Sitting on the top level of my beach house hostel in Montanito, Ecuador, where hammocks hang freely from the beams and there are no walls. I have a clear view of the city below me and can see one of the main streets in the 'downtown' area. People are walking around, dancing in the street, laughing and having a good time. Loud Beatles music is being played throughout the town as one of the DiscoTec bars is having a live coverband playing nothing but the Beatles. Im surprised as i realize i know all the songs they are playing. I have good company as we sit there talking, listening to good music, and drinking some wine.
Montanito is a small surfing, hippie village right on the southern coast of Ecuador. During the days the beach is full of people and families from surrounding areas vacationing for the day or for the New Year. Around 6pm everday, more people appear along the rocks to watch the beautiful sunsets. I sat there for the past two days watching as the sun slowly slides it's way down and disappear into the ocean. The waves are strong and beautiful as they crash onto the beach. Today I am going to have my first surfing lesson from the owner of my hostel. He is from Argentina,and has moved here just so he could surf anytime.
At night, the streets fill up with local people selling their jewelery, clothing, and whatever else you think you might want to buy. It's a little more expensive shopping in this town, and they don't bargain as much as elsewhere. The streets are full of people, laughter, and music. It's a safe, fun city. The beach should be full of people, bonfires, and hopefully music, as we bring in the new year! Should be amazing!
Hope you all have a great Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Quito, Ecuador
Friday, Dec. 18th 2009
I have now entered the Southern Hemasphire and I am the egg champion of the world, I even have a certificate to prove it.! What I mean is, I can balance an egg on top of a nail, which can only be done at zero gravity, on the equator. This morning, an Australian couple, Laura and Dan, and I took a 40 minute bus from Quito to the Mitado Del Mundo- 'The Center of the Earth' aka, the equator, Latitud 00,00,00. We walked around this huge monument that turns out to be about 200 meters off the actual center line of the equator. We walked around the various shops filled with touristy crafts of jelewery, clothes, and whatever else. I was able to stamp my passport with the 'Center of the Earth' logo! We then walked down the road to the museum where the actualy equator line is where we were givin a tour of various huts and the people that live throughout Ecuador. At the end of the tour, they show you a few fun tricks that can be done on the line. For example, directly on top of the center line, water rushes directly straight down the drain. They had a portable sink that they plugged with water and put a bucket underneath to catch the water. When they moved the sink South of the line, the water ran clockwise, and North of the line CounterClockwise. (I believe those are correct) Then you can also balance an uncooked egg ontop of a nail. The tour guide demonstrated and then Laura and I got up there to try it. We both were able to stand the egg on top with in seconds, even faster than the tour guide. He was impressed. After that we were to go get our certificates, which Dan was upset he didn´t get one.
We headed back into Quito, to meet up at the hostel with the other people. 2 more Australians had joined us at our hostel who have traveled before with Colm and Garnet. So now there is a group of 9 of us. We decided to cook a meal in the hostel instead of going out. We could have cooked anything, but we had chicken. I have been eating chicken for a week straight, i could have done with something other than chicken!
Saturday Dec. 19th. 2009.
After breakfast, a group of us went to visit the church in town called the Basilica del voto nacional. We were told you can climb up to the top of the bell tower, so we were off to do that. They don´t have any safety restrictions here in South America, so we climbed up staircases on the outside of the church to get to the top of the tower. Then you can walked across a small wooden plank at the top of the roof to get from one bell tower to the other. From here, you are able to get even higher up into the bell tower. Tiny spiral staircases led up higher and higher to the next level. Finally at the top, the floor was covered only in metal beams and wire screan over the top. I climbed out one of the windows and stood and sat on the edge of the bell tower with my legs dangling over the edge, looking straight down to the next level below me. From this spot, you get a great few of the whole city of Quito. Which for being the capital, is a huge city. Although, as far a large cities go, this one had a small village feel to it, with the huge city effect. You look out over the valley of old style houses built up into the mountains.
After lunch, most of the people got on a bus to head to Baños which is about 3.5 hours South. I decided to stay with Colm and TAz (irish guys) and a few new other people we met. We found the only Irish bar in town, and since it was so much fun. We stayed there playing pool, darts, listening to all the irish, xmas, and any variety of music we asked for. We planed to leave for Baños in the morning to meet up with everyone else, including another Irish couple that are friends with Colm and TAz. This is the group of people that I will be spending Christmas with.
I have now entered the Southern Hemasphire and I am the egg champion of the world, I even have a certificate to prove it.! What I mean is, I can balance an egg on top of a nail, which can only be done at zero gravity, on the equator. This morning, an Australian couple, Laura and Dan, and I took a 40 minute bus from Quito to the Mitado Del Mundo- 'The Center of the Earth' aka, the equator, Latitud 00,00,00. We walked around this huge monument that turns out to be about 200 meters off the actual center line of the equator. We walked around the various shops filled with touristy crafts of jelewery, clothes, and whatever else. I was able to stamp my passport with the 'Center of the Earth' logo! We then walked down the road to the museum where the actualy equator line is where we were givin a tour of various huts and the people that live throughout Ecuador. At the end of the tour, they show you a few fun tricks that can be done on the line. For example, directly on top of the center line, water rushes directly straight down the drain. They had a portable sink that they plugged with water and put a bucket underneath to catch the water. When they moved the sink South of the line, the water ran clockwise, and North of the line CounterClockwise. (I believe those are correct) Then you can also balance an uncooked egg ontop of a nail. The tour guide demonstrated and then Laura and I got up there to try it. We both were able to stand the egg on top with in seconds, even faster than the tour guide. He was impressed. After that we were to go get our certificates, which Dan was upset he didn´t get one.
We headed back into Quito, to meet up at the hostel with the other people. 2 more Australians had joined us at our hostel who have traveled before with Colm and Garnet. So now there is a group of 9 of us. We decided to cook a meal in the hostel instead of going out. We could have cooked anything, but we had chicken. I have been eating chicken for a week straight, i could have done with something other than chicken!
