This evening we arrived back in Bogota from our trip down the mountain to the tropical resort of Mesa de Yeguas.

Getting there was interesting. From the little town of Anapoima we got off the main road and drove for ten plus minutes down a narrow winding track to the hotel past jungle and fincas (farms). At one time this little road was almost the demise of the resort – it is the only road to the resort, ending there. Being in a lonely isolated place, the fear of guerrilla road blocks was real. Now the road is safe and the resort is doing quite well. I hoped Mary and German were correct about this.

This is a hotel resort in the mountain jungle two and a half hours west of Bogota. Included are a huge pool, championship and executive golf courses, tennis, horseback riding, children’s playgrounds, a resident naturalist, and more than enough employees to satisfy our every whim. There were only a few of the rooms being used on this particular Tuesday night.

Our first impression was heat. Real heat. The temperature when we arrived was 91 degrees. The sun was unimpeded by clouds and the humidity was certainly present. After settling into the room German and I set off for golf. Ann and Mary followed us in a cart for three holes until the heat got to Dear Ann; actually the pool was calling to her. Of course German and I also took a cart. After nine holes I was spent – physically and mentally. The heat and humidity won; I lost.

We went to the hotel after nine holes. I was seduced by the huge pool with crystal clear water, Jacuzzi jets and the thought of a Club Colombia cerveza. I quickly changed into my swimming suit and was in the water cooling my core temperature waiting for the beer before I knew it. German asked if I wanted to play the second nine, “NO”. He and Mary played the back nine with Mary taking my place. Ann and I relaxed by the pool for the rest of the afternoon. This is not usually my style to enjoy resort life but this was just magnificent.

Sitting on the deck surrounding the pool I could look out past the zero horizon pool edge to see the thick, green jungle and high, sharply pointed mountain crests beyond. I never thought I would be lounging in a pool carved out of the mountain jungle of central Colombia.

Before dinner German had gone to the bar and brought a bottle of Aguardiente back to the room. On their deck overlooking the jungle, the bottle’s contents did not last long. The four of us teamed up against that bottle and the outcome was never in doubt. Perhaps that was a contributing factor in all four of us hitting the bed very soon after dinner.

Today was just as degenerate - getting up for coffee and breakfast then off to the golf course. The four of us played the nine hole par three executive course, or as Ann calls it, the “baby” course. The little lady had two pars and seemed to be getting serious about this idiotic game. For her mental health, though, she should not get hooked. Mary and German went off to the “big boy” course for nine more holes. Ann wanted more (a very bad sign of the golf illness overcoming her) so we played four more holes. More lounging by the pool was followed by lunch in the open air, thatch roofed, hotel restaurant where we ate dinner the night before.

On the ride home we left heat of 93 degrees. By the time we had risen to the top of the pass some 55 minutes and 30 winding miles later the temperature was 64 degrees. What a relief.

Tomorrow German and I play the first round of the three day golf tournament. There is a snag. Isn’t there always a snag of some sort? Get this, the first Thursday of February is “Nobody can drive a car in Bogota day” or some such title. The history of this insanity began in a city in France in 1996 with over 700 towns now participating as of 2000, including Bogota. Taxis and busses rule the day as the only method of transportation. This ban is in effect from 6:30 am until 7:30 pm.

The golf course for the tournament is 45 minutes out of town over the mountains to the east. German called today for a taxi but never got a confirmation callback from the taxi company – think they might be busy tomorrow?? We will get there somehow but that is not my problem. Ann and Mary will spend the day at the Pereira’s club, Guaymaral, riding a courtesy bus provided by the club. Oh no, more golf for Ann – and massage, and manicure and lunch.