Never seizes to amaze me how Latin America is all connected through their common Spanish heritage. Wherever you go in the "Nueva Espana", the architecture, how cities and towns are laid out around a big central plaza, their catholic heritage with their big and ornate churches, their mix with indigenous populations and the incorporation of their cultures ... all connecting more than 15+ countries in Latin America by a common bond.
Today, we arrived at Villa de Leyva, a beautiful example of a nice colonial town in the mountains with the largest cobblestone central plaza in the world. A bit like Mexico, a bit like Guatemala, a bit like many other towns throughout the Americas. Because of its proximity to Bogota, this is a well developed and preserved tourist and weekend destination ... with great weather, sunny, mild temperatures, and relatively dry all year round. We sat around the plaza watching life go by having capuccinos and ice cream ... ahhh, "il dolce far niente" : )
We also visited a Gaudi-like house that a local architect has been bulding over 14 years out of clay ... and he is not done yet. It felt like you are inside a living organism. Very strange.
On the way to Villa de Leyva, we visited the Catedral de Sal (Salt Cathedral) which was built in an old salt mine 250m below ground ... many underground chambers with all kinds of crosses, statues, and catholic themes ... even a full nativity scene and a three dimensional replica of michaelangelos sistine chapel ceiling painting. A bit surreal but interesting.
Tomorrow, we have a long ride to Bucaramanga.
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