Travelling Mechanic

Money does not buy happiness.   Do we need to be constantly searching for something new to buy? ... We tend to chase a life by consuming to fill the void to happiness. Instead of taking a step back to reflect on each day, and time to listen to what the heart truly wants. You have to experience boredom to understand what it is - Search your soul... Then be creative, so not to be bored. Instead of searching for outside pleasures to fill the void. "Loneliness does not come from having no people about one, but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to oneself, or from holding certain views which others find inadmissible" - Carl Jung Live in curiosity   Curious people are never bored, turning life into an endless exploration of joy.  "There is nothing like having the time, to do things well."  If one day you change your tune, go and see the world.  Mini-Retirements. Where we focus on travel. It is the same principle for an alternative l...

Visit to a colonial finca

Getting off the beaten path and taking the 13 k road from Ibague to Los Andes through the beautiful mountains of the central Andes. Los Andes is a hamlet of a few fincas.When we arrived, the owner of a finca offered to cook lunch "Bandeja Paisa" and for only $4,000.00 and told us where we can walk and find the river and waterfalls, where children were swimming.  The road that takes you to Los Andes Los Andes Central Mountains that rise steeply  The river at Los Andes, where the locals jump from the bridge and swim in the cool waters.  The finca at Los Andes Bandeja Paisa

Samaná Calda Colombia was a great trip, as I have now returned to Colombia. Now with direct fights from London to Bogota (11hrs 15 mins) with Avianca and by flying at night, it doe's not feel that far away! Colombia is probably one of the most miss-perceived countries in the world due, in part, to portrayal by the mainstream media, making Colombia a good place if you like to go off the beaten track. Hernan the owner of this finca calls his property "Land of peace" and he invited me to stay for the weekend. It is located in the coffee region of Caldas and truly is a peaceful place to stay, with mountain views, natural streams and coffee plantations. "Colombia's main environmental problems are soil erosion, deforestation, and the preservation of its wildlife. Soil erosion has resulted from the loss of vegetation and heavy rainfall, and the soil has also been damaged by overuse of pesticides"  The small town of Samaná with a village feel is only 5 k...

My New Project "Transit camper"  Crew cab with  factory  fitted windows. The Plan*: The project is underway, with j uggling  work and converting my new van, for  Road Trip  " Spain " 2016.  Going to keep it simple; the van has a workshop in the rear with storage for 2 bikes,  generator , etc..... The living area will have  buck beds, cooking area, table & chair.    * The plan did not happen, also the  beard got shaved off!  I got as far as north of Bordeaux,  returned  to England and flew to Colombia. But I am sure I will get there again soon......... By campervanning you can travel Europe with ease and is the best way to do it, as it gives you more freedom. You can prepare and cook food, just think of all those coffees. Its becomes more cost effective and you can travel for longer. You can stop at beautiful locations, take in the tiny, out-of-the-way villages and enjoy the life! Spain has ...

A taste of coffee plantation life! Always a pleasure to get away from the big city and get to what I call the real Colombia. And visit the Fincas "small coffee farms" set high in the central Andes. This time of year the rain can be heavy, but makes a nice view with the clouds when they clear or sit low through the valley. This trip was a long weekend staying with a family and walking to other fincas visiting more family, as you know Colombians have large families. This coffee area is known as Buena Vista  and another coffee area from Rovira I like to visit is Luisa .  Most Colombian coffee growers live in fincas whose coffee cultivation's plots do not surpass 2 hectares (5 acres) on average. 1 hour off road drive from the town of Rovira in a Willie's Jeep.  High in the central Colombian Andes between the clouds. Scorpion being removed. Typical Cooking on the finca View of lush slops looking down to the coffee fincas we visited for lunch....

On our trip back to Havana from Vinalas, we stayed 2 nights at casa Los Sauces, Candelaria. Only 2ks from the autopista were the bus Viazul drops you off. Only $8 cuc. Ask to be dropped off at the bridge "Puente Cupe Zoroa". We got picked up from our casa owner, you can call the day before 52289372 to make arrangements. The casa has 3 rooms and the garden is very large with many plants. The casa is only 6 kms from Soroa and our casa owner took us and returned us for only $5 cuc. Only 84kms from Havana, we waited under the bridge ( Puente Cupe Zoroa on the autopista to Havana)  for a bus and we took a collective taxi for $5 cuc each. The waterfall at Soroa Car and driver/guide all day $25 cuc Entrance fee to Las Terrazas $2 plus $5 to visit attractions and lunch included. Rio San Juan, swimming pools and where you can buy lunch

Nice beach, few people and Cubans, can get busy at Cuban holiday time, is a nice place to relax. You can make this a day trip, 65km northwest of Viñales and is attached to the mainland by a causeway. You can ask your casa owner in Vinales to book a taxi to take you and arrange a time to return. Causeway. View from resturant Taxi from Viñales $15 cuc each, (5 people) for 6 hours on the beach.  Food 8 cuc, Beer $1.50, Mojito $2.50.  Where you get drooped off and walk on to the beach at Cayo Jutias, you can walk to the right along the beach and through a tiny mangrove covered area and find the beach above.  Music in the restaurant at lunch time.

Pinar del Río Province. Took an collective taxi from Play Larga for $35 cuc each about 5 hours with a stop at a restaurant close to Havana. From here you can do a day trip to Cayo Jutias   and visit the hotel "Loz Jazmines" that you can use the swimming pool, bar and for a  great view of the valley. Stayed at Casa Nene, half way down Calle Adela Azcuy Norte. 0152238860 This time of year it can rain, but makes great rainbows Lots of Bread  Dinner at Casa Nene Out to the tobacco farms