CAMPIONES!!!!

I have spent the last two days in Barranquilla with Juanky (aka Papauchi), Cesar, Edgar and all their crazy and welcoming friends: William, Mario, Fabio, Yolima, Taty y mas!! I had to come back to Barranquilla to hang out with them-they are hysterical and so much fun!!

From South America

They had their championship soccer game on Saturday night and they put the other team to shame with a score of 4-0. I don`t know a lot about soccer but it was very fun to watch and there was very vocal and active participation from the fans. Papauchi`s mother kept screaming, "Tiralo el gordito" (take the fat player out of the game) to a player on the other team. Everyone was screaming at the players and carrying on.

From South America

The guys were all so excited after the game and we started drinking the liter of aguardiente, a belated birthday present for Papauchi, in the parking lot outside the stadium. The party continued on the guys` street. Cumbia, salsa, champeta, porro, vallenato y mas. Lots of dancing and laughing on the block until around 3AM, when it started to torrentially rain. We moved the party inside and I was up until 5:30 or so dancing with Papauchi, Cesar and Fabio.

From South America

When I woke up at 10:30 the next morning, all the guys were outside of Papauchi`s house starting round two. I got a huge round of applause from all the crazies as I came out of the house. We eventually had to move the party back to the street because of a noise complaint and a visit from the local police. We hung out all day outside laughing and joking around.

I am feeling pretty good today despite the two days of fiestas but the guys are hurting this morning (they dont know how to pace themselves). Papauchi and Cesar helped me arrange my bus ticket to Bogota this afternoon at 4PM. They will take me to the terminal later on in the day.

I have had such a great time with these guys. They have made me feel so welcome, have really taken care of me and have showed me a wonderful time. Even their families have been so kind and generous. They opened up their homes to me and I will be forever grateful. Cesar and Papauchi plan on coming to NYC at the end of this year and I have been insisting that my home is their home and they have to stay with me. However, in all honesty, I think some of the guys` friends who are ladies will be happy to see La Gringa go- they have been pretty cold with me and they just keep asking me when I am going to leave. But a few have been really friendly to me, like Taty, Laura and Yolima.

Well, the gringa takes off today for Bogota.

Besos
Barranquilla te quiero mucho!!

2 Free Nights in a Luxury Hotel. WTF?!?

Isla Grande, Islas De Rosario, Colombia:

Free accomodations, drinks, food, kayaking, banana-boating...
Great company
Swimming in phosphorescent lagoons
Room Service
Sun
Fun
Tranquila

Some stories need to be told in person.

Going out dancing tonight in Cartagena with my new friends from Isla Grande

Besos,
Mamauchi

And did I mention I got another marriage proposal?

My Colombian name is Mamauchi

Went to Tayrona National Park 2 days ago. I met a friendly family from Bogota on the micro (small public bus) that took us from the entrance of the park to the start of the hike. The National Park is a string of beautiful beaches that is accessible by hiking through the jungle. I walked through the jungle with Sonia Esperanza, the mother, and her 20 year old son Juan David. Juan David and I swam in the Caribbean Ocean and Sonia was very maternal with me.

From South America

I stupidly brought my hefty back pack so it was a strenuous and exhausting 3 hour hike to the pristine beach Cabo San Juan de La Guia. It was at the beachs camping site that a group of 4 Colombians invited me to join them to drink some agardiente, a popular anis-flavored spirit. We hung out on the beach and I learned how to dance vallenato. They are a funny group and really made me feel welcome. They gave me a spot in their tent so I did not have to sleep in my rented hammock, which is a mosquitos paradise. One of them drunkenly proposed to me before he passed out (he has since retracted the invitation).

From South America

Yesterday, they invited me to their hometown on Baranquilla, an industrial port city and the fourth largest in Colombia. The hike back to their car was much less difficult as the guys insisted on carrying my 10 kilo back pack for me. Ah chivalry! After stopping by one of their parents summer homes in Santa Marta to shower and have lunch after Tayrona, we arrived in Baranquilla around 6:30. I met Cesar and Edgars family, as well as Juan Carlos. We ate Colombian fast food then went to a salsa club. They gave me the nickname Mamauchi. We drank a lot of aguardiente and stayed up late, laughing, dancing and carrying on.

From South America

I stayed at Andres apartment last night, which is a typical bachelor pad- he does not like to clean. Today the guys are going to show me around the city before I head to Cartagena. They have been wonderful hosts. As I am writing, Andres is preparing a big breakfast.

I Love Colombia!!

From South America

Quito for 12 Hours

Flor picked me up at the airport and gave me an unbelievably comfortable bed to sleep in. We stayed up late chatting and laughing before we both passed out, exhausted from our long day.

From South America

In the morning, I walked all over the Old Town. Quito is a beautiful city. Although, there is a noticeable amount of pollution. Surrounded by mountains with colorful homes scattered on the crests, it is the second highest city in the world. It took a lot out of me to climb up the hills. The Quitenos are also very friendly. Maybe the friendliest I have encountered so far in South America. I had a 20 minute conversation with the couple who owned the juice stand by the Iglesia de Santo Domingo. Looking forward to returning some day.

From South America

Living it Up in Lima

After a 26-hour bus ride that was supposed to take 18 hours, I finally arrived in Lima, Peru at 9PM this evening. I was actually 35 hours in transit as I started my journey from Copacabana, Bolivia earlier that day at 1PM! Considering how long I was on the bus, the ride was pretty pleasant. There was an adorable 2 year old child that I played football with. Everytime he kicked the ball, he yelled GOAL!!! I sat next to a Colombian man who I at first abhorred because he snored through the night. But Edwin turned out to be quite pleasant and invited me to dinner with his friends when I visit Bogota. I read and wrote a lot and watched the film The Mechanic for the second time on this trip. I ate lunch with an Argentine named Javier who has lived all over South America, Europe and in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. I have a tentative plan to have lunch with him tomorrow. He lived in Lima for a few years and suggested we go to his favorite Chinese restaurant in Lima tomorrow afteroon.

From South America

As for my one evening in Peru, not on a bus that is, I have treated myself to a night at the Gran Hotel Bolivar, a colonial style luxury hotel in Plaza San Martin, right in the heart of Central Lima (Remember when we stayed there, Dad, and my eye puffed up and you almost made me leave South America early?). As they had no more single rooms available, I was upgraded to a matrimonial suite. I have a huge living room, an equally enormous bathroom, a comfortable queen sized bed, hot water and cable TV. Also- there is a balcony that overlooks the Plaza. Quite luxurious for $65. This is my hotel splurge of the trip. After I finish using the free internet in the lobby, I am going to take a long hot shower and fall asleep watching a movie. I can´t remember the last time I had a really hot shower. Or a TV. Or a quiet and clean room. Or stayed by myself.

Plan to walk around Central Lima tomorrow before I catch my flight to Quito tomorrow night at 9:46PM. Plan to see my sisters friend during my 13 hour layover in Quito.

From the drive into Lima, the city seems to have alreay made significant changes in the last four years, the last time I was here. It has a municipal bus system. The Plaza San Martin is much more developed with high-end chain stores, a more modern movie theatre and many more neon lights.

From South America

Challa Beach, Bolivia

From South America

Chad and I just spent two amazing days at Challa Beach on La Isla Del Sol in Bolivia. We stayed in a quiet guesthouse that we heard about from a Brazilian guy named Daniel we met in Copacabana. We told him we would see him there the following day and ran into him on the ferry to the island. We all walked to the tranquil and beautiful beach that was away from the tourist trail. The owners, Jorge, Nelson and Maria were so friendly and helpful. I loved playing with Nelson and Maria´s precious 1 year old daughter named Cielo. Nelson was a great cook and I was well-fed each meal. We ended each evening playing cards, drinking wine and having amazing conversations until the wee hours of the morning.

We swam in the spiritually purifying Lago de Titicaca, the world´s highest lake.
We rented a row boat and explored the neighboring capes and coves.
We had lots of table quizzes- long story.
We hiked up to the nearest vantage point to watch the sunset.
I made a great new friend, Daniel.
I read, laughed, had my palm read and created wonderful memories.

Tomorrow I will cross the border into Peru and take a 24 hour bus to Lima so I can catch my flight to Santa Marta, Colombia.

The chapter of traveling with friends closes tonight. Having dinner with Chad and El Cactus and I begin the next chapter, traveling by myself, tomorrow. A little nervous but extremely excited!!

Besos

Biking Down The World´s Most Dangerous Road

From South America

Yesterday I biked 65 km down the world´s most dangerous road. We started in La Cumbre at 8AM at 4,700 m. Over the next few hours, I descended over 3,600m to the town of Yolosa. The second half of the journey was on a narrow, one-lane gravel road that had some pretty sharp turns. Amazing ride. A real adrenaline rush and made it back in one piece.