By the time we get from Bogota to Villa de Leyva, it's dark and the cobblestone streets are deserted. Our journey to this sleepy colonial town has been way too long.

We're driving through the town of Guatavita, which is gorgeous, but almost completely deserted. Felipe, a new Colombian friend, explains that in the highlands, people tend to rise early and go to sleep early.

After a very relaxing and belly-filling 2 weeks in North America, I began my year of travels in earnest in Bogota's El Dorado airport.