Fossils, Butterflies and Penis Rocks!

There is so much to see around here and each day I am discovering new gems. Yesterday I went for a bike ride with two girls I met at the hostel. Anita is from Denmark and Angeline from Switzerland. 

Yes, you did read that correctly; Penis Rocks: the Infernito (little hell) was a solar observatory for the Muisca people who first inhabited the area. They also carved phalluses in giant rocks and stood them up like a mini stonehenge to honor fertility. The monoliths also served as a solar calendar and are aligned in a way that allowed them to predict the solstice and equinox. 

It was believed that a woman could get pregnant by just sitting on one of these rocks. (I did not sit on any of them). 

Fossils!

This is a fossil of an ancient marine reptile that lived in the region of Villa de Leyva 110 million years ago. It was discovered by a peasant in 1977 and the rural community built a museum around it.

This is supposedly what our sea creature friend used to look like:

The region used to be underwater so there are fossils everywhere, even in the ground. 

Fossils in the wall: 

Mollusk fossil:

I was thrilled to also find a mariposaurio (butterfly museum). Since it was cloudy and the butterflies were sleeping, we were granted free entrance. 

Shhh...sleeping butterfly...

This one is awake!

This is symbolic of the protagonist in Gabriel Garcia Marquez' novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude:

When butterflies die they shed their wings. They are collected and made into beautiful jewelry. 

For me, butterflies are symbolic: they are reminder to be carefree. Getting upset when things don't go as planned or worrying about the past or future never improves a situation. So much of our happiness comes from within; we just have to have the right mindset. Good can be found in everything if you choose to see it. Sometimes we are blind to this and only see the bad. We just have to remind ourselves to see the good and be carefree (like a butterfly!). 

(Photo taken by Carolina):