From Colombia to Ecuador...on bus :-/

So I am entirely sick of riding on buses. Maryanne and I made a 50 hour bus trip from Taganga, Colombia to Quito, stopping for one night in Bogota. I really like the city of Bogota and wish we could have made a longer stay, but we only had a day and a night. We explored the city a bit and found a very pretty but pigeon infested town square surrounded by architecture ranging from Greek style to very modern day. We also went a free art museum of Fernanado Botero´s work, he like to depict his subjects as extremely fat, click here if you want to see his work.

At night we went out with some people we met from the Hostel, the Platypus, a 30 year old Spanish woman and 37 year old Colombian. I´ve found that I am frequently the youngest traveler, expect the 37 year old did have a 22 year old girlfriend. Maybe I´ve been setting my sights too young and should be looking for a boyfriend 15 years my elder...kidding!
Speaking of boyfriends...why does every Latin American man/boy think it is appropriate to always ask ¿Tienes un novio? as the second or third question in a conversation? (you all thought I was going to say I met someone, didn´t you?) I´ve begun answering this question in the affirmative, by making up an all-caring, non jealous, understanding boyfriend who is too busy studying or working to come travel with me. I find this answer puts the conversation in my control and stops any further come-ons, for the most part.

Here are some photos from random points on our trip:

In Cartagena

First Motorcycle ride

Our creepy military friend who we met on the way up to the Lost City

With Miguel, our guide, in the Lost City

Maryanne in the Lost City

The Lost City

Maryanne and I have made it back from our 6 day hike, safe and mostly sound! Along with a few scratches and many bug bites, we had a great time with our small group, consisting of a Dutch man named Hans and 2 Colombian brothers, Diego and Miguel who were our cook and guide for the week. I had the pleasure of being called both angelito (angel) and la fea (the ugly) all week by the 19 and 21 year old brothers. Some of the highlights of the trip were the natural spring swimming spots, beautiful and lush mountain views during our uphill hikes and of course the Lost City--if you are interested in finding out more about the lost city look here. I also enjoyed my first motorcycle ride up on a rocky mountain rode, up to the town of Machete, yes like the large knife, for the beginning of our hike. I was a bit tentative about being on the back of the cycle at first and I shamelessly clutched my driver, William the mathematician, around the waist. My ride down on the sixth day went much smoother. I´ll post pictures later, I must now go rest my very tired legs and slightly sore back.

Here are some photos...finally!


Yes Dad, that is a "number 7" plastic water bottle

An Arhuaco village (click for Wikipedia info)

Same village with our guide, Miguel

Nice view during a break in our trek

Swim break, there was a nice waterfall behind the rocks

The thousands of stairs we climbed up to reach the city

I wasn't quite a fan of the bathroom facilities in the ruins

Waterfalls in the Lost City

Great view during our hike

From a city to a pueblo

We just arrived in Taganga and are staying in a very full and well equipped hostel called Casa de Felipe, the beds are even comfy. We had a great couple of nights in Cartagena where we were the only and first guests in a brand new hostel being opened by a young Colombian and his American girlfriend.

The highlight of our stay in this city was definitely our trip to a mud volcano, called Vólcan on Saturday. We got to spend a relaxing hour in the mud and had fresh fish for lunch. It was probably the cheapest mud bath I´ll ever receive. We met some friends there, as seen in the pics, Sarah from New Zealand and Mercedes from Argentina and went out with them another American and a local named Roni that night. Roni taught me how to dance Cartagena style, he gave me an 8 out of 10 on my skills but I think he was just being nice. We had a great night filled with Colombian beer, navy officers and a lot of walking.

Tonight we are meeting up with Sarah again for a BBQ with some other New Zealanders and tomorrow we have and early morning of scuba diving. On Wednesday we are heading off for a 6 day hike to La Cuidad Perdida, so stay tuned from what is bound to be an exciting post in a week or so.

The climb up the mud volcano

Hostel Life in Cartagena, Columbia

About an hour after landing in Cartagena I had the opportunity to see how backpacking hostels work first hand. They are loud, hot (but I suppose that is a regional thing) and not the cleanest places in the world. When our first choice of a hostel was filled, Maryanne and I went down the street to Hostel Holiday and were escorted to two rooms, very crowded with beds and belongings and shown our beds, in different rooms! I was not ready to trek out on my own in this unknown world of backpackers and asked for beds in the same room and luckily got my wish as were were whisked upstairs to a more empty room. After walking around the city for a bit we made our way back to the hostel to read and relax for a bit while deciding whether or not to go out. While trying to ignore the heat and reading our books, Maryanne and I where quickly approached by some New Zealanders who had organized a group to go out on a chifla, or party bus with musicians and all you can drink rum. Don´t worry Mom, we didn´t end up going because we were so exhausted from traveling, a decision I sort of regret. But these New Zealanders showed me how inviting the backpacking culture is, and I´m very excited for the interesting travelers Maryanne and I are bound to meet on the way.

Rain in Panama

After the whirlwind of graduation, moving, a small bought of tonsillitis and some fun-filled days in Tequesta, FL, I´m not quite sue I have been the most exciting travel companion for my sister thus far. But Maryanne has understood and tolerated a few laid back days and nights in Panama City. I can´t say that I have fallen in love with the city. It is quite large and busy, with a couple of interesting blocks that make up the "Antique Quarters" and extremely colorful and creatively painted buses driving throughout (my favorite was the bus covered in Star Was scenes, focusing on Yoda).
Leaving the city for the day, Maryanne and ferried out to la Isle de Tobago, a charming and very abandoned island village with some very nice and isolated beaches. After surviving a sudden rainstorm (we wisely came to this country during the rainy season) on the beach under a makeshift shelter of a stolen umbrella, for which we were later chastised, we enjoyed a very relaxing day on the beach.

The previous day Maryanne and I went to the infamous Panama Canal. It´s locks systems were very impressive and huge, but while I would have enjoyed spending only about 20 minutes watching the boats come in, my civil engineering sister was happy staying for hours at the Canal.
During this brief stay in Panama City, I also got my first view of the Pacific Ocean!! Here is the documentation in the 'antique' part of town: