Colombia-Joyas y Cafe Day 3
Colombia-Joyas y Cafe
Day 3 - Wednesday, March 26, 2014 - Optional Tour to Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral and Enjoy Lunch Cooked with Mine Salt
The temperature was 60° and the humidity was also 60% when we set out with Diego, our driver at 8:00. We joined the optional tour to the city market and the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá in the mountains north of Bogota.
On our way out of town we stopped at the Palo Quemao Market on the north part of the city. We began at a fruit stand where we had many very delicious fruits new to all of us.
The next discovery was a pig in a pig, called Lechona, where the meat of the hog is shredded with rice and spices, put back into the skin of the pig, and then roasted for eight hours. Yummy! Then the flowers, always so beautiful and so inexpensive.
After we had explored the market of fruits and vegetables, meats, and other household goods, we continued north west seeing many expensive homes and condominiums of the people who escaped the city central during the violence.
Construction is now one of the major industries along with oil, mining, coffee, and roses and commercial flowers. All of these contribute to Colombia’s growing economy. At 10:45 we arrived at the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá.
Edgar was our personal guide down into the long tunnels where salt has been excavated for hundreds of years. We walked more than 600 feet underground, and we saw the 14 small chapels that depict the Stations of the Cross. The highlight was an active Roman Catholic Church carved into the large caverns.
At 12:30 we met back above ground and rode on a little tourist locomotive for a tour of the city of Zipaquirá. We ended our tour at Parque Restaurante Funzipa, once a factory for refining the salt from the mines below.
Our meal was ajiaco, a traditional Colombian soup of chicken, three varieties of potatoes, and corn. It was served with capers, avocado, and sour cream. We also had side dishes of rice and a corn cake. Dessert was a fig with dulce de leche, sweetened caramelized milk.
It was almost 2:00 when we left Zipaquirá and relaxed as Diego drove us back to our hotel. He took a different route, as Edgar wanted to show us another wealthy district of the city.
Back in our room we had 30 minutes to refresh ourselves and then at 4:00 we met our group for a walk to the Santa Clara Museum in a convent built in 1620 and adorned by frescoes and paintings of the 17th Century.
We stopped for a waffle like dessert called an oblea. As we watched Isabel, the owner of the street cart, serve the customers ahead of us, Edgar asked her if we could try to make one. Mary Jo and Gennie had fun fashioning delicious treats and we all shared their creations.
It was getting close to 5:00 so we hurried back to the hotel where Angela, a social scientist and former employee of the USAID in Colombia, talked to us. She gave us a historical view of the drug cartels and the devastation they did to the economy and reputation of her country.
Angela gave us an opportunity to ask questions and she was very willing to talk with us about this controversial topic. When she had finished her presentation, Edgar gave us our instructions for our travel day tomorrow.
We met at 7:00 for a short walk to a small restaurant called Antigua Santafe where we had a light dinner with our group. It was 8:00 by the time we finished and walked back to our room.
While Vic paid our bill, Gennie started the journal, and then we went through our photos of our last day in Bogota. After packing our bags for the flight tomorrow, we were ready for another good night’s sleep.
Accommodations: Hotel de la Opera - - - Meals included: B
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OAT's - Colombia's Colonial Jewels & the Coffee Triangle
Comments
What great pics!! Been in hosp.& FINALLY found what the problem -having quadruple heart bypass surgery in the morning. Say a prayer for us. Thanks
Post a Comment!Gennie, I watched the video. What was in the sweet treat? How fun!
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Mary Jo and Gennie enjoying Lechona
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