At El Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir

Although our week was full of blessing, we needed a little bit of a break, and so Friday, November 21 was our rest day.  We traveled by private bus to Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir.  We made a stop at the Replica of Old Peñol.

A replica of the original church in Old Peñol (Photo by Jeff)

Some of the guys bought some shade hats at Old Peñol. (Photo by Jen)

We continued riding to El Peñón de Guatapé. It's an American football-shaped structure on the edge of the reservoir, and is also known as La Piedra de Guatapé.  At an approximate elevation of 7,000 feet above sea level, it's the premier spot for a view of a large portion of the reservoir.  The giant rock rises about 720 feet above the rest of the landscape, and is the tallest structure around.

El Peñón de Guatapé looks like a giant football.

 Once we arrived, we had lunch, and then some of us climbed to the top of the staircase and the tower, a total of 740 steps.  They weren't even steps, and the last step was pretty tall.  We felt like we climbed a small mountain by the time we accomplished it.

A portion of the reservoir can be seen easily from halfway up the Peñón.  Guatapé is in the center.

Jimmy, Karen, MJ, and I stand on the 740th step at the top of the tower on top of El Peñón de Guatapé.

We went back down the rock through a different set of stairs that were behind the ones on the outside.  By the time we got to the bottom, our legs were all wobbly.  Regardless, we were very glad we went to the top.  After that, we rode our bus to Guatapé and rode a cruise across a portion of the reservoir.  The music aboard was very cheerful and Jen and Michele felt the groove to dance.  Sorry folks, I don't have that groove!

Jim & MJ T. were our love birds aboard the cruise.

Dave V.A., Michele, and Dave S. pose in front of El Peñón de Guatapé aboard the cruise on the reservoir. (Photo by Jen)

After the enjoyable cruise, we walked a bit through Guatapé and saw some of their stores.  My aunt Jean likes rocks, so I bought her a tourmaline necklace in one of the stores.

Later we met to zipline over the reservoir.  The line was several hundred yards long and it was pretty fun.  We all had a great time.

I'm not squeamish! (Photo by Jen)

We ate at a nice restaurant in that little tourist town while we were serenaded with guitar music.  People in our group ate trout, steak, and common snook (robaló).  Once we finished eating, we rode back to Medellín for the night.

A man plays guitar while we enjoy our limeades.

What a great day!