May -June 2016
Flying into Cartagena from Panama alone was an adventure. Now the rest that follows, well lets just say I couldn't get enough of Colombia the first time I return in Sept.
Ok where do I start, well how about the airport. I usually look for some poor soul to share a taxi with, so that's exactly what I did. Maurice was the victim, a traveler kicking it from Germany. To my surprise I was going to be in the airport longer than expected. Maurice has been traveling for almost 2 years now, making the journey all the way from Alaska. Along the way he picked up Sammy. The cutest rescue dog from Mexico. She is well behaved, black and chill as hell. Ok so back to the airport. Traveling with a dog has it's ups and downs, down side the airport loves to make you work for your animal. So several pieces of paper later, another fee and Sammy was finally free. Dog by our side and we head out. I had a hostel already booked in the old city of Cartagena, so we head there first. Another struggle about traveling with an animal is that some place will not allow you to keep your animal there. This was unfortunately the case for my hostel. So we spent the night chilling, people watching and going on lost adventures to the beach and food.
The next few days I spent checking out the beach in the area and riding bikes around Cartagena with a random stranger. Yea that's how it works, you can meet someone in the street one minute and the next your out exploring together. Riding along the old wall of Cartagena, stopping off to eat cheap local food, and enjoy the culture of the city. At night I spent my evenings hanging out with my German friend wandering the streets. 2-3 days in Cartagena is more than enough, especially for this girl. So it was time to head north, destination in mind was Palomino.
I booked a bus ticket for the following morning and off I was....just kidding it actually didn't workout like that. Nope, my bus actually didn't show up so I ditched that idea, got my money back and before I knew it I was standing road side. Yup, I joined Maurice for the hitchhiking journey to Palomino. Starting out just north of the city, beach side we were ready for the long hall. Catching 3 different rides in total to get to Santa Marta. The day started out slow, spending about 3 hours in the heat before a lovely soul picked us up. The rides that followed seem to come quickly. Time passed and we arrived in Santa Marta by evening. Our plan was to wake up and get back at it early, but first we would enjoy the night in celebration of our successful trip. Morning comes quick and the city is hot...hot as hell. I can't stop sweating and all I'm doing is breathing. No joke Colombia is hot, be prepared and stay hydrated. We are joined by Maurice's friend, so now there was 3 and a dog. Standing road side again and within a short 30 minutes we are picked up. Arriving at the beach, and I couldn't be more excited to see the waves, have sand in my toes and sun baking my body. Our drivers stop off at their local beach hostel/bar. We chilled before finishing the journey to Palomino, which was only a bus ride away. The local bus picked us up, Sammy included. Palomino can best be described as a hippie beach town, straight up. It is about a 30 minute walk from where the bus drops you off. Or you can take a motorbike taxi for a small price. We suck it up and walk, plus this gives us a chance to find a place along the way. About an hour later and hammocks were our new home, at least for the next couple of nights. We spent the next couple of days chill on the beach, partying at our super hippie hostel, eating pizza, napping, and well literally moving real slow. The days are long and chill followed by nights watching the waves, drinking beer under the stars. Well at least not for me but everyone else. Which brings me to something, even though I don't drink I still enjoy the party atmosphere, the socialization and wild shit that happens when drunk people are involved.
Palomino was good but there is a need to venture else where. Maurice and I ditch Palomino and head to Casa Granda surf hostel. My goal is to do nothing, maybe some hiking and a lot of chilling before I book it to Buga, Colombia for my next volunteer position. Maurice needs to find a job, so he heads out during the day to hook up with different hostels and check into local work. The next week or so I take Sammy on hikes around the area, venturing into the jungle. Swimming naked in the rivers and eating fruit off the trees. My absolute favorite is being able to walk up the road and pick my own mango or papaya. Can't get enough. We take walks down the beach to other hostels, spending the day making new friends and getting weird. Night walks along the beach to get home, the sky is so big and beautiful. Ending our days with bonfires on the beach, to cook late night snacks or boil much needed water. My time comes to an end and it's time to say bye, well actually I'll see you soon. My last sunset in the area and I'm blessed with a double rainbow, WINNING! What a way to head out, taking the local bus back to Santa Marta for the night before my flight to Medellin. The price was around $45 USD, way cheaper and faster than any bus. I spend the night at the Dreamer hostel, super chill and highly recommend you stay there. I dig the people and place is chill. They are fully booked but I'm in luck and they will allow me to crash one of the hammocks. My sleep is rough and I'm exhausted before the day starts. I catch a taxi with a lovely couple, we head to the airport and before I know it I'm in Medellin.
Oh, Medellin the city of eternal spring. This is true, the weather is perfect all the time. Homes sprawling way into the distant mountain side, trees everywhere, and streets busy with shops, people, street vendors. Getting in the city by late afternoon I head out to explore and meet up with friends. Nothing big planned for Medellin, just a stop over before I head to Buga. Waking up to a day full of city touring and my head is killing me, some sickness is starting to set in but I suck it up to face the day. Joined by my friend Layla and my taxi couple. Layla is a travel friend whom I originally met in Guatemala. Meeting up in the metro we head to the cable cars. A cheap way to see far ends of the city. We take the car to the furthest point, the national park. We get off and head out for a little hiking. Making our way around the park for a couple hours. I'm starting to feel like real poo at this point, I can't get enough meds in my life. The group and I part ways, I head right to the pharmacy. Loading up on over the counter drugs, hoping the pain will subside. The next few hours go by fast, soon I'm at the bus station heading out to Buga.
