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in Barichara when enquiring about bike rental in Colombia . It came with a caveat , he would need to come along to show us some of the best riding roads in the whole of South America , and who were we to argue . “ It ’ s the most beautiful town in Colombia ,” Miguel had promised , as the cynic in me came to the fore . So many times , had I heard this before only to be bitterly disappointed .
“ You won ’ t be disappointed ,” Miguel added as if reading my thoughts . I grinned and hoped for the best .
First impressions are lasting , and on this occasion disappointment didn ’ t even register . Barichara ’ s outer streets were beyond explanation , we ’ d suddenly entered a time warp and ridden back at least one hundred and fifty years .
Reaching Miguel ’ s family home , we soon realised that this was something special . The outer walls were simplistic to the point of being quaint . White rendering with stone features that presented a doorway and two shuttered windows , both painted blue as was the lower third of the wall . It stood out yet was similar in design to the other walls of the small lane that ran off the Carrera 4 .
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