With the backpack as my cushion, I had a good sleep again and woke up when I heard someone coming who sat down just a few meters from me. I had noticed already before that my corner was popular day and night for marihuana smokers from the village and this morning was no different. What was different though was that suddenly someone shouted “Wake up, Get up”. When I looked at the strange man he pointed to my backpack, pointed to the side bag which was open and my camera exposed. Before I really understood what was going on the man told me that the guy had carefully, silently opened my side bag trying to steel. He had seen the guy from the distant, from the doorsteps of his house and came to my rescue. The camera was still there, thank God, but only due to the courage and help of the stranger. I had not noticed how close the guy was or that he had opened the zipper from the side bag. I packed my stuff and had just enough time to thank the stranger. He walked back to his house and I walked down to the bus station.

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I could not believe the luck I had. In a city like Medellin or Cali I would have probably had an encounter with a more professional thief and would have lost my camera, maybe even my whole backpack, maybe even my health or my life. I had been warned so many times, back in Venezuela, here in Colombia and now I had my first delicate, no critical situation and I was sleeping. I had to consider this to be the last warning sign before something really serious would happen. Thank you very much stranger and thank you very much my guardian angels.

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I took the bus to the same location where I had entered the city 3 days ago, the main roundabout at the entrance of Santa Marta. I walked along the main road out of the city to not waste time and energy with the local traffic; once you past the last house you pretty much know that the cars passing you are on their way to the next village or city.

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I wanted to reach the city of Riohacha today but I was off to a slow start. I had a drink at a snack stand, a family business just at the footsteps of their house. Suddenly the whole family was outside to look at the Gringo and asked me all kinds of questions. I liked the conversation but with 5 children standing and playing next to me I would not get a lift. I had to leave the nice family and walked another kilometer and got the first ride in an old car, father and 8 year old daughter. I had a strange feeling and when we arrived at his village close to the National Park Tayrona and he asked for money I knew why. I paid 10000 Pesos, 10 Reales and I learned another lesson today.

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It was Saturday, it was lunch time and I was in a small village half way between Santa Marta and Riohacha. I waited for half an hour in the midday sun before a truck without trailer stopped. I climbed up into the cabin and thanked the very young looking driver. He insisted to have our conversation in English; he wanted to practice his English and a long conversation started about all the countries that I had visited in my life and all the countries that he wanted to visit in his life. I understood that he drove all this way, more than 150 kilometers to fill up the 800 liter tank with illegal imported petrol from Venezuela. He stopped at the gas station of a small and rough village about 40 kilometers before Riohacha and in a very clear Spanish advised me to leave the place before darkness. I did, 10 minutes later in an old VW Gol and met Hansel, one of the 3 Colombians in the car. I had made it to Riohacha before darkness and made it right in time for the local Carneval.

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Time to sleep; I asked for the next hospital and found a secure place next to the door to the room for the emergency driver on night shift. He looked at me, I looked at him, our eyes met and we had an agreement for the night.

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For a small understanding of the days travel, I have included a Google Earth map. The red pins mark the locations I have stopped and taken pictures. At the bottom of the page you will find a link for all the pictures I have taken. The link will open in a Google+ Album.

Please click on map to enlarge!!!

See map and distances / Siehe Karte und Entfernungen / Ver mapa e distâncias / Ver mapa y distancias

0 km      Santa Marta

85 km    Palomino

165 km  Riohacha

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