were so very old and the manner in which they were exhibited was beautiful, with one room you went into that was dark and then the whole thing lit up to take you around the room, which had over 20 thousand exhibits in the one room. Whoever worked out how to exhibit this particular room was a genius, it was breathtaking. Lunch was next, a place that specialised in prawns (a gastonomic delight) Museo Nationcial was next and then to Candelaria, which is Bogota`s Colonial quarter which is old Bogota. This was special too and we were so fortunate to have local people to show us around these areas as this is their heritage and we probably wouldn`t have gone there if they hadn`t taken us, as we wouldn`t have known about it. This is also the place that Camilo works, he is a Chef and has just secured a job as a teacher of very disadvantaged people, teaching them to be Chefs so they can go out into the workforce with a valulable talent, which can enable them to get good jobs. The other people at this place have helped to renovate under the tutelage of tradesmen, which has been overseen by an architect. Its not quite finished yet, but so far the results must be rewarding for all those involved in this worthwhile project.

We then took one of the colourful buses to Myriam`s sisters place. Geoff has been fascinated with the colourful buses here, they all look so different to each other and to anything we have seen before. We spent a very pleasant hour with another very hosptiable family who made us very welcome. We were invited back to have Desayanu (breakfast) with the family as that was the only meal we had time for. We then walked to Park 93 and had crepes at a waffle and crepe restaurant. Our first very pleasant day full of adventure on our well plotted tour with our team leader Myriam ( She sets a mean pace, with Geoff & Hernando bringing up the rear, talking most of the time!!) We will catch up with the next few days later we off to do some shopping) .