Saturday Dec. 19th. 2009.
After breakfast, a group of us went to visit the church in town called the Basilica del voto nacional. We were told you can climb up to the top of the bell tower, so we were off to do that. They don´t have any safety restrictions here in South America, so we climbed up staircases on the outside of the church to get to the top of the tower. Then you can walked across a small wooden plank at the top of the roof to get from one bell tower to the other. From here, you are able to get even higher up into the bell tower. Tiny spiral staircases led up higher and higher to the next level. Finally at the top, the floor was covered only in metal beams and wire screan over the top. I climbed out one of the windows and stood and sat on the edge of the bell tower with my legs dangling over the edge, looking straight down to the next level below me. From this spot, you get a great few of the whole city of Quito. Which for being the capital, is a huge city. Although, as far a large cities go, this one had a small village feel to it, with the huge city effect. You look out over the valley of old style houses built up into the mountains.
After lunch, most of the people got on a bus to head to Baños which is about 3.5 hours South. I decided to stay with Colm and TAz (irish guys) and a few new other people we met. We found the only Irish bar in town, and since it was so much fun. We stayed there playing pool, darts, listening to all the irish, xmas, and any variety of music we asked for. We planed to leave for Baños in the morning to meet up with everyone else, including another Irish couple that are friends with Colm and TAz. This is the group of people that I will be spending Christmas with.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Popayan, Colombia
Tuesday Dec. 15th 2009.
A few of the people I had met in Cali where traveling the same direction I was, so I tagged along. Its funny, even though your traveling alone, for the most part you are never really alone. I decided to leave Cali, with 2 Irish guys Colm and Taz, An Australian, Garnet, and a Californian, Joe. We got on a 4 hour bus ride to Popayan which is a little colognial village on the way to the Ecuadorian border. We decided to stay a night here to see the village and walk around. After dinner, we were walking to a grocery store to buy some food for breakfast and travels. We were walking past a church that was all light up with christmas lights and the doors where open. I walked over there to just catch a peak inside when a man at the door handed me a brochure. Looking at it, it turns out that in 10 minutes, a Christmas Choir servous was going to begin with 3 different choirs. My friend Colm, had been talking for days about finding some christmas music, so this was jackpot. 4 of us, walked in and sat down to listen to the beautiful music. We were also the only tourists in the whole church. They sang a few different xmas songs, a different version of Avi Maria, and were all amazing. After that headed back home to our hostel.
Wed, Dec. 16th 2009.
This morning we caught another bus to Ipiales which was an 8 hour bus ride to the boarder. We got in late at night and walked around trying to find a place to stay. There were a few hostels listed in the 'Lonely Planet' guide book, but they were a ways away from the bus station and we didnt want to bother with another taxi. We walked around and found a hotel. He should us the room, and it had 3 double beds in this big open room. It was kind of shady, but he only charged us $5 each for the night. So we bunkered down there for the night. We, or at least I was not going to go out side, I waited until morning to walk around the city a bit. We went out for breakfast then caught a taxi see a church.
Thurs. Dec 17th 2009.
There is supposed to be this amazing church that was built over a gorge. Apparently someone saw a vision of the Virgin Mary, and decided to built a church to honor her. This is the most amazing church I have ever seen. This church is built onto a brigde that comes out from the side of the mountain over a river. We spent a few hours walking around, and by the time we got down to the church, a service had just began. We walked in and sat down to listen to the Spanish church service. Right to the left of me was a confession box where people would just get up and go confess, then sit back and listen to the service. The 2 Irish boys I was with both went to the confession booth. Crazy thing, Colm, apparetnly hadnt confess anything in 15 years, felt it was the right time and place, and later found out, that back home, his name was called to be on a lottery game show, where the least of what you can win is 15,000euros. His mother was happy to hear that! A few days later, his sister was able to go on the show for him, and you spin a wheel and whatever number it lands on is what you go home with. I think he won 27,500 Euro! It was quite exciting.
After the church we got another bus to take us to the Ecuadorian border. For some reason there was a traffic jam, so the driver to an 'off road' route, that ended us up stranded where we had to get out and walk down the road and a very step hill down to the boarder. We felt like refuges! Finally getting to the office, we waited about an hour to get our exit Colombia Stamp, then another hour to get our Enter Ecuador Stamp! Then onto another 3 hour bus to get to Quito, Ecuador where we landed out tired selfs at Hostel Chicago for the night.
A few of the people I had met in Cali where traveling the same direction I was, so I tagged along. Its funny, even though your traveling alone, for the most part you are never really alone. I decided to leave Cali, with 2 Irish guys Colm and Taz, An Australian, Garnet, and a Californian, Joe. We got on a 4 hour bus ride to Popayan which is a little colognial village on the way to the Ecuadorian border. We decided to stay a night here to see the village and walk around. After dinner, we were walking to a grocery store to buy some food for breakfast and travels. We were walking past a church that was all light up with christmas lights and the doors where open. I walked over there to just catch a peak inside when a man at the door handed me a brochure. Looking at it, it turns out that in 10 minutes, a Christmas Choir servous was going to begin with 3 different choirs. My friend Colm, had been talking for days about finding some christmas music, so this was jackpot. 4 of us, walked in and sat down to listen to the beautiful music. We were also the only tourists in the whole church. They sang a few different xmas songs, a different version of Avi Maria, and were all amazing. After that headed back home to our hostel.
Wed, Dec. 16th 2009.
This morning we caught another bus to Ipiales which was an 8 hour bus ride to the boarder. We got in late at night and walked around trying to find a place to stay. There were a few hostels listed in the 'Lonely Planet' guide book, but they were a ways away from the bus station and we didnt want to bother with another taxi. We walked around and found a hotel. He should us the room, and it had 3 double beds in this big open room. It was kind of shady, but he only charged us $5 each for the night. So we bunkered down there for the night. We, or at least I was not going to go out side, I waited until morning to walk around the city a bit. We went out for breakfast then caught a taxi see a church.
Thurs. Dec 17th 2009.
