From Boca to Bogota, our journey south continues

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Another long silence so lots to catch up on, if this gets too long just take a peek at the wee photos and leave the rest!!! When we last wrote we were spending our days chilling out at the beach in Bocas del Toro, the rest of that week went as planned and we did very little...lots of sun and of course as always lots of good food...Tom managed to find his first proper curry since leaving England and as the photo shows he was more than pleased with himself. From Boca we headed south to Panama city for what we thought was going to be a few days before we headed on our sailing adventure, plans however changed a little and we only actually spent one day in Panama City but we managed to squeeze in the Panama canal and even a wee trip to the cinema, the first of our trip so far so that Tom the big kid that he is could see the new Harry Potter film. He was uber excited to get to see it and I think it lived up to his expectations...mine not so much, really not a lover of Harry Potter but hey it was a trip out! Then the fun really began as we set off on our 5 day Caribbean sailing adventure...we did however get a little more adventure than we had bargained for.
So we were due to be picked up at 5 the first morning of our trip, jeep was late then squashed us all in and squeezed our bags onto the top of the car, partially covered but not at all prepared for the rain that the day had promised, the day not starting off great and due to get worse before it got better. It rained the whole way to Carti where we were due to meet our boat I of course panicked the whole way about our bags but needn't have as the damage was already done, we finally arrived at a very damp wee hut that was at the edge of the sea...aparently...we couldnt sea it due to mist/fog/rain/lightening (not a great sign). We where then ushered through shin deep puddles with huge soaking wet bags, trying not to get wetter than completly drenched, Tom's flip flops decided this would be a good time for both of them to snap which of course made the journey that little bit longer, we did however manage to pay our taxes and got to our speedboat...pretty much a large canoe, no roof, no cover! The journey to the boat was an adventure in itself but we all still managed a giggle...that was until we actually got into our boat and took to the sea, visability nought, thunder storm raging and Tom and Baz bailing water from the bottom of our canoe before we even set off-fun times. Well it was funny for all of 10 mins before it got really cold and we couldn't sea land in any direction, thunder and lightening were literally above us and our boat was zig zagging back and forth which lead me to believe he had no clue where we were (it later turned out he was in fact on it and was actually diverting around reefs but at the time not even the boys were convinced). I cried while the boys all lied about being able to see coastline to make me feel better although their searching eyes desperatly trying to place anything decieved them all! An hour of hellish drama later we made it to our 44ft sailing boat the windsurfer, finally a roof over our heads and a chance to get out of very very wet clothes...although we had nothing dry to replace them with, an amazing hot chocolate later the world felt like a better place, if a little rocky as we were anchored in a not so sheltered bay. Sea sickness was slowly creeping in but feeling safe on board ushered it away long enough to fall asleep until the rain went away! When I woke up we had already been joined by the rest of the passengers who were to be our roommates for the next 5 days, they were as wet, cold and bemused as we had been 3 hours earlier so already some common ground! All on board we headed for Chi Chi Me a pretty sheltered cove were we would stay for 2 nights, the sun came out in parts as we were sailing over, followed by a few show off dolphins (amazing) and as everything dried out somewhat and the amazing islands revealed themselves everything felt better-this was gonna be a great few days. The next few days were as promised AMAZING, sailing in and out of tiny Islands, beautiful white sand, clear blue sea like bath water, snorkelling at an amazing ship wreck, a few more dolphin sightings, lovely sunsets, fresh lobster and crab for dinner, great company with lots of drinking, card games, laughing and chatting as well as a bonfire on the beach-Paradise. Then came our two day sail to Columbia, our island days were truely amazing but were soon to be momentarily forgotton as actual sailing hit me with a bang. I managed to squeeze in some lunch before the rest of the day became a right off as lying down became my only option in between trips to the loo or side of the boat and back again, I however seemed to be the seas only casualty and was comforted by the thought of 1 night and 7 hours the next day getting us to cartegena and all would be well...or so I thought! Woke up the next day after a pretty hairy night sea sickness wise but managed to drag myself on deck to face the day only to be told that the winds had pretty much disappeared over night and we were going uber slow and would need another overnight to get there...devastated. Tom however became my hero as he very kindly looked after me, bringing me food and drink and helping to unblock the toilet that decided to break everytime I filled it with the contents of my tummy...travelling defiantly breaks down barriers like nothing else!!! The day passed relatively quickly but the night that followed did no such thing. I know I am drama queen at the best of times but the night that followed was without a doubt one of the longest and worst of my life...not much sleep for anyone as the weather took a turn for the worst. 2 metre high waves, waves gushing into the boat from every angle, beds moving, fans breaking, bags falling, people being thrown around rooms as time ticked away ever so slowly with very little if any sleep being had by any of the 10 people on board. Tom continued to be amazing even when he started to be sick as well and even made me laugh every now and again although not purposly...as Tilson and Laurel (our Captains) and Scotty tried to save the GPS or the boat in general Tom managed to ask exactly at the wrong time about a broken fan or a weather update...brilliant! Although at the time we def weren't laughing about it Amy maybe you are right the fun may just be in getting there as eventually this will be one of our most memorable parts of the whole trip, for now though still feel bit sick thinking about it!
Cartegena was incredible, not only as it was dry land (well except for crazy rain in parts of the week) and wasnt moving but just because it is such a lovely city, the old town has so many lovely buildings to see and the atmosphere here in Columbia is great. We managed pretty much a full week of chilling out, recuporating, washing and drying all our stuff that had never quite recovered from the first boat days adventures and had a few really lovely days with the girls from our boat before they headed home to England. It was such a lovely wee group and def a blessing for the trip as it was a pretty tight space and would have been interesting if everyone hadn't managed to get on. We had some pretty rough weather in Cartegena although we have been really lucky to not be near any of the areas that have been severly hit by rain and mudslides. Columbia is currently experieincing really unusal amounts of rain and it is causing some really big problems and a few villages have been completly wiped out by either flooding or mudslides so we are feeling very blessed to be safe.
After a great week in Cartegena we have made our way down to Medellin which again is another fantastic city, really loving Columbia and although the weather has meant we haven't been able to see too much of the countrys beauty in terms of national parks etc we are having a great time. We arrived in Medellin ready to meet up again with Scotty and Baz who cant get rid of us and managed to fit in prob our most surreal night out of the trip so far on a Chiva...party bus with live band on board that took us around the city to see all the amazing christmas lights and have a few drinks along the way, brilliant night out, topped off by me trying my hand at the chesse grater (no idea what the instrument is actually called)and I even managed to combine it with a wee jig to create the chesse grate river dance...embarrasing I know! Medellin has also given us more great food, a really lovely hostel, trip on a cable car, some very fat sculptures, lots of stories and interesting info about Pablo Escobar and his antics, lots and lots of amazing Christmas atmosphere including our own version of the christmas markets and our final goodbye to Scotty as he left to go home to New Zealand. Tom is as I write watching a United game so he's a happy man..well about watching but not so much about the score. We've got a huge Christmas parade to see tonight before we pack up and move again tomorrow heading to Bogota before we start our mammoth 2 day journey to Ecuador, if the Volcano doesnt change our plans! Love to everyone and happy Christmas prepartions to you all, got a few important birthdays coming up so missing home more than ever a bit early for Millies but sending huge birthday hugs and kisses to our beautiful Caleb, Millie and Holly hope you all have fantastic days x

