http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Fatima-R/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Fatima R en-us Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:38:03 +0000 Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:38:03 +0000 8th August11th August NYC USAAfter nearly 9 months of travelling our final stop was New York I was so excited as so many films have been filmed here and I wanted to reanact all the places Macaulay Culkin had visited in Home Alone 2 and also Hitch with Will Smith Not keen on getting the old Greyhound again we were told we could get a 'Chinese Bus' So we headed to China Town where you can http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/blog-432060.html 4th Aug7th Aug Washington USA.I was sad to leave the dugan lifestyle their carefree laidback lives suited me We were making our way up the east coast of the states to Washington DC I was really excited to do the tourist thing and go site seeing Id almost convinced myself Id get to do the tour inside the white huse and meet Obama but I wasnt on the waiting list We took another Greyhound c http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Washington/blog-429567.html 31st July 3rd August Raleigh North CarolinaWe left Miami and headed to North Carolina on a 10 hour bus journey where we were meeting up with a friend we had met in Buenos Aires in Argentina on the TEFL course. We got a Greyhound bus which is the only bus company that runs throughout the east coast. They are definitely NOT famous for their comfort or service But as most Americans drive gas guz http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Raleigh/blog-428733.html 29th31st July Miami USA.We were flying out of Baranquilla in the north of Colombia as it was cheaper than flying out of the capital. We'd arrived in the town the day before we were leaving to make sure we werent late getting to the airport. What a mistake that was It is an awful place There is literally nothing there except for dirt pollution and prostitutes. We had walked around looking f http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Miami/blog-428720.html 24th July Parque Tayrona ColombiaFor breakfast that morning we were waiting for our chocolate bread even before thay were ready. After a few hours of dark clouds the sun came out and we went to explore the other beaches. Tayrona is spectacular because the beaches are not artificial or dirty. You have to do many hikes through the jungle and under big rocks before you arrive at white sands clear http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Santa-Marta/Parque-Nacional-Tayrona/blog-422075.html 23rd July Parque Tayrona ColombiaAfter a night of broken sleep we woke up at 6am and thankfully had no bites Getting to te communal showers was like an assault course. You had to balance yourself across pipes over sewage with insects below.. All this while being attacked by mosquitos. We had heard about a local Panaderia bakery which was supposed to be delicious. We arrived just as he was t http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Santa-Marta/Parque-Nacional-Tayrona/blog-422049.html 22nd July Parque Tayrona ColombiaAfter 4 days in Santa Marta we were headin to Parque Tayrona. We woke up early to go to the supermarket and stock up on some supplies cereal bars peanuts and crackers We then headed across town towards the market which was like a carnival to catch the bus to the park. The bus took about an hour and dropped us off next to a few old shopsshacks. At the entran http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Santa-Marta/Parque-Nacional-Tayrona/blog-422046.html Santa Marta Colombia 1821st JulyWe left Cartagena for Santa Marta north east along the coast. We arranged a pick up van with the hostel for 37000 about 10 pounds each which would take about 4 hours. The drive is relatively straightforward and its direct so no wasting timeWhen we arrived at Santa Marta we drove past a screen showing 39 degrees It was boiling hot the hottest temperature http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Santa-Marta/blog-422039.html 15th July Playa Blanca ColombiaI awoke around 6.30am before any of the locals and went to take a few pictures of Jake asleep in his hammock. I hated mine as it was hot and sweaty and damp I really needed the bathroom but was not tempted to go in the shack around the back as I didnrsquot like the insects around my feet so went in the sea When the local policeman walked past me I had to http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Cartagena/blog-419195.html 14th July Playa Blanca ColombiaAs usual I slept through two alarms so I got up late. As a result we had only 45 minutes to get up and dressed and go and get provisions for our night on Playa Blanca. We made it in time though and found seats on the upper deck of the boat. Sat in front of us were two people we had met in Mendoza whilst we were doing our bicycle tour of the wineries. After debating http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Cartagena/blog-419194.html 13th July Cartagena ColombiaAfter falling ill with food poisoning the previous 72hours we'd not been able to do much around the city. But after 23 days of nothing but ritz crackers I thought sod it I need some proper food The weather in Cartagena is beautiful its extremely humid but theres always a breeze near the sea Old town where we've been staying is full of tourists. Its narrow str http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Cartagena/blog-418280.html 7th July Cartagena ColombiaI woke Jake up early at 6.30am to head out to the beach The weather here is fantastic all morning usually 30 degrees at 8 in the morning and then gets cloudy about midday for a few hours but still very high humidity. The beaches here are beautiful there is a long stretch of them on the caribbean coast Its absolutely boiling but not too busy which was a nic http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Cartagena/blog-416547.html 6th July Cartagena ColombiaWe flew from Medellin in Colombia to Baranquilla in the north yesterday as it is cheaper to fly here if you want to be in the north in comparison to flying to Cartagena. The flight was only an hour and 20minutes so I was glad we didnt have to get the long bus trip through the winding roads again From Baranquilla which was a dump and really dirty we with alot of d http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Cartagena/blog-415973.html 1st July Medellin Colombia We watched Andy Murray win this morning People at Hostel del Sol seem quite nice. The cleaner is hilarious she washes your clothes for 6000 pesos 1.80 we only found this out after walking round the city for 2 hours in the sun with all our washing like tramps trying to find someone to wash them only to return to the hostel and get told that theres a washing mach http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Medellin/blog-414270.html 29th June Villa de Leyva a Medellin ColombiaWe got up early in order to make sure we didnt miss the bus Medellin. We wanted to make the bus trip during the day as we'd read on the net that the roads werent very good and that it would be through mountains. It brought back memories of the terrible bus journeys we got through Ecuador and Peru where the drivers are doing 80mph round blind spots on http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Medellin/blog-413678.html 28th June Villa de Leyva ColombiaThe town was having a festival this weekend. The cost of all the hostels went up from maybe 30000 pesos per night to 6070000 pesos But our hostel was a dump It was under heavy construction and was really noisy all day because of the builders. There was also never any hot water so I think the owner knew she couldnt charge us what the other hostels charge on http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Villa-de-Leyva/blog-413675.html 27th June Villa de LeyvaIn our neverending efforts to save money we chose to buy breakfast from the supermarket. Colombia was alot more expensive than we thought the cost of a hostel was basically half of our daily budget.We ended up with tasteless croissants and a yogurt each. We also stocked up on some high energy food as we going to go on a hike from the town of Villa de Leyva to a waterfall http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Villa-de-Leyva/blog-413663.html 26th June Villa de LeyvaI was woken up by what I thought was a storm I thought I heard people saying there was a storrm coming and there was loads of banging so I thought they were boarding up the windows. Terrified I woke Jake who just laughed at my crazy imagination. When I walked out of the room I realised the 'storm' I thought I heard and the 'boarding up of windows' was the builders work http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Villa-de-Leyva/blog-413662.html 25th June. Bogota a Villa de LeyvaNot that impressed with Bogota and its weather we decided to leave We thought we'd get the Transmilenio which is supposed to be one of the fastest and cheapest ways of getting around. A single tickets costs 1500 pesos about 35p but the bus system is really difficult to understand. We kept getting on them and the transmilenio would just zoom past our stop http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Bogota/blog-413661.html 24th June Bogota ColombiaMuch like the previous day we spent the morning booking some flights and planning our next few days. Back at the hostel I couldnt believe it when a small skinny guys walked into the place wearing what looked like a costume out of Harry Potter. He was wearing a huge cone head shaped purple hat and a purple cloak He was obviously a breed of hippie I have never se http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Bogota/blog-412001.html