Spanish is the main language spoken in Colombia. In Pasto, people use a variety of Quechua words as well, like achichai, which means "it is cold!" In Santa Marta, the Wiwa tribe speaks the language of Damana, and in La Cocha, the Quillacinga people speak Spanish and Kamsá.
The national currency of Colombia is the Colombian peso. About 4000-5000 pesos equals one dollar, so most of their paper money has a number followed by "mil", which means thousand. Because Pasto is so close to Ecuador, and because they use dollars in Ecuador, many people exchange dollars for pesos in Pasto.
A bottle of water costs about 2000 pesos, which is equivalent to about 40 to 50 cents.
Yesterday while at La Cocha I enjoyed trucha frita al ajillo, or fried trout in garlic sauce. I ordered the sopa del día which was a creamy fish soup, jugo de mora (blackberry juice), and for dessert, dulce de chilacuán con queso (candied mountain papaya with cheese).
