So Medellinice.

It is indeed time for an update concerning our whereabouts in Locombia, don't you think? Well, here it goes: after having arrived to Bogotá yesterday, we took this first day to go to a nearby town and check out a cathedral located inside a salt mine, called "Catedral de Sal". The tour through the premises also featured a visit to the smaller salt mines off the beaten track. We experienced walking in absolute darkness, using only our hands to "see", as well as working the stone with authentic tools and simulating a dynamite explosion. These experiences and the cool LED technology used to light the cathedral impressed me in particular.

Please allow me a couple of words on our previous stop, the town of Medellín: it was wonderful! Already in the bus from the airport to the city, we were helped by an incredibly friendly couple who showed us the way to our Couchsurfers. In return, we dined in their vegetarian restaurant the other night. Our Couchsurfing hosts themselves were just unbelievably nice people! I am once again impressed how much the idea of Couchsurfing can change the way you travel and interact with others. Whenever you welcome somebody in your home with open arms, you give to the community what you don't really have to. Doing it nevertheless shows a lot of good faith in humanity. I officially and inofficially take this oppertunity to virtually transmit a big "thank you" to José and Marissa! You are very welcome to stay with us in Austria anytime you like.

Just another minor detail I found absolutely unnecessary to tell you (but which I will do anyways): Chicago and Medellín are the only cities I know where the subway is actually going above ground. An up-way, as to say. After this wonderfully useless fact, I try to raise standard of writing and quote Mark Twain, a pretty successful writer from the United States:

"I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out 

whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them."

Enjoy,
Martin
-in the Colombian capital