El Penon de Guatape of Colombia

 

#RockGuatapeColombia

The rock of Guatape has 650 stairs to climb to the top
 The slowest part of the ascend is the beginning because of the many people who thought they were fit and were not
 So they clog up the narrow staircase trying to catch their breath plus all of a sudden decide to stretch 
But once i was past that, your guy did the roundtrip twice in around one hour

KeyTip;
 Because the Colombian Peso is so devalued it will cost you (at a great bargain) around
$5.00 US for an entrance fee
 Also if taking a bus from Medellin its around $6.00 US for a 3 hour ride
Now in most cases you will need cash for your admission fee, the water/snacks plus transportation

Finally;
 Needless to say do not drink the tap water and bring your own toilet paper

Early History
Before modern day Colombia
 The local indigenous people (Tahami ) viewed the rock as an object of worship, as El Penon has stood for millions of years in this area of Antioquia region

The Meaning
Guatape translated; is stones plus water in Quechua
 This is an Indigenous language that originated in central Peru and spread to others countries
 near the Andes Mountains

Beginnings
The rock has had several exciting theories about its origins;
 From an ancient meteorite, being an extinct volcano, maybe even the Gods had created it

 But Sorry
 Here is the boring explanation,
 the mass of granite was less fractured than the surrounding bedrock and it just survived
thousands of years of erosion. 

National Monument
 El Penon got this designation in the 1940s

30% Done 
Only 400 more steps to go, for one of four trips up and down 
As i am going to attempt the double just because 😀

Amazing Race
In 2024 they had the contestants racing up the stairs here in Colombia
  Previous TV seasons with some of the countries that were visited;
 United States, China, India, France, Italy and Thailand.

Fun Fact
The show has now been to every continent
except Antarctica

First Time
The rock was first officially climbed in 1954 and it took the three men five
days to complete 

Visionary
One of the trio (Luis Eduardo Villegas Lopez) bought the rock from the local farmers as they
 viewed it useless for their needs.
 Then Lopez built stairs into the cracks of the rock and started charging people to
climb the steps.

 Present Day
 His family still continues to earn a percentage of admissions for the ascends
Talk about entrepreneurial thinking

Common Sense
Do i need to say this 😕
 Wear proper shoes as its the equivalent of walking 45 flights of stairs, so please leave your
 high heels and flip flops back at your hotel jajajaja

Photo Op
Always thinking like a photographer i am;
 using the stairs for a frame to highlight the town below

Things To Bring
Be sun smart and bring some sun lotion, hat, plus glasses
 As the UV intensity increases 4% for every 1000 feet, so with Guatape at 6200 feet
 you can do the math

Aerial View
 Here i am around 200+ meters (650 feet) up, so you can get some great panoramic views of Guatape Lake plus its surrounding areas.
This was formed when the government in the 1970s decided to flood this area and to create a reservoir that provides electricity to 35% of Colombia

 Summit Shops
 Now once at the top, there are vendors selling water plus snacks and a bar to perhaps celebrate
your quest of the stairs 😄

Colors & Guatape Town

Notice the lower parts of the buildings, these are called zocalos which depicts local life,
beliefs, flora plus fauna
The unique and vibrant structures was a direct result by the mayor and his forward thinking to make everything more vivid, as he knew the "Rock" would bring
visitors to his area

The Catacombs of Naples Italy

 #CatacombsNaplesItaly
Was originally built by the ancient Greeks constructing Neapolis (Naples) which has served
many purposes throughout time as you read in this blog

KeyTip
It costs around $15.00 US so well worth it, my only issue is the groups (divided into whatever
language your guide was providing) were too large,
so you could not hear most of the information plus they were rushing you through so they could
 start another tour

Aqua History
The underground was later used by the Romans as aqueducts to supply water, as seen here with the rope pulley system for over 2300 years
Besides the water being raised to the surface, the surrounding stones were used for construction of buildings plus the volcanic ash was mixed with seawater and lime to make a mortar

Underground Maze
The catacombs of Naples is a subterranean network that spans for over 450kms (280 miles) and is 40 meters deep (130 feet)
 So a vast system, which you can get lost in so always be near your group

Second World War
This part of the war museum pays homage (in part) to The Four Days of Naples

It was the uprising against the Nazi German occupation of the City that lasted just for four days
 in September 1943 and before the arrival of the Allied Forces

War History
These tunnels served as a bomb shelter for the military plus also the citizens of Naples

From 1940-1943 there were over 200 Allied bombing raids that caused severe damage and unfortunately 20,000+ civilian deaths
Only the City of Milan had more bombing raids 

Home For Many
At the sound of the siren the local citizens hurried to the tunnels and some actually lived here for around 50%  of their daily lives during the conflict
You can see evidence of this with showers, toilets plus the childrens toys during these turbulent times

