On the Up and Up

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We are finally happy. Very happy : ) The first few days after our Lost City hike have been our lowest point yet. The ugliest, most resistant tummy bug found its way inside of our tummies and wreaked havoc for over 2 weeks. 4 courses of medication did not help, and eventually, suspecting something more serious like cholera or dysentry, we headed to the clinic in San Gil (after a charming 18 hour bus ride complete with cramps, nausea and no toilet paper in the toilet). We finally got some decent medication that seems to be doing the job. So after days of eating almost nothing, we are almost brave enough to eat street food again!

Our time in Cartagena was mediocre. It was the first port of entrance for the Spanish. Most of our time there was spent running between the bedroom and the toilet, but we did manage to escape for a few hours to explore the Old City. It is very pretty, the buildings are well preserved and one really gets the feeling you are back in Spain (for those who don´t know, Colombia was a Spanish colony, along with most of South America). Other than the old city, we did not enjoy it that much. Lots of prostitutes and dodgy men line the streets at night.

We are now inland and the contrast is like day and night. Here in San Gil, there are green rolling hills, friendly people, safe streets and lots to do! We have enjoyed our time here - the hostel was very friendly, with a kitchen that made it feel homely. We met lots of great people, enjoyed some quiet walks around quaint villages nearby and enjoyed some food and ice cream at the local restaurants. We splashed out (excuse the pun) and spent a day white water rafting (up to grade 5 rapids) too, good fun! Ah yes, and we tasted the local delicacy here - fried ants! Crunchy, a bit burnt, but on the whole not too bad. And how could we forget - we joined a local for a game of ´tego´: this involves throwing a heavy disc at a slab of mud with pockets of dynamite in the centre. Hitting the dynamite gets you 3 points (as well as the pleasure of watching everyone jump at the bang!), while landing the closest to the centre gets you 1 point. We had a nail biting finish but unfortunately lost to the team with the local!

Our final evening here will be spent having a braai with new hostel friends and then getting on the midnight bus to Bogota, the capital of Colombia. We will be travelling with 2 new friends - Olivia and Beat.

What we miss most:
Not having to worry whether certain foods will make us sick or not

Highlight:
The change in atmosphere between the Caribbean Coast and San Gil

Lowlight:
Tummy bug!!! Especially getting sick again after thinking we were on the road to improving.

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Photos

Cartagena
One of the plazas

Cartagena
Typical street

San Gil
The valley coming into San Gil

Curiti
A small village near San Gil. The main church

San Gil
The main church at San Gil

San Gil
The main plaza

White water rafting
The only pic we have to prove we were there!

Hormigas!
Eating an ant - they are huge!

Barichara
Another quaint town near San Gil

Comments

[Alice]

Hello thre you precious couple!! Oh i love hearing from you and reading abot all the happenings good bad and sad and everything inbetween, its kinda amazig I can hear your voice as I read and miss you so much!! Looooooots of stuff happening on the this side of the waters.... will have to see and hear when you get back! Look after yourselves, and I keep praying Gods protection over you and that you are touching as many if not more lives than you wanted to or did or did not plan to xxxx Alice

[Michelle]

Hmmm... The ants look so delicious and crunchy! :) And the landscapes breathtaking! Thanks for the updates...

[African Amy]

ant killer!!!
At least I never ate them.... !

[Rick]

Looks amazing!
Hey guys, this really does make for interesting reading - Pippa, I really had to chuckle when it came to the stomach bug and no loo paper...you always like to be ORGANISED! You also mentioned that your last evening would be with hostel friends and having a braai -apart from the ants, what is the meat like? Well no matter what rough times you guys may encounter, do something like this together "braving the big unknown" will be in thoughts forever ...think about it, was is the chances of doing it again? Enjoy guys, and stay safe!

[Derek]

Hershley Squirts and all that
Hi P and M, wow, you really seem to be winning on the downside of backpacking. But your villages sound interesting and look picturesque, and your hiking sounds like a good challenge, not to mention the most peculiar game I've heard of...?.... Might have to have a look myself some time. I hope you are at least having fun more often then not. When in doubt, drink beer. How are the other travellers? And the locals? Any interesting music or books? Be good, Derek