Popayan - there and back again

After a stay of two nights with Ricardo (& Memo, his rescued dog) in Quito, decided it best to head back toward Bogota. Rather than spending my remaining week in a busy city of Colombia, I decided that Popayan would be the destination. It's a university town with a very pretty old district. 

Arriving very early at Victor's place (CS be praised), I am treated to a fresh fruit breakfast. As Victor works all day, he gets his friends to look after me. This is how I get to know Israel and his family. Israel's mom is particularly nervous of my starving in her presence and announces mealtimes every time she sees me. With Victor, I watch him tame wild horses in the mountains, experience jazz in the Iguana bar and play football. With Israel, I present a 90 minute presentation about Ireland and Germany in the university, partake in a French language exchange and hang out the cool kids on a Friday night. When he is otherwise engaged, his mom, his brother and Daniela show me the sights of Popayan. It really is another world when you get to experience it with locals. I had spent 3 days here, but now I really had the chance to feel the city and miss it when I leave.