Day 58: Salento to Cali - Tuesday January 4, 2011

The rain was very heavy last night with lots of thunder. Salento is at 6,500 feet. After another lovely breakfast, we bid a fond farewell to our gracious hosts Maria and Francisco and their son Andres. It is Maria’s birthday. It was clear at lower elevations. Cali is at about 3,500 feet and a pleasant 82 - 67.

Like the 2 hotels in Cartagena, the Radisson Cali employs attractive young women who know how to use the internet and phone but lack personal contacts and experience to be effective concierges. What a difference from Europe and Guatemala! I called the Bel Air pro shop to help me get a round at Campestre de Cali, one of the private clubs here. Unfortunately, they were unlike the wonderful gracious Colombians so far. It turns out to be a non-event as it rained very hard last night in Cali.

January 5th is Blanco Day and the 6th is Negro Day. On Blanco Day, everybody throws flour on everybody else. Negro: Water, grease, ? We are going through Popayan and Pasto where this festival is celebrated and then to the frontier town of Ipiales.