Well we have been in Columbia almost a week and our main way of getting from place to place is on buses. We were a bit spoilt on our first bus trip from Bogota to Nieva. A super delux coach with air con blankets and pillows. They even videoed us before we set off not sure if that was in case we were kidnapped and could be identified???? We were entrtained with videos and even given food and drink ( a bottle of pop and savoury and sweet snacks). So we arrived in Nieva refreshed and well impressed with public transport. The next day we headed for San Agustin deeper south and in search of stone carvings. This bus was not quite as plush but got us to Pitialto where we got a connection into a Hi Lux with a driver who had the ultimate sexy fashion jacket and spent more time looking in the mirror at himself than the traffic.
We spent a couple of days in San Agustin and then headed further South to Pasto. The journey started with a layed back taxi to Pitialto and then a bit of a wait and another Hi Lux to Macoa and that was the beginning of a whole new experience. Firstly we were in the back of the truck and our driver fancied himself as Speedy Gonzalez. Yes it was a fast journey but my head and guts were not the better for it. It was a twisty road and plenty of potholes that were swerved around. I was not looking forward to the next leg of the journey.
After an hour I was feeling normal again and Paul got us onto a Mini bus instead of a Hilux. It would take a bit longer but for me I thought it would be a little calmer. It was calmer BUT we hit dirt track after 10km and it was twisty climbing and most of the time only room for one vehicle and if you did pass one it was a shear drop off the side. I am not normally a nervous passenger but I did think I might not see the end of this trip. What brought it more to the fore was that we then came apon a salvage crane blocking the road which was pulling up the remains of a bus that had gone over the edge. This delayed us for 2 hours and then the fun of trucks and buses wanting to pass. Our driver became posessed and took off like there was no tomorrow. It was as though he had to make up the lost time on this seriously twisty road and the light was fading. We did hit the tarmac again but not until we had endured 2 hours of nail biting road.Thankfully we got to Pasto by 10.30pm and a hotel was not too far away.
My final note is that why didn,t the guide book warn you about the road. It did say the journey was long but not why. I suppose if it did we might not have taken it!!!
