Correcting a mistake

When we left Medellin we were heading for a town called Guatape and it is a little bit south of Medellin but a whole lot east. Without thinking too much about it we took a taxi in the morning to the bus station of the south (there are two bus stations in Medellin, one to the north and the other to the south). Upon arriving, we asked about busses to Guatape and were promptly told that we were at the wrong bus station and we would need to take a taxi to the other bus station to get a direct bus to Guatape. Hmmm and we didnt have a plan B so rapidly had to make one up. We thought of a different destination but upon looking other destinations we discovered a bus that had RIO NEGRO on the front of it and from looking at maps we knew that was in sort of the direction to where we were going. Not only that it left in 15 minutes so on we hopped on this bus.

It took us very slowly to Rio Negro on a most interesting, hilly, and colorful route. Upon arriving we asked about a means of transportation to Guatape. A gentleman offered to guide us to the taxi collectivos (regular taxis that go only when they are full), about 1 km away. Here is a taxi collectivo like the one we rode in.

We thought we were going right to Guatape in this taxi but about 40 minutes later we stopped in a town called El Penol and that was the end of the road for this taxi driver. Once again we asked about transportation from here to Guatapè and this time the vehicle was not so far away, in fact this Willies was only a few meters from our cab. We rode in the back and 30 minutes later we finally reached our destination. Generally a 2 hour trip that took us 4. But when you are retired you have more time to do those things.The town we are staying in is a tourist town, on a lake, sorrounded by mountains and is pretty. But the surrounding countryside and surrounding towns are not touristy but very agricultural. This morning, via Willies and colectivo taxis we visited a couple of these towns and had a most enjoyable day.

This picture is from the window of the taxi and shows some of the market gardening that is so abundant on this volcanic soil of the Andes.

After the veggies are picked and packed, they are loaded on various types of vehicles and brought to the centers of these small towns and then wait for buyers from Medellin to come and take them away to the big city. The above picture shows a chiva that was loaded, half with people and half with veggies all coming to town.

The above photo shows the farmers waiting for the buyers and we were told that something like this happens every day.

This mural could be on the wall on any agricultural town anywhere in the world. It says ¨The Land Is In the Heart of All¨