Not such a great night sleep however I'm getting used to this. Wedding partied until the early hours which seemed to vibrate through even the thickest of walls. Breakfast seemed an inconvenience when I could have got a few more hours kip.

Honda is an old city which seems to have been forgotten. First people inhabited the area around 1539 but it took until the 1850's until it's golden age. The Magdalena river flows through the centre of the town it was at this time the the country's main river port. Which meant all the goods were bought as far as Honda before they could distributed to Bogata or further.

Having got some brief instructions of where to walk we go to find the river and 2 of the many bridges this city seems to have to cross the 3 rivers which run through it. The first bridge we encounter was once a toll bridge and the owner was reputed to have made a fortune. It now is on used by the odd bicycle and pedestrians due to its condition a few extra planks and nails would not got a miss. The second bridge known fittingly as the yellow bridge was designed by the same person as the Golden Gate Bridge not sure if that is why the colour. We took the normal huge amount of photos and returned the way we came.

This is a town with a history which in the future I am sure people will want to hear about. Situated on the main road from Bogota to Medellin it can not be long before things change.

We head out of town only the old railway which like Honda has seen better times but may be this will get restored as well as it would have beautiful views of the valley and the river.
The road is slow but beautiful winding up and down the valley lush still with vegetation and coffee plantations. First major town is Manizales having followed the road from high up in the clouds down to the valley most amazing scenery deep steep valleys green with palms coffee and just about every type of flower you could think of the late afternoon sun deepens the colours. Having stopped for a break, watching the kids play on the backs of moving trucks we ride on through this huge metropolis. One thing Colombia does not do well is its big cities. They are not the least bit inviting which probably is a bit unfair but when you have to make a choice you ride on. We made a bit of an error today not having a final destination Lindsay finds a hotel in his gps so we follow. This is a bit like the lottery some you win some you don't Periera is another huge town we arrive just as it is getting dark. Once off the Pan American you dive into a dark concrete ghetto of one way streets not a hotel in sight well not the ones we will stay at any way. Traffic really busy we make a dash to leave town only option we could think of was a small hillside village we had been told about with a lovely view. Salento was about 20 miles away now in pitch black fortunately most other people were off the road. The road twisted and turned in places only wide enough for one vehicle. It seemed as if everyone in Colombia was on this road as we were back in chaos. It was as if they new something we didn't everyone was travelling in the other direction.
We realise once we arrive at the main square that this was a popular destination particularly on a bank holiday weekend. All of a sudden we were swamped with people taking photos asking questions where are we from what are we doing. Lindsay said later everyone deserves their moment as a rock star. It was mind boggling that these people had so much interest in 4 people on motorbikes. In the end after requests to visit their home towns and one guy offering to be our guide we had to force our way out as we still needed to find a hotel.
3 or 4 suggestions no luck then one had one room 2 beds, Hotel El Mirador del Cocora
thanks but too cozy. Next was a couple of hostels the last one to view the room we woke a guy up who would have had to share the same room, bunk beds for 6. The owner who showed us in was creepy it made you worry for the teenagers back packing here, experiencing this Ill say no more, this one we left quickly.
It was late now no option we would have to share. Back to El Mirador
4 in the same room Marian organised the bathroom rota. I think the rest of us went to bed hoping we would not snore.


Added later - we rarely talk about our night sharing...