18th February Papayan – Cali 87 miles

We had a wander around Papayan last night and it is very nice with mainly 16th century architecture and a beautiful cathedral, also all the people seem very helpful .
Having had some breakfast, well a lot of breakfast, I don’t quite know what went wrong but I ordered and was offered meat or eggs so I ordered one of each thinking I would get ‘an American breakfast’, scrambles eggs with a roll and Martin some bacon or sausage. Well the fruit, fruit juice and coffe went well but then I got eggs with salad, rice and chips and Martin got a large peice of meat with the same accessories, definitely no lunch today!
The journey was quite simple and uneventful but we were looking for the road blocks with the lorries but they never came, so we now realise it was the blockade coming out of Pasto that was being referred to.
Having arrived in Cali we want to get checked into our accommodation first and then we can search out some tyres and everything else afterwards. Cali is a big city, the third biggest in Columbia and we are going round in ever decreasing circles and regularily asking for directions. It is quite amazing that everyone we ask has no idea of where we are going, how do they find their way to work.
Finally, on a garage forecourt one chap seems to know the way but is talking quickly in Spanish and doing that flick of the hand, down there. At this point a guy comes up to me and speaks English and is excited to meet us, he has a few Lambretta scooters and I ask him if he will translate the instructions for us, better than that he says follow me, my bike is just here, and climbs back into the taxi he has made wait for him whilst he spoke to us. Having followed the taxi around the corner to his home he gets out his scooter and his wife appears with a camera, after a photo shoot we are off following across the city and it is miles, we had not gone far enough North. His name is Danny and he leads us past a scooter garage and toots and waves and took us straight to the door of our preferred hotel. We offered to buy him a drink but no, no it was a pleasure and if we want to go anywhere else whilst we are in town just call him and he will come over and guide us, what an absolute star.
We are booked into the hotel and Mike the proprietor takes us round the corner to a garage where we can get tyres. They have one set in stock which we get fitted to Martin’s as he is now on slicks and they order some for mine which will be in tomorrow or the next day. We also get some good advice here on a route to follow around Columbia and things to see and visit. Good advice is also given on what to look out for and how to stay safe, particularly in the cities, in fairness there are parts of London you wouldn’t go at night, so once again really nice people and extremely helpful and friendly.