Arriving in Buga around 5am, it's rainy, cold and my sickness has progressed in the wrong direction at this point. Grabbing a taxi to my hostel/volunteer position. Night buses can be rough but what's worse is showing up to your hostel early morning and being locked out in the cold rain while your body begins to shut down. So the next couple hours I did what I had to, passing out on the sidewalk in hopes the hours would pass quickly and I'd be welcomed in by some lovely human. 7am rolls around, I make my way into the hostel feeling worse than ever. The first bed I spot and I collapse. The next day I slept, only waking for a few minutes to get meds and tell the hostel that I'm sick and my fever is not getting better. OMG being sick away from home is the worst!!! This not being my first time getting ill I take the pain like a champ. Now I have no idea what it was that I had, the flu or zika sounded about right. Slowly I regained my strength and energy. Each day I found myself coming back, and began to explore. Working at the brewery in the evenings, hiking and gym during the day. Working at a hostel is nice, you meet so many new faces and spend time traveling together. My time in Buga was filled with gym sessions with my new American/Colombian friend, walks to the parks and local rivers, followed by a day trip to Lake Calima. I really enjoyed finding this place, it was quit, calm and away from the business of the city. The colors are so rich and vibrant. Only costing a few dollars round trip, it's definitely worth the day if your in the area or even close to Cali.
Cali, a city just south of Buga, it is the heart of salsa. I lined up a couch surfing host for the next few days I will be in Cali. City life is not really my thing, but I needed a few days prior to busing it down to Quito. That's another thing, I had no idea if this bus was going to go. I was informed only a day before that there had been riots in the south and no buses were able to pass. So first thing I did was look up flight information. I had a flight from Ecuador to the Galapagos, and this girl wasn't going to miss it. It took and me, with the help of my mom, 2 days to get my flight information straightened out. Cancellation after cancellation and everything was finally set. With the help of my mom and friend from Bogota we worked together to figure shit out. I would fly Cali to Bogota, and Bogota to Quito. I'm going to be honest and tell you Cali is not my favorite. It is a beautiful city full of salsa culture and history, but it's a city. The 2 days I spent in Cali were filled with relaxing by the pool and adventures around the city by my couch surfing host. Going out to local parks, different districts within the city, eating lots of typical food, and salsa to top off the evenings. Salsa really isn't for this girl, but I tried it anyway. I am personally happy watching people spin and twirl in all directions, the way they move is amazing. Time in Cali is short, and I learn that this city wasn't meant for me.
Bogota, arriving late in the evening my couch surfing host was generous enough to meet me at the airport. Waking up to a full day of adventure. I literally had one day to explore the city so I planned to pack everything in. Enjoying breakfast and then heading out to tour the city. Visiting the main churches and town squares. This city is full of color. I'm mesmerized by the art work that blankets the city. Soo to gain more knowledge I hit up the graffiti tour for the afternoon. This tour is donation based, they ask about 20 pesos for a walking tour that last about 3 hours. If your in Bogota, do this tour. I learned so much about the history of the city, the artists in the area, different paint styles, political messages behind the art work and so much more. My mind was blown away. Finishing the tour I joined another American to head to the top of Mount Monserrate that over looks the city. Taking a cable car up the mountain, we are packed in like sardines in a can. This makes me a lil nervous as I'm not a big fan of heights. The top comes quick, I step off in relief. The view is so green, amount the nature that city spreads out into the mountains for miles. Bogota is a city with a population of about 8 million people, HUGE!! My new friend Blake and I grab coffee, take a seat, admiring the view while having a heart to heart.Blake is a beautiful soul and I hope to find him again in the future. He has a flight to catch so we finish up with some good old local arepas. Walking back to the hostel a voice calls out "Katie", and wtf do you know it's my friend Thomas. We met about a week ago in Buga. One of my favorites is criss-crossing paths with friends. Thomas joins us, we part ways with Blake, saying goodbye and wishing my new friend good luck. The feeling to get a new tattoo came over me today, so you know what...that's exactly what Thomas and I set out to do. Well I was getting tattooed, he was coming for support. We wander around checking out different shops and finally come across one with a chill vibe and great price. An hour later, the Golden Ratio is permanently on my arm. We set out for coffee. Finding a quiet place to chill, catch up and exchange future plans. Thomas is heading north, me south. I give him the low down on Central America and all the surf spots. We say, see you soon and plan to keep in touch. Getting back late I pass out immediately, excited to be one day close to the Galapagos.
Morning comes, I slept like shit but know I will make it. I take the local bus to the airport, it takes about an hour to get there so I leave with well over enough time. Only to show up and wait in the check in for 3 hours. I run into a friend from Utila, Eshel. We make it through check in, run through the airport making our plane. I'm hungry and tired, Eshel fills me up with cheese crackers. Better than nothing. Off we were, Quito Ecuador. The flight is short, landing in the evening. Eshel heads out to meet his dad while I am grateful to get a free hotel stay just outside the airport. My friend Dani arrives at night. I make my way to the hotel and try my best to wait for her. I waste time jumping on the big fluffy beds, eating a fat burger, and standing in the double header shower. Omg nothing better than taking a long hot shower and using a clean towel. My attempts to stay awake fail. As soon as my head it the pillow, lights out.
GALAPAGOS here we coming!! Catching breakfast at the hotel, I load up on all the free food I can get. Taking a couple apples and juice for the road. On 2 flights we would be island bound, barefoot in paradise.