Well i'm still in Merida and it looks like I might just stay for a while longer. A very relaxed place lots of traditional squares and parks to hang out in. Excellent climate hot but not humid (cool mountain breezes.)

I've already been to talk to one of the local language schools and i'm planning to spend the next couple of weeks (at least) trying to learn some lingo! The only problem with that is that I kind of shot myself in the foot (not literally mum - nothin to worry about really) with my arrival card into Venezuela. I had expected to spend 3 or 4 week in Venezuela so I wrote 5 weeks (just to be on the safe side, I thought) on the arrival card. However, i've been here about a week already, 2 or 3 weeks language course, a week exploring the area around Merida - Los llanos and Los Nevados. Thats a month in Merida alone which doesn't leave an awful lot of time to see the rest of the country!

So, although I had said that I probably wouldn't be going to Colombia... my how 'plans' change! I'll wait another few weeks yet as I don't have to be out of Venezuela until the end of November. Then its a few buses down to the Colombian border 'stamp-stamp' out to Colombia 'stamp-stamp' back into Venezuela and then I can get on with the rest of the country. I'll keep you posted on that one anyway.

The good news is that my cold has almost gone and I should be in a better state to get out into the mountains and wander about a bit soon.