 But the positive was, it was estimated the catacombs saved over 200,000 people during the
Second World War

Teenage Adversity
During the war the children of Naples experienced significant hardship which resulted in many to scavenge for food, live on the streets and so on
 As a majority where orphaned, wounded or just displaced

After the conflict the "Happiness Trains" program sent thousands of boys and girls from here to other parts of Italy to stay with families in much better conditions

Mental Anguish
Conditions were very difficult
 As there were no fresh water or electricity, medicine and food was scarce

After the war most of these spaces were abandoned, as the memories of those times were deliberately suppressed due to the traumatic experiences

New Beginnings
The catacombs were reopened in 1969 by the Archbishop of Naples

 It started with modern excavations in 1971 to reverse years of neglect, with the vision to show the world the remarkable heritage of this area
 With the end goal to highlight both the good and dark past of its history

Smart Engineering
The Romans connected all the caves with all these narrow tunnels to create water pressure for their 180 km ( 125 miles) aqueduct system
The conduit was used for the next 2000 years until a cholera epidemic closed it in 1884

KeyTip
Today its just a claustrophobic sideways slide through part of our tour 😂
plus have your cellphone flashlight ready as sections do get dark
 

Other Dirty Uses
During the 1940s Naples had a shortage of metals (as everyone did during the War)
 So the people of Naples used the wells as public trash cans

 Then the city decided to use the tunnels as a bomb shelter
and cleaned up the catacombs

 

Repurposing
Part of the preparation of turning the catacombs into bomb shelters;
 Twenty entrances were built to access and the other major task was to close up over 14,000 wells so the explosive devices would not reach them in the underground

Greenhouses

Heading up to the 142 stairs and back to the surface when i notice an area that they have been growing strawberries plus tomatoes (at what has to be 35 meters or 115 feet underground)

 Found out later it is an experiment by the local University

Moving Forward;
 The Sotterranea (underground) has been used for art exhibitions, theater performances and also
 classic music concerts
But as we just witnessed it has served many other useful purposes of its long history
in Naples

Kotor Montenegro

#KotorMontenegroCattaro

Kotor is located on the Adriatic Sea and was founded in the 5th century BC.
Known for its fortifications, churches, medieval old town plus its narrow cobblestone streets

One of the more interesting stops was the Maritime Museum ($37.00 US) because of its strategic location to the sea, so the city has had a long tradition as a port
 The museum is located inside the palace previously owned by the Grgurina family
 and was founded in 1880

  KeyTip;
Things to do/see for Free

A) Walk around the Old Town and make sure to visit the old palazzos (beautiful buildings / palaces) that were once owned by the Noble Families (for one as mentioned the Grgurina Clan)
As they were turned into museums plus boutique hotels
 and stroll inside the lobbies to see the antiques, stairways plus statuettes 

 B) Wander onto the Kotor Promenade near the Boka Bay and perhaps see when the local fishermen return from a days work plus maybe view the sunset if here during that time

C) St Nichola Orthodox Church in Old Town

 D) Hike the Kotor Serpentines which is an old caravan road that rises 900 meters / 3000 feet

 E) Walk on the walls of Old Town  to see the rooftops and also the views overlooking the bay
 
 F) Church of St Luka which dates back to 1195

G) Kampana Tower located near the mouth of the River Scurda and on the Bay of  Kotor which from the tower you can see all of Kotor.
 Also if here at night they light up the tower plus the walls for a great photo opportunity

Area History
Much of the medieval fortifications of Kotor remain intact even though there was a major earthquake in the year 1979
 The wall around the town runs for 4.5kms ( 3 miles) with some of it that rises 20 meters (65 feet) with the highlight;
The main gate dates back from the 1500s

Churches
Some do require an entrance fee so the currency of Montenegro is the Euro even though officially its not a member yet.

 But Moving Forward;
 Serbia and Montenegro are the most advanced candidates to join the EU sometime
between 2025-2030

Reasons
Some of the Romanesque designed churches.
 As with everything the Romans did, it served a purpose;

 The arched portals (entrances) into the church was built this way to impress or even humble the viewer, as in the Middle Ages most of the people did not read or write
So the portals told a narrative story

For The Foodies
Making my way into an outdoor restaurant and like the rest of the Balkans
 Montenegro like their grilled meat called cevlapi  (kebabs) which is cooked in front of you on hot coals

 Other Options;
  A) Borek; is a pastry with spicy lamb meat, currants plus pine nuts
  B) Black Risotto; a seafood rice dish
C) Bajadera; a dessert with layered nougat, almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts
 D) Silverbeet  (a chard and no, not the same as spinach 😄) with potatoes cooked in a garlic sauce
  E) Calamari; stuffed with prosciutto plus cheese 

