Barrichara

Yesterday was a travel day. We flew the 2 hours to Bogotá then changed planes for Bucaramanga. We are met by a driver Guillermo. By now it is 7 30 and pitch black out. We still have a three hour drive ahead of us. We're off to explore a colonial heritage site , the small town of Barichara. We are in the north central part of Colombia. No one told me it was going to be so mountainous. The drive up here consisted of careening along narrow snaking roads. It twisted and turned like a snake with hives. The thing is there was quite a lot of traffic and the impatient drivers took every opportunity to overtake each other around precipitous blind turns. I guess prayer plays a large part in the driving experience. Three hours of this, ouch.
Our accommodations are a welcome surprise. We are staying in a newly opened B and B. The young couple, Jorge and Maria who's home it is are charming and sophisticated. Their home is very attractive. The good news is they have just recently opened the place so are not yet burned out on hosting but rather are extremely welcoming and helpful. Their 3 year old won me over immediately. After all this travel to get here we discover that the town consists of ten square blocks of beautifully maintained and or restored adobe houses whitewashed and then pointed in lovely sea greens and sky blues. One can explore 10 blocks pretty quickly.. The town is very charming what there is of it. The raison d'etre of the place is the production and weaving of sisal. They also grow tobacco. We saved the trip to the cigar shop for tomorrow.