Hotel Windsor Barranquilla

Boobs and Booze....and lots of each. This is the ultra simple explanation of Carnival in Barranquilla, where it is estimated that over 100,000 cases of rum and aguardiente (the local firewater) will be sold to quench the thirsty, frenzied crowd of thousands over four days of non-stop partying. And although some of the boobs on display may be fake, the alcohol definitely ...

... Academy Awards. Excellent fun was had, which somehow ended up with us partying on down in what appeared to be Barranquilla's red light district in a bar full of prostitutes (which we happened to stumble upon in our search for an open watering hole). Needless to say I woke up the next morning in Angie and Marci's spare room in desperate need of a Mackky D's! Since I'd already promised Machelle I'd go to the Monday parade with her, I ...

... interesting event. I felt like I had tapped into the pure Barranquilla culture, in the middle of an intersection at Barrio Abajo, at midnight on Sunday night. People were gathered, seemingly without order, but with an order that was understood well by the locals. Some drums were in the center of the intersection, being played by some kids. Columbiana beers and Aguardiente were making the rounds, and slowly the crowd began to build, adding more people in traditional ...

... about general good luck charms. Then I asked, about a good luck charm for the new house he just built. She explained that she had some horseshoes for good luck, which she would them wrap in ribbons, together with our collective names, which would bring good luck to my whole family. I agreed, and so she began wrapping ribbons of five different colors, around the horseshoe. Green for good fortune, red for prosperity, blue for good hope, and pink ...

... not based on fear, but following my heart? Am I independent, and do I add more to society than I receive? Do I make a difference in people's lives, either through inspiring them, kind words, actions, thoughts, or helping them in another form? Am I continuing to learn, and grow as an individual? Why am I thinking about success? I am thinking about success because right now I think I am successful, but I wanted to deconstruct this idea "success ...

... since there is no drainage system. Its especially bad in the poor neighborhoods, the get flooded. So right now the city is pretty much shut down, everyone is taking cover somewhere. In December and January is will be very windy here every day, with an average daytime/nightime temperature of 25*C. I will probably not experience this though, since I'm leaving December 16th. Yesterday I was just hanging out in my hotel room, when I ...

... happenes to me. So, I should make sure everything/everyone is happy, since it will also make me happy. I believe that happiness comes from the ability to make our own choices, which requires that we are conscious, aware, awake, and in our world, are given the resources as well. So, therefore, the right thing to do is to provide choices to people. Am I doing this? I am helping a few kids increase their choices - yes. How can I do more? 

... Sombrero, Un Veinte y un Vueltas, 21 circles, Sombrero, which is traditional and very nice. It was a nice fiesta. I got the chance to meet everyone again, like the coaches, and interns, and now I know everyone's name. Lets see, who was there. Shirly, Karen, Gabriel, Stephanie, Maria Bautista, Maria Alejandra (no), Nelsie, Carlos, Jorge, Jose Luis, Osman, Rafael, Betty, Daniel, Generoso, Natalia, and I think that's it. Anyway, terhe was a ...

... to be able to keep the diet that I want. On Friday, Maria Alejandra and I went to the La Paz barrio, where we have a soccer court and our program, so that I could see it, and meet the coaches, and other staff. Oh, I forgot to mention, there are little ant-like things everywhere in the apartment. A very organized group of insects, that move very quickly, in beautiful coordination, and discover all foods which are accessible to them. They ravaged my Persian dates ...

... a ridiculous amount of money, going to the local "laboratorio" where I had to pay a stern looking nurse with a rubber tube and a big needle to take my blood for testing, and finally photocopies of all these wonderful documents and my visa, which I was then told were unacceptable because I hadn't mastered the almost impossible task of getting all the documents copied onto the same page. At this point the lady at the office was treated to a few ...