Villa de Leyva

The village of Villa de Leyva is a colonial relic, an historic monument, built at the base of a great mountain. The lush green hillside wraps a loving arm around the village and the wisps pf cloud dance along its ridge. The wind whispers and the sun warms the stone streets. This is not a place for high heals.
The plaza is open and gaurded to the east by Inglesia Parroquial built in 1608 and has only changed enough to accomadate electricity. The bells ring and call people tp service as the sun sets over the other set of mountains to the west making this valley look like a giant's river bed. El Pradre kneels in the first pew in white cloak. His black bead rosary hanging from his rope belt. Time stands still. The 12 images of the crucificiton of christ dress the walls.

When the palza darkens, people gather at the shops on the corner. Music, accordian and chuc-a-chuk, chuc-a-chuk rythums dance out onto the cobbled square. The plaza stands open bigger than a futball field and open. People lean against the walls smoking cigaretts, siting n the stairs of the church and talking. Children run and play. The clouds grow and reflect the pink light behind them, the last hints of the day passing. rom the north, menacing clouds gaher conspire and slowly stalk the quiet town. They move down the giants prehistoric riverbed and wait til the town is asleep then drop a genuine storm of lightning and rain... of biblical proporions... leaving only a trace by morning. The streams that run under the bridges and under the roads are full again. The grass is green and tiny puddles dry in the sun on the stone stairs of the church in the holes worn by centuries of feet.

Villa de Leyva is truly prehistoric; if you dont believe me all you have to do is look down. The streets are paved with stone bear the age. Creatures from worlds gone past frozen in time lay the ground work for our feet. Litterally fossils in the stone ... fossils line the walk ways.
Orthopeds, zylopeds and ... Spirals of life larger than i have seen in museums mark the street corners with n apparent intention, just that with no apparent intention. just that they are rocks.


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The dogs of Villa Leyva patrol the streets like cheerful thugs, vigalent even when dozing in the shadow of a tree or on a front stoop. Most are in it for themselves, the partol.... finding a scrap of affection on the occassional corner or doorway... but they roam ... trotting down every street and alley. Only once greeting a pair of viajeros (travelers) but the church with a sniff and a friendly nuzzle. Then to be on his way again. The friendly thugs work the streets sometimes playing together in a tussle... over teritory or women... the things thugs fight over. But for the most part the friendly thugs of Villa de Leyva are a benevolent force.