Day 16
ended up going to the old neighborhood for some empanadas. everyone loved them especially the carne mechada. jessie and steve split a pastry from the panadaria i used to go to. no one besides jessie liked the maltin, no surprised. Eventually got back and the gang got some milkshakes from my smoothie joint. Bough cacique rum and coke and lime and got drunk and played hearts
Day 18
Today was a serious do nothing day in merida. But everyone was very cool with that
Day 19
Woke up early to go paragliding. Was so cool. took this jeep all the way up a mountain. Said there wasnt that much wind so we waited. Adam and jessie went first. They flew around for a while in the air and came back to where we were. Steve and I went after. So amazing and the weather was great. Beautiful views of the canyon and the river in tierra negra.about a 40 minute drive to the place. Steve and i were lucky to be heavier and also receive more wind that we got to land. It was so cool to decend especially with fast circles when it felt like the g force was really being put on. We got back and finished all of our shopping at mercado principal and a different market. Finally finished shopping for sheila, settled on two really cool coffee mugs to go along with the glassware. Everyone should be pleased with their gifts. Chilled back at the hostel and got a little too drunk on rum. However, we eventually ended up going out with this venezuelan named santiago. Jessie and i didnt stay for very long but we did have an excellent street burger on the way back.
Day 20
Today we woke after being pretty hung over. Packed up all of our things to leave at 3 am the next night. Chilled out and got one last street burger. Chilled with a couple of cool americans and they followed us to birosca. Met up with sofia and her girlfriend. So nice to see her again and see her very happy with her partner. They plan to get married and move to spain in june. They bought tons of beers for us and everyone had such a good time that 2 oclock really creeped up on us. Sofia and her girlfriend bought more beers and walked us back and even paid for our cab. i hope to reunite with them someday in spain.
Day 21
After a long cold drunk bus ride at 3am we got into san cristobal at 8 am. We wanted to get to the border as soon as we could. Eventually we found a car that would take us for 15 bucks. seemed pretty sketch but the guy was so nice. I practiced my spanish for more than an hour straight. However 45 minutes away from the border we got stopped by the police. They checked our things, and they took his car. Seemed he had an accident and didnt have the proper papers after. I really felt bad for him after i found that he had a wife and kids to support. However, we still had to go so i paid him part and we took the oldest jankiest school bus to the border town of san antonio. We eventually found an atm that worked because everyone had spent all remaining bolivores at the bar. We paid our 10 buck exit tax and got stamped out of venezuela. We found the international bridge and walked over to the colombian border and got stamped in. We then got a taxi to the cucuta bus station. It was hot and dirty just like i imagined. WE got out of the cab and immidiately hounded for a bus to bogota. Eventually found one willing for 35 bucks, saving us 20 bucks than the listed price. We had an hour and a half to chill and caught a 230pm bust to bogota. The bus wasnt that bad, slept for half of it with allergy pills.
Day 22
Got into bogota around 6am making 27 hours of straight travel. Cabbed to our hostel in a cool old part of town. Couldnt go into our rooms but took hot showers and really cleaned up. GOt a pinapple and bread breakfast for free at the hostel. Chose the hostel because we are all so low on cash and it includes breakfast and dinner. After breakfast we went by the plaza and found the famous gold museum. It was cool and tons of gold but we were all pretty tired. Walked more and took a trail car up the mountains to monseratte peak, a place to overlook the city. IT was discounted a lot and no one works on sundays, so there were huge lines and tons of people everywhere. IT was a great view of the city. Just like south american cities, it doesnt go up but simply out. impossible to see all of the 8 million people city. Went down and walked around trying to find la puerta falsa, a famous coffee shop. We got the best hot chocolate i ever had with some cheese which you were supposed to put in along with some great rolls. We got back to the hostel and i passed out. Also this city reminds me a lot of other cpitols like quito and lima. lots of graffiitti. all you can eat bbq tonight, and last night all together in south america. should be pretty chill.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Colombia and Venezuela day 10 and beyond
Day 10
CAught a 2 hour bus ride to tayrona
had to literally run to get a bus in santa marta
everyone headed to tayrona
