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My wish to activate San Andrés, was already some years old but we weren't able to find any travel agencies in Germany, which still had those
trips in their programme. Our goal seemed to vanish until we met Bruni Kohlsdorf, a German Lady, who lives in Bogotá. We met her in March 2001 at the "International Tourism Fair" (ITB) and she had the solution
for us. Bruni runs a travel agency in Bogota and she immediately fired up to help us with the flights and the hotel in San Andrés. Short after she returned to Colombia we got an email with all the needed informations and we got
into the "hot phase" of our preparations.
My friend Mario, HK3WGQ, did not hestitate to help me with the guest license application. With the help of the "Liga Colombiana de
Radioaficionados" it was not too difficult. The only difficulty was the mail. I sent the needed documents between May and
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Maria Teresa, Gerd/HKØGU and Mario/HK3WGQ
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October several times, but they never received any of my letters. Maria Teresa Rodriguez, the Secretery of
the LCRA, was very helpful. I sent the license application, the Spanish translation of my German license, the copies of my license and my passport and the equipment list by email, but they needed two original passport size
photographs. Marios emails got more and more urgent so I sent the two pictures by "Messenger". Not even cheap - 65 US $ !!! One day before we left Berlin my redeeming angel Maria Teresa sent
the long awaited email - I was HKØGU !!!
We arrived in Bogota November 8 where we spent four days. We met my good friend Mario several times and visited Maria Teresa.
During those four days we took a sightseeing tour and were robbed on open road the last morning before we left. We lost about 300 US $ and missed our plane to San Andrés
at 10:00h. So we took the next one at 14:00h. We were happy, that the guys did not hurt us anyway.
The "Cocoplum Beach Hotel" proved to be a hit. Okay - I already had better antenna
conditions before, but the hotel is located at the beach and the owner Luz Milena Diaz has a big heart for their guests - also for hams.
The guys of 5KØZ, who were in the same hotel will surely agree. The neighbour did not
have anything against the 5KØZ antennas on his property. I erected my antenna, a HF9VX Butternut ground plane, only about 8 meters from the shore on the other side of the Hotel.
I was QRV mostly in CW and RTTY - like I
always do.
In November 2001 I had 11.110 QSOs and in March 9.749 QSOs in my logs.
The side trip to Providencia Island was succesful too. Our Hotel "Deep Blue" was located
on the East coast of that mountainous island at the slope of a high hill and an excellent DX spot with a free “shot” from Europe via the USA to Japan.
The only problem is, there is not enough space for wire antennas because of the thick wood on the
slope, but sufficient for my Butternut ground plane.
Roberto, EA4DX, who was QRV from the same Hotel, also found enough
space for his three element beam.
Providencia Island, IOTA NA-049, is more rare in IOTA hunter bosoms as San Andrés, because it was activated more seldom. I realize this already after a few minutes. Huge
pile ups from the first minutes until I leave the island the fourth day with 3680 QSOs in my log book.
In the early morning hours there are good openings on 20m into all directions. Japan and Europe are
heard with S9 signals. Because we are very busy during the days with snorkelling and sightseeing and the lower bands are opening around 03:00z (21:00 local time) I have not
much time to sleep. I think, I did not sleep much more than 10 hours within those four days. The last night is really hard! I have to struggle against my drowsiness.
Sometimes I fall into sleep - I only hope that I don’t have too many mistakes in my log !!!
We enjoyed Providencia Island so much that we decided spontaneously to come to this
beautiful little island again to celebrate our Silver Wedding Anniversary (25th anniversary) in April 2004.
March/April 2004
After a four days side trip to Isla Palma (SA-078), which we originally planned together with Pedro, HK3JJH, - unfortunately he had to stay in Bogotá -, our journey brings us via
Cartagena and San Andrés to Providencia Island, where we arrive March 18.
In Cartagena we have to stay overnight and we use our time to make a sightseeing tour to visit the beautiful Ciudad Vieja (Old Town).
During the evening we meet Pedro, HK1HHX. Many contesters should know Pedro, who takes part in many contests with his contest call 5K1X.
He is building a new contest station with better rig and antennas and I have to promise to take part with him in any important contest in the next future. I think it could be in November 2006 - on my 60th birthday tour.
Then Pedro (HK3JJH) and I will activate one or two Colombian IOTA groups too.
ATTENTION: IT WILL NOT BE MALPELO! - SO DON’T EXPECT ANY SENSATION!!!
Pedro told me that he would not go back to Malpelo due to the very difficult landing conditions.
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