COLUMBIA, THE CARRIBEAN COAST

Hola everyone,

So, where was I...just heading to the Carribean coast of Columbia I think.

This was my favourtite part of Columbia. The laid back attitude, the friendly people, the lush food and of course the sea!

CARTAGENA - TOO HOT FOR PUTA´S!
When I stepped off the plane in Cartagena the HUGE difference in humidity meant I was sweating like Fern Cotton climbing Mount Fuji. Cartagena seems to have no breeze, so I think if the Spanish didn´t store so much gold here then the pirates would have stayed away from the searing heat. However, due to its prosperity they did, and after Sir Francis Drake took the city for a ransom of 200 million US dollars (todays equivalent) in 1586 the Spanish invested in a huge wall surrounding the entire city. The city now stands majestically on Cartagena Bay, crammed with colourful colonial buildings, along cobbled streets and overlooked by grand balconies. Pablo, a Columbian friend from back home, and I tried to view as much as possible, but without a cold beer it proved impossible. We stopped for one at lunch in the beautiful Plaza Santa Domingo and remained there until dusk when we were invited to a fashion show under the city gate. Miss Columbia was there!!! That would make any man´s day - trust me!

I´ve been weighing up whether to put this next part in or not for hours, but screw it...

In the mood for dancing we began chatting to 3 columbian girls in the bar. While they were having their caricatures done (weird), they told us they were on holiday from southerly Cali. As Cali is the Salsa capital of Columbia I was expecting to improve my amatuer moves somewhat on the dancefloor. "Let´s go dancing!" Upon entry the doorman told us it was couples only, despite letting uneven groups in all night. Pablo, now on a mission, insisted on speaking to the manager, who told him "if the doorman won´t let you in, then there is a problem." About 10mins later, Pablo emerged from the crowds to tell me we were leaving, NOW! We made our excuses to the girls and headed for the hostel. It was only on the way back that I learned what the doorman and manager said to him..."those girls are working! I´ve seen them here before. They are Puta´s! (b****es!)" Oops!

Other Rum induced madness included trying to teach Salsa and Tango to some Swiss, despite not knowing what the f**k I am doing myself and then going to Volcan de Tulum in the morning. We were both hammered and "as is normal here," Pablo ordered a 9am beer for the both of us. The volcano is 28 metres high...not that impressive hey? Until you learn that you can get in it! The volcano bubbles mineral enriched mud up from decaying matter 2.5km beneath the surface, which strangely allows you to float on top - weightless. Weird looking dudes push you around and then give you a 10 min massage, before their wives/girlfriends/daughters/grandmas strip you NAKED in the lake and wash you down. Very very very funny when you are drunk as a skunk!

SANTA MARTA AND TAGANGA
Leaving a day late from Cartagena we made it to Santa Marta where we were treated to free burgers, sampled some fine Columbia Aguardiente (like Sambuca but smoother), learned some Merengue (yet another dance) and ate pan de queso with possibly the best drink I have ever tasted, Pony Malta - kind of like Coke and Horlicks in the same glass! Trust me!

Then I was introduced to Taganga...a little town lying in a small bay, encased by lush green mountains and facing the setting sun. Fisherman return every evening with a boat load of fish, locals relax outside the many shops and on the seafront, and we tourists soak it all up with a BIG fat smile. Days pass here without your notice. I wasnt the 1st and I certainly won´t be the last to get caught up here partying every night with the locals in a rooftop bar named Sensations!!

CIUDAD PERDIDA - WALKING BACK IN TIME
After Pablo left it was time to get off the booze and partying and into some exercise. I signed up for the 5 day trek to Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City) deep in the jungle. Our group of 8 drove to a small town called Machete Pelea, strangely meaning "Machete Fight," where we packed up our bags ready for the wet 5 days ahead. Within 15 mins we crossed a river up to our knees and got drenched up to our waist. Then the rain poured and we got drenched from the waist up too! Welcome to the rainforest! As we trekked through the dense jungle we stopped for refreshing swims in the river, washed the thick mud from our legs and took relief from the relentless mosquitoes!!! Why do they even exist??!! We even had the pleasure of sleeping in hammocks every night alongside the gushing river and the noisy animal life surrounding us. One of the guides was a 20 year old dare devil...not wanting to let him show me up, I followed him as he crossed a fast flowing river by diving across the current from big rocks then swimming frantically to the next. It certainly gets your heart going when there is 50metres of white water just down river!

On the 4th day, after climbing 1200 steps we finally reached the incredible Tayrona built city flanked by mountains and a huge waterfall. Predictably more mozzy´s waited for us at the entrance, but the lost city built between 700 AD and 1200 AD provided a welcome distraction. Its fantastic to think that it laid here for 100s of years, absent from the worlds view until 1975 when it was discovered with the help of the indigenous groups living here.

MISS AND HIT AT PARQUE TAYRONA
Exhausted from the trek and hearing of fantastic beaches, 4 of us went for a relaxing few days in Parque Tayrona - 1 hour from Taganga. We ended up next door at Los Angeles beach due to a ridiculously priced entrance fee, but were not dissapointed. Sharing the long white sand beach with about 10 others, we ate and drank fresh coconuts, slept in hammocks (again!) and laughed til we cried - mainly due to Mauricio´s (Argentine) fascination and hilarious views on a strutting blackbird! It couldn´t have been a more perfect 2 nights as we fell asleep watching a lightning storm at sea on night one and counting shooting stars on the second.

So that´s the end of Columbia, a place I will definitely be returning to. If you haven´t been then buy a plane ticket ASAP!

The very eventful sailing trip to San Blas and Panama to come...

Hasta luego,
Will

PS. My memory card converter is busted, so I can´t put any of the pictures up from Columbia at the moment. If I get a new one then they will be up as soon as I can, if not then after I get back!