cluster there and impossible to figure out what to do
stood in line for at least three hours while we wait for some venezuelans to argue to no avail
i was not a happy camper. tired sick and frusterated
eventually booked some hammocks for camping san pedro
hour walk to the campsite
saw a monkey in a tree
cool jungle trail although super muddy and poop from horses lugging lazy people
got to the campsite
beautiful with palm trees
went to the nearby beach couldnt swim there because too dangerous but chilled
beautiful beach
slept like a baby
Day 11
woke up early and met with chris from germany
he was leaving that day, which was super sad
after he left at around 11 we walked 40 minutes to thye beach cabo san juan
amazingly gorgeous the water was perfect temp and great to swim in
laid out on the beach jessie and steve passed out and got super sunburnt
read my book
jessie and i walked 15 minutes more to two more beaches
one was a nude beach with really big waves and we rode them
eventually got adam and steve to go to that beach
splurged on some fresh fish, barracuda. yummmm
talked with christoph and isabel
now we have places to stay in vienna and dresden
slept in a new campsite with shitty hammocks but closer to the beach
Day 12
woke up at 6 to make the long haul to venezuela
hitchiked on a truck, adam and steve held on back
had to get a bus back to santa marta
caught a 5 hour bus ride to maicao on the border
once at maicao it was so confusing to figure out how to cross the border
got the shadiest taxi to the exit place for colombia
told the wait to get stampped was 2 hours and could get to the front for 20 bucks
line was only 30 minutes and we got our exit stamps
physically walked the border and stood in line for and hour and a half to get entry into venezuela
we were all tired and frusterated
getting dark and we didnt want to stay the night on the border
eventually found a bus that found space to maracaibo
i was on this uncomfortable stool in the back, steve got the bed and adam and jessie up front with the driver
cost 80 bs
got to the maracaibo bus station only to discover that we missed the last bus to merida
stayed the night in the shady dirty and cold bus stationç
we were all exhausted
Day 13
Got up early at 5 to stand in line for bus tickets to merida
eventually found out 2 hours later that there were no direct busses
took a 7 hour bus ride instead to a closer town called santa barbara
waited in the terminal for and hour then caught a 3 hour bus to merida
soo much travel and decided to stay in posada guamanchi for the week
10 bucks a night
own room for the four of us and warm showers for the first time on the trip
went out to the bars
birosca was bumpin and we got 4 bombas and beers
center of attention because we were the only white people
although its great to be back
went to gradas as well, it was okay
went back to birosca and partied til 3
super fun time
Day 14
Woke up late to catch up on all the sleep we didnt get
went to mercado principal and did some shopping
got most of my shopping done
went to garzon and got some supplies and thing to cook
went back and cooked tomato soup and grilled cheese
went to bed early and played cribbage
super into this book the hunger games
Day 15
Woke up earlyish to go to the mountains
took a 2 and half hour bus ride to lake mucubaji
rode horses for an hour and a half for less than 10 bucks
surrounded by clouds so we taxied to the stone chapel and got some bomb strawberries and cream and chocolate churros
got back and skyped with sheila and parents
got some awesome pizza and cribbaged and fell asleep early
Day 16
the gang went canyoneering while i chill and read and skype with sheila
we are going to la porroquia today for some empanadas and to show tht gang where i lived
CAught a 2 hour bus ride to tayrona
had to literally run to get a bus in santa marta
everyone headed to tayrona
cluster there and impossible to figure out what to do
stood in line for at least three hours while we wait for some venezuelans to argue to no avail
i was not a happy camper. tired sick and frusterated
eventually booked some hammocks for camping san pedro
hour walk to the campsite
saw a monkey in a tree
cool jungle trail although super muddy and poop from horses lugging lazy people
got to the campsite
beautiful with palm trees
went to the nearby beach couldnt swim there because too dangerous but chilled
beautiful beach
slept like a baby
Day 11
woke up early and met with chris from germany
he was leaving that day, which was super sad
after he left at around 11 we walked 40 minutes to thye beach cabo san juan
amazingly gorgeous the water was perfect temp and great to swim in
laid out on the beach jessie and steve passed out and got super sunburnt
read my book
jessie and i walked 15 minutes more to two more beaches
one was a nude beach with really big waves and we rode them
eventually got adam and steve to go to that beach
splurged on some fresh fish, barracuda. yummmm
talked with christoph and isabel
now we have places to stay in vienna and dresden
slept in a new campsite with shitty hammocks but closer to the beach
Day 12
woke up at 6 to make the long haul to venezuela
hitchiked on a truck, adam and steve held on back
had to get a bus back to santa marta
caught a 5 hour bus ride to maicao on the border
once at maicao it was so confusing to figure out how to cross the border
got the shadiest taxi to the exit place for colombia
told the wait to get stampped was 2 hours and could get to the front for 20 bucks
line was only 30 minutes and we got our exit stamps
physically walked the border and stood in line for and hour and a half to get entry into venezuela
we were all tired and frusterated
getting dark and we didnt want to stay the night on the border
eventually found a bus that found space to maracaibo
i was on this uncomfortable stool in the back, steve got the bed and adam and jessie up front with the driver
cost 80 bs
got to the maracaibo bus station only to discover that we missed the last bus to merida
stayed the night in the shady dirty and cold bus stationç
we were all exhausted
Day 13
Got up early at 5 to stand in line for bus tickets to merida
eventually found out 2 hours later that there were no direct busses
took a 7 hour bus ride instead to a closer town called santa barbara
waited in the terminal for and hour then caught a 3 hour bus to merida
soo much travel and decided to stay in posada guamanchi for the week
10 bucks a night
own room for the four of us and warm showers for the first time on the trip
went out to the bars
birosca was bumpin and we got 4 bombas and beers
center of attention because we were the only white people
although its great to be back
went to gradas as well, it was okay
went back to birosca and partied til 3
super fun time
Day 14
Woke up late to catch up on all the sleep we didnt get
went to mercado principal and did some shopping
got most of my shopping done
went to garzon and got some supplies and thing to cook
went back and cooked tomato soup and grilled cheese
went to bed early and played cribbage
super into this book the hunger games
Day 15
Woke up earlyish to go to the mountains
took a 2 and half hour bus ride to lake mucubaji
rode horses for an hour and a half for less than 10 bucks
surrounded by clouds so we taxied to the stone chapel and got some bomb strawberries and cream and chocolate churros
got back and skyped with sheila and parents
got some awesome pizza and cribbaged and fell asleep early
Day 16
the gang went canyoneering while i chill and read and skype with sheila
we are going to la porroquia today for some empanadas and to show tht gang where i lived
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Days 4 through 10 La ciudad perdida and taganga
Day 4
woke up super early to get picked up by magic tours. finalized some things intaganga and left for santa marta where we picked up 2 more people
hour to mountain in bumpy jeep like los llanos jeep
hour and a half up the mountain literally in jeep super bumpy
met up with rest of our group at the base camp there was 25 of us
ate a meal of subs and headed out
4 hours of hiking first day
river crossing without shoes
mules carries all of our stuff
2 really nice guides
hour and a half uphill super difficult because late night before
breaks for watermelon and looked at super cute animals
made it to first camp beautiful in the mountains
slept in hammocks after a hearty meal and the lights went out
also great first day to swim in the river jumping off rocks
Day 5
woke up early to leave and hike another 4 hours. pretty easy hiking
more uphill and stops for fruit and swimming
more river crossing
camp on river and swam to cool off
weather was always really hot and always covered in sweat
slept in beds that night
really pretty stars
ran into the kogi people the indigenous people of the land
Day 6 new years eve
Hiked another 5 hours to get to camp. camp three had hammocks
got to camp for lunch and then right after we hiked to the lost city
tons of uphill steps
1200 steps
really cool uphill after river crossing
made it to the site for group pictures
had a history lesson about the site and now for tourism after people destroyed a lot of it looking for gold
military presense all the time
big site and lots to look at
went to the military camp for an overview picture
eventually hiked back in the rain
scary on the downhill steps
got back and started to get dark
ate food and started drinking for new years
fire down by the river with drums and singing
taught some american drinking games to people from 9 different countries
guides brought us aguardiente the local drink in colombia
very drunk by midnight and barely made it
day 7 new years day
woke up early to hike back to camp one
first part of the hike was super easy and relaxing
stopeed at camp 2 to get some lunch and then went to a camp near camp one