There is supposed to be this amazing church that was built over a gorge. Apparently someone saw a vision of the Virgin Mary, and decided to built a church to honor her. This is the most amazing church I have ever seen. This church is built onto a brigde that comes out from the side of the mountain over a river. We spent a few hours walking around, and by the time we got down to the church, a service had just began. We walked in and sat down to listen to the Spanish church service. Right to the left of me was a confession box where people would just get up and go confess, then sit back and listen to the service. The 2 Irish boys I was with both went to the confession booth. Crazy thing, Colm, apparetnly hadnt confess anything in 15 years, felt it was the right time and place, and later found out, that back home, his name was called to be on a lottery game show, where the least of what you can win is 15,000euros. His mother was happy to hear that! A few days later, his sister was able to go on the show for him, and you spin a wheel and whatever number it lands on is what you go home with. I think he won 27,500 Euro! It was quite exciting.
After the church we got another bus to take us to the Ecuadorian border. For some reason there was a traffic jam, so the driver to an 'off road' route, that ended us up stranded where we had to get out and walk down the road and a very step hill down to the boarder. We felt like refuges! Finally getting to the office, we waited about an hour to get our exit Colombia Stamp, then another hour to get our Enter Ecuador Stamp! Then onto another 3 hour bus to get to Quito, Ecuador where we landed out tired selfs at Hostel Chicago for the night.
San Cipriano
So I know im a little behind on my blogging, so here goes to back tracking.
Dec. 14th 2009- Best day ever!
I had heard about this little village called San Cipriano from a few other backpackers. It is a day trip from Cali, Colombia, where you ride some sort of cart on the train tracks and go tubing down the crystal clear river. I was all for it and I had told a few people about it in the hostel I was staying at, Pelican Larrys. I ended up getting a group of 8 or 9 people. We had to start out by taking two taxis to the bus station, barter with a bus company for a reduced price, and took off on this dangerously scary 2 hour bus ride up the mountain. The driver was swerving in and out of traffic, driving on the left side of the road around corners, and passing everthing possible even when you couldnt see if there was oncoming traffic. I felt sorry for the australian couple that sat in the front seat. Sitting in the van, i could tell people were wondering what they were getting themselve into, and I was just trusting from the stories I had heard, that this trip was going to be amazing. So finally the driver pulled over on the side of the road, where there were huts set up and people all around. We didnt know if we were to get out or wait for him to get back to the van. Finally he called us all out, and it looked so shady. There was a giant swing bridge that crossed over a river to the other side of the mountain, and we were instructed to go across. Looking down there were tons of people down in this river and there were machines digging into the ground. We found out that it was a gold mine and people from all over were coming to find gold!
Our new tour guide, took up to the top of a hill where we found this 'cart' that we were supposed to ride. It turns out, it was a wooden platform with benches nailed down to it, sitting on 4 metal handmade wheels to ride on the train tracks. The best part was, it was motorized, with the back wheel of a 125 motorcycle, the front wheel sat on top of the wooden platform. It was just redicously cool. As soon as the group saw that this is what were had to ride on for about 15-20 minutes to get to the actual village of San Cipriano, they were all excited. Who knows what else would come from this day! The 9 of us piled on, with a few other locals and took off on the tracks. The things was if there was something coming the other way, like another cart, or an actual train (we didnt see a train) the driver of the motorbike lifted the platform off the tracks into the ditch. Just crazy!
We finally got to the village and had instructions to walk all the way through the town until you find Hotel David, where we could have lunch, rent tubes, and store our stuff. This was such a poverty village, but for some reason, there were a few hotels, restaurants, and when looking into houses that had nothing, they managed to have a tv and wifi internet. Children were still playing with tires and a stick! These two woman freshly prepared our lunch, then pulled out tubes, filled them up, and gave us a key to one of the rooms to store our stuff. The men of the village were probably down at the gold mine. We had to walk up the gravel road for about 30 minutes before launching out tubes into the most beautiful clear river I have ever seen. I hadnt realized that most of the people I brought with, had never gone 'tubing'. So the concept of sitting on a tube and floating down the river, was amazing to them! There was one point where we could stop and jump off a cliff into the water. Then continue on down a few rapids. Towards the end of our trip, it started to sprinkle, then rain. We headed back to Hotel David, grabbed our stuff. We had no idea if we would have a ride back to the other village or not. We just walked back to the tracks and waited. At this point, there was such a magical energy about this day, that everyone had such a good time, and no one would have cared if we had to stay the night.
We thought we were lucky as a motobike pulled up just as we got to the tracks, but then he pulled the bike off, turned it around, filled it with a few people, and went the opposite direction we needed to go. About 15-20 minutes later, a guy came up to us and asked if we needed a ride. We said Yes! and he just turned around and ran away. We didn{t know what to do. Watching him, he pulled a motobike from out of the forest and came back and picked us up! This time we had to fit, 9 people on one single platform with 2 benches. 7 people strateling one bench and me and an Irish guy in the front catching all the rain and bugs, even a bat that flew infront of us. Ok so we made it back, now we had to find a bus back to Cali. Standing on the side of the road, in the rain, we waited for about 30 minutes for a bus. They pilled the 9 of us in an already crowded bus and we were home free. Such a crazy day, but it turned out all right in the end, and everyone was happy about going!
Dec. 14th 2009- Best day ever!
I had heard about this little village called San Cipriano from a few other backpackers. It is a day trip from Cali, Colombia, where you ride some sort of cart on the train tracks and go tubing down the crystal clear river. I was all for it and I had told a few people about it in the hostel I was staying at, Pelican Larrys. I ended up getting a group of 8 or 9 people. We had to start out by taking two taxis to the bus station, barter with a bus company for a reduced price, and took off on this dangerously scary 2 hour bus ride up the mountain. The driver was swerving in and out of traffic, driving on the left side of the road around corners, and passing everthing possible even when you couldnt see if there was oncoming traffic. I felt sorry for the australian couple that sat in the front seat. Sitting in the van, i could tell people were wondering what they were getting themselve into, and I was just trusting from the stories I had heard, that this trip was going to be amazing. So finally the driver pulled over on the side of the road, where there were huts set up and people all around. We didnt know if we were to get out or wait for him to get back to the van. Finally he called us all out, and it looked so shady. There was a giant swing bridge that crossed over a river to the other side of the mountain, and we were instructed to go across. Looking down there were tons of people down in this river and there were machines digging into the ground. We found out that it was a gold mine and people from all over were coming to find gold!
