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!