second part of the hike was really hard so we were all really tired when we got there
sat around and chilled and talked
our group was all really great and fun
most of them were young
we were the youngest ones
day 8
left early to head back down
mostly all downhill
all really tired and worn down from the trek so we were ready to get back
lots of river crossings
made it back to base camp to celebrate with good food
i had some awesome fried fish and others had carne or chicken
drove back and met up with some cool people from the trek in tanganga
really hard to find a hostel because it is now high season
walked for a while til we found one for 10 bucks a night
the lady there is super nice and accomidating
drank and went to the club in taganga sensacion
after party til around 2
day 9
woke up late and got some waffles and fruit for breakfast
decided to go to tagangas beach and just chill
tanned and read my book the girl who played with fire
stayed til sunset
got laundry done finally after really stinky clothes from trek
got food and free beer from mojito bar
went back to our hostel and passed out around 9
slept for 11 hours and finally caught up on sleep
Day 10
woke up not feeling so hot, but we are taking a bus to parque tayrona today for a couple of days
should be nice and we get an awesome student discount
should be crazy because it is high season
but looking forward to just relaxinf
woke up super early to get picked up by magic tours. finalized some things intaganga and left for santa marta where we picked up 2 more people
hour to mountain in bumpy jeep like los llanos jeep
hour and a half up the mountain literally in jeep super bumpy
met up with rest of our group at the base camp there was 25 of us
ate a meal of subs and headed out
4 hours of hiking first day
river crossing without shoes
mules carries all of our stuff
2 really nice guides
hour and a half uphill super difficult because late night before
breaks for watermelon and looked at super cute animals
made it to first camp beautiful in the mountains
slept in hammocks after a hearty meal and the lights went out
also great first day to swim in the river jumping off rocks
Day 5
woke up early to leave and hike another 4 hours. pretty easy hiking
more uphill and stops for fruit and swimming
more river crossing
camp on river and swam to cool off
weather was always really hot and always covered in sweat
slept in beds that night
really pretty stars
ran into the kogi people the indigenous people of the land
Day 6 new years eve
Hiked another 5 hours to get to camp. camp three had hammocks
got to camp for lunch and then right after we hiked to the lost city
tons of uphill steps
1200 steps
really cool uphill after river crossing
made it to the site for group pictures
had a history lesson about the site and now for tourism after people destroyed a lot of it looking for gold
military presense all the time
big site and lots to look at
went to the military camp for an overview picture
eventually hiked back in the rain
scary on the downhill steps
got back and started to get dark
ate food and started drinking for new years
fire down by the river with drums and singing
taught some american drinking games to people from 9 different countries
guides brought us aguardiente the local drink in colombia
very drunk by midnight and barely made it
day 7 new years day
woke up early to hike back to camp one
first part of the hike was super easy and relaxing
stopeed at camp 2 to get some lunch and then went to a camp near camp one
second part of the hike was really hard so we were all really tired when we got there
sat around and chilled and talked
our group was all really great and fun
most of them were young
we were the youngest ones
day 8
left early to head back down
mostly all downhill
all really tired and worn down from the trek so we were ready to get back
lots of river crossings
made it back to base camp to celebrate with good food
i had some awesome fried fish and others had carne or chicken
drove back and met up with some cool people from the trek in tanganga
really hard to find a hostel because it is now high season
walked for a while til we found one for 10 bucks a night
the lady there is super nice and accomidating
drank and went to the club in taganga sensacion
after party til around 2
day 9
woke up late and got some waffles and fruit for breakfast
decided to go to tagangas beach and just chill
tanned and read my book the girl who played with fire
stayed til sunset
got laundry done finally after really stinky clothes from trek
got food and free beer from mojito bar
went back to our hostel and passed out around 9
slept for 11 hours and finally caught up on sleep
Day 10
woke up not feeling so hot, but we are taking a bus to parque tayrona today for a couple of days
should be nice and we get an awesome student discount
should be crazy because it is high season
but looking forward to just relaxinf
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