Our new tour guide, took up to the top of a hill where we found this 'cart' that we were supposed to ride. It turns out, it was a wooden platform with benches nailed down to it, sitting on 4 metal handmade wheels to ride on the train tracks. The best part was, it was motorized, with the back wheel of a 125 motorcycle, the front wheel sat on top of the wooden platform. It was just redicously cool. As soon as the group saw that this is what were had to ride on for about 15-20 minutes to get to the actual village of San Cipriano, they were all excited. Who knows what else would come from this day! The 9 of us piled on, with a few other locals and took off on the tracks. The things was if there was something coming the other way, like another cart, or an actual train (we didnt see a train) the driver of the motorbike lifted the platform off the tracks into the ditch. Just crazy!
We finally got to the village and had instructions to walk all the way through the town until you find Hotel David, where we could have lunch, rent tubes, and store our stuff. This was such a poverty village, but for some reason, there were a few hotels, restaurants, and when looking into houses that had nothing, they managed to have a tv and wifi internet. Children were still playing with tires and a stick! These two woman freshly prepared our lunch, then pulled out tubes, filled them up, and gave us a key to one of the rooms to store our stuff. The men of the village were probably down at the gold mine. We had to walk up the gravel road for about 30 minutes before launching out tubes into the most beautiful clear river I have ever seen. I hadnt realized that most of the people I brought with, had never gone 'tubing'. So the concept of sitting on a tube and floating down the river, was amazing to them! There was one point where we could stop and jump off a cliff into the water. Then continue on down a few rapids. Towards the end of our trip, it started to sprinkle, then rain. We headed back to Hotel David, grabbed our stuff. We had no idea if we would have a ride back to the other village or not. We just walked back to the tracks and waited. At this point, there was such a magical energy about this day, that everyone had such a good time, and no one would have cared if we had to stay the night.
We thought we were lucky as a motobike pulled up just as we got to the tracks, but then he pulled the bike off, turned it around, filled it with a few people, and went the opposite direction we needed to go. About 15-20 minutes later, a guy came up to us and asked if we needed a ride. We said Yes! and he just turned around and ran away. We didn{t know what to do. Watching him, he pulled a motobike from out of the forest and came back and picked us up! This time we had to fit, 9 people on one single platform with 2 benches. 7 people strateling one bench and me and an Irish guy in the front catching all the rain and bugs, even a bat that flew infront of us. Ok so we made it back, now we had to find a bus back to Cali. Standing on the side of the road, in the rain, we waited for about 30 minutes for a bus. They pilled the 9 of us in an already crowded bus and we were home free. Such a crazy day, but it turned out all right in the end, and everyone was happy about going!
Feliz Navidad- Merry Christmas
I woke up this morning to a bright beautiful day in a city called Baños, Ecuador which is located at the base of a Volcano. I looked out my window to see the streets crowded with people. This city is such a touristy city that it never shuts down. Everyday the shops are open with adventurous activities to do. I decided I was going to walk down to the hot spring baths which is located right next to the mountain next to a beautiful waterfall. There are 2 different levels with many different pools available. On the top deck, there are 3 pools, one freezing, a giant one warm with kids swimming in it, and the third is a giant hot tub. I sat in there for a while to help get rid of my cold. The last couple of days I havent been feeling the best and two nights ago woke up in the middle of the night at three different times to vomit. (Sorry, I thought that was the nicest way of putting it)
I woke up Christmas eve with a quezzy stomach and we had set plans to go canyoning, which is where you rock climb or repel down waterfalls. Me, not wanting to miss out, I loaded myself up on a few different remedies and was able to last through the day. It turned out to be an amazing time. There was a group of 8 of us, that i have been traveling with for a while and plan to spend christmas with. 4 from Ireland, 3 Australia, a guy from California, and myself. The canyoning was great, while going down the waterfalls, there were from 15 meters to 30 meters, and a few where you just sat on your bum and slide down. We were equipped with a bodysuit, helmet, knee pads, and a harnes that had a plastic bottom. Although, with our large group it took a while for everyone to get down each waterfall so there was a lot of waiting time. Thats when it got cold, and my cold started to get worse. After we got back I made it home, took a hot shower and went to bed for 2 hours. The rest of the day I took it easy, but still managed to make it to midnight mass with the Irish group. The small little church of this city was crowded with people. There was only standing space left. After about 5 minutes, I had to leave. Standing made my stomach upset. As I got home, across the street is another hostel where they have a fireplace/chimney set up, so I asked if i could sit by the fire. I found a book, and started to read for a bit. It was a nice way to end the evening before going to bed.
After the hot baths this morning, I came back to our hostel/hotel/apartment. We found a place that has 2 bedrooms enough for 5 people with an sitting area/bathroom/kitchen with a working stove. That was our requirment was to find a stove so we could cook our xmas dinner. I got my own room 2 floors down for only $5 a night. I went up to the apartment, to help start cooking and on came some xmas music, Bing Crosby, White Christmas. The irish lads had spent hours downloading xmas music so we could have a real christmas. Two of the Australians bought decorations and lights for around the window that faces out towards the green mountain and beautiful waterfall. I volunteered to make apple crisp for dessert and mash potatoes. I didnt have any measuring cups so i based everything off of a mug and a spoon, with extra dashes of cinnomin. It turned out delicious, if i do say so myself!!! We sat down at three missed-matched tables for 10 people, one of our guys was sick and we invited two girls from Holland to join us. The food turned out amazing and tasted just as good!
Being extra stuffed now with food, we still have Irish coffees, a spiderman piñata with 1.5 kilo of candy, and i guess the pub left on our agenda for this evening.
