Traveling in Colombia

A few weeks back we had two long weekends in a row which I spent traveling in rural Colombia.  I had to laugh at the different mentality Colombians have for schedules and getting from one place to another.


The first weekend was a trip to a little town called Toro to do some hiking and rappelling.

Our jeep out to the start of our hike.

When we finished our hike, Ximena and I went to grab dinner before heading back to Cali.  As we were finishing eating the woman at the restaurant mentioned that the last bus for Cali left La Union at 6:00.  The buses from Toro to La Union left at 5:00 and 5:30.  We both looked at the clock, 4:40, and thought "Oh, we have 20 minutes!"

Translation:
Me:  CRAP! We have 20 minutes.  Shove the rest of your food in your mouth and pay!  We still need to find where the bus leaves from and buy tickets! GO!
Ximena:  We have 20 minutes! Let's go get ice cream.

Her reasoning involved ice cream so obviously it won.  We met the rest of the hiking crew for ice cream and chatted until it was 5:30 and I saw the bus for La Union approaching.  *nudge*  Don't you think we ought to be going?  So we paid and were on our way.  When she ran into a friend and we stopped to chat, a second bus for La Union drove by and I was sure we were stuck in Toro another night.

Tarzan style vines hanging into the crevice

Upon arriving in the main plaza there was still a bus parked there.  After discussing with the driver we found out that there was absolutely no way were were going to make it to La Union to catch the last bus to Cali.  More discussion led to the conclusion that he would call said bus and have it wait for us in La Union.  He called.  The bus waited.






















The next weekend was off to Salento, Colombia's coffee region.

Coffee farm tour

When our first bus - which we were assured made absolutely no stops along the way - left half an hour late and then proceeded to make numerous stops to pick up passengers en route, we knew we weren't going to make it to Armenia in time for the last bus to Salento.

Horseback riding in Valle de Cocora

Arriving at Armenia's bus station a half hour after the last bus had left, we found another man looking to make his was to Salento that night.  We were told for 60,000 pesos they would drive another bus there for us.  Normally the fare costs about 3,000 pesos, or $1.50
                                                                   each.  But for 20,000 pesos - $10 each - they                                                                      made the trip an extra time.

Moral of the story:  Here schedules are flexible and there's always a way to get where you want go.