There is a little town 8 hours bus ride away from Bogotá, it's name is San Gil. Temperatures comparable to Mesa in the spring all year round. San Gil is nestled in between rivers with rapids, lush mountains, caves where bats will crap all over you, beautiful waterfalls to rappel down, and many other tourist attractions. It is the home town of Hna Martinez's mother, and she and her sister had business to do there, so they invited me along. Thus was born my real-deal, honest to goodness tourist week in Colombia.
We left Bogota on Monday night at 9 PM and arrived in San Gil a little after 5 AM. Being a small town, everything was closed when we arrived. I couldn't sleep the first couple hours on the bus because my mind just wouldn't go to sleep, that was followed by hours of not being able to sleep because I felt so sick from all the turns and ruts of the mountainous road. We walked to the middle of town, where there was a beautiful little park...with benches.
Now, a journal entry from Tuesday:
"Today one of my dreams came true...kind of. I have always wanted to sleep in Central Park in New York like a bum. This has never happened because all those who love me said "NO!" We arrived in San Gil this morning at 5 AM, so everything was closed. I found myself in the park in the middle of town, I laid on a bench--thanks to my hoody morning became night--and I slept a little more."
I heard something beautiful I have only heard in movies, the town has several churchs that ring their bells. This was really cool, and also not cool because it was 6 AM when they sounded.
When the town woke up we moved to a hotel.
I was happy to be in a warmer climate, but as the day wore on it got so hot! I went into survival mode and quit speaking and showed little emotion on my face.
That afternoon Hna. Martinez took a nap and I read. OOSH! SO hot. As I laid on my bed and melted I thought of the poor missionaries who serve in areas like this. It is hot in AZ, but you have the respite of AC. How do they sleep and work!?
It made me think of a comment Manuel had said to me the other day, he said I only like Colombia because I am visiting, and if I had to live here I would feel differently. I think that is the truth because there are many things here that aren't good, but they don't bother me because it's not my home. So am I excited to come home?
Ya.
Here is my new favorite treat, it's called leche asada and it is a million times more delicious then flan (and that is really saying something because I LOVE flan). Also check out how cool this is! They have bags of water. We need to pick this up in the states for sports teams.
I went into this week totally unaware of my options. Luckily I brought my swimming suit which served two purposes: one, I wore my board shorts every day cuz it was so freaking hot! and two: I had something appropriate to wear when I discovered that water water rafting is a big thing in this town and it is super cheap.
Here I am with all the other tourists. The couple next to me are from Canada, everyone else is from Europe. None of them spoke more then a few broken phrases in spanish, so I served as the translator because our guides only spoke broken english. The black guy in front only speaks french, that is an important detail for later.
I'm not putting many rafting pictures up because there are already a million pictures on this post, but there are a lot more pictures of this on my facebook. I'm middle right. (Left in the boat, but right in the picture)
In the middle of class 3 or 4 rapids two of our big dudes go overboard. Rules of rafting are that everyone keeps paddling and the closest person does the rescue. Black dude that only speaks french (and the only other guy now in our raft besides the guide) is closest and does nothing! I jump in the front, extend my paddle to the guy who didn't grab the side rope, then pull in the guy who did grab the side rope (note...this was my fear that I would have to rescue one of the guys, don't know if you are aware but I am small, and particularly weak in the arms). I was surprised how easily I pulled him in and then the next one. I jumped back to my seat, and grabbed my paddle ready for the next rapid. Everyone looked at me in surprise and said "HOLY CRAP (in more crude language) how did you do that!?! You are so strong!" Then the french guy that fell in turned to his buddy (black dude) and yelled at him saying "WHAT THE HECK MAN! You let a girl rescue me and just sit there and do nothing!?"
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole ride! I've only done up to 3 plus rapids, and this had quite a few 3, 4, & 5 plus'.
As we drove back it was pretty funny because I was the 'local' that everyone was asking what foods were good and explaining culture stuff that they didn't get.
That night was horrible! Worst idea ever: go rafting, then sleep on a super hard bed. The next day it hurt to cough or more too fast. What a pain. I hardly got any sleep that night because it was so hot in our room. I felt SO bad for missionaries who sleep like this every night. Hna Martinez and her sister slept terrible too, so we switched hotels.
The next day I found out that there were hormigas for sale! (Large fried ants) I was so excited!
I found a perfect ant...
I stared him in the eyes...
Gently placed him on my tongue...and ATE HIM! Followed by more of his little friends who were as unlucky as he was. They actually are kinda good. Salty and crunchy.
Here is some typical food from San Gil, goat and rice with goats blood (not a huge fan of the taste of the fried goats blood).
We went to Barichara Santander and this is their sweet church. (photo taken by someone just learning to use a camera apparently).
Funny story about this little town. It is about an hour outside of San Gil. We went with the aunt of Hna. Martinez. Her aunt and her aunts mother waited in the car while we looked at a few things in a store. When we emerged 15 minutes later the car was gone. We walked around the town square and couldn't find them. This is when Hna. Martinez & her sister started to freak out that they left and were ready to jump on a bus to go back to San Gil. I tried to calm them down and suggest it would be a really bad idea to just assume they left and that we should call their aunt. Beyond my understanding, they didn't have her number! I suggest that we call another family member to obtain it. After much coaxing they did so. Right as they called the other family member the aunt and her mom roll up, they were just touring the town.
