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Colombia. Note to all - DO go there, and do NOT worry about it being dangerous (at least if you stay above Bogota).
Example 1: in the queue to get cash out in bogota airport we meet a Colombian man who lived in Australia - got the address and number of his mother in law who owned a hostel/share house and could help if we got into trouble. Example 2: the police standing near the exit asked how 11 of us were planning to get to the city - organized a van for us for about 4 dollars each all the way to our hostel. And then upon arrival at Alegria's hostel she offers to help us each with planning the rest of our trip and personally walks us around the block showing us where to eat etc.
Not bad for first impressions, I'd say.
It was a while since I was there but what I do remember is commenting on how cool the people were - a huge shock to our cusco wardrobes that's for sure. A memorable visit to the mall proved a depressing outing for holly, ruby and I who roamed through the shops embarrassed by our clothing and desperate to buy things but unable to buy them. The outing ending at dunkin donuts for a depressed dunkalatte. Sad I know.
On Sunday's in the city the streets are closed and people ride their bikes and rollerblades and walk around. We went to the gold museum and to the flea markets - beating anything we have in Sydney. Mackenzie spent his time attempting to replace certain unforgettable items from his lost baggage and Finishing up with a Broom Club bomber jacket.
We did attempt to go out to the clubs one night - unsuccessfully but with possibly the best cab ride of my entire trip. An angry fight broke out over how Mackenzie hailed the cab resulting in holly being 'stump brushed'. Sorry - Id explain further but i think you had to be there.
And then - to Cartagena (skipping through Medellin) where we saw the real Columbia. Colourful ladies carrying fruit on their heads, coconut venders and limonada men. And sweltering, sweaty heat. We went to the beach disgustingly shiny and desperate - only to find that the water kinda felt like swimming in sweat. Lovely, oh I know.
We actually did hit up the clubs here, however I apparently took the each vibe too far and got refused entry to a club for my inappropriate shorts and singlet attire. Ouch - we really weren't in cusco anymore.
From here we got a boat to playa blanca - a lovely stretch of white sand and clear blue water. A lot nicer than the beach in the city. We slept in hammocks for 3 dollars a night and lived off museli and fish. As well as fruit and a bit of rum. An unforgettable night would have to be our nudist night - group skinny-dipping at sunset. Followed by nude caipariña drinking at the bar later that night. I think its safe to say, We've become very close on this trip.
Soon we made our way further north to Playa Costeño which my brother recommended and ended up staying for 4 nights. The most chiller surfer spot in the middle of nowhere on a long white sandy beach. With waves! Actual waves, which were actually a bit too big for us - though holly our avalon girl for actually attempted to surf a few waves. Everyone joined up here - where group coconut cracking, drinking and eating began - cheers Myles for the finest tribesman skills of all.
And another nude sprint broke out (thanks to a combination of rum and coconuts) tagging grace along this time - jumping in the sand making the phosphoresents glow like the stars. And creating an obstacle for a poor guy trying to brush his teeth whilst we are loitering naked all around him. They won't forget us Aussies too easily.
We separated again which was rather sad - not to be reunited until Christmas in Buenos Aires. With a surprise kiss and a wave goodbye, I went with Grace, Myles and Naomi to Tyrona National Park. One of the best days of the trip.
We hired horses to do the muddy rainforest trail to beach at Carbo de San Juan. Cantering through the jungle - grace barefoot in shorts and swimmers, Myles legs straight yelling in pain during the trotting, and Naomi yelling 'vamos' to her horse and kicking it to get it to move - was the funniest and most amazing time. Ending with a air born boat ride to Taganga. Getting out of the break waves was terrifying - we actually all came out of our seats about one meter and dropped back down going over one wave. Finally we got out to sea admiring the rocky mountain coastline, when the boatman noticed that we had forgotten 4 people and that we should go back. The uproar from the scared ladies (and everyone else) on the boat however was enough to convince them not to. We didn't want to do that again. The sunset over the ocean and mountains was another tear jerking beauty and I was taking mental snapshots while my camera was safe and dry in my bag. The best day ever then ended with the best meal ever that really did make Grace and I cry it was that nice. I dot know if you could understand but we had real sourdough garlic bread and BBQ(!!) beef tenderloin skewers with nice salad and an amazingly good coffee. Best in colombia and best in my life.
But alas- it was the last proper day for grace, claud and I in Colombia. We got an 18 hour bus back to bogota and on to the plane to La Paz. A place I have been about 5 times this trip and never need to go back to. And from there ... The 5 days of travel bungles and mistakes with buses and borders got us to Argentina - but I'll have to leave that to the next blog...
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