  KeyTip;
 When choosing a place to eat;
 The farther it is from the coast and the tourist streets, the lower the price plus the bigger the portions

The Venetian Republic
It was part of this empire (1420-1797) and so you have all of
its architecture

  Other Influences
  In the 1300s Venice became wealthy through its control of trade between Europe and the Levant (Eastern Mediterranean region of Western Asia plus the Middle East)
 because it built a large national shipyard which produced the Venetian Arsenal

Koto
 The port helped to maintain the control of this area with a stopping point for some
 of these ships

Languages
English is certainly spoken here because of the increase of tourism but the official dialect of Montenegro is Montenegrin
 With also Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian plus Albanian widely used and recognized within
the country

Bazaar Retail 
Heading to the most unique shopping area in Kotor; it is located in an abandoned
TwDominican Monastery 
You can actually pay a small fee to dress up like a medieval warrior or become an archer and try to shooting some arrows

20th Century History
During World War Two, Italy (under Benito Mussolini) annexed the area
 of Kotor (1941-1943)

  Then Came Nazi Germany
 Who replaced the defeated Italians, which resulted in a guerrilla war within Montenegro who
 was fighting for democracy.
Finally in 1944 the war of liberation had been won and to acknowledge the contribution from Montenegro, it became of of the six republics of Yugoslavia
 

1350 Steps
To climb to the St. George Fortress (Fortress of San Giovanni)

Which my only complaint was half way up there was a gate and an 8 Euro fee (which is fine but the mobile credit card device signal was not good, so took forever to get
it to work; so bring cash)

Not much of the castle remains plus only a few of the ruins can be visited, but the views are great so well worth the effort

Mortgage Rules
If thinking of buying a house or apartment in Kotor you first you have to register a
company in Montenegro
But before moving forward contact a local law firm to explain all the Laws on Proprietary
 and Ownership Rights

The Weather
 In Kotor is seasonal; with July the hottest month (26C) and January
 being the coldest (5C)
 So with these old structures heating becomes an issue, again if you are thinking
 of ownership

Founded 2000 Years Ago
 Now i am not sure how old these shutters are (showing its age) but i KNOW they are not from
 that time period 😄

Old Town
Walking on the Fortification Walls  to get a peek of some of the 13,000 citizens way of life
in historic Kotor 

Salad Square
 Which was has a palace from the Vrakjen Family and from
 the 14th Century

The Church of Our Lady of Health

 Was built during the Middle Ages
 Which was the time period of the plague that killed many people
 It was then when the citizens and government of Venice asked the Mother of God for help, so miraculously the fatalities stopped
 So because of that, more of these churches were constructed throughout the Venetian Empire

Moving forward as i leave Kotor
I get the feeling she is looking out for all of us, especially after our time in history with the
COVID Pandemic 

Beautiful Costa Rica & Ecotourism

#CostaRicaEcotourism

Ecotourism is a growing plus an important sector of the economy here in Costa Rica
 The government has done its part by protecting 25% of the area with 29 National Parks for all of
us to enjoy.

 Now it will cost you for tours
 But some things are just worth spending on and you are helping an area that
 contains 4% of the worlds biodiversity 
So even though it is a small country, it carries a huge impact on the Global Stage

Understanding The Word
Everything is Eco these days but lets remember the original meaning of it;
Ecotourism immerses travelers into natural areas

 So for one example in Costa Rica
You will see tropical forests which are dry, wet plus of rain types
This will create an environmental awareness through our sense of sight, smell, hearing and touch

The Beginnings
Costa Rica push towards ecotourism started with the establishment of the Cabo Blanco National Reserve in 1963, then the first of its National Parks in 1971

That trend continues today, as the countries park system covers 3,221,000 acres which is 30% of its territory marked for conservation
Making it one of the highest ratios in the world

Special Place
Costa Rica has the highest density of plant and animal species on Earth because of its interoceanic plus intercontinental location

 Biological Bridge
 With its unique geographic position as a land bridge connecting North and South America it allowed species from both continents to mix, contributing significantly to its biodiversity

 

So besides the famous butterflies of Costa Rica (1,200 types) there are also 850 bird, 237 mammal, 1260 tree, 1200 orchid, 361 reptile and amphibian species of each    

Butterflies
A) They have taste receptors on their feet, which helps them identify host plants
 plus suitable food sources

B) The wings are covered in thousands of microscopic scales (like i fish)
So the oil from human fingers can damage these delicate scales, so best not to handle them

C) Costa Rica is the largest exporter in the world of butterflies for
 live exhibits
 
