Closed for the Holidays

Gold Museum
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After an earlish start this morning, we walked the 40 mins back to the main entrance where the bus would pick us up and then stopped just after the entrance to the park for an early lunch.  It was then a journey back to Santa Marta to pick up our bags from the hotel and head out to the airport for the flight to Bogota, the capital of Columbia and at an altitude of 2600m.  The airport had little there but was scenic instead, located next to the sea with palm trees.  Arrived in Bogota and headed straight for the Juan Valdez coffee shop.  Apparently he is very famous for premium coffee, and does adverts as a man and a donkey.  The hit is certainly strong from the coffee though and was good.  It was then a mini bus to our hotel in North Bogota and the residential area.  We then headed out for Hard Rock Cafe, sad but after the limited choice at Tayrona, a good hit of ´normal´food was required.  When we got back to the hotel, we heard from others in the group about this club in Zona Rosa (the party area) that was owned by a brother of the guy who owned the restaurant they ate in and who had put us on the guest list.  So...the majority of the group headed out and had a nights clubbing at a local spot with a mixture of music including a live performance by an up and coming columbian act.  It was very busy and pushing and snogging is very much the order of the scene for the Columbians.  After this I went with Caroline to another pub across the road until about 3:30am and kicking out time.

Gold Museum
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Following day got up and headed to the Museu de Oro (Gold Museum) as it would be closed the following day.  As it was a free day, being Sunday, there was a massive queue outside with about 1.5hours wait.  I wanted a brochure so whilst Sam was buying emeralds, I went in and was asked if I would like to see the museum as well - said yes but had other friends and she was OK for me to get them - so basically we jumped the queue entirely and got in just after some members of the group who had been waiting the full time.  The museum was good and it was worth having the audio guides as without them it was just a collection of gold piece but with them you had the story of what they meant, the incas, the spanish conquestidors etc.  The museum has the largest and most important collection in the world.  Afterwards, we headed to the Plaza Bolivar (yes another one) where a lot of historic and important buildings are located but it started with the thunder and lightening so we headed for some cheap food (chinese bargain at UKP1.50) and then to the Mall for some shopping.  Afterwards back the hotel but on the way I tried to buy wine for a film later only to discover that for some reason it was not possible.  Others, who had gone out to eat also had the same problem - something apparently to do with the elections.

Gold Museum
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The following day was a little brighter, a change for a bank holiday.  Headed out to Dunkin´Donuts and the internet to find out it was opening later, so we headed into town.  Everything was shut until 12pm which was disappointing so wandered around window shopping in all the desinger shops, which there are lots of.  After walking around the mall headed to Hard Rock Cafe, and again discovered that alcohol was not allowed to be bought.  Very strange this bank holiday behaviour!  Afterwards it was more walking and back to the hotel, packing and watching LOST and a movie.  Little else to do when everything is closed and it is raining outside. Truman (our tour leader) was also put out that for some reason they passed a law to make yesterday and today a dry period- which hasn`t happened before and there was no warning of.