Day 5 - Corcora Valley and Salenco
Today we had a tour to the Corcora Valley and then visted the colonial town of Salento.
During breakfast a lovely little humming bird visited the feeder in the restaurant area.
It had poured with rain for much of the night and also for the first part of the day. We were driven to the Corcora Valley which was about 1 hours drive to the South East of Periera. Here is the home of the Quindío Wax Palm. This Palm grows up to 60m high and is the tallest palm in the world.
On arrival at the National Park of Los Nevados, we were taken to plant our own Wax Palm into the wild to help offset our carbon footprint. Holes had already been dug in the soil and we were given one plant per couple. We were asked to name our plant. Paul chose "Penny" after his MG car. We took Penny out of her plastic container and planted her into the ground and put the soil around her roots and pressed it firm. We then had to say her name while she was watered. These plants will remain in this place for 11 days at which time they will be taken high into the mountains and replanted. They will be looked after for 5 years (growing 5 cms per year) at which time they will be mature enough to look after themselves.
We then went for a hike in the valley. It was very misty and wet. We were very thankful we had taken our wet weather hiking gear although had only expected to use that in Ecuador. We walked along a trail which we shared with horses and mules which were taking other tourists much further up the valley. The path took us through open countryside where we had views of the valley sides with many of the Wax Palms growing and then through a forested area until we reached the Quindío River crossing. We could either cross by stepping stones, which looked very slippery and dangerous or by a rickety bridge which we all chose to do. We had a few minutes to look around this side of the river and there were some lovely plants. It was still raining at this time.
We turned back and as we were going through the forest, suddenly a lot of birds appeared, (most yet to be identified) starting with a Green Jay and then many others. We stopped to watch them for a while before going back to the coach and then on for lunch. Colombia has over 1900 species of bird.
After lunch we visited the very pretty nearby town of Salento. This town was created in 1842 and was on the original road from Cali to Bogata. When this road was rerouted away from Salento, it retained its colonial, laid back way of life and has almost always only known peaceful times. The houses and buildings are all beautifully painted in bright colours. There were a lot of souvenir shops and they were all selling high quality souvenirs. There were a few things we would like to have bought but we do not have the luggage space.
After looking around the town we went to a games hall where there were pool tables and people sitting around playing cards. We were taken downstairs to play Tejo which is a Colombian game which is very old but still widely played. It is a bit like table skittles where there is a table and you have to throw disks onto the table. That is where the similarity ends. The table is filled with a soft damp clay. There is a metal ring in the clay and 4 white markers are placed around the ring. The aim of the game is to get the disc inside these markers or to get the disc to land on the markers. When the disc lands on the markers there is an explosion, similar to a banger going off (as it gets between the disc and the metal ring). Points are scored but I didn't really understand the scoring. All I know is I was on the losing side.
On the way back, the bus driver put on a film about Columbia and its wildlife for us to watch. We started to pack as we are moving to Bogata tomorrow and then jumped into the hot tub before going for dinner.
During breakfast a lovely little humming bird visited the feeder in the restaurant area.
 |
| Hummingbird |
It had poured with rain for much of the night and also for the first part of the day. We were driven to the Corcora Valley which was about 1 hours drive to the South East of Periera. Here is the home of the Quindío Wax Palm. This Palm grows up to 60m high and is the tallest palm in the world.
On arrival at the National Park of Los Nevados, we were taken to plant our own Wax Palm into the wild to help offset our carbon footprint. Holes had already been dug in the soil and we were given one plant per couple. We were asked to name our plant. Paul chose "Penny" after his MG car. We took Penny out of her plastic container and planted her into the ground and put the soil around her roots and pressed it firm. We then had to say her name while she was watered. These plants will remain in this place for 11 days at which time they will be taken high into the mountains and replanted. They will be looked after for 5 years (growing 5 cms per year) at which time they will be mature enough to look after themselves.
 |
| Our Wax Palm |
 |
| Paul planting Wax Palm |
 |
| Penny - planted and watered |
We then went for a hike in the valley. It was very misty and wet. We were very thankful we had taken our wet weather hiking gear although had only expected to use that in Ecuador. We walked along a trail which we shared with horses and mules which were taking other tourists much further up the valley. The path took us through open countryside where we had views of the valley sides with many of the Wax Palms growing and then through a forested area until we reached the Quindío River crossing. We could either cross by stepping stones, which looked very slippery and dangerous or by a rickety bridge which we all chose to do. We had a few minutes to look around this side of the river and there were some lovely plants. It was still raining at this time.
 |
| Hummingbird on feeder at start of hike |
 |
| Quindío Wax Palms |
 |
| Start of the walk |
 |
| A well deserved rest |
 |
| Quindío Wax Palms |
 |
| Quindío River Waterfall |
 |
Horses and mules could be hired to
take visitors high into the mountains
|
 |
| Plant in woodland |
 |
| Paul on rickety footbridge |
 |
| Quindío Wax Palms in the mist |
 |
| Quindío Wax Palms in the mist |
We turned back and as we were going through the forest, suddenly a lot of birds appeared, (most yet to be identified) starting with a Green Jay and then many others. We stopped to watch them for a while before going back to the coach and then on for lunch. Colombia has over 1900 species of bird.
 |
| Green Jay |
 |
| Video of 4 Ibis birds that arrived while we were having lunch. |
After lunch we visited the very pretty nearby town of Salento. This town was created in 1842 and was on the original road from Cali to Bogata. When this road was rerouted away from Salento, it retained its colonial, laid back way of life and has almost always only known peaceful times. The houses and buildings are all beautifully painted in bright colours. There were a lot of souvenir shops and they were all selling high quality souvenirs. There were a few things we would like to have bought but we do not have the luggage space.
 |
| Salento |
 |
| Salento |
 |
| Salento |
 |
| Salento - a lot of steps leading out of the town. |
 |
| Salento |
 |
| Salento |
 |
| Salento |
 |
| The church, square and Simon Bolivar statue, Salento |
 |
| The hospital building, Salento |
 |
| Inside Salento Church |
After looking around the town we went to a games hall where there were pool tables and people sitting around playing cards. We were taken downstairs to play Tejo which is a Colombian game which is very old but still widely played. It is a bit like table skittles where there is a table and you have to throw disks onto the table. That is where the similarity ends. The table is filled with a soft damp clay. There is a metal ring in the clay and 4 white markers are placed around the ring. The aim of the game is to get the disc inside these markers or to get the disc to land on the markers. When the disc lands on the markers there is an explosion, similar to a banger going off (as it gets between the disc and the metal ring). Points are scored but I didn't really understand the scoring. All I know is I was on the losing side.
 |
| The Tejo table |
 |
| Drinking beer helps performance (so we were told) |
 |
| Throwing the disk at the table |
 |
| Retrieving the disks from the clay. |
On the way back, the bus driver put on a film about Columbia and its wildlife for us to watch. We started to pack as we are moving to Bogata tomorrow and then jumped into the hot tub before going for dinner.
Comments
Post a Comment