For once, the bus terminal is close by, so I plod through the rain-soaked (of course, it rains all the time here too) roads and arrive at the bus terminal in time for the long ride to Cali.
The bus is comfortable and virtually empty. Next to me just four lost passengers, the devil knows how to manage such a trip profitably. For once I have provided myself with enough water and food for the long ride. Nobody knows whether the bus ever stops somewhere.
Colombia - Biography of a troubled Country
In recent months, I have repeatedly received enthusiastic comments from friends who painted Colombia in the most beautiful colors.
Just a few years ago one would have - Pablo EscobarDrug cartels, FARC - made a huge detour around the war- and drug-infested country. Since Escobar was killed and the cartels were brought under control, many things seem to have changed for the better. And since the government has signed a so-called peace pact with the FARC, the resistance organization that had been fighting with the army for years, this problem also seems to have been solved, at least for the time being.
I'm not entirely convinced yet.
Green in all Shades
In any case, the exuberant comments on nature and the landscape are in no way exaggerated.
What unfolds before my eyes is pure beauty. We initially drive for a few hours across a hilly and mountainous landscape that at first glance looks familiar, but at second glance completely different from anything you've ever seen. First of all, everything is green, thanks to the rain.
Green in the most diverse shades. Dark green to almost black, a light green almost painful to the eye. Bulges of hills, circular humps, overgrown with strangely indefinable plants and bushes and trees. You might enjoy it for hours, but there's someone sitting at the front of the bus dampening that pleasure.
A Driver to get used to
I have rarely felt so battered and drained after a long bus ride as I did that evening.
I'm used to many things, just think of the unforgettable trips in Ladakh or India or Myanmar, but what this brainless driver does to all of us is borderline insane. Not only does he ignore any double line, he overtakes at every bend in principle. He rushes through the millions of curves and corners at such an infernal speed that you are literally knocked back and forth.
Here, too, as in Ladakh, next to the road hundreds of meters descend to the abyss, here, too, there are hardly any barriers, the only difference are the excellent wide roads. My God, what an ass!
And Adios iPhone
However, even a long journey with a macho driver comes to an end at some point.
It's been another ten hours, pretty tough hours, and it's pitch dark in Cali, hardly ideal for arriving in this still dangerous city. But that the day still has some additional unpleasant surprises in store will be seen in a short time.
Something about Cali is irritating right from the beginning; it starts with the cab driver, who doesn't want to drive me at first, but finally graciously agrees. Probably he does again a few additional loops, as the trip takes much longer than I have calculated with Google Maps.
Outside the hotel, impatiently honking cars behind us urge us to rush, and so what has to happen happens - in a big hurry I stupidly forget the cell phone in the cab. I notice the problem very quickly, the nice lady at the reception of the "Ruta Sur" tries to help me, calls my number, and indeed - a rather unpleasant voice of a man answers. First he wants to negotiate (apparently the iPhone has already changed hands), but then he hangs up.
It takes a while until I find the contact to Swisscom to block the number, then this chapter is closed.
Goodbye iPhone. It has been a great time with you ...
Mileage: 7869
Matching Song:
And here the journey continues