I have to say this is quite an amazing Christmas. After calling home last night to talk to the family, I miss you all dearly, im happy being here with a new sort of family. Im not missing the blizzard that you are all in, however, last night walking to the church there was a light soft sprinkle that kind of reminded me of a warm snow that melts as soon as it touches anything. So that made me happy. Everything was complete!
Merry Christmas all, love and miss you!
I woke up Christmas eve with a quezzy stomach and we had set plans to go canyoning, which is where you rock climb or repel down waterfalls. Me, not wanting to miss out, I loaded myself up on a few different remedies and was able to last through the day. It turned out to be an amazing time. There was a group of 8 of us, that i have been traveling with for a while and plan to spend christmas with. 4 from Ireland, 3 Australia, a guy from California, and myself. The canyoning was great, while going down the waterfalls, there were from 15 meters to 30 meters, and a few where you just sat on your bum and slide down. We were equipped with a bodysuit, helmet, knee pads, and a harnes that had a plastic bottom. Although, with our large group it took a while for everyone to get down each waterfall so there was a lot of waiting time. Thats when it got cold, and my cold started to get worse. After we got back I made it home, took a hot shower and went to bed for 2 hours. The rest of the day I took it easy, but still managed to make it to midnight mass with the Irish group. The small little church of this city was crowded with people. There was only standing space left. After about 5 minutes, I had to leave. Standing made my stomach upset. As I got home, across the street is another hostel where they have a fireplace/chimney set up, so I asked if i could sit by the fire. I found a book, and started to read for a bit. It was a nice way to end the evening before going to bed.
After the hot baths this morning, I came back to our hostel/hotel/apartment. We found a place that has 2 bedrooms enough for 5 people with an sitting area/bathroom/kitchen with a working stove. That was our requirment was to find a stove so we could cook our xmas dinner. I got my own room 2 floors down for only $5 a night. I went up to the apartment, to help start cooking and on came some xmas music, Bing Crosby, White Christmas. The irish lads had spent hours downloading xmas music so we could have a real christmas. Two of the Australians bought decorations and lights for around the window that faces out towards the green mountain and beautiful waterfall. I volunteered to make apple crisp for dessert and mash potatoes. I didnt have any measuring cups so i based everything off of a mug and a spoon, with extra dashes of cinnomin. It turned out delicious, if i do say so myself!!! We sat down at three missed-matched tables for 10 people, one of our guys was sick and we invited two girls from Holland to join us. The food turned out amazing and tasted just as good!
Being extra stuffed now with food, we still have Irish coffees, a spiderman piñata with 1.5 kilo of candy, and i guess the pub left on our agenda for this evening.
I have to say this is quite an amazing Christmas. After calling home last night to talk to the family, I miss you all dearly, im happy being here with a new sort of family. Im not missing the blizzard that you are all in, however, last night walking to the church there was a light soft sprinkle that kind of reminded me of a warm snow that melts as soon as it touches anything. So that made me happy. Everything was complete!
Merry Christmas all, love and miss you!
Friday, December 11, 2009
¨Nobody puts Baby in the Corner¨
We arrived at the airport in Cali, Colombia on Wed without my luggage. So i just reported it and got a phone number to call to track it down. Then took a taxi to a few different hostels before deciding on Hostel Jovita´s which was recommended by a german guy back in Tagana. This hostel offers free salsa classes, so to take my mind of wondering where my luggage is, i joined the free class. The reception lady was very kind and called a few numbers to track down my bag and towards the end of the class, up pulled a taxi and there was my bag! Yes! After getting settled in a bit, we were hungry and heard of an icecream shop around the corner. It was so cute, like an old fashioned sort of place with stools right up at the counter. We shared a fruit and icecream dessert which was most amazing. The icecream was cookies and cream and was the best ive ever tasted, rich and creamy. Then the fruit was freshly cut and so flavorful. Definetly coming back!
Thursday we walked around the area we were staying in for a bit and found some other good restaurants that i would like to try. Then back to the hostel to meet Carlos, who is the owner of our hostel and also member of Couch Surfing. He took a group of us from the hostel out to a local market, something you woulnd´t go to on your own, for lunch and he talked abit about why he started this hostel. He also is a traveler and wanted to provide a place for other travelers, he also teaches salsa and yoga classes for free for his guests. After being super full, came back for a siesta because we were all planning on going out to Tin Tin Deo, a salsatech that night. Natanya, my new roommate Sebastian, another german, and I headed out to meet up with a couch surfing group before going to Tin Tin Deo. There were people from all over in this group. Italy, France, Texas, Germany, S.Africa, and of course Colombians. I´m still not that great at my spanish, but i tried talking to them as much as i could in spanish.
When we got to Tin Tin Deo, there was salsa music going and right away people started dancing. Our group took over one corner of the bar, and here is my story of how for the rest of the night I felt like ´Baby´from the movie ´Dirty Dancing´. If you´ve seen the movie, then you probably have a better idea of what i´m talking about. I started out the night sitting in the corner with a few other people just watching the amazing Salsa dancing going on. After a while a few different guys had asked me to dance. So remembering what i learned in my free class earlier that day, i did my best. It wasn´t until Wilber, the free dance teacher, asked me to dance, that I really felt like ´Baby´ when she was learning how to dance with Patrick Swayze. I could only laugh as he moved me from side to side where she goes back and forth flipping her head to the sides. After the song was over I rushed back to sit down, to calm down while still laughing at myself. So there I was back in the corner watching all the crazy dancing. The night would have been complete if I had carried two watermelons up the stairs first before entering the club! (in the movie!)
The last guy I danced with was from France so he spoke a mixture of French and spanish. I couldn´t understand a thing he was saying. Fren/nish- to confusing. While dancing with him he kept stopping and clapping saying ´good, good´ which was screwing me up from my dancing. He was just too much for me and so after the song I thanked him and sat back down. I was finished for the night. Too overwhelmed. It was around 1am anyway, so a group of us took a cab back to the hostel. It was a good night.
