Villa de Leyva, Colombia

 

Villa de Leyva

The next morning, greeted by rain, we have to bring up a kind of driving the bus station where we could catch the bus for our new destination. In early afternoon we were already arrived at Villa de Leyva, and having found lodging at a posada not far from the landing station, we started to collect all the relevant information. This small mountain town, already famous at the time of Spanish rule, is a very popular tourist destination where many foreigners but also many Colombians come to relax, thanks to the mild temperature of these areas, contrasting with the surrounding localities. In our plans, as well as a visit to the town, there was an intention to rent a horse for a tour in the surrounding strongly advocated by our friend Juan Carlos. For this reason we have been made to find a place where you can rent horses and their leadership in managing with great difficulty because the riding consigliatoci was dispersed in the countryside. After we agreed on price and time of our picnic was time to get acquainted with the city and that is why we have directed towards the main square and from there to the surrounding streets. Feature paving of roads without asphalt but made with stone boulders that sometimes made it uncomfortable transit despite their unquestionable beauty. After an entire day of travel we even forget to eat and so were made a shower we went to the only eating place open (there were only 21:30!) Of the whole city: a sort of baracchetta near the bus station which offered only burgers and slices of pizza. All in all met for dinner we went to rest for the ride the following day.

Breakfast at the bakery and our return, parked outside the posada, we waited four horses and a young guide ready to start the trip. Sent a strong dirt road we were hastily removed from the city to immerse ourselves in a kind of unchallenged made cactus, planting of onions and barren land. The first step was an archaeological site to be honest not too attractive because of poor maintenance. Also why we stopped only a few minutes and we continued to the museum where the fossil was preserved a huge alligator that primordial million years ago lived these areas. After the museum was the time to visit a very interesting breeding ostriches; watched a movie, we have embarked introduction to the knowledge of the landlords: African ostriches of all sizes and ages at all curious and frightened by our presence that we are provided for some fun photography. Last step, perhaps the most exciting, a lake of crystal clear water in the middle dell'arida steppe, we stopped for watering horses and for a refreshing dip in the cold waters of the lake was cold! Four hours were flown and then our guide brought us to the posada where everything started. With the back a bit dented but very pleased by the ride we went to wash and relax a bit on our bed the day after we returned to the capital.