2011年11月19日(土)
19th November 2011 (Saturday)
 

Translation: Pamela Ravasio

走行距離:366キロ
出発時間:9:30
到着時間:18:00
天候:曇り時々雨
気温:11℃ー30℃
Distance:366kilometres
Departure time:9:30am
Arrival time:18:00pm
Weather:Clouded, occasional showers
Temperature:11℃ー30℃ 

ラキラを発つ朝、いいにおいがする。
The morning I leave Raquira, I smell something nice.

私のために卓さんが、朝食を作ってくれている。
Suguru-san has made breakfast especially for me!

和食か、洋食かどっちがいいですか?
What do you want – Japanese style or Continental breakfast?

迷わず、
「ごはんで^^!」
和食をお願いしました。
Without delay, I said 'With Rice', and ordered a Japanese style breakfast.

じゃーん!!
Hmmmmm....
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こんな美味しい和食は、この旅だけでなく、日本に居ても食べれんぞ!(笑)
朝から、ご飯、二膳頂きました!
I never had such a tasty breakfast, not only during this journey, but even in all my years in Japan :D
And because it's the morning and breakfast, I got 2 serving !

さて、出発と思いきや、地元のジャーナリストがインタビューをしたいと。
And, as I finally think of heading off, a local journalist drops by and wants to interview me.
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インタビューの内容に、
「このコロンビアは、治安が良くないと聞いていたと思いますが、実際、来てみてどうですか?」
と言う。
The topic of the interview: “The state of public order in Colombia is said to have problems. Now that you are actually here, what are your thoughts?”

あたかも、私の答えを知るように。
As if he knew my thoughts without asking.

私から「180°イメージが変わって素晴らしい国、そして人が最高です」
と答えると、とても満足そうな表情をされていた。
And when I then answered: “My impression have changed by a 180 degrees. It's a great country, and people behave first class!
” the expression on his faces changed to one of complete satisfaction.

もう、コロンビアは危険な国でなく、観光大国として二歩、三歩踏み出していることに地元の人も自信と誇りを持っているのだ。
It seems as if that in Columbia not really a dangerous country, but the locals are very aware of that with respect to being a prime tourist destination, the country still takes to steps ahead and
three back. 

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お二人から受けた至極のホスピタリティは永遠に忘れることが出来ないでしょう。
But there is absolutely no way I could ever forget the hospitality I was offered by 2 people.

あ、ちなみに、私と卓ちゃんとユンソンちゃんに完璧な共通点がありました。
それはTOTO製「携帯ウォシュレット」愛好家だった!(笑)
After all, me, Suguru and Yunson had many commonalities
In particular, the shared love for TOTO's carry-on washlet. :D


さよなら、そしてまた会う日まで!
I give both a hug, and then head off.

二人とハグをしてから、出発します。
I give both a hug, and then head off.

時折、工事中のダートが雨天で悪路に変わっている場所もあります。
Sometimes the dirt road that is under construction turns with the onset of rain into a really bad and difficult raod.

ボゴタ市内を通過する時は、出来るだけ中心から離れた幹線道を選びますが、超渋滞。
かつての東京環状8号線を彷彿させます。
Driving across Bogotà, I try to take larger roads away from the centre whenever possible, but there are traffic jams no matter what. 
This strongly resembles Tokyo's former ring road number 8. 

ボゴタ市内をやっと抜けて、イバゲへ向います。
Finally, leaving Bogotà behind me, I direct myself towards Ibagué.

40号線は道の状態は良いのですが、片側一車線の処が多く、かなりのつづら折で信じられないほど長い渋滞をしています。
その先頭まで出ると、決まって年式の古いトレーラーが、牛歩のような速度で山道を登っています。
後ろには数百台の車を従えて。
The state of road number 40
is good, however, single lane sections are frequent , and road bends frequently, and as a consequence the traffic jam is nearly unimaginably long. 
And when I managed to get to the front of the traffic jam, it turns out that a really old trailer is winding it's way up the mountain road at a snail's pace.
Followed and accompanied by several hundred cars. 


慢性的な雨天で撮影もままならない。それがとてもストレス。
And with the chronically bad weather I can't even take pictures the way I would like to, and get progressively stressed out. 

たまに、晴れ間が見える所で、美しい景色に出会える。
Sometimes the skies brighten up a bit and a beautiful landscape becomes visible. 
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有料道路のゲート。
Toll gate.
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バイクは無料で右端の専用通路を使ってゲートを抜けます。
Motor bikes are free of charge. For that, I use the 'gate lane' at the far right of the gate. 

想像以上に長くかかってイバゲの町に到着した途端、大雨。
一瞬、前が見えなくなるほど。
Finally, the moment I arrive in Ibagué after a much longer day then planned, the skies open and it starts to pour down.
Instantly I can't see anything at all any more.

事前に調べておいたホテルの所在地に到着すると、・・無い。
And when I arrive at the location of my hotel which I had previously looked up … there is none.

近くの商店に駆け込み聞くと、
「全然、違う場所だよ」と言って、地図を書いてくれた。
When I rush into a nearby shop to ask for the hotel, they say 'completely wrong location, it's somewhere completely else', and they draw me a map.

その方向へ向かって、バイク便?らしき男性に聞くと、
「案内するよ!ついて来て!」とバイクを走らせてくれる。
Asking directions to a guy on bike and who I thought was a bike courier, he says: I'll show you the way, follow me!, and accelerates. 

迷わず行ける近くに着くと、私からのお礼の申し出を断り、拳と拳を突き合わせる挨拶だけして、笑顔で雨の中、走り去っていった。
Without much surprise I follow him. And then when I bid him good bye he doesn't want to be thanked for his help, and instead just joins his fists together, salutes me, and disappears with a smiling face into the falling rain. 

疲れた身体と心に、彼らの親切さが染み渡ります。
Tired from inside out, the these people's kindness leaves a deep impression on me.