I’ve been busy with my Spanish school, henced delayed the production of the blog series. Due to most of the time was spending at the school house, the content will be short hence I am condensing them all in a single blog
Sunday
We got a very late start (after a late coffee plus supermarket lunch) before we finally decided on going to Park Arvi via cable cars.
The second cable car was under maintenance, we hopped on to a taxi which was shared with this lovely Colombian couple.
We all got our boozes, thus was more than happen to share with everyone
It was such a long cable car journey (almost 20min one way) for 25k COP was more than fair price.
It was really late when we reached the park and just made no sense to pay 50k for an hour worth of park access. We just hung out by the park and wait to catch the sunset cable car to get back down
After backing to my hostel, we decided to do a little potluck
The rooftop from my hostel was also stunning.
Monday
Wasn’t too eventful aside from getting my brain back to school mode after more than a decade away from it. Had to say goodbye to my amiga – This is just a way of backpackers life, good things eventually end. Sometimes a bit too fast.
Tuesday – Friday
I met this American guy from Denver at my hostel, he just really needed some “love” I guess? divorcing from a 17-year marriage where the wife cheated. Irony with the lanterns.
Friday!
Went to a local pub to have some delicious craft beers!
The rainy season wasn’t quite over yet. Last rainy day!
Saturday
Our school had a downtour tour with fruit tasting
There’s this memorial museum that honors the disappeared Colombians during the “Falsos Positivos” time in the country
Post tour, we went out for some weekend food
Sunday was relatively uneventful with me getting a coffee to review class on the week and move to the school hostel
Monday & Tuesday were just schools.
Wednesday night was go to play Tego!
Later I went out with our Polish friend along with his friends
Friday came and everyone’s ready to party
Saturday was to visit the “best” museum in town – it’s about arts and I only got so many cells that are artistic.
Later we went to have a local food.
Sunday was lazy. A bit study plus food and coffee
Post dinner our school organized a tour to see christmas lights.
It was a bit too early for the light show (date, not time) nevertheless, the local night market was fun to get some food.
Of course, Sunday mass is very important.
We decided to go to a different neighborhood for lighting.
The neighbor is called Envigado, but us bunch of foreigners showing up definitely received our well reserved stares.
Monday – Friday
school again. Definitely highlight of the entire month. In part, we were at the level where we could begin forming complete sentences. In addition, we met some of the lovely school mates.
We didn’t take many photos, but let’s just say every night was lots of beers and laughs. (Along with some insider jokes around cruising, sperm whales and dolphins)
Wednesday night was the night to celebrate the beginning of Christmas month and naturally lots of fireworks.
While waiting for the fireworks, we popped to a local shop. The locals were kind enough to give us a table to sit on and invited us for drinks. Sadly, none of our Spanish was good enough to keep the conversations going.
Friday again.
Unfortunately, it’s also this night that a school mate of ours got his phone stole as it happens every so often.
The next day, I did what I always do, helping out with shopping.
At night, I decided to join the round #2 of the Christmas lighting again. This time lights were up and shining.
Sunday again, and last week of my Spanish school also. Not only I had to say goodbye to pretty much everyone, but also it was the worst week of school.
The teacher was just high on his “coca leaves” all the time and forgetting about what to teach or who’s turn to answer question. Significantly disorganized and we’d spend hours talking about non school related topics for no good reasons.
Not much has happened until Thursday night for Immaculate Conception.
Final Friday
Saturday
Comuna 13 DIY tour.
We meandered around the neighborhoods, met some of the nicest Colombians (despite being a poor neighborhood, but things are in order. No begging and lots of respect)
At night, we cooked our last meal (with wine and German beers of course)
Expenses
| Week 33 | Currency: | COP | 3995.6 | ||
| Day | Food&Drink | Lodging | Transportation | Other (tickets/tours etc) | Day total |
| 1 | $24.03 | $16.72 | $8.76 | $0.00 | $49.51 |
| 2 | $27.48 | $16.72 | $2.75 | $41.70 | $88.66 |
| 3 | $14.84 | $16.72 | $0.00 | $35.65 | $67.21 |
| 4 | $12.69 | $16.72 | $0.00 | $35.65 | $65.06 |
| 5 | $14.19 | $16.72 | $0.00 | $35.65 | $66.56 |
| 6 | $47.43 | $16.72 | $0.00 | $35.65 | $99.80 |
| 7 | $24.90 | $16.72 | $5.01 | $0.00 | $46.62 |
| $165.55 | $117.06 | $16.52 | $184.29 | ||
| Total | Grand Total: | $483.42 | |||
| Week 34 | Currency: | COP | 3995.6 | ||
| Day | Food&Drink | Lodging | Transportation | Other (tickets/tours etc) | Day total |
| 1 | $35.59 | $16.72 | $0.00 | $2.50 | $54.82 |
| 2 | $11.11 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $47.42 | $58.53 |
| 3 | $22.05 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $47.42 | $69.47 |
| 4 | $26.34 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $52.04 | $78.38 |
| 5 | $13.26 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $47.42 | $60.68 |
| 6 | $2.98 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $48.92 | $51.90 |
| 7 | $15.32 | $0.00 | $3.50 | $53.42 | $72.25 |
| $126.66 | $16.72 | $3.50 | $299.14 | ||
| Total | Grand Total: | $446.02 | |||
| Week 35 | Currency: | COP | 3995.6 | ||
| Day | Food&Drink | Lodging | Transportation | Other (tickets/tours etc) | Day total |
| 1 | $26.88 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $49.56 | $76.44 |
| 2 | $5.65 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $49.56 | $55.21 |
| 3 | $3.48 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $49.56 | $53.04 |
| 4 | $14.88 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $57.32 | $72.20 |
| 5 | $7.13 | $0.00 | $8.96 | $51.31 | $67.41 |
| 6 | $15.87 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $49.56 | $65.43 |
| 7 | $28.02 | $0.00 | $5.01 | $49.56 | $82.59 |
| $101.91 | $0.00 | $13.97 | $356.44 | ||
| Total | Grand Total: | $472.32 | |||
| Week 36 | Currency: | COP | 3995.6 | ||
| Day | Food&Drink | Lodging | Transportation | Other (tickets/tours etc) | Day total |
| 1 | $15.33 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $52.65 | $67.98 |
| 2 | $9.69 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $52.65 | $62.33 |
| 3 | $10.14 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $52.65 | $62.78 |
| 4 | $10.51 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $56.78 | $67.28 |
| 5 | $8.13 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $55.15 | $63.28 |
| 6 | $11.14 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $52.65 | $63.78 |
| 7 | $25.03 | $0.00 | $5.01 | $52.65 | $82.68 |
| $89.96 | $0.00 | $5.01 | $375.15 | ||
| Total | Grand Total: | $470.12 |
Good for you to keep learning more Spanish and go to Spanish school during your adventures! The last week of your Spanish school with the teacher being high on coca leaves reminds me of some teachers in high school who would ramble and not teach, haha.
The cable car rides and views in both the day and night look very impressive!
Also, so does the park, including the cozy thatched cave.
Good for you to make so many great backpacker friends and connections along your journey.
I have only seen sky lanterns in movies and never in real life. That was a cool photo.
Amazing food and drink as always. I never saw latte art so detailed.
The artwork in general in Colombia and Christmas decorations, even with no snow, are very impressive! Thanks for sharing your journeys.