Subject: Bogota

Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2005 20:29:57 +0000

Greetings to all,

I write to tell you that my latest sojourn is coming to an end as

Cecilia and I head to the house of a new biker friend that has offered to

store my bike here in Bogota. This is the completion of a 14,000 KM journey,

the 15th oddyssey I have made on this bike and I am proud to tell you that

it is still in steller condition.

After crossing this wonderful Country for the 12th time , four times on

motorbike , I would highly agree with just about every other traveller and

writer and say that Colombia has to be one of the most misunderstood

Countries in the world, that it is so much more that just drugs, terrorism

and violence. It is one of the most diverse Countries in the world, the only

Country in South America where the Cordillera actually split into three,

offering the most spectacular scenery and roads. And with two rainy seasons

it has the greenest topagraghy of any Country that I have ever seen. The

people are some of the most hospitable in the world and if you had the

chance to read about the largest socialogical study ever made about which

Countries have the happiest people, you would have read that Colombia took

first place! A far cry from the common perception that the average person

has of this Country.

Like every other person that gets bombarded with all the bad press

about Colombia , I too was weary and made a committment to stick to certain

rules; travel early in the day, Stick to the main roads, and constantly ask

questions about the particular area we were crossing at the time. The

difference for me was that I learned much from all my other experinces in

Colombia and knew that while certain risks exist, they can be avoided with a

little common sense. I guess if I would have listened to every travel

avisory that the USA ever issued I would have a fraction of the experiences

that I enjoy today.

The President of Colombia seems to have made a firm committment to send

the guerilla back to the jungle and this was made clear by the highest

military presense Ive yet seen anywhere in Latin America. From the Border of

Ecuador to Cali, along the Pan American Highway, foot soldiers were placed

at close intervals, all with sofisticated weaponry and a very serious

composure. I even noticed snipers hanging from trees. For a person not

familier with this kind of environment, it appears intimidating, or at the

very least surreal. But for us, it was the extra bit of confidence we needed

to have a secure ride.

In short, I would say that this ride was everything I was hoping to find

when I returned to this wonderful Continent; hospitibal happy people, great

scenery, spectacular bike adventures and the pleasure to meet so many other

biker friends after years of email contact. After a five week stay in the

house of Latin America`s Biker Ambassador Ricardo Rocco, it was more than

inspirational to know that so many of us could come together and bond with

different ideas and share freely all in the name of biker travel comradory.

All the best to all of you, Daniel and Cecilia

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