Raquira, Colombia

After a huge family style breakfast - we visit a couple of the towns around the Boyaca state area. First we visit Raquira - a small tourist type town - known for beautiful pottery. The town is quite colorful with shops and restaurants painted in bright colors. Darrell , Richard and Joaquim take a break in the plaza area with the central church.

Dairy Farm

The cows are milked at 2:30 am and 2:30 pm. The workers take the equipment into the fields to milk the cows and then the milk truck comes to pick up the fresh milk for processing 2 times per day.

Mirian loves to play with the dogs - Bruno (golden retriever) and Martina (Jack Russell terrior). The grounds are beautiful - with a kitchen and herb garden, rose garden and many beautiful flowers and plants all around.

Visiting Cristi's brother's farm

We had a wonderful trip into the beautiful countryside of Colombia - to visit Cristi's brother's dairy farm. Joaquim and Mirian opened their wonderful home and we had a delightful visit. The farm is near Chiquinquira in the state of Boyaca a few hours north of Bogota in a beautiful lush valley known for dairy farming. The home was filled with beautiful antiques and special features.

Wonderful lunch - Sancocho soup

One of my favorite meals of our visit to South America - was this wonderful soup - Sancocho - in Bogota, Colombia. A farm style chicken stew -it contained special spices that give it a wonderful flavor with 3 kinds of potatoes, chicken and corn. We had lunch at Hotel d Opera - next door to the main Opera House of Bogota - Theater Colon - currently undergoing rennovations.

Plaza Bolivar and Presidential Palace

The historic center of Bogota is also the location of the government - the President's home as well as Supreme Court and Congress Building. The statue in the center of the plaza is of Simon Bolivar.

Historic Center - Bogota

The large plaza in the center of the historic part of Bogota features a plaza and the Cathedral - The Cathedral Primada - was started on this site in 1530's by early Spanish explorers.

Botero Museum

Cristi and I visited the Botero Museum. Fernanado Botero is from Colombia. His work features paintings and scupltures of "Large" people and things. The Naples Museum did an exposition of his work in 2009. Bogota is noted for a wonderful museum scene.

Views of the city of Bogota, Colomiba

A mountain range borders Bogota on the West with the city situated in the valley. Monserrate has a church and look out area reach via a steep cable car ride. The edge of the city near the mountains has many nice highrise apartments featuring a wonderful view of the city. The north part of the city had an "air" of prosperity - but further out of the central part of town maybe not so much.

El Chico - Colonial historic home in Bogota

The hacienda style home was built in the 1600's and features the attached wooden covered balcony. The furnishings of the home were mainly French and resembled Versailles. The family had traveled extensively and had collectable items from all over the world. The grounds of the estate has been turned into a nice park.

Bogota Colombia - El Chico

El Chico is a colonial home and estate in Bogota, Colombia. Darrell and I are visiting Richard and Cristi Wernick from Atlanta who also have a home in Bogota. Cristi is from Bogota and has family in Colombia.

It was my first visit to Colombia - but Darrell had been many times when he lived in South America and worked for Procter and Gamble.

Watching the Inti Raymi ceremonies

Our group enjoyed a fabulous day of weather during the Inti Raymi Festival in Cusco, Peru on June 24, 2010.

Inti Raymi Festival - 2010

The celebration comes to its conclusion - the participants continue to dance and the Inca King is carried out of the plaza by the red clad soldiers in his golden chair.

The Inti Raymi Festival is quite a spectacle! Thousands of people come to Cusco for the annual Festival of the Sun - held on June 24 (2010) just after the Winter Solstice. This is the most important day of the Inca people. The elaborate costumes and grand pageantry was really amazing. We were fortunate to have wonderful weather for the event - the day was spectacular! Inti Raymi is one of the most important festivals in all of South America - we really enjoyed the event!

Inti Raymi Festival - the sacrifices of the Llama

The next part of the ceremony is the sacrifice of the black llama. The llama is carried to the center and a fire is lit to offer the sacrifice to the Sun- (The llama is not really killed - but it is convincing.) Members of the tribe light fires in 4 corners of the plaza. Members of the royalty and the tribes continue their dance of celebration.

Inti Raymi Festival - the ceremony

Hundreds of local people participate in the ceremony. It is an honor to be selected to participate. The costumes and dances are rermarkable!

Inti Raymi Festival - The Inca Queen and King

The Inca Queen in brought to the plaza first - carried by green clad warriors in a silver throne - representing the Moon. The Inca King is the last to arrive - carried by red clad soliders on a gold throne - representing the sun.

Inti Raymi Festival - The Amazon Tribe

The 4 regions of the Inca empire are represented in the festival. The tribe from the Amazon basin are shirtless, have their war paint on their faces and carry staffs. Another dancer represents the deer. These 4 groups perform a series of dances from their regions.