The Amazing Colombian Hospitality

ONE: At our hotel in Barichara we met a Colombian guy Richie, his American wife Annie, and their American friends who were holidaying and paragliding around the mountains. Richy invited us to his farm 4 hrs further north, which we stayed at for one night. Not a farm though. 5+ acres overlooking a great view and a fantastic house that accommodated 9 of us last night. The maid came to clean and cook us breakfast. They were lovely. TWO: Now we are getting a lift with Juan Carlos - the friend / architect that is designing Richie and Annies new house, and who stayed up to the very early hours of this morning drinking with Ian - all the way to the coast of Santa Marta, which is about 9 hours away. He is going on a working holiday. It was either this or an overnight bus. So we are taking a couple days and sharing the petrol costs. Great spending time with locals, as we are getting great tips on things to see and do, and learning more about the country. THREE: In Armenia we went to find the largest wax palm trees in the world. Had to take a bus for an hour and then walked most of the 10 kms until we got a lift from Marcos and his sister, who live in Armenia. He then drove us back, all the way to the city, invited us to his house for coffee, and then we cooked dinner together. He had some little English, but we practised our Spanish heaps, and it was really the first time that I have practised my Spanish over and above the regular sentences that I know about myself, family, travelling etc, and had to try and put together new sentences - hard, a little frustrating, but good for me. This is the 3rd time in Colombia that we have come across such amazing hospitality!