Barichara
Our 2 nights at Camping Guaimaro were nice and dry. Up early, we collected one of Julia’s yummy sourdough loaves, paid our bill and after Julia had photographed us for their instagram account, we were off into the town of Barichara.
Barichara was founded in August, 1742. It’s origin is quite curious. Legend has it that, in 1702, the Blessed Virgin appeared to a peasant farmer. Her image remained imprinted in the surrounding stone. Days later, fervent Catholics started arriving at the spot to worship. It is on that spot that Francisco Pradilla y Ayerbe founded Barichara. Barichara is a local Guane native Indian word meaning “a place to rest”.
Some pics around Barichaira
After a quick look around the town, all the streets of which are paved with large stones, and a successful search for a cash machine, we set off south for Villa de Leyva, a distance of 118 miles. Stopping again to refuel, we were still underway in good time.
En route to Villa de Leyva
At about 13.00 we decided it was time for tea and some of Julia’s yummy bread with honey. Finding somewhere shady to pull off the road is always quite difficult. We found what looked like a good spot, but it was private property, next to a house. There was a gentleman sitting outside and he came over. We asked if it was okay to stop. He was very welcoming and bought two chairs over. We shared our bread and honey and made him tea too. He chattered and laughed away and we managed to communicate, a bit.
The area surrounding Villa de Leyva is a large tomato growing area. There are huge plastic houses spreading in all directions. They all seem to be growing nothing but tomatoes. Some with small, new plants and others at the other end of the cycle with the plants brown and dying off.
Villa de Leyva
We haven’t yet seen much of the town as we came straight to the campsite at around 4pm. Carlos, who is in charge of the camping advised us to perhaps move further away from the river, as mosquitoes can be an issue. It is quite windy, which is why we chose the spot we are in, as it has a row of plants to provide some shelter.
We didn’t think the mossies would be too much of an issue with the wind. It is also quite chilly, 16 degrees according to my phone. Pietra Camping is located at 2,132 m, so we’re quite high.
The camp site is apparently 10 minutes walk from the town centre. I had thought we could walk into town after we had put up the tent and sorted ourselves out. We were both feeling tired, though, so decided to wait until the morning before we go and investigate.
Villa de Leyva was founded in 1572 by colonizer Hernan Suarez de Villalobos. In the early years it was mainly a retreat for military officers, clergy and the nobility. It was declared a national monument in 1954. Its colonial architecture has been preserved in its entirety with cobblestone roads and whitewashed buildings. The town square, Plaza Mayor is one of the largest in the Americas. Tomorrow we will take a look.
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Your blogs have become a daily “must read” that I look forward too, thanks.
Lots of lasting impressions recently but the streets paved with those large stone slabs are extraordinary.
Hi Mel, thanks for your comment. They were smoother to drive on than the cobbles.
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