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Published: July 28th 2011
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Buenos noches from San Gil, Central Colombia. We've been residing in the fab Hostel Santander Aleman for a few days now and feel like we've notched up enough material for blog entry numero uno (ignoring Olie's previous rambles). So, here goes...
20/07/11 - After a suprise stay at the newly renovated St Pancras International Hotel, we took the tube to Heathrow and boarded flight BA115. Finally on our way! 6.5 hours later we landed at JFK, New York and were greeted by the US security procedures...8 finger prints, 2 thumb prints, 1 mug shot and a sniffer dog check later we were free to go.
The Gershwin Hotel, Manhatten was an excellent choice for a NY budget hotel...great location close to Madison Square Park and quirky, spatious rooms. Dumped backpacks and ate a Vietnamese takeaway on a park bench in Union Square, next to the resident tramp. First impressions of NY were great...very much a high rise city. Beautiful buildings and generally a great atmosphere.
21/07/11 - Woke way too early! Walked up through Chelsea, over to the meatpacking disctrict in search of the innovative 'High Line' - a park on a stretch of disused railway line. The
park is elevated above street level, with views of the Hudson River to the west and Manhatten to the north and east. The railway was originally devised in the 30's to eliminate street level train crossings to Lower Manhatten. The trains carried meat, produce, dairy etc from warehouses and factories. It was a vital part of the industrial landscape, but as truck transportation grew more and more popular, the use of the High Line declined. Made our way back via beautiful Greenwich Village - leafy streets with gorgeous town houses and a restuarant or cafe on the corner of every block. Stifling heat (35C+) so after a quick rest in Washington Sqaure (next to NY Uni) we caught the air-conditioned subway (Borris...note AIR CON!) to Central Park and lazed around all afternoon. That eve we went to the 'Top of the Rock', or for those of us who speak Engligh...went to the 70th floor of the Rockefella building to admire the night-time views.
22/07/11 - 40C!!! Swealtering heat...dehabilitating in a city, but we stuck to plan and joined the hideous queue for the boat to Liberty Island (consuming about 3 bottle of water in 20mins, with Olie warning me
that too much water can kill). In all honesty, Liberty Island is not worth the stop - just admire from the boat. Ellis Island however was really interesting. The old immigration building has been renovated and turned into a museum. Well worth a visit if you´re in NY. On our way back we walked past the World Trade Centre site, which is now a massive construction site.
23/07/11 - Urghhhhhh 3am alarm! Hideous. 6 hour flight to Bogota gave us our first opportunity to practise our Spanish. 'Un sandwich por favor'. The air hostess didnt understand! What can I possibly have said wrong! Bogota lacked charm and is not really worthy of much text. In summary it was, to us, a freezing cold, grotty, polluted, mass graffitied, bin-raider infested city. Chocolate Hostel was basic, our room was basically a cupboard. Freezing cold showers in a cold climate don´t make for a comfortable stay! Highlights include
- a 15km bike tour around La Candelaria and central Bogota (including Bogota's red light district-our first experience of being called gringo's... by a fat Colombian pimp). At one point the guide disappeared and joined a chase to catch a thief.
- stumbling upon
Independence Day celebrations in the main square, where the military marched to 'Yellow Submarine'.
24/07/11 - Used pigeon spanish to 'compro'a Colombian SIM card and 2 coach tickets from Bogota to San Gil (6 hour trip, which in reality took 8). By the time we arrived at our hostel, the day was over.
25/07/11 - San Gil, Santander is a beautiful town and feels very Colombian. Street vendors, bustling streets, beautiful buildings and a gorgeous all year round 22C climate. Getting out of cold Bogota felt soooo good! Visited the local park and then took a local bus to Juan Curi Cascades, a 80m waterfall. Trekked up the mountain in flip flops (very well prepared!) and were rewarded by stunning views. Olie took a dip, Emma didnt! Ate a Colombian picnic (egg pasty..hmmm) and waited far too long for the bus to return back to San Gil. Went to a locally favoured restaurant, Spanish doctionary in hand (lesson on preparation learnt), only to find that there was no menu! Waiter chanted a few options over and over again, despite the fact we'd already ordered. After battling through a plate of papya (the ONLY fruit in the world I
can´t eat as it actually tastes like vomit) we were treated to a delicious main meal, dessert and drink...all in for 3.50GBP/head.
26/07/11 - Olie is now sitting next to me and is MAD that I´ve typed so much, so he's taking over.... Indeed... so for those of you that have managed to get this far - I commend you! I'm sure you're tired and slightly bored so I will keep this short and sweet. Today was our activity day in San Gil as we went white water rafting and then caving. Both were brilliant with some comedy Emma gaffs as highlights! Firsty, she was the only member of our group (which also consisted of a 12 year old girl) who fell completely off the raft and into the rapids. Just as I was heroically preparing myself to dive in after her I sore a small yellow helmet bobbing around in the Rio Fonce about 20 metres down-river! During the caving she then lost her helmet completely (dont ask how - no-one knows!!) before spitting in our very friendly guides face and then punching him in the balls. In her defence we were completely submerged in cave water a
few times and I think she did swallow a fair chunk of river water whilst rafting so she may have been a bit dillusional by then!
Right we're off to the 'handsome' colonial town of Barrichara tomorrow where I am desperate to try the local delicacy of fried ants! So from a pink thighed Emma (she got sun-burnt on the rafting 😊 ) and a beardy me adios amigos!
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Dave
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Emma vs Olie
Love the posts! Sounds totally awesome... specially the 3 course dinner for £3.50. Yum. Loving the fact that Emma describes everything and gives a really clear picture of what y0ou guys are seeing and experiencing vs Olie just pointing out Emma's 'derpyness' ... I'm now wondering what Emma did that was a little 'special' on the days that Em wrote about! Brilliant read, looking forward to next installment! Peace x x