New Year in Colombia - one up and down After I write in my last blog entry was almost euphoric mood, will be more of the following now clearly sober. So far, I have to write it always avoided a contribution if I am not doing so well, but this time the situation is complex and I do not think I would return so quickly to heartedness from previous months and I've made my decision yet to write. It happened a lot and the new year held up for me like some less wonderful surprises. However, the chronology is enough to do, I would first tell from my short vacation on the Pacific.
For some time, the plan, that I was Josephine, Joelle and Verena, three German volunteers who provide their service in Bogota to take on the Pacific and there a few days holiday. Actually I wanted to go with a friend from Cartagena, and we wanted to truck hitch, however, told me this evening from an earlier (which was not really in the light of the previously experienced a big surprise). to hitchhike alone in Colombia, but then I was a little too risky so I decided after all to go by bus. After 28 hours, during which I got to see some beautiful country side, I was then finally to Cali where I spent one night at a bed bank. In the morning, then came the three of Bogota, and from Diego still had the host brother of Joel with it. Next After a quick breakfast we went to Buenaventura. An incredible ride ... The road, if they ever call such a must, was totally by the torrents of rain over the previous weeks and the four hour ride every mile fell more torture. Finally arrived, we found that Buenaventura is clearly different from the cities in which we had previously stopped. No great historical old town, no tourists, lots of industry, a lot of dirt. The word that occurred to me was to this city, "crude", which does not mean that the city is ugly.
Now we wanted to stay anyway not large in Buenaventura and therefore contributed directly to the port, where we have a crossing to Juanchaco, booked a small island and soon boarded a small passenger boat. We were quite surprised when that boat then put in motion, while quite properly gained speed. The crossing was pretty funny at the beginning, the only way we raced across the sea, but soon it developed in a way that it has the previous bus trip as a comfortable ride butter appear. The sea that day was apparently very angry and threw us again and again contrary to several meters high waves which, in combination with our cruise to that the boat was quite ordinary sets and then with a mighty blow to pop back to the sea surface. My companions soon saw therefore quite green around the nose of the whole while I tried a little humor to take what to me at some point but was also increasingly difficult. After an hour we entered it with shaky legs to the pier and began the search for a place to stay. Given the late hour, we reached that evening not to the chosen by us target, La Barra, a more remote beach village to what can only be reached on foot via a schlammgigen forest road or at low tide on the beach, which is why we are in in Ladrilleros a small guesthouse stay and board and saw us for the first Schüttelpartien indulged a little rest. When we then the next morning on the beach flying off toward La Barra, the sea was already on the rise again and so we got no getting your feet wet and had to hurry to be swallowed rather not to speak of the flood. Finally we reached our goal and we rented two small wooden partitions in which we pitched the tents and I hung my hammock. In my experience at Playa Blanca, that a tent on the sandy beach, sooner or later the same need for a vacuum cleaner has as just that this beach and then a perfect night's sleep is no longer possible, I had decided to to spend nights in my hammock. to stay even, there are actually not sooo much to tell. Essen gabs in a small beach restaurant, we were much swimming in the sea, have fueled properly sun and spent the evening campfire. On the last day we made it a small canoe up a river, to a stream. On both sides of the river ranged the mangrove forests extend almost to the water which looked really bizarre part. Along said stream course we then trudged barefoot through the woods towards a small waterfall along with associated pool to which we then stayed for a while, and bathed.
paddled in the pouring rain We then returned to the beach, which, however, due to the usual temperatures there was not that bad. And so it went contrary to our holiday even close. Diego, Phine and I (the other two stayed longer and did Christmas Eve to spend on the beach) made us the next morning, again back in the pouring rain on the way to the ferry, where we had to wait two hours and the weather at this time changed for good. The return journey by speedboat turned out a lot more relaxed this mala which allowed us the insane beauty of the landscape to enjoy. We rushed past the small islands with lush vegetation and twenty feet high and steep banks I thought so for me, that the Pacific coast resembles much more what I had actually presented at the Caribbean coast, which is quite different from my expectations. (Takes another beautiful contribution to our Pacific trip including some pictures on her blog of Josephine. Here is the LINK ) Thus, the fun stopped for me but also on. The bus ride back to Cartagena again was like an odyssey and I, after fifty hours finally arrived, I could hardly stand still so tired and so I fell into a deep sleep.
And so the year 2010 was drawing slowly to a close. Christmas Eve I spent with Yesenia in the family where I was invited to the Christmas spirit was with me but with me not really arise for various reasons. On 25 Early in the morning on the road I wanted to steal it so two yobs my laptop, but after I loudly protested gave the two crept to dinner with a lemonade and some of them are satisfied. I just thought this way: "Well then Merry Christmas".
New Year was less spectacular. Pheobe Anna and two other volunteers were in town to visit with them and a bottle of rum I spent de year on the city walls overlooking the sea.
