On our trip to Bogota to get my wife’s visa we had a weekend layover with nothing to do so I picked a town out of the Footprint Guide and we took the three hour bus ride to the village of Guaduas. It’s an hour before Honda on the route to Medellin. There was a checkpoint where everyone had to get off the bus and hand over their cedulas to the police which were then all checked on a laptop by two DAS guys. Guaduas (that's the name of the tall bamboo tree you see everywhere) is a fairly well kept colonial town and being right on the highway seems to get some Colombian tourist traffic from Bogota. The trip is great. You climb up the central cordillera and pass some really impressive mountain scenery. We spent our two days just walking around the village and in the evening drinking a few beers on the main square fronting the church. Our hotel, Hotel Colonial was right next to the church. It was colonial indeed with the rooms on the second floor facing a big flower filled courtyard in typical colonial fashion. Our room was very comfortable with private bath and only cost $20.000. (or about $7.50) for two. The town was really abuzz and both days the market was in full swing. We did see army patrols walking around town though and I don’t know what that meant. Didn’t ask anyone about the “sano” or “caliente” status but the townspeople seemed relaxed and no one offered me warnings as they did in Popayan. The town is historically significant as the birth place of Policarpa ,a Colombian heroine my wife was well familiar with. Along with her house there are a couple of small museums mostly with antiques. All in all it was a relaxing way to spend the weekend and see a new place.
The Visa: My wife’s interview was on Tuesday so we arrived the Friday before. Arrived Bogota 7am. Went directly to medical office that is open only till 10am to draw blood sample. Went to Museum of Modern Art then Botanical Garden then another medical appointment in afternoon for x-ray and general medical check-up. Checked in to Hotel Dorantes in La Candalaria. $36.000 for two ($13.50), pretty dingy. Saturday: went to bus terminal and trip to Guaduas. Monday morning retrieved medical results. At the embassy at 1pm to get my financial responsibility affidavit witnessed by vice-consul. Visited Botero Library and art gallery. Tuesday 7am back to embassy for wife’s interview. Return at 3pm for visa. Home in Cali by 8pm.
