Villa de Leyva

Thursday 3rd February 2011
An early start, up at 5:30am, saw us heading off to get the bus to Villa de Leyva. With such an early start you really want a nice unbroken night's sleep. Sadly we got an example of the rowdy side of hostel life. A very drunk resident came back at about 3am and for a while it sounded like the place was being turned over. Obviously it was just a problem standing up but it kept us awake nonetheless.
The bus journey took around 4.5 hours taking in several towns and villages, along with some wonderful countryside. We witnessed the obligatory child throwing up. We had some sympathy given the state of the roads and some of the corners.  Luckily we had the constant Latino beats to keep us in the party mood.

The first thing that struck us on arrival was the change in climate, with it being hotter than Bogota.  Also dominating the area were the hills on almost every side, offering a stunning backdrop to the town.

Great Eggs.

Our accommodation (again recommended by our scouts) was the lovely Posada de Los Angeles. A nice place with big rooms and a chilled out feel.

The place to hang out.

The Plaza Mayor here is said to be one of the biggest in the Americas and it certainly didn't disappoint. By both day and night it's a focal point of the town, and a useful point of reference for getting your bearings.  The now customary 'Menu del dia' was consumed. This is definitely the way to eat when on a budget, this time with a 3 course meal and drink coming in at under £3.
An afternoon of general sightseeing and a pizza for dinner sent us to our beds for an early night.

Friday 4th February 2011
This area is famous for its fossils, mainly from the prehistoric era over 100 million years ago. First up we headed 4km out of town to see a fossil found around 40 years ago. It was so big and impressive, that they built a museum around it so they didn't have to move it.

Very old.

Lunch involved a first for us, fried Yuca. We're not sure if this is exactly the same as the plant in our living room, but is a tasty alternative to potato or banana chips.
After lunch we headed to the edge of town to the paleontological museum to learn more about the area, before heading to the house of Antonio Narino. He was recently voted the best figure to represent   Colombians ever despite living nearly two centuries ago.
We're sad to leave Villa de Leyva. After the hustle and bustle of the big city, this was a lovely town and allowed us to chill out, read our books and generally get to know Colombia a bit better.
Next up we head further north for 3 nights in San Gil.

Cheapest beer so far, 50p a bottle!

Observations:
Dogs: there are loads of them here. Some are owned, others just seem to roam the streets as strays. The RSPCA would certainly not approve of this or the number of dogs limping.
The Police: there are police stationed on almost every corner day and night around the centre. They mainly seem to be about 18 (probably doing their military service) and on the phone. We can only assume that their presence acts as a deterrent and our experience so far would suggest this to be true.
Bugs: it would seem that mosquitoes are not our greatest foe. Instead we (well mainly James) were subjected to a vicious black bug that literally leaves a small bleeding hole in your skin. On top of this rude intrusion, James has as ever reacted ridiculously badly to the bites (all 26 of them) so the back of his legs are an array of red swollen lumps. This 'look' is obviously helping us to blend in with the locals. We did think about uploading a photo but wouldn't want to put you off your dinner.