Columbia!

I am sitting here watching the most amazing sunsest from the second floor of a wooden hut in Taganga, Colmubia.  Pretty amazing.  I'm actually at a place that is significantly more than a little hut and it belongs to a very cool guy named Hugo.  I should probably start by telling you how we got here.  It all started back in Bogota where Towe and I flew in the same day to meet up.  It was a gloomy Sunday and also the day before a major holiday but we managed to meet up at the specified hostel which had been recomended.  It was great to see him and have a chat about all the things back home and adventures.  Since Monday was a holiday we were only able to get into the art museum which houses many Botero pieces.  It was very cool but the city was very wierd.  The streets were empty, the plazas were empty and all the restaurants were closed.  We then took the elevator up to the church on the hill but basically ended up in the clouds with not much of a view.  We did have our first Aguardiente up there which is basically an black licorice type alcohol.  That afternoon it started to rain very hard and then hale for a moment.  I didn't realize the alititude of Bogota and that the weather would be this way.  I was ready for heat and so was Towe.  We decided at that moment to fly to Cartagena the following day and get to a beach on the Carribean coast as soon as possible.  We finished the day with a little research at a local brewery.  Nothing too exciting to report. 

We got up early the next morning to see the Gold Museum which is highly recomended.  Both museums are actually but this one is astonishing.  It was on the walk there and back when we realized there really was a pulse in the city.  People were out, shops were open and the plazas had things happening.  I felt like we saw the sites of Bogota but didn't really get to experience the people.  It was nice but we had no problem once we landed in Cartagena.

The weather was warm and a little humid but felt great after the cold of Bogota.  We went to a recomended hostel which happened to be amazing due to the rooftop patio, pool and vibe.  After check-in we dropped our bags and explored the old city within the old walls.  It was very cool colonial and european feeling.  There is a ceviche spot that Anthony Bourdain visited while here so we decided to check out.  It was obviously ridiculously expensive now but well worth it.  Very expensive but amazingly delish ceviche.  Such a light flavor with dill and mint.  The evening was mellow around town.  We checked a few places but not much was going on.  There is also a seedy side of Cartagena with people selling their goods on many streets, especially later in the evening.  There was also a pretty serious police presence though so I never really felt too threatened.

Since the week was early we decided to head out to Playa Branca and hang on the beach for a few.  This is a beach near Cartagena that most people only visit for the day to swim and enjoy but there are several places you can rent tents that are fully equipped or hammocks.  We rented hammocks at a very cool spot and immidiatly fell into the slow rythm of the beach life. Those days were filled with peace and tranquility.  We would always get great rest in the hammocks then wake up to breakfast and a walk or swim then lounging in the sun, maybe snorkeling or maybe playing cards....just totally enjoying the beautiful water and beach.  No internet and most meals cooked over a wood stove.  Needless to say, by the time we left 4 days later we had become friends with the whole beach community.  We bounced back to Cartagena but decided to push on directly to Santa Marta for the Saturday night festivities. The boat to the taxi to the two buses to the other taxi was exhausting but we ended in Santa Marta and got ready to see the nightlife.  The clubs recomended both in the books and by friends were by far the best.  We went straight to La Puerta and didn't leave till the end of the night.  Great spot with a crowded small dancefloor and back patio.

Saturday we decided to check out the small village outside of Santa Marta called Toganga......that was 1 week ago!