Ciclorutas

last night i was up late again chatting in the platypus lobby with travelers from the world over and drinking Brava´s from the hostel fridge, and so I got a late start on the day. made my own juego de mango-papaya-plantain (and protein powder) for breakfast... there is a serious juice culture here in colombia, how could there not be, there are tropical fruits on every corner, and i hear that on the carribean side of things its even more insane... que bueno!

legs were heavy and knackered this morning but eager to ride and explore other parts of bogota. through the yuppie parts, zona rosa and zona-t, and found the most incredible bike path that lead clear across town and dumped me out on autopista norte which pretty much sucked, so i took the first exit that i could (10-kms later), doublebacked on a small hardly used road which took me back into town. 4-hours on the bike. as usual, stopped mid-ride for fried plantain and arepa (corn tortilla thing con queso) at a roadside tent.

after the first days of afternoon rains the skies have cleared and the sun overly intense. the heat and sun in the lower parts of the country kind of worry me, but i look forward to adjusting my days around this. the heat is tough, but i have many fond memories of wicked heat in india with early morning sessions, midday roadside siestas and swims in ponds, then riding well into darkness. i{m wondering what kind of rituals and interactions with the people i'll have here in colombia?

apparently even my companions here at the hostel who´ve traveled throughout colombia think i´m crazy. this surprises me because all that i´ve spoken with here feel that colombia is not as dangerous as venezuela nor brazil, so i have to account these fears on the fact that most are afraid of being alone in the arms of the people. most backpackers travel exclusively from city to city, hostel to hostel, with only the occasional foray into the small towns and villages, and usually with a companion. after setting out into so many other daunting journeys that were unknown and considered dangerous (across tibet, through the poorest regions of india to name a few) i feel as though i know what to expect: hospitable people who will be surprised and excited, honored i{m told, to find a foreigner traveling through their country -- b/c most are aware of the worlds impression of colombia. i´ve learned the phrases regarding pitching my tent on their property and asking for the safest routes, and i expect to spend some nights camping on police and firestation grounds. i also expect hotels in the villages to be cheap, and i'm sure i'll take advantage of this.