D) An abundance of our friends is a good sign of a healthy and balanced
local ecosystem

E) The Blue Morpho was declared a national symbol of the country and its image
 is on the $50,000 dollar bill

Tropical Climate
 It extends across extreme variations in altitude and covers
countless ecosystems

For Example;
 The Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park
It has been described by National Geographic as the "most biologically intense place of earth" due to its 13 major ecosystems plus high concentrations of rare species

 Zen Gardens
I am reminded this was not always the case

Change In Policy
Thankfully the country reversed its mindset of cutting down forests for agriculture and cattle
 (which was the standard practice for Central America at this time) 
As in the 1980s the forest cover in Costa Rica dropped to just 21%, but thanks to pioneering programs such as paying landowners to preserve the trees, the coverage has since
 doubled to over 50%

 Park System
The government realized tourists are willing to pay to experience the
 wonders of their nature

Other Eco-Activities 
A) Rafting down rivers flowing through rainforests plus canyons; as you see toucans, ospreys, monkeys and sloths
(National Geographic has rated the Pacuare River as one of the top 10 most scenic rivers in the world)

B) Humpback Whales coming from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
to the Pacific coast to breed

C) Riding horses on the plains of the Central Valley to see jungles,
 waterfalls and pastures

D) Nocturnal Wonders of the rainforest at night, with creatures like the red-eyed tree frog,
 bats and wild ocelots.
  Many National Parks have guided night tours to experience this
hidden ecosystem 

Tourist Limits
Now with large numbers some parks are putting on a cap for per day entrants
For example;
 Monteverde is 200 and Manuel Antonio is at 800 
So plan ahead 

Other Rules
A) No touching or feeding wildlife, plus (really do i need to mention this😏)
 NO Selfies with the animals
B) Guides are mandatory for some parks due to the
 dense or challenging terrain
C) Stay on the marked trails to protect the delicate ecosystems plus for your safety
D) Certain parks do not allow plastic bottles, cans or food

Diverse Landscape
 Rainforests, Volcanoes, Beaches, Wetlands and Caves 

West Virginia Size
All of this in an area of  62,000 square kilometers or 24,000 square miles

 Guided Tour Perks
 You may learn of the medical uses of the tropical plants, distinguish between the calls of a bellbird or toucan, maybe even point out the root system of a balsa tree
So yes, worth it to pay for tours in this country

 Ecolodges
 They are intentionally isolated which uses solar and wind power
Now these are less fancy plus have fewer amenities than traditional resorts
 but what better way to experience nature in Costa Rica

The Facts
A) Some are so remote like Pacuare Lodge you can only access it by white-water rafting which adds a way cool element to your journey

B)  At Lapa Rios Ecolodge the food scraps are fed to the local pigs, then the biogas produced from the pig waste is captured and used to operate the staff kitchen

C) Drinking water from one lodge is harvested from the on-site
 banana trees

D) Zip-Lines are the mode of transport around some properties
 ( the original use of this)

E) Maquenque location offers  deluxe treehouses 10 meters (30 feet) to have a very unique wildlife viewing experience

F) La Kukula are built on abandoned cocoa or banana plantations, which also are actively reforesting the land themselves

KeyTip
The government has a Certificate of Sustainable Tourism (CST) Program that helps travelers identify which are genuinely sustainable Hotels or Lodges 
Plus at some locations guests can participate in educational tours and tree-planting programs 

The Park System
 It protects some 500,000 species of plants and animals
 which again is 4% of the worlds total biodiversity

Interesting Animal Facts
A) Sloths; are surprisingly good swimmers but only come down from the treetops to use the bathroom once a week, which unfortunately accounts for a large number of their fatalities

B) Howler Monkeys; are the loudest land animals in the Americas with their calls can be heard up to 5kms ( 3 miles) away and generally at dawn

C) Jesus Christ Lizard; can run across the surface of water on its hind legs at speeds of 1.5 meters
 (5 feet) per second due to the specialized scales on its toes

D) Scarlet Macaws; are highly intelligent birds that mate for life and so that is why you seen them always flying in pairs or small family groups

E) The Glass Frog; it has a translucent belly allowing you to see its
 internal organs

F) Hummingbirds; very high metabolism which requires it to drink more than their body weight in nectar everyday

 Plant Facts
A) Strangler Fig; it grows around the host tree, eventually "strangling" it and then
 takes its place in the forest 

B)  Guanacaste; its the National Tree known for its massive
umbrella-shape canopy

C) Leafcutter Ants; are industrious farmers who cut the leaves to grow an edible fungus in their underground colonies

 Allan Murillos
Local artist and my friend with his stunning work that captures the raw beauty of his
country onto a canvas   
  https://www.instagram.com/amurillo.art/