I have been in Colombia for 5 weeks in total and my adventures have continued.
I began in Medellin (the city of eternal spring) and you know what they are not wrong. It is the perfect temperature all day everyday, sun shining not super hot or humid. It also has to be one of the cleanest cities I have visited!
I was lucky enough to have Alex (who I met in costa Rica)invite me to share some events with his family which was wonderful. His family were so welcoming and kind and I enjoyed being around them. I am forever grateful for that experience and of course great practice for my español!
I also stayed in what I would class as the best Hostel experience thus far. Everyone was very friendly and I enjoyed spending time discovering the city, climbing ´The Rock´ which had magnificant water views and strolling the streets of Guatape (a nearby town) with various characters of the world!
The second week I was in Bogota and once again lucky enough to experience the wonderful Colombian hospitality. I stayed at a friends friends apartment which was fanastic. Leo and his sister made me feel at home and were very kind and generous to have me for over a week. It was certainly a nice change from hostels, and I hope to repay them one day (maybe a visit to Australia???).
So much happened in Bogota, I spent some of the days seeing the sites with Camilo. Walked in a beautiful national park where once again a squirrel incident was a highlight(that one is for slewis). Met Marcela and Camilo´s parents who were very warm and welcoming. I enjoyed their company very much and of course the delicious lunch! I played a game of Billars which was very difficult. I now wonder if Colombia has some of the best snooker/pool players in the world because Billars requires a little more thinking with a little more skill (Yo creo).
I went camping with Leo and his family who were super fantastic and extremely generous. The people experiences I have had in Colombia have been a highlight for me and much of that I can thank Marcela and Camilo for. You never know where initial contacts can lead you and the friendships you make.
After Bogota I ventured to the sun! Cartagena (the most romantic city in Colombia) I havent been to all cities so I dont know but to walk around the old town at night you certainly get a feel for that. Before I settled myself for 2 weeks in Cartagena to study more spanish and salsa, I took a few days and headed to Parque Tayrona. The first day I walked to the camp ground with a Colombian family I met at the park entrance. They were very friendly and I ended up spending the day with them and had a great time!
That night I met up with a couple of other friends and slept the night in a hammock under a straw roof. Something that appears to be common in the camp grounds in the north of Colombia and elsewhere in South America. Certainly an experience! Although of course for me I had to add a little flavour! Having food poisoning all night made for a very eventful evening. The following day I had a 4.5 hour hike with little water and dry biscuits as I didnt feel like putting too much in my stomach. It was very beautiful, hot,humid and tranquil. I enjoyed the feeling of being the only person amoung the sounds of the birds and the many interesting insects I encountered.
I also spent a day checking out some Islands off the coast of Colombia and once again spent the day with a really super family that looked after me extremely well (they were from Medellin). I have gained much from the encounters I have had with the people of Colombia and others I have met along the way. It has simply been super bueno!
My final 2 weeks were in Cartagena studying spanish and salsa and well what can I say, it was wonderfully fantastic. The friends I made in the school were all super super people and we just simply had a great time!! Many many nights were spent dancing and living it up!
One intersting thing I did do was jump inside a volcano full of warm mud (more than 1000 metres deep). It was virtually impossible to move in and it was certainly a strange feeling to be standing up but not actually touching anything. Needless to say I had to completely cover myself so I could then earn some cash as a staue on the streets of Cartagena.
My final 3 nights were spent in Bogota with a great night out dancing, some shopping and yet another absolutely brilliant (muy muy rico) lunch from Hilda (Marcela y Camilo´s mum) who then accompanied me to the airport which was super grand of her.
I am certainly going to miss the friends I have made but I think somewhere in the world we just may meet again!
Now I have 4 weeks to cross 4 countries to take my flight home so hasta Septiembre Australia!
