The best people day if not the best day of the whole trip

Ahoyhoy to you back in Blighty,

I very much hope you are well. I can´t seem to get hold of Sam and its her birthday tomorrow so do send her some birthday wishes please. Sam, I love you soooo much and can´t wait to get home and show you just how much I´ve missed you.

Ahem well back to business. I left you last having gorged on McDonalds and was looking forward to a good sleep and I pleased to say I got some and I needed it because the next morning I followed the advice I had recieved for finding the Pan and took 90mins to travel 11miles to get on the Pan. I next 175 odd miles were lovely road through green mountains but I wasn´t enjoying as I should because I was worrying about the Columbian border. My guidebook said I needed an extra document from the Columbian consulate in Quito but I presumed this was rubbish and just for Americans but it didn´t stop the anxiety progressively building. At the border I met a wonderful Dutch couple heading the otherway and we swapped money, stories and advice. I hope they email as I have forgotten their names but they were great people. The guy spotted a local having too close a look at Sir Humphrey. Sir Humphrey defended himself admirably but toppling ontop of the fellow and dousing him in petrol. My boy! 

Next up was the dreaded customs. DAMM that guidebook! I sat in front of a very friendly customs officer who paused dealing with me to tell someone else that they had to go back to Columbian consulate in Quito. I sat there trying to seem calm and happy but inside I was shaking. He got up, took my documents, photocopied them and filled in my custom{s import form, informed me I needed insurance from the next town and shook my hand. Boo for guidebooks, YEAH for Columbia.

In delighted mood I set off for Ipiales where I found a Honda dealer who did insurance and was filled with great people; even the salesman who knocked Sir Humphrey over. Meanwhile a young lad came up to me and asked if I spoke English. On learning that I did I was invited to visit his English Institue. Alas the Honda peeps could only do me a year´s worth of insurance but then the owner of the English school arrived, Prof Alvaro a massive Anglophile, who escorted me to get one months insurance whilst his students watched Sir Humphrey. Alvaro, who learnt his English in Cambridge in the late 70s, then offered to store Sir Humphrey in his garage, put me up and feed me in exchange for me spending time with his students. How could I refuse and wouldn´t have even without the generous offers so that afternoon and evening I was talking English a classes of mostly keen students; some were a little shy.

The pictures of mine in the top left of the white board are a high jumper and Sri Lanka´s location. I know, I can´t spell or draw!

Prof Alvaro focusses on ´real´ English as opposed to boring the kids with our tedious grammar. It is a family concern with both his sons and his daughter-in-law working there. I felt really honoured to be a part of it but I was not the first. Part of Alvaro´s teaching reputation is built on his uncanny ability to find native English speakers for the students to practice with, alas few are Brits. Later in the evening the adult classes started and I found myself helping three doctors with their pronouciation but fortunately not their spelling. They were very interested in the similarities between Empanadas and Cornish Pasties. One of the girls even sung me song!

Afterwards I was taken to Alvaro´s home where his wife Alice cooked me a lovely dinner of soup, chicken and rice washed down with green jelly. We then, all of seven of us, went for a drive around Ipiales before I retired to my en-suite room. What an amazing day! Sick with worry in the morning and having the best day after lunch.

In the morning I put my doctor´s hat on a gave a brief consult of paediatric reflux nephropathy and we then headed back to the school for more classes after a breakfast of fried egg, fried potatoe and rice. The classes were just as much fun as before if not more so as these students were more practiced. I accidentally got embroiled in a few brief tutorials such as 1) The role of the pub in British culture, 2) Traditional British alcoholic drinks and 3) The process of making Scotch Whisky. The general idea about Brits here is that we are a bit cold. Fair point relative to the Columbians!

After lunch back at the homestead I set out by taxi on my own to the Church of Las Lajas and oh not my god what a site! Apparently the Virgin Mary appear here once so there was been a church here for hundreds of years but this one was rebuild in the 1950s. Good job I say!

The little plaques on the wall are people thanking the Virgin for bringing them good luck and there are thousands more. I didn´t see one saying ´it wasn´t any bloody use praying to you´. 

The church is in the bottom of a steep sided valley and the sight is inspirational:

The church is actually built into the side of the valley. When did you last see an altar backdrop like this?

On a lighter note the angles on the bridge section at a little unfamiliar. There is the ´jazz´ angel and the ´making a cup of tea with my old Tesco Value kettle´ angel:

Underneath the church in the crypt is a small museum with little of interest except a fantastic photo of the original church and a two headed cow. Please don´t ask me why. 

Siamese steaks anyone?

So its back to ther professor´s for tonight and then an early start for the underground salt catherdral near Bogota tomorrow. Hopefully we will be in Venezuela on Sunday.

TTFN,

The Teaching Tigger

P.s. Another reason why Columbia is the best country in South America (so far) is that they have Tigger here. Alas this does mean the retarded bear gets in on the act too. This picture is from outside Alvaro´s granddaughter´s nursey. She is so cute I could almost feel broody. I SAID ALMOST CYNTHIA!