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Photos

Big kid getting to see Harry Potter
On its first weekend out as well

Chi Chi Me
Paradise Island

The whole gang
Laura, Jess, Cara, Scotty, Amy, Baz, Me and Tom

Tom and one of many starfish along the way
Amazingly clear sea, beautiful

Cheese Grater River dance
Never to be seen again...I promise!!

Comments

[anonymous]

you guys are legends! sounds absolutely amazing, so glad I got to read about your travels! you both look great! i'm missing you mega much and think about you loads. what an amazing adventure you're having! love you loads xxxx

[tomandanna]

Aw thanks but no idea who this is no email or name came up?!?! xx

[anonymous]

Thanks for the map Anna and you can see where you've been just need to zoom in. You're looking great and hope Ecuador goes well. Spurs topped their group even though it was a 3-3 draw again Twente. love Dad

[Mum]

Hello!
Hi Tomanna, You are such a star Anna keeping up Blogg, makes not seeing you that bit easier. Thanks for your card, so happy you are having such fun. We are hoping to set up Skype this weekend got all the palava. Not looking like we can meet in OZ, number of reasons. Hopefully can meet up when you get a bit closer to home. Lot's of snow at moment Loving it!! Ring when you have a mo. Will put £100 squid in Tom bank account for both your christmas present. Love you both very much. xxxxxxxxx Are text expensive? xx

[amanda]

hi
Your stories are fabulous guys. they make me laugh and cry sooooooooooooooooo much. you sound like you are really having the time of your lives. once agian you are so lucky to be living the dream and especially with each other. wish you both continued safety and loads of fun jollys beer and food. keep the diaries coming. love and miss you both. john doing a chrimbo breakfast at JGC next week - so sorry you will miss out. im sure your gutted. will catch up on FB. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[DAD]

sounded madness new years party! ribs looked succulento none tropo allegrow!!!! hope you are both well love you tons xxxxxxx