La Ciudad Perdida

So on Sunday morning we left bright and early to go to the pueblo called Machete Pelado. It used to be called Mamey after the fruit, but 20 something years ago so many people killed each other by machete due to cocaine wars that it was renamed....We started the trek up to La Ciudad Perdida and all was good. It rained hard, and we finally made it around 6pm to our camp. The mules however had got stuck the other side of the river. I found out the next day, having overheard a conversation between two guides that the mule man had got drunk and forgotten to tie the mules up, so lost them and consequently lost our food. They only reappeared at 1pm the next day. So we set off very late and didn't make it to camp 2 before it got dark so stayed somewhere very very basic having not had any lunch and dinner was again very late. Day three began with less enthusiasm and a slight disdain for the useless guide but our group was great and we rallied together and had a laugh - mainly at the guides expense. There were many river crossings, some waist deep. They were actually quite nice as they kept us cool for at least 10 minutes. The trek was long, hot and pretty difficult and quite hairy at times.

The worst moment was on the way back we had to cross by "cable car" which is more or less a wooden cart on a pulley that is operated by two guys. You can see a picture of it above - in the sun - on the way there, when the river was low enough for us to cross through the river, rather than over it. On our way back there was torrential rain and the river was raging, it was dark and wet. I found out that quite a few people pissed themselves with fear, and many other girls cried. For the first time on the trip I felt a little more hard! I just didn't look down. But anyway I digress. Nirmal couldn't see a thing as he was wearing glasses and with the rain they were all steamed up. At the other end there is a sheer drop down a cliff and into the river. He crossed infront of me and I saw him go to get out of the side - onto AIR - rather than the v. small ledge and I just heard the guide scream "Nirmal NOOOOOOOOOOOOO" and thankfully he put his foot back in and got out the front, in some sort of safety. I actually thought he was going to die!

We celebrated in style when we got back to Taganga. We spent the day on the beach today with Carlos - the guide who shouted to Nirmal not to kill himself, and coincidentally he'd also taken him to hospital two weeks previously when he had severe dehydration. Just before we got in the sea he said "I'm not a v. good swimmer, so I can't save your life here too Nirmal". Ah a Colombian with a great sense of humour. We loved him.

It took us time to rest up, get clean and dry and we're about to head to a night bus to San Gil for some more adventure. We're going to try spelunking on my birthday - whatever that may be!