Puente de Piedra

Puente de Piedra is a really really small farming town which consists of one street with a number of houses and other businesses along its edge. 

Yesterday we got up late and went hunting for an internet cafe just down the road from Don Rafas house. Before we got to the internet place we were sidetracked by group of Colombian guys, Rafas friends, who were drinking beer in the hot Colombian sun. 11:30am and they were on to their 5th beer already.  Our day started to progress down the drinking path yet again.  After uploading a couple of photos and emails we played some backyard cricket and were fed a huge meal, BBQ style of steak, potatoes, guacomole and other root type vegetables, of which there is an endless variety here in South America.  We have been treated to many such wonderful banquets.

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday afternoon and night was the wedding. 

The venue was gorgeous.  The gardens were bright with colours, the red roses in full bloom, set against a backdrop of  large rustic Spanish syle house.  At llama grazes the grass along the back fence and a monkey in a cages chatters noisely at the arriving wedding guests.

The men and women were immacuately dressed but in somewhat 80s fashion style. The colombian men in their suits and aviators remind me of scences from classis Hollywood films depicting Colombian drug dealers or body guards.

The wedding ceremony was nice also, conducted mostly in Spanish.  The wedding took place outside in the garden. The ground was covered with bright red rose petals.  The isle was lined by bunches of tightly curled whole red roses.

Before long I made an aquiantance of our drinking companions for the evening.  A nice spanish looking Colombian girl named Carolina, a young 25 year old recently graduated Colombian doctor named Daniel, another Colombian named Juilo and of course the Anzac compardres. All spoke excellent English, except for the Austrialian, who had already given the scotch a fair nudge.  At a Colombian wedding they have beer and Scotch for the men. Wine and Vodka for the ladies. At a Colombian wedding they have beer and Scotch for the men. Wine and Vodka for the ladies.

It was great to be able to discuss all manner of things with the local Colombians from Bogota in some detail and to ask many questions about the state of affairs in Colombia.

Clearly the Colombians love thier country, their freedom and lifestyle.  Colombia seems to lack regulation, which is a refreshing change and makes life vibrant and interesting, although chaotic and perhaps a little dangerous.  Even if something is regulated, people dont seem to obey unless is generally accepted by the populace.    I guess a reason is that Colombians generally dislike and distrust their political leaders. They also distrust the polictical leaders of those countries that surround them, in particular, Chavez of Venezuela and the international foreign policy of George Dubyah of America.  Not much different to home I guess.  I really enjoyed Dr Daniel and Carolina´s company and it was nice to pass the time talking with them.

Colombians really know how to party.  A Latino music style band began after the wedding ceremony ended.  Carolina took me for my first Salsa lesson and after a few moments of feeling like a completely uncoordinate idiot and a few embarrassing moments of stepping on her toes, I began to get the hang of things.  It was also nice to actually dance with someone.  This is an art that we seem to have forgotten in New Zealand and everyone dances apart.  It is a shame because it is a lot of fun.  Dancing salsa and other similar dances is to Colombians like skiing is to Austrians.  They all learn when they learn to stand up.  It seems many also learn to sing and play an instrument as well, which all in combination with stunning women, makes for a wonderful time.  (Unfortunately Carolina had to return to Bogota, some 1 hour away, and at 32 she still lives with her parents.  This is quite normal I hear in Colombia as many people dont leave home until they are married.)

The scotch flowed freely and after many hours we retired to the homestead just out of Subochoque.