Blogs from Medellin, Colombia, South America - page 25

Day 1 (Saturday) - I made it to the Casa Kiwi (my hostel) around 8:30. I quickly showered and changed as I was hoping to catch some dinner and a group heading out that I could tag along with. The shower was my dirtiest thus far and I was glad to have shower shoes (flip flops). For dinner, I grabbed a sandwhich at a place two doors down that was too expensive but pretty good and convenient. I came back and joined a group sitting on the patio. There was Steven (Irishman who is working in Bogota), Rolf (Dutchman traveling for 10 months) and his Australian girlfriend Michelle (who has been traveling for 5 months). Soon James, a friend visiting Steven from Ireland, came out and replaced Steven. When Steven came back out, they were off ... read more

Hi guys! I am in a fabulous hostel called Casa Kiwi in Medellin with internet right outside my door...too easy! So here are the photos from a while ago when I had to travel for 2 very long and difficult days from Ciudad Bolivar in the far South of Venezuela to Caracas and then to Maracaibo on my way to Colombia. I was so lucky to make some friends on the bus who saved me from a potentially disastrous night in the yucky bus terminal. They were so amazing and took such good care of me...as though I was their little sister. So sweet! I love meeting truly good people. :)... read more

I spent a blissful 4 days and 3 nights in this national park on the northern coast of Colombia....just near the border with Venezuela and outside of the city of Santa Marta. It is an absolutely beautiful place that I enjoyed greatly for so many reasons. It is on the coast just a few hours from Cartagena. I took a 5 am bus from Cartagena to Santa Marta. I was supposed to get off the bus there and then take a taxi to the local bus station to find a buseta to the entrance of the park. Lucky for me, my bus driver liked me, so instead of leaving me to find my way alone, he told me to just stay on the bus, sit up front in the cabin with him, and he took me ... read more

Well I finally made it to Colombia! After nearly 30 hours of flying I was relieved when I got to the hostal and saw my very comfy looking double bed waiting for me! But sleeping would have to wait. There were heaps of people to meet and greet first... the hostal is full of Americans Brits and Aussies. I met a girl from Wales who is also volunteering at the same orphanage as me and she said it was great fun with the kids but also a bit sad. I will be starting there on monday. I'm meeting licorice all sorts! Most of the Americans are crazy and very opinionated. I'm actually stuck talking to this American guy who is complaining about everything!!! He is driving me nuts and I cant get away (there's only so ... read more

I´ve composed myself differently on this trip.After more than a few incidents where my Negrocity has been put on the heated front burner, I thought I was pretty well steeled against what had been anything from innocuous to blatant racism.We´ll just say Medellin put this to a leetle bit of a test.Medellin: Home of the Beautiful CaucasiansWith the promise of great nightlife and civic beauty, I´d headed to Medellin with Rob, a musclebound Canadian who was visiting from Ireland, with high hopes of...well...seeing pretty stuff and partying a bit.While the city wasn´t exactly Florence, it had quite a bit of charm with ample greenspace and a lively air. After the horrors of the Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Cartel (over 40,000 policmen killed), the Mayor has made great strides to turn the city around and, in ... read more