Paramo

We took a hike at above 4000 meters to Lake Siscunsí, where condors have been reintroduced.

Aquitania and onions

Aquitania is the town in the area of lakeshore lands used for growing green onions, a near monopoly, and this crop is celebrated in a monument in the town plaza.

Playa Blanca at Lake Tota

Playa Blanca is a quiet resort area with one restaurant, a camping area, and a cabin with three rooms for rent. We had fresh trout for dinner.

Cuitiva

Cuitiva is a tiny town in the hills above Iza. The nacional government has a couple of soldiers on guard. The municipal government is spending money on subsidized groceries given to needy peasants and on remodeling the plaza with its statue of Bochica.

Firavitoba's two plazas

Unlike most towns in Colombia, Firavitoba separates church and state with two plazas. The Gothic church is considered exceptionally fine for a small town.

Firavitoba culture

Firavitoba has a music school, and there was a poster announcing weaving workshops.

Pantano de Vargas

The little church by the monument had a charming image of San Roque.

The house is of the Vargas family, a couple and 12 children, killed by the Spaniards for supporting Bolivar.

Pantano de Vargas

The monument at the Pantano de Vargas is being cleaned in preparation for a big anniversary of Colombia's independence and of the monument. We stopped for a cup of coffee, and I bought a lovely green knit ruana.

Paipa

Paipa is a tourist town with spas and hotels near the lake of Sochagota. The town is mixture of colonial and newer architecture, but I like these murals.

Aposentas Tuta

Back in the 60s, there was a comic television series where the maid proudly admitted being from Aposentos Tuta. In Tuta, the main restaurant, with photos of the actress and of President Uribe on the walls, serves typical food.

Ventaquemada and Tuta

Ventaquemada, like many Colombian towns, has a statue to Simon Bolivar. The Libertador slept here after his final victory in the Battle of Boyaca.

Tuta, like most towns in Boyaca, has a bike shop, for the montainous training grounds have produced famous cyclists and bikes are cheap transport, only now replaced by motorcycles.