South to Popyan, Ipales and Ecuador

From Cali we  continued South to a few days in Popyan (Spelling ?),  one in Ipiales and across the border to Ibarra, Ecuador.

From Popyan we did a day trip to Silva (Or was it Silvia).  Anyway a small town to happened to have their weekly market that day.  After the trading, men and women sit around the square I suppose to gossip about  kids, weather, etc.



Southern Colombia is nothing to write glowing about EXCEPT for the geography.  Green mountains, passes every 20 kilometers  and spectacular vistas.  Other than that cities compete to have the most cell phone stores and shoe stores.  Not sure which one is winning.  Things seem to be a little more expensive here...perhap as it approaches Ecuador and perhaps due to transportation costs.  Still, anyone looking for an inexpensive place to spend a few North American winter months...Colombia should be on the short list.   (But a little Spanish skill is really needed.)

Here is a look at geography shortly before crossing the border into Ecuador.





In other news, March 13 we leave Ecuador to Madrid, Spain and the Eastern Hemisphere in general.  Travel not defined other than the South of Spain and ending in Nuremburg, Germany around May 12th.   Then, a four day stop in Iceland on the way back to the USA.  Seems that we can save considerable amount of $ by selecting different days  for each part of the Munich-Reykavik (Sp  again?) and Reykavid-Denver or Chicago legs.  At least enough to pay for most of our housing in Reykavik during the 4 day layover.

Crossing in Ecuador quite easy as we twice got selected to go to the short line due to our advanced  age.  For others the line is quite long both out of Colombia and into Ecuador.

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