Quite a busy week before starting my Spanish class
Day 1
Woke up leisurely without much planed. Unlike in America, the concept of a brunch doesn’t seem to exist in Colombia such that between 10am – 12pm becomes a food vacuum where restaurants stop serving breakfast and the lunch kitchen doesn’t start until later.
Later, we found out this Caribbean kitchen that’s exactly what I was looking for – local, community style that serves the entire town. They only rotate a few things a day so each day a different choices.
Later, we decided to stroll around town towards the castle that’s built during colonial time.
It was blazingly mid day, and we hopped in a mall with aircon to cool down a little.
Finally, the castle –
Chilled out in the hotel for a bit before heading out taking a night stroll
We walked towards the nice / modern part of town. It’s upscale but the poorly planned pedestrian walkway (minimal green space and it’s far from the water front) compounded with construction sites just doesn’t resonate with me.
The restaurants there also seem to be very bou·jee, just overall lack of local character and extortionately expensive. The Colombian couple where we met at the mud bath texted us for some restaurant recommendation which we glad took to heart.
The sangria was a bit pricy – 100k, but overall tally was about a bit 200k or $25us each.
Dani took some courage with the help or some local rum to express her feeling towards Daniel. It’s quite sweet. A few hours after, we farewelled to each other.
Day 2
Travel day towards Santa Marta. The hotel in Cartagena was very sweet to help me finding the bus (even called the bus company for me) since I woke up a bit too late for my initially planned bus. The ride easier than I thought with a nice comfortable mini bus and a passenger from Spain helping me translate.
After checking in, I veneered around town. Santa Marta was much quieter than Cartagena. I also didn’t receive much “harassment” other than a sexual worker or two that assume I am Korean
The town itself isn’t super interesting on its own, nevertheless it’s good to see another city in the Caribbeans.
Found a little cute cafe for little craft beer and food experienxe
The service was great, the server tried his best to communicate with me in English. (60k including tips)
Later, we went to my hostel’s happy hour. 30k for 2 cocktails was a steal. Great ones, too. Though I was hoping to make some connections for my next day’s trip to Tayrona’s national park. Didn’t meet with anyone at the bar, but managed to sign up with two sweet Irish lads who happen to also work in the tech industry.
Super cute rooftop
Day 3
We got up super early to head towards Tayrona. I didn’t know the lads were going to camp at the park in which I only prepared a day trip. In retrospective, I should’ve camped. Hiking back in the heat was hard. and the traffic made it just so not worth it.
With just a bit over 2hours we reached out destination
It was super busy, and we were starving but had to face the same meal time issue and had to wait until 12:30pm. Me and the lads chatted about life and the tech industry in general. I was really jealous of them able to make remote work work at such tender age.
I went to the view point for some photos
While it’s great and I wished I camped for a night. For the price and effort I had to put in, I feel like any decent beach town in South East Asia beats it quite well. In another word, I am not impressed about the Caribbeans.
After 2 hours (it should only take an hour total) we were still on the bus half way and hard stuck in traffic
The German helped me getting a motorbike back to town. Good lad. The bike driver was really friendly and used his best to talk to me in English. A sweetie.
By the time I got back I was just lay flat dead. Went straight to sleep. The heat and humidity just drained one month of my energy that I didn’t even have energy to make plans for the following days.
Day 4
Finally got up in the morning and booked a ticket to to fly to Medellin later that day. It was a mistake nevertheless.
Went to town to get some money
Took a bus to Minca (coffee region 45min from Santa Marta). Turned out it’s much cooler there in the region, not just a few degrees drop in temperature, but also the mountainous breeze.
I really wish I could have stayed for a few nights. Life gotta go on. I had planned on using the afternoon to get to the coffee plantation and do a tour.
Started to downpour, I stopped by a waterfall to wait out the storm.
The hike was much more work than I thought, and by the time I reached to the farm I simply had to go back to town directly to catch my flight hence missing the coffee tour. Oh well.
