What Color Vest Goes With A Black Suit

Bogotá, 2600 meters closer to the stars!

After 11 hours of flight arrival and safely with our two huge mailbags containing our paragliders and our backpacks, we here in Bogotá, Colombia's capital, the starting point our journey. At about 2600 meters, is the third highest capital in the world after La Paz and Quito, and has over 8 million inhabitants. Out of the airport in the rain, we discover that the Colombians live for 5 months already.

The country suffers heavy rains with precipitation levels never reached, and suffers from frequent flooding affecting more than 80% of the territory. Nevertheless, the Colombian keep smiling and sense of hospitality of their own.

So almost a week since we are on Colombian soil, in the middle of traffic, the bus stop in the middle of the road, sounds of car horns, shops clustered together along their goods, sellers of everything and anything on the sidewalks and between cars at red lights ...

These first days here are spent to recover from jet lag, to make contact with local paragliders or couch surfers, and experience the rich culture of this country. His gold museum presents the largest collection of pre-Columbian art in the world, all regions of the country and indigenous cultures are represented.

Although we arrived in late November, we already enjoy Christmas decorations rather "kitsch" that adorn the streets, buildings and especially the parks!

Sunday is here as everywhere in the world day of rest, and although the city continues to live almost 100%, many urban dwellers prefer exile for the weekend or for the day. In town, the larger arteries are closed to traffic leaving only move as pedestrians and cyclists is the "Ciclovia" and the atmosphere is more relaxed. On the outskirts of Bogotá, many small villages come alive with the arrival of Bogotanos, and we therefore decide to take the opportunity to go for a ride on one of the most famous "voladeros" of the capital. Only 30 minutes from Bogotá, overlooking the "valley of Tomine" and its water retention, here we are at "el paraiso voladero.

Beautiful flying site to over 3000 meters offers superb flying weather throughout the year, both in thermal dynamics, it is not uncommon here to see the drivers stand in Deco. Shortly after our arrival, the local leader Miguel explains everything there is to know about the site and we prepared two talkies (radios here are not used in competition). We take a coffee deco time to observe the tandem flight, and we set, looking forward to our first flight to South America. But just out of the sails bags, local pilots tell us that it is forbidden to fly on its official website without parachute. The negotiations are unsuccessful, the law. Our frustration is great, it's an opportunity for us to discover one of the first great paradoxes of this country which holds the world record for road deaths, but that does not even allow drivers to take responsibility. We remain however a few hours to watch deco local pilots and envy them, then when you leave, Miguel we propose to call back if we decide to fly in the corner that we tried to find relief. With anger that we hold against this strange country, thankfully it's there to remind us how the people are friendly and welcoming.

So we are done by car, around the water retention which gave its name to this valley. The scenery is magnificent and when we arrive Guatavita, birthplace of the legendary Del Dorado, we discovered a charming little village with its doors with white walls, and cobbled streets. The return on Bogotá will be by the East, and the town of La Calera, after crossing a ridge surrounding the city.

The view overlooking open to us is amazing: everywhere the eye can see, Bogotá extends its tentacles, like a city without end.

After 11 hours of flight and arrived safely with our two great peoples of the French mail containing our wings and our backpacks, we arrived in Bogota, capital of Colombia, the starting point of our journey. A more or less 2600 meters above sea level, is the third highest capital in the world after La Paz and Quito, and has more than 8 million inhabitants. We left the airport in the rain and discovered the Colombians living for 5 months now.
The country suffers heavy rains never yet achieved levels of rainfall and widespread flooding that touch more than 80% of the territory. Nevertheless, Colombians do not lose your smile and the sense of hospitality that is theirs.
almost a week ago that we are in Colombian lands in the middle of traffic, the buses that stop right in the middle of the streets, the noise of horns, shops grouped together according to their wares, vendors everything and anything on the platforms between cars at traffic lights ...
These first days here are spent to recover the "jetlag" to come into contact with people, paragliding or couchsurfers, and to discover the cultural wealth of this country. His gold museum presents the largest collection of pre-Columbian art in the world, all regions and the country's indigenous cultures are represented there.
Although we have reached the end of November, we can enjoy the Christmas decorations rather kitsch that adorn the streets, buildings and all the parks!
Sunday here is like anywhere else in the world on the break and although the city continues to live almost 100%, many people prefer to go into exile for the weekend or for the day. In the city, major arteries are closed to traffic for leave to pedestrians and cyclists is the "bike path" and the atmosphere is more relaxed. The many small towns around Bogota, is alive with the arrival of the citizens, and we decided to take this opportunity to stroll into one of the most famous aviaries of the capital. At only 30 minutes from Bogotá, overlooking the Valley of Tomine and dam water, we arrived at voledero "paradise." Beautiful site
flight over 3000 meters above sea level offering very good flying conditions throughout the year, both as thermal dynamics, here is not uncommon for pilots to make a top landing. Shortly after our arrival, the local official Miguel tells us all we need to know about the site and gives us two talkies (radios are used here only in competition). A coffee at takeoff, as we watch the tandem riders, and we settled, eager to make our first flight in South America. But just got our wings, we learn that local drivers are banned from flying in an official site without reserve parachute. The negotiations are futile, is the law. Our frustration is great, and is an opportunity for us to discover one of the first great paradoxes of this country which holds the world record of deaths on the roads, but that does not allow the glider pilots to take their responsibilities. It took but a few hours watching the Voladero local pilots and envy, then the time to go, Miguel decided we propose to call back if to fly over there so you can try to find some reservations. With anger we hold against this strange country, fortunately he is there to remind us how gentle and loving the people are.
Then we went to do, by car, around the lake that gave its name to this valley. The scenery is magnificent and when we Guatavita, birthplace of the legend of El Dorado, discover a charming and typical village with its whitewashed buildings, and streets floored. The will return to Bogota in the east, and the municipality of La Calera. After crossing the ridge that surrounds the city, the view offered to us is incredible for todas partes, Bogotá extiende tentáculos addition, como una ciudad infinita.