Bernardo from Yellowstone lives here!

Bernardo is a co-worker of mine from Yellowstone national park in 2004.  We have kept in contact via email over the years and he has been super helpful with information regarding Colombia.   I stayed with Bernardo and his family for a couple days when I came to Cali.  Cali is Colombia's 3rd largest town and really does not have the many things to see.  Cali is the mecca of Salsa and everyone grows up dancing it.   I have Salsa-ed my way through central America but Cali is where the local people are pros!  

Bernardo and Vivana (his girlfriend)

      Bernardo`s occupation is a safety inspector much like Homer Simpson.   Since this is his job.......Bernardo is very careful to be safe.  He was always telling me that my activities are very dangerous. But I know he does this because he loves me.....  Anywho.... living with Bernardo`s family for a couple day was great experience.   His mother cooked me food, took me shopping and help me find my way around the city.   Since she speaks no English and my Spanish is basic at best... communication was challenging but fun.  She was always very concerned about me getting ripped of or mistreated and was always asking how much I paid.  

La Casa

       Once particular night I wound up in a Casino playing black jack with English Dan and German Adam.  I'm not much of a gambler but as the free whiskey kept coming, I kept winning.... it was crazy I think I won like13 hands in a row!  I ended up making 40 bucks and drinking alot of  expensive whiskey.  Since I had such good fortune I tried to buy  drinks for our gang but booze was free anyway!

        After the casino Bernardo and his girlfriend Viviana took me out to salsa dance and meet their friends. Of course they were all ridiculously nice and keen to practice their English.   Later that week I managed to run into English Dan and German Adam who were also staying with some Colombians.  We all met up on Saturday morning to go to Viviana´s farm.

    I must admit I was not that excited about going to a random farm.... but when we arrived I was blown away.  Vivianna´s farm was really a gigantic country house.  The house was huge!  It sat on 4 acres of an exotically landscaped jungle.  The pool was hotel sized with a built in bar.   We spent the day barbecuing, swimming and playing soccer.  She even had  bunch of parrots that spoke more Spanish than me! 

Entry into country house

     It was great to get off the backpacker trail and hang with only Colombians.   I would love to come back to Cali and work on my spanish and salsa dancing.

Football

Bernardos work friends

Americano!

More friends

Dont ask

Bernado and his girlfriend Viviana

Gang

At a Salsa club

Friends

German Adam and Stephanie, check out his clothes!

Pool

Pool

4 legged swimmer

Gang