We started off the day with fresh fruit and icecream for breakfast from the store around the corner. We check out another hostel, which is closer to the ´downtown´area where more salsatechs are and prob go out with another group tonight. I need another siesta to make sure to last longer than 1am tonight!
Thursday we walked around the area we were staying in for a bit and found some other good restaurants that i would like to try. Then back to the hostel to meet Carlos, who is the owner of our hostel and also member of Couch Surfing. He took a group of us from the hostel out to a local market, something you woulnd´t go to on your own, for lunch and he talked abit about why he started this hostel. He also is a traveler and wanted to provide a place for other travelers, he also teaches salsa and yoga classes for free for his guests. After being super full, came back for a siesta because we were all planning on going out to Tin Tin Deo, a salsatech that night. Natanya, my new roommate Sebastian, another german, and I headed out to meet up with a couch surfing group before going to Tin Tin Deo. There were people from all over in this group. Italy, France, Texas, Germany, S.Africa, and of course Colombians. I´m still not that great at my spanish, but i tried talking to them as much as i could in spanish.
When we got to Tin Tin Deo, there was salsa music going and right away people started dancing. Our group took over one corner of the bar, and here is my story of how for the rest of the night I felt like ´Baby´from the movie ´Dirty Dancing´. If you´ve seen the movie, then you probably have a better idea of what i´m talking about. I started out the night sitting in the corner with a few other people just watching the amazing Salsa dancing going on. After a while a few different guys had asked me to dance. So remembering what i learned in my free class earlier that day, i did my best. It wasn´t until Wilber, the free dance teacher, asked me to dance, that I really felt like ´Baby´ when she was learning how to dance with Patrick Swayze. I could only laugh as he moved me from side to side where she goes back and forth flipping her head to the sides. After the song was over I rushed back to sit down, to calm down while still laughing at myself. So there I was back in the corner watching all the crazy dancing. The night would have been complete if I had carried two watermelons up the stairs first before entering the club! (in the movie!)
The last guy I danced with was from France so he spoke a mixture of French and spanish. I couldn´t understand a thing he was saying. Fren/nish- to confusing. While dancing with him he kept stopping and clapping saying ´good, good´ which was screwing me up from my dancing. He was just too much for me and so after the song I thanked him and sat back down. I was finished for the night. Too overwhelmed. It was around 1am anyway, so a group of us took a cab back to the hostel. It was a good night.
We started off the day with fresh fruit and icecream for breakfast from the store around the corner. We check out another hostel, which is closer to the ´downtown´area where more salsatechs are and prob go out with another group tonight. I need another siesta to make sure to last longer than 1am tonight!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Tayrona National Park
A rackety old Toyota van stopped infront of Casa Maria at 930 am to pick us up to take us to Tayrona National Park. A friendly guy named Jose´ was our driver. As I got in he left the side sliding door open and took off down the road. I sat next to the door and got a great view as we drove past a soccer field where some kids had started a game. I held on to the handle just incase he took an unexpected turn. This is his airconditioning he stated. We drove around to pick up a few other people, in and out of hostels he went with a cheerful grin, chatting with people, but then saying Rapido (which is hurry) He was the one taking the time. After a few stops we headed back up the road to where my hostel was to pick people up from next door. Now why didn{t we pick them up at the same time? Don{t know, that´s just how things are done here. Finally we are off, a rickey van full of people heading to the beach. We stop at a supermarket store to buy some bread, meat, and cheese, then headed off. Or what we thought, Another stop for gas. Then finally we were on our way. It was about a 45min drive to get to the entrance of the natinal park. We bought our wrist bands and continued on though. Finally Jose´stopped to let us out and from this point we had an hour and half hike to get to the furthest, nicest beach. It was hot, and this hike was through the jungle/forest filled with beautiful trees, horses, mud piles to walk around and lots of horse poop! It actually took us 2 hours to get to the beach and along the way Natanya and I had a spanish lession. We review vocab and how to use them into sentences. So I would say, ´Here comes the horse or there went the horse¨ After 2 hours of this, i was physically and mentally exhausted! I just wanted to lay on the beach and not think. Which we did for a few hours before it started to get dark. We headed back to shower and made another meat and cheese sandwich for dinner. This beach is known as the backpackers spot and a good holiday for other Colombians. The area was filled with small tents and 2 opensided buildings with hammocks strung across the length of the building. Another building was where they cooked food and had plastic tabels and chairs set up. We sat their for a while to write/read/play cards before the dinner rush began. Talked to a few people that we had met back at the last hostel, and started playing cards with an Australian and English couple. The night dropped fast and I wanted to check out the stars, so I excused myself after I won the first card game. I ran into the guys we talked to earlier and followed them up the rocks to check out the stars. There were only a few lights on below us, so they stars shined extra bright. So many, it was amazing. I think i even saw a few short shooting stars. I dont know how it started but two of the guys, who are Australian, started quoting Arnold Swartenagger movie quotes, they were big fans. It was so funny! I havent laughed like that in a long time, and over Arnold quotes. It was good. I need to do that more often.
Woke up this morning in my hammock, just happy. i could watch a Colombian family cooking and trying to keep the fire going. Made me want to go camping, not that what i was doing wasnt rustic enough. But still! Then headed back to the beach. We had heard that if you keep going past where we were yesterday, there is a whole other beach that is practically empty. So we ventured out along a path, though the woods again, and out came this amazing beach. Only one other guy was there with us. We headed down a ways, and throughout the day only a few other couples set up base. We pretty much had this huge beach to share with 6 people. Around 2 we headed back to clean up, eat some homemade banana bread this woman was selling (delicous), pack up our stuff and trek the 2 hours back to meet Jose´. We continued on the walking spanish lessions, which really took up the time. Now I know how to ask for a room in a hostel, and to order different foods. I{m just putting together all the things i know to makes sence. We got to the end and Jose´was not there. He had heard,from who i dont know, that we didnt need a ride. Good thing a taxi was there and we caught that back to Taganga. He later stopped at our hostel to appologize and offered to buy us a drink at another hostel bar. Not a problem, im just happy to be back at my hostel, and have a clean shower. Now I need to get some food and more agua. It was a long day, and the sun/2 hour trek/and spanish lessions really do take it out of you!
