HugsHandShakeshi5s: February 2017

Monday, February 27, 2017

Colombia (Santander)

The creation of Chicas Tranquillas continues. Katie and Brittany posing at a look out of chicamocha canyon from Barrichara (a cute colonial town).

From the Caribbean coast of Colombia we moved south down into an absolutely wonderful region called, Santander. Santander is home to Chicamocha canyon, what we were told to be the second largest canyon in the world by everyone (although I have been unable to confirm that fact), quaint colonial towns, and the Hormiga Culona (bug-but ant), an ant they eat, but that was unfortunately out of season. This so-far has been my favorite leg of the trip. It is the stretch in which we fit in the most nature and adventure so far. We arrived in Bucaramanga, a fairly large city, where we stayed with Camilo (a couchsurfer) and his family. They were wonderful hosts and his mom was so cute, and had such funny reactions to everything. The city itself was not my favorite, but it was a warm welcome into the region. From there we went to Mesa de los Santos to La Mojarra to climb. It was MAGICAL! We camped in hammocks that we clipped into rock climbing bolts in the rock with an incredible view. We found some wonderful climbers from Spain and Argentina that took us climbing with them and had a great time.

Brittany enjoying one of the hammocks hung at Refugio La Roca

Brittany and Katie cautiously hanging up a hammock on the cliff

Where we slept!

One of the most beautiful showers I have ever taken, the water pressure was ok, but the view was incredible!

one of the rooms you can rent at the hostel, beautiful, but the hammocks were better!

giving katie a new do

where we were climbing at

From the Mojarra we went to Curiti, a nice little town near the better known San Gil (Colombias tourist-adventure capital). There we stayed with Alix, our self-proclaimed Colombian mother. Alix was an amazing personality with no reservations, and she loved us, and we loved her. She told us many times that we had an amazing energy and that we were good luck. I mean if you say so.... She runs an adventure company and through her we went caving in Cueva de la Vaca (cow cave; named after a cow that fell into the entrace of the cave whilst grazing, leading us to the discovery of said cave) and we went rafting in the Rio Suarez (a with level 4 rapids). She also suggested us to go to Pescaderitos, a 45min walk from Curiti and home to many beautiful and large natural swimming holes.

Alix and her youngest son, Carlitos

walking to the swimming holes

one of the field houses you can find here in Colombia

Katie going for a swim, can't fight that waterlust

pescaderitos

natural rock formations, so pretty!

we were in heaven here

yes the swimming holes were deep enough that we could jump of the rocks

From San Gil we went to Barichara, what some claim to be the cutest town in Colomiba. From there we walked the Camino Real to Guane another cute colonial town. For the chicas tranquillas, we preferred the nature, but the cities were cute too. I think we would have liked them a little bit more if it wasn't so hot though.

Barichara

air plants on the Camino Real

Guane

The view from Guane

Giving Alix, our 5o year old Colombian Mother, a new hair cut

Kaite and a kid

Thats all for now, we are continuing to fall in love with Colombia

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Colombia (The Northern Coast)

I am going to South America!

I have been saying this for about a year. In that time I gained the interest of my friend Katie, who was down for a trip to the continent just south of us. We originally wanted to go all the way down to Patagonia and travel up, but as we looked at ticket prices our initial destination migrated further and further north until we found a killer deal on tickets to Cartagena, Colombia. Pretty much as far away as you can get from Patagonia, whilst remaining in South America. So we bought our tickets, and I told my sister (with whom I've talked about going to South America since out last trip together 5 or so years ago) and she bought a ticket too.

Now I am in Colombia traveling with these two awesome ladies. So far I only have positive things to say about them. We have a good group dynamic and branded ourselves as the Chicas Tranquilas (translating to chill girls). In-fact we even made an instagram account if you don't want to wait for me to get around to another blog post (IG: chicastranquilas).

Immediately upon arrival we were invited to join a few Argentinians to walk up a local mountain, with a church on top. So without time to pull out Colombian pesos, eat lunch or even hydrate we start walking. It was hot out! We just came from the winter to the Caribbean coast, we were sweating to say the least. On the speedy walk up we passed various vendors selling food, snacks, water, ice cream etc. but we couldn't buy anything! Once we got to the top it was a bit anti-climatical, the church was nothing special and the view was smoggy. But it was a comical welcome to Colombia that we have been laughing about since.

One of our more positive memories of Cartagena was the Mercado de Bazurto. It is exactly what you expect to see in a foreign country and you can see some pictures below.

"foto! foto!" they yelled

Preparing lunch! Very tasty and you get a full plate for around $3 US

After Cartagena we moved on to Santa Marta. From there we went to Minca, for a hike to a waterfall and Palomino where we camped on the beach and hiked up a mountain with Inter-tubes that we then floated back down on in a river. Unfortunately I did not take any pictures of the river float since we were in water but below are some pictures of the hike to the Waterfall and of the beach camping.