Month: April 2023

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Colombia Feb. 2023

Elena, Daniela and I visited Colombia for almost 2 weeks. Daniela wanted to spend time visiting two of her best friends. Elena wanted to shop because everything is much cheaper than in Ecuador. Spent most of the time in Bogota and 3 nights in Villa de Leyva. Bogota has 12 million people and there were some protests going on while we were there. I loved the country outside of the city. Villa de Leyva reminded me of Napa, California. Close enough to the city that the well to do can get away for the weekend.

Monserrate Sanctuary sits above Bogota. Mari, Daniela and Elena holding up the Ecuadorian flag.
Elena and Daniela

Church sits at over 10,000ft
Built between 1650 qnd 1657

Overlooking Bogota
Gold Raft in the Gold Museum
South American thinker figure at the gold museum.
In Villa de Leyva A fossil of a Kronosuares still lays where found. The only complete one in the world.
More fossils, much of Colombia was underwater at one time.
Bogota

Bogota at night. I played a game of street chess just a couple of blocks down the street.

This made me smile. “Suave Monjita”
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USA trip part 2

So, we left Moab and headed east through Colorado heading to Wyoming. We stopped for a night after just crossing into Wyoming. All I remember was it was below zero (-18 Celsius) temperature wise. We arrived at our friends home in Wyoming the next day. Daniela had never shot a gun, so being good friends they treated her to some shooting. It was around 20 degrees (-7 Celsius) so it was almost time for some shorts. Daniela proved to be a pretty darn good shot.

One of my favorite rifles, Buffalo Bill Winchester 30-30.
Everyone enjoyed the day.

Devil’s Tower

Arriving to Devil’s Tower, I gave any Aliens around the symbol to let them know we came in peace.
Alien didn’t like my jester and jumped me.
Daniela said ” the heck with Randy take me to your spaceship.”.

Mount Rushmore National Park

It was cold but it was also empty. Way cool.
Nobody
We were the only ones in the theater.
So quiet.

Badlands National Park

Again, snow and cold weather and the park was empty. Beautiful Country.

Illinois

We arrive in Illinois to see family. Spent a few days then headed to Chicago. Wandered around the city in zero-degree (-18 celsius) weather. Just a little chilly in the windy city.

The “Bean”
Beginning of one of the most famous highways in the USA.
Natural Art Museum
My name is Sue, how do you do.
Sue is one of the most complete and largest fossils of a T-Rex in the world.
Chinatown in Chicago.

She was laughing as I stopped to show her where an elephant was buried. She was killed when hit by lightning..

Mississippi river frozen.
We had lunch and looked t family photos with Aunt Mariella. She will be 90 in June. I love this woman.

Saint Louis, Missouri the “Gateway to the West”.

Saint Louis Arch
Inside the Arch at the top.

View of Saint Louis from the Arch.

Heading Back to Ecuador

Arriving in Ecuador