Woke up this morning in my hammock, just happy. i could watch a Colombian family cooking and trying to keep the fire going. Made me want to go camping, not that what i was doing wasnt rustic enough. But still! Then headed back to the beach. We had heard that if you keep going past where we were yesterday, there is a whole other beach that is practically empty. So we ventured out along a path, though the woods again, and out came this amazing beach. Only one other guy was there with us. We headed down a ways, and throughout the day only a few other couples set up base. We pretty much had this huge beach to share with 6 people. Around 2 we headed back to clean up, eat some homemade banana bread this woman was selling (delicous), pack up our stuff and trek the 2 hours back to meet Jose´. We continued on the walking spanish lessions, which really took up the time. Now I know how to ask for a room in a hostel, and to order different foods. I{m just putting together all the things i know to makes sence. We got to the end and Jose´was not there. He had heard,from who i dont know, that we didnt need a ride. Good thing a taxi was there and we caught that back to Taganga. He later stopped at our hostel to appologize and offered to buy us a drink at another hostel bar. Not a problem, im just happy to be back at my hostel, and have a clean shower. Now I need to get some food and more agua. It was a long day, and the sun/2 hour trek/and spanish lessions really do take it out of you!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Taganga, Colombia
This morning, Natanya (my new South African friend) and I boarded a bus to take us from Cartagena to Taganga which is 4 hours up along the coast of Colombia. It was actually a pretty posh bus that played 2 movies along the way. The first was 7 pounds and then the Sisters Keeper...I don{t know why, but I cried through both of them...oh well. We got dropped off in the middle of this small town with no idea of where any hostels were. We crossed the street and walked into a scubba diving store to ask where Casa Felipe was. We´ve heard from other backpackers that this is the place to be..or at least to eat dinner. The best chef is apparently working at this hostel. I also heard that right next door is another hostel, Casa Maria, which is going through some construction (half the inside of the building is empty) but it´s cheap and nice rooms. After walking a ways up the hill, we decided to settle at Casa Maria. By now, it is around 4 and the sun is going down so we decided to walk back down to the coast and watch the sunset and walk around a little. This city is in a little cove within the mountains, so beautiful. You see houses built into the mountain on three sides of you and the rich blue water straight infront of you. We walked around to one side where there is a path that I believe follows up over the mountain probably to a beach. Most people were walking back from there with their chairs and beach clothes. After it got close to dark we walked back up to our hostel and decided to have dinner with the Famous chef. Turns out he is from Holland, and the food defineatly was amazing. We shared the filet minon and thai beef cabob...the best beef so far in Colombia. We were the first ones there, so we sat at the bar which looks right into the kitchen and chatted with the chef. It atmosphere is just so calm and peaceful here. We walked up to the roof top with another glass of fresh juice and looked out at the stars. It was hard to leave to go back to our hostel, so we sat down and met a German fellow who offered a good hostel to stay at in Cali. We plan on flying there on Wed. Such a nice night. Tomorrow we are taking a bus to Tayrona Natinal park. Apparently this is where the most beautiful beach is, and you have to walk 45 mins in the park to get to it. We plan on staying a night there then come back to Taganga. Until then!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Mud Volcano and Playa Blanca
The last couple of days have just been amazing. Ive taken some time for myself to sit and think and really enjoy what it is im doing. Then i think, what is it that im really doing? At first really didnt want to admit that this is a trip for me to ´find´myself, but really when you think about it, all traveling is is to really explore not just places your visiting but yourself as well. You grow, expand, and live and learn as you go. Everyone you meet on your travels are doing the same thing, some may not recognize it as much, while others are changing everyday. These last couple of days, ive had plenty of time to sit and think and to realize there are things that i dont want to do anymore and other things ive always wanted to do but felt i couldnt because i was either told not too by my family or thought it wasnt professional. But really in the end, its all how i see it and i should live the way i see it.
So here is a quick run down of what i have been doing for the past 4 days, and if your looking for some place to go and explore and have an amazing time, Colombia really is great. And it is much safer than in the past. Everyone I have meet traveling have loved Colombia the best.
Wed 2. I got up at 715 to get ready, have breakfast, than got a bus that took me an hour outside of Cartagena to a MudVolcano! There is this volcano that you can climb up to and jump inside and there is a mud pit inside. I crawled in and there is so much boyancy that you only float, its hard to move. someone pulled me to the back and i started to get a ´mud´massage. it was so great. They have other locals standing on top taking photos. After the massage you just sit there and float, its hard sink even if you tried. They then told us to get out and then you walk over to lake where a woman helps to bath all the mud off of you. I decided to go for the whole package and let her clean me off. She had a little bucket and kept dumping loads of water over my head. It was like washing a kid. She even took off my suit and had me clean myself while she washed out my suit. Good thing the water isn{t as clear as the ocean! Then with my new mudpit friends, stayed out in the lake for as long as we could before they called us in. The veiw was just so beautiful, trees all around, little canoes with the locals fishing, and it was so peaceful. We then got on the bus, tipped the locals for their services, and headed to another beach where we swam in the ocean until lunch was served. I got chicken and it came with rice, beans, plantanes (banana) salad. So yummy! then headed back to Cartagena. With my new friends we decided to layaround in the pool at Natallia´s (South Aftica)hostel until we went out to dinner. I also met brothers from switzerland and a German guy. That night at the same hostel has a rooftop full moom party. There I also met another set of brothers from Australia. The hostel was organizing a boat trip for the next day to go to Playa Blanca, a nice beach at another island. So I decided to jump the boat.
