A Journey Over the Mountains

There are three main mountain ranges in Colombia, one that is on the west side of Colombia, one that runs down the middle of Colombia and one that is east of the center mountain range and runs down into the jungle. And you would think that most of the people of Colombia would live in the valleys between these mountain ranges but that is not really true as they live where the land is richest and that is usually half way up the mountain or, as is true for Bogota, on top of the mountain.
We were in Armenia in the area between the western mountains and the middle mountains and our destination was a group of towns and cities between the middle mountains and the ones to the east and that entailed crossing over the middle range of mountains.
We knew, we heard, we read that the journey is not real easy as it is only 80 km and takes 3 hours. The road is reasonably good, two lanes for the most part but it so very busy as it is the main route between Bogota and Cali and the Zona Cafateria (coffee area). It just loaded with big trucks and busses, very few cars or taxis and nobody drives over 30km an hour. Great for taking pictures from the window of the bus.
The road climbs to 4000 m and hairpin turns so sharp that the big trucks and big busses need the whole road to go around them so they have hired people at these corners to direct the traffic around them. That is good but it does not stop some accidents from occuring as we saw two different trucks that had recently rolled down the mountain not too long before we had arrived at the scene.


The beginning of our journey and the vistas only get better.
This pack train was about 8 mules long but we were too close with the bus to get them all. We see so much of this type of transportation and we always seem to take a second look when one comes about. It is so very different from our home.
We see this often but never have an oportunity for a picture. As stated earlier the trucks are going so very slow and often bicycliers catch rides with them up the mountain. The three young boys are hanging on to the back of the truck catching a ride to their destination.
This was a military stop and it was right on top of the mountain and only men had to get out. I was in shorts and no jacket as it was quite warm when we left Armenia. It was not warm up here. The wind was blowing and maybe it was 10 degrees C. I almost froze and not only that, but they choose me for extra questions, like how long was I going to stay in Colombia and was I a tourist or a business man. And again, so very polite and kind.

We are above the clouds and just a beautiful vista.
Looking back on the road from the window of the bus. Nancy is an expert for taking pictures from the window of the bus.
We mentioned that the road was loaded with trucks and here are some of them. These ones look pretty good but most are old with little power and go slower down the mountan than up.
Dad is talking to his daughter and notice the bathroom down the hall. We were told that these waxy pines, the national tree of Colombia, only grew in the Cocora valley near Solento so we were so surprised to see them here on the mountain.
Many vistas just like this pretty little water fall and my it was green.
This time it was a police stop but this time the women had to get out also. Again there were most pleasant and not quite so inquisitive as the military. These photos are near the top of the mountain and as you can see the rich volcanic soil is farmed. Most are cold climate crops such as corn and potatoes and cabbage.
And to do the farming people need to live on top of the mountain. There are many homes such as this.

It was a very wonderful and scenic journey but 3 hours of the corners was enough. We would not like to do it everyday but in a week or so we have to get back to the other side of the mountain and not the same way we came. This time it will take 6 hours for the 100km. Will surely tell you about that journey also.