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March 08, 2008 GMT
DAY 33 - Archaeological Park at San Agustin

"I TRAVEL LIGHT; AS LIGHT, THAT IS, AS MAN CAN TRAVEL WHO WILL STILL CARRY HIS BODY AROUND BECAUSE OF SENTIMENTAL VALUE"." Christopher Fry

As soon as light came through I was up with the sound of the birds. A little while later we slowly walked uphill, to the park. The park was not yet open, it opens at 8am, everything around San Agustin is breath-taking.
Entrance to the park was $75000 COlombian Pesos. To walk the whole park takes 3 hours, we did it in 2, we took photos and then hopped on a 'buseta' - a mini bus for 700 COP back to the guest house.
At the guest house i spoke to Hotel Coconuco twice to get a room, I payed Betty 5000 COP for the call even though she asked for 1000. After i packed my stuff we started walking into town and caught a taxi to the bus stop which should arrive at 11:30.

For people who like these kind of archaeological stuff the park is ok, to me they are just a bunch of rocks formed by indigenous people with a lot of time on their hands.
Outside of the town there is a small waterfall and one of the rocks there resembles the shape of a man, according to locals it is Bolivar.

We continue to wait for the bus which according to a local are coming pretty full. We are surrounded by mountains and the musical sounds of the River Magdalena, this is one of the most picturesque places i have come across.

After a Hail Mary we boarded a bus and with a huge desire to repent we embarked on a journey of precipices, downhills and uphills. I mentioned to Shorty that we had a 50-50 chance of survival. At the next stop the bus stalled and had to be pushed, everyone, except me, got off to assist. After that everything started to get better. We were also stopped by the military to have our documents and bags checked and luckily the bus driver kept the engine going.

We arrived at the hotel at 17:45 and we got a room each with two beds, no T.V or meals for $50000 COP cheaper than a few nights back.
During the day it is warm at night it gets really cold. We ate and had coffee by the fire place. Apparently, this company also has a hotel in Silvia an indigenous village surrounded by the best nature has to offer. Unfortunately that would mean heading 20kms back to Popayan and then another 25kms north.

A Colombian once said to me: We have it all; islands, mountains, the pacific and the caribbean, rivers, valleys, volcanoes, deserts, jungles and guerillas...I added the most beautiful women in the world, the best coffee and the best coke.


Archaeological Park of San Agustin (Huila)
Parque  arquelogico,San Agustin.JPGParque Ar.JPG

SAME TEXT HERE IN SPANISH: Día 33 Sábado 1 de marzo

En cuanto aclaro, me levante con el canto de los pájaros y al ratito salimos caminando despacio para el parque Arqueológico, todo subida y aquí estamos esperando que abran a las 8 a.m todos los alrededores de San Agustín son maravillosos.

Entrada al parque 7.000.00. Nos caminamos todo el maldito parque que lleva tres horas y lo hicimos en dos, tomamos fotos y luego subimos a una buseta (Minibús) por 700.00 hasta la casa, de ahí llame dos veces al hotel en Coconuco, si tenían lugar para nosotros, arregle la mochila rápido y salimos con rumbo al pueblo, le di 5.000.00 a Betty por las llamadas quería solo 1.000.00, tomamos un taxi por 3.000.00 al cruce y aquí estamos esperando el bus que pasa 11.30 a 12.

El parque para alguien que le gusta ese tipo de cosas es un tesoro . Para mi son un montón de rocas que los indígenas con un montón de tiempo que matar le dieron unas formas.

En uno de los saltos de agua afuera del pueblo en la roca hay una forma de hombre (Según ellos es Bolívar)

No se si ya lo mencione pero íbamos en la carretera y otro motoquero dale a sacarnos fotos con un celular.

Seguimos esperando rodeados de montañas y con la música del rió Magdalena, yo estoy hablando con un local que dice que algunos buses andan harto.

Estos son los lugares más paisajistas que he visto.

Después de un Ave Maria o parte ya que paso medio siglo del ultimo subimos a un bus con un gran deseo de reparación, con precipicios, bajadas y subidas adelante le dije a Shorty que teníamos unos 50-50 chance de llegar vivos, ya en el próximo pueblo a 15 kms se paro y todo el mundo menos yo se bajo a empujar, después de eso todo salio bien y llegamos mas rápido que la ida a las 17.45 llegamos al hotel nos dieron en cada pieza dos camas, no T:V cena, desayuno y almuerzo mas barato que anteriormente por 49.900.00, ducha y a tomar café, cenar con estufa a leña, de día hace calor en la noche refresca bastante. También esta compañía tiene un hotel en Silvia que me han dicho que es un pueblo indígena y todo lo que lo rodeada es lo mejor que la naturaleza ofrece.

Pero tendríamos que regresar de Popayán 20 kms y 25 para adentro.

Como me dijo un Colombiano; Tenemos de todo, islas, pacifico, caribe, ríos, montañas, valles, volcanes, desiertos y hasta guerrillas, yo le agregue las mujeres mas bonitas, el mejor café y la mejor coca.

En el camino nos pararon los militares a bajarse todos del bus (que lo dejo prendido) revisar todos los bolsos y mirar cedulas y pasaportes

Posted by Hugo Albini at March 08, 2008 09:34 AM GMT

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