When we got back to the hotel that night I was super tired and got ready for bed. Just as I was about to climb in bed I noticed Lindi at the door with her purse and room key. I asked where she was going & she said she was going to Parque el Gallineral (a national park that was around the corner from our hotel). I donned my glasses and flip-flops and off we went. I wasn't totally sold on the idea cuz I was super tired, then it turned out it was raining...I almost turned back. We got to the park & the line was crazy long! (again I almost turned around). Obviously we weren't going in, but they said there was a firework show. I didn't want to wait (I figured it'd be a lame show) but then I got distracted by the town drunk who had a sweet painting he was trying to sell. I bought it for $25. As we stood talking about the painting an explosion went off 15 feet from me! Turned out the better view was from the outside of the park! I was half impressed with the firework display and half concerned that something else would blow up. The fireworks didn't go that high and I got hit several times. The shooting point was only 35 feet or less from some major power lines & directly across the street from 2 gas stations. The explosions were so big that car alarms for several blocks around were going off. But it was beautiful! I had a big grin across my face as the childhood joy of watching things explode in the night sky in brilliant colors & spectacular shapes made me forget everything else. In the end I wished I had a picture cuz I'm sure my face was priceless, I'm also glad there wasn't a pictures cuz I'm sure I looked like an idiot! It was an impressive display, but the streets were littered with debris.
When we got back to our hotel room I had a hilarious reminder that I'm in Colombia. Once we returned to the room the door lock stopped catching to shut. When the attendant came up to check it out she said it was broken (thanks Sherlock) and told us to push one of the beds against the door to keep it shut and that she'd watch that floors security camera really well. BAHAHAHAHA! Classic.
The next day I took a bus for an hour (wanting to vomit the whole time) to see Cañon Chicamocha. There is a national park at one spot where you can take a cable car to the other side of the canon.
I went to the bathroom to find this poster...so disturbing...
Ok now for the beautiful pictures! My heart sunk as we drove through the mountains cuz the were in the middle of a cloud. Naturally the clouds would lift, but we were leaving for Bogotá that day, so I couldn't wait very long. As I looked over the edge this is what I saw.
I didn't have a choice but to go then, and hope that the clouds lifted on the way back. (30 mins from one side to the other) But to my joy the cable car sunk beneath the clouds and I had a great view of the canyon.
I was surprised by how many little farms there were on the sides of the mountains, and a little annoyed for them that cable cars were built over land I am sure there families have owned for centuries.
Look how cute these cows are!
Looky looky! There are century plants here!!!
These views made me nostalgic for Anasazi!
So I know I am in Colombia, and that is super sweet...but I was a little sad to miss the AZ state fair cuz I love going with Heidi each year and seeing the prizes she wins for her sweet stuff, and to see the joy and wonder on my nephews face as we go through the park and ride rides, and to spoil him with sweet and return him to his parents...hehe. But one of my favorite rides since I was a little girl is the long slides! I was so excited when I saw they had one here! So of course I had to ride them!
Ok, back in San Gil it appears that their town mascot is a giant ant. My favorite thing about this particular statue is that it is affixed to a trailer that has then been sunk in mud...I don't think I have words for this. All I know is that if I lived here I would definitely pull a town prank and move it one day
The painting I bought is of a bridge in the National Park Gallineral. I visited it and took a few pictures that resemble the painting I bought. When I bought it I just thought it was a sweet painting, but I didn't know what I'd received. Apparently, Juan--the town drunk, is famous...they say in the whole world, but I don't believe them, maybe in Colombia, and certainly in San Gil. As I carried my painting to catch a bus leaving town, everyone in the street stared and many stopped me and exclaimed "You know Juan!" Turns out all the restaurants in the area have paintings from Juan. Even in the bus station workers stopped me to hold up my painting so they could admirer it. Pretty funny.
I love this flower!
Nothing spells fun like taking pictures of yourself...by yourself...right?
Totally lucked out on there being a back seat in the bus so I had somewhere to put my painting! I thought it was ready to roll, but he had finished it the night I bought it and I was leaving the next day!
Saturday morning I went to the temple and I had the following cool awakening:
"This morning I was waiting for the bus and I was watching for it down the street. I wanted to read or study but I felt this compulsion to watch & wait for the bus. I thought it was strange, but when I looked around everyone was doing the same. All eyes were fixed in the same direction, all hoping that any second it would appear. No one was distracted with anything else. Of course we knew it was coming, we just didn't know when, and all watched for the first sight of it so they would be ready when it came. Then the awakening: Why don't I watch like this for the Saviors second coming? Am I drawn with such force to Him that it overrides all my worldly desires and distractions & I wait & watch to ensure I am prepared? I'm not proposing to be a zealot & go buy a bomb shelter & move away from everyone. I'm just posing the question, 'are our actions focused on becoming more like Him & bringing overs to Him so we'll all be ready in that great day?'
Well friends, it's been 8 1/2 weeks, and I have 2 1/2 weeks left. I have loved my time here, but I am for sure ready to come home. I am trying to stay present and I am working hard at my spanish. Unfortunately I got sick this weekend, but I am so grateful that this has been the first time and normally in life I don't get sick.
Best conversation with Carson today on skype! He always asks me where my gun and sword are, then if I've killed all the monsters yet. Today part of our conversation went like this:
Me: "Carson, I think I'll be done in about 2 1/2 weeks and then I'll come home and see you!"
Carson: "Great! As soon as you are done killing the monsters get on a plane and fly to your house."
Me: "Ok baby, I will!"
Carson: "And then I'll come to your house in 5 weeks!"
Me: "Great idea! I'll be home for Christmas."
Carson: (eyes widened, and mouth opened in excitement): "I'M SO HAPPY!!! MOM, MOM! SAM IS GOING TO BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS I AM SO HAPPY!!!"
It pretty well melted my little heart! I am SOOOOO excited to see that little boy!
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