The rest was just bus, gather my belongings, headed to the airport which was quite far from the city.
A bit plot twist here was also another mistake I made which was to going to a major city at night. I was almost robbed
Lesson here is never try to be creative at night. Just follow standard major bus stop.
Managed to reunite with the Bogota crew:
Nothing was open at 11pm, so some international food
Cute puppy at the hostel
Day 5
Woke up motivated for a walking tour.
Medellin has really great public transit unlike Bogota. It’s a huge plus. Though it’s a bit warmer than I like.
The walking tour was great with a mix with of history and arts.
Medellin is very much into is brutalism appreciation
National congress that was designed by a Belgium and now acts as a shopping mall and art gallery
Botero square
After the tour, a few of us decided to hang a bit more
Later we decided to do some view point hops.
There’s even this cute little city museum
We decided to get a 8pack to our next view point
We waited until after sunset before heading back to dinner.
I decided not to eat a full on meal, I wasn’t super hungry from that massive lunch and paying for a full portion and not finish seems wasteful.
I hung for a few for a bit chit chatted. The roof top vite wasn’t it for me. I don’t like super loud with just drunk dances. Called an early day, in part I was still recovery from a flu of some sort. I figured that I always catch some sort of a virus for a new city I go. No too big of a deal, but stuffed nose just the most appealing thing.
Day 6
Botanical garden and food tour!
There’s also a butterfly gallery (6k) in the garden as well
Later I took the metro to do my food tour (100k)
While the food is okay, just not my favorite when comes to fried things. The neighborhood is nice nevertheless.
Later on we hung out with our food tour group for craft beers. We invited and treated our guides. Lovely folks, I managed to convince them to learn Chinese and become a YouTube to broadcast China to LaTam.
Sadly, the only Asian (from Taiwan) that I’ve met so far who happened to be in the tour got his wallet stolen right when we were about to wrap out the night out. Oh well.
Day 7
The majestic Guatape!
The tour package is very good value – $25usd includes breakfast & lunch.
The bus was full of international visitors from almost all parts of the world
First stop was the rock
Second stop was the replica of the old town (it was destroyed via the flood)
Lunch was at another replica of the town
Next was the boat ride:
Last stop was to taste this local spirit again!
Later, we meandered to a local supermarket nearby our hostels
The supermarket actually has some gourmet food, but it was too late for us to get ours. We decided to try this local delicacy called “Mondongo”
It’s a very productive week!
Expenses
| Week 32 | Currency: | COP | 3962 | ||
| Day | Food&Drink | Lodging | Transportation | Other (tickets/tours etc) | Day total |
| 1 | $39.18 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $7.57 | $46.75 |
| 2 | $28.76 | $7.00 | $21.45 | $11.61 | $68.83 |
| 3 | $19.69 | $7.00 | $18.93 | $18.68 | $64.29 |
| 4 | $17.16 | $15.14 | $69.05 | $0.00 | $101.36 |
| 5 | $22.70 | $17.01 | $7.57 | $11.86 | $59.15 |
| 6 | $20.50 | $17.01 | $5.42 | $26.75 | $69.70 |
| 7 | $26.53 | $17.01 | $0.00 | $28.77 | $72.31 |
| $174.53 | $80.18 | $122.43 | $105.25 | ||
| Total | Grand Total: | $482.39 |
That is interesting there is no brunch in Columbia! I would hate that.
I like how you have blue clothes Sundays. Blue clothes days are my favorite days.
I’m glad we were able to hear more about the Dani adventures.
The sights, lizards, monkeys, food, and drink all look very amazing!
Sorry to hear about the weird, awkward mugging that didn’t end up happening. That is scary.
Also, too bad about the ATM that ate your money.
That’s cute a little girl never saw an Asian before and you could introduce yourself to her and the family.
It’s indeed impressive you could stay under budget!