Existing Member?

    Salento, Colombia. A town in the Clouds

    Photos from Colombia

    There are [5] photos from Colombia

    A young couple peer into the vast valleys below El Mirador (The Lookout Point) on the outskirts of Salento. Torrential rain falls as yet another massive cloud formation engulfs the entire region. The atmosphere is heavy here, both in a climatic sense and in the mood it creates. Views[204] An elderly gentleman reads his paper in one of Salento’s billiard halls. Throughout the day and late into the night men gather here to play and bet on this popular game. The aroma of coffee fills the air as locally grown beans are prepared in huge old fashioned machines, some of which date back over 100 years. Views[200] Visitors to the somewhat isolated township of Salento are genuinely greeted by its residents. Views[193] Since the main route to Bogotá bypassed Salento many years ago, the small town with a population of approximately 4135 inhabitants has retained its traditional colonial architecture along with a quiet and relaxed way of life. Locals sit in Salento’s main square as deliveries of goods and livestock come and go. Views[206] The road to Salento is not for the faint hearted. There are not rules here, but rather an “understanding” between the hundreds of truckers who haul their heavy loads from peak to peak on this twisty mountain road. Larger vehicles must sustain momentum on the steep inclines and will often overtake into the oncoming traffic. With some stretches reaching an altitude above 3000 meters visibility is also a major issue. Every so often through a break in the clouds the sheer drop to the coffee plantations below can be seen. Views[180]
     

    About simonmartin


    Photo Galleries

    Where I've been

    My trip journals