On the first of the year took then things run their less beautiful. First, I woke up with a good headache, which probably would have flattered the term hangover and was therefore considered by me even more with the term wildcat. Rauptier that I decided to drown in the sea and then went swimming. "Not the worst start to a new year ...", I thought. To this there was then no later than the night of the second of January. After New Year's Eve was so unspäktakulär, I wanted little Estens New Year and have fun and went to one of the sweet little clubs in my area. When I later satisfied traff outside my front door was almost beat me. I found my window smashed and opened my laptop and not including all accessories. Unfortunately, was in the laptop bag also my credit card and some cash. I could at that moment did not take correctly. I had not only just a week earlier defended that device before the robbery? Quite depressed I crawled under my mosquito net and fell asleep at some point. Now I stood there, without a computer, without music, photos, work documents, movies, the account is frozen, deprived of the only means of communication to Germany without money. How could this happen ...
put in the week after, my anger gradually. At first I toyed with the idea to me a cheap to buy second hand computer, rejected this idea but rather spontaneously on the way home on the bus one evening after work. I decided the next six months to forgo the luxury of a computer and instead of spending my free time at the beach, sports or my guitar. Finally, I am not at the other end of the world to sit all the time in front of a computer. Whether I will hold this to be seen ...
A week later I was then so far recovered from the shock that I decided once again in the evening to go away. My room I had locked properly, well knowingly that it was not anyway to find more of value. I went by bus to a neighboring in which I had a date with a girlfriend. We danced and talked a lot as the party ended, as usual, due to sustained beatings by the police was. When I tried to get it back on the bus to Boquilla, I was then robbed again. Some guy turned sideways into the bus door and wanted to let anyone enter. Then formed in front of the door a bunch of people in which I found myself in that moment, he angled a common thieves my wallet with my ID card from Colombian my pocket. When I almost immediately noticed the bus it was already too late. I got out, went to the police that after the fighting was still on the ground, which, however, so very not felt compelled to whether to do anything of the theft. In that moment I was really angry and since then I have to say unfortunately, my picture of the people in Cartagena clearly changed to negative. Probably I need right now for a while by no more in all types on the road to see a thief, but at present I am extremely suspicious of everyone.
so beautiful Cartagena is also of extreme tourism has meant that many of the people here are not interested in visiting for the people of Cartagena, but see in them only the money they part with them for the three free agents out of the bag try to pull (my impression). I come down somewhere, I will immediately receive three to five year old children and stumbled trying to beg for money. The kids can run but just know whose is to be had. Well ... in my case they're wrong there. But one question arises of who these children learn this?
Now I'm not on here to generalize completely, but the problems in this society to me now but in an unpleasant way more confident. It is to say a way that theft is common in a society marked by poverty, as long as you do not own is the victim of such. But well, the situation is as it is, is I've Colombia chosen, knowing that there are such things here and would not dream of it, so cancel my volunteer service. And I can say once again: "Again learned" You simply can not afford to be careless, because that could very quickly have unpleasant consequences. I write this not to other potential volunteers afraid to make and maybe the idea to bring to Colombia to go. Rather, I hope that this or that may fall just learn from my experiences and just careful. Colombia is nevertheless a great country, a country with many problems, yes. But also a country full of beauty, adventure, challenges and passion.
But enough of that, finally, I'm intact and I goes so far as well.
Somehow Forh all times to get out for a few days in Cartagena, I am then on the twelfth of January set off by bus to Bogotá, where we should have volunteers from ICYE our mid-year camp. After 24 hours in the bus again, I returned to the host family, where I had spent the first month in Bogota and was re very welcome. The five day camp in a house in Chinauta, a small town two hours from Bogota, I felt very good. It was very important for all of us about the events and experiences of the last Months to exchange and share a little off. So again all that he or she is not the only or with difficult times and problems, but that we all sometimes have to walk through a valley before it goes uphill again. We spent much time talking and in the pool and enjoyed the few days.
Back from Camp I received then immediately be bad news. With Christian, a friend of mine from Berlin, I actually on 20 Wanted to come visit in January, was diagnosed two days before the flight, a very unusual broken leg, allowing him to make adventure course of four weeks holiday in Colombia. The planned joint Vacation, I had taken two weeks off, I will therefore shorten and now one week seem to be moving work. Currently I am in Tibasosa / Boyaca in Charlotte and Luisa, two other volunteers from Germany and I try quite successfully the best of the situation to make.
Boyaca is beautiful, the scenery is similar in many aspects of Andalusia and has a Mediterranean flair, if height and at 2800 meters. The days are hot and dry and the nights are fresh. One evening we went to Tunja, the capital of the department of Boyaca, and were invited by a friend of a friend to stay in the estate of his family. When I the farm and the surrounding area the next morning saw light at staggered me nearly speechless in front of enchantment. Green hills and valleys as far as the eye, cypress and pine forests, small white houses and the air is so fresh and clear Underbar. I'm now in love with this landscape and tend to the famous mountain-sea issue currently heavily towards the mountains. Last night we went to Tibasosa and were now walking up a mountain from which they had made a magnificent view of the plateau and surrounding mountains. Well, and since my two hosts in the morning and have to work dementsprächend time went to bed, I wanted to grab his chance with both hands and once again a Write a review (which could perhaps be more difficult in future for lack of computers). Photos from this entry, it will be later, as the Internet con is too slow to upload.
you I hope you are all well and that I am with you this lovely article, a fairly accurate picture of events could give the last one and a half months.
you let it go!
Besos!