Thurs 3. Another early morning to get ready for the boat. There was a good crowd of us that met the night before that were heading to the island. Right away Natallia and I headed up the beach to find a quieter area to find a hammock for the night. The Australian brothers, Tom and Jimmy joined us. We found hammocks for 5,ooo which is really cheap. The other people all split up to find their own spots. It turned out great because only a few of us stayed over night on the island and the rest of the boats headed back to Cartagena. So it was really peaceful and we all really enjoyed it. This is where i spent time just thinking, and reading, and swimming in the beautiful warm water. I ate my first real fish, that still had a head, teeth, fins, and all. I took a pic so don{t worry.! It was so delicious. It was caught that morning and we ate it prob 4 hours later. That night we met up with the others that came on the boat and I tried to get a bonfire started but we would have had to collect the wood and it was already dark. It was a fun circle with coconut drinks and stories of where people have been traveling to and from. I met a Candian guy and another guy from San Fran that just left Pisco in Peru. They were doing volunteer work on the city that was hit in 2007 from an earthquake. The way the described it, it was amazing. It{s on my list to do and you will prob hear stories of my adventures there. Sleeping in a hammock was interesting, it wasn{t as layed out as i would have liked, and i couldnt find my blanket for most the nght, so i was freezing.
There is more but i am being called to go have a drink to watch the sunset. night night..
Friday was another relaxing day on the beach. Around 3 we boarded the boat to head back to Cartagena. With a whole new group of friends we split up and all went back to our various hostels. Natanya and I have decided to travel onward together for a little while. So we decided to take Saturday as a resting day and planning day for the next week or so. It was nice to just lay in bed on Saturday morning with no where to get to or anything really to do. Off to Taganga on Sunday!
So here is a quick run down of what i have been doing for the past 4 days, and if your looking for some place to go and explore and have an amazing time, Colombia really is great. And it is much safer than in the past. Everyone I have meet traveling have loved Colombia the best.
Wed 2. I got up at 715 to get ready, have breakfast, than got a bus that took me an hour outside of Cartagena to a MudVolcano! There is this volcano that you can climb up to and jump inside and there is a mud pit inside. I crawled in and there is so much boyancy that you only float, its hard to move. someone pulled me to the back and i started to get a ´mud´massage. it was so great. They have other locals standing on top taking photos. After the massage you just sit there and float, its hard sink even if you tried. They then told us to get out and then you walk over to lake where a woman helps to bath all the mud off of you. I decided to go for the whole package and let her clean me off. She had a little bucket and kept dumping loads of water over my head. It was like washing a kid. She even took off my suit and had me clean myself while she washed out my suit. Good thing the water isn{t as clear as the ocean! Then with my new mudpit friends, stayed out in the lake for as long as we could before they called us in. The veiw was just so beautiful, trees all around, little canoes with the locals fishing, and it was so peaceful. We then got on the bus, tipped the locals for their services, and headed to another beach where we swam in the ocean until lunch was served. I got chicken and it came with rice, beans, plantanes (banana) salad. So yummy! then headed back to Cartagena. With my new friends we decided to layaround in the pool at Natallia´s (South Aftica)hostel until we went out to dinner. I also met brothers from switzerland and a German guy. That night at the same hostel has a rooftop full moom party. There I also met another set of brothers from Australia. The hostel was organizing a boat trip for the next day to go to Playa Blanca, a nice beach at another island. So I decided to jump the boat.
Thurs 3. Another early morning to get ready for the boat. There was a good crowd of us that met the night before that were heading to the island. Right away Natallia and I headed up the beach to find a quieter area to find a hammock for the night. The Australian brothers, Tom and Jimmy joined us. We found hammocks for 5,ooo which is really cheap. The other people all split up to find their own spots. It turned out great because only a few of us stayed over night on the island and the rest of the boats headed back to Cartagena. So it was really peaceful and we all really enjoyed it. This is where i spent time just thinking, and reading, and swimming in the beautiful warm water. I ate my first real fish, that still had a head, teeth, fins, and all. I took a pic so don{t worry.! It was so delicious. It was caught that morning and we ate it prob 4 hours later. That night we met up with the others that came on the boat and I tried to get a bonfire started but we would have had to collect the wood and it was already dark. It was a fun circle with coconut drinks and stories of where people have been traveling to and from. I met a Candian guy and another guy from San Fran that just left Pisco in Peru. They were doing volunteer work on the city that was hit in 2007 from an earthquake. The way the described it, it was amazing. It{s on my list to do and you will prob hear stories of my adventures there. Sleeping in a hammock was interesting, it wasn{t as layed out as i would have liked, and i couldnt find my blanket for most the nght, so i was freezing.
There is more but i am being called to go have a drink to watch the sunset. night night..
Friday was another relaxing day on the beach. Around 3 we boarded the boat to head back to Cartagena. With a whole new group of friends we split up and all went back to our various hostels. Natanya and I have decided to travel onward together for a little while. So we decided to take Saturday as a resting day and planning day for the next week or so. It was nice to just lay in bed on Saturday morning with no where to get to or anything really to do. Off to Taganga on Sunday!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Hot and Humid
Ofta, it sure it hot here...I arrived at the airport around 3 on Monday and was welcomed by instant heat and humidity. I got my bag and got a taxi to take me to a hostel. I checked in and i think i got the last bed, because all the people that came in after me, where sent to other hostels. I met 2 English guys who where on their way out to take a boat down the Amazon river, a possiblity i would like to do. Later, i met another english couple that are staying in my room. I went out to dinner with them last night and decided to walk around the city with them today. We went to San Felipe's fort and walked around that for a bit. The you can walk around the wall that surrounds the city. we walked around the city for a bit then, went back to the hostel. It was so hot, i was just sweeting as we walked around. We decided to hit the beach. The water was so nice and warm, i floated in there for a while, as the waves tried push me over. I nearly lost my suit a few times...It was a bit windy so sand was flying around and after laying on the beach for awhile, you are just covered in sand. Back into the water then to wash off.
I would like to go to this volcano that has a mudpit in the top of it. It's supposed to be pretty sweet. Then prob travel onto another city.
I would like to go to this volcano that has a mudpit in the top of it. It's supposed to be pretty sweet. Then prob travel onto another city.
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