Back again, Goodbye at last. Que Viva Colombia !
Trip Start
Nov 24, 2007
1
35
49
Trip End
May 15, 2008
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Cartagena,
Colombia
Thursday, March 27, 2008
With the excitement of the trip however, leaving Colombia comes with mixed emotions. Bittersweet. After a country that has been so good to us it is hard not to become sentimental. Especially when our trip is four months complete now. I was thinking of writing some sort of 'Colombia Highlights' entry but I really can't think of any way to order it. Especially when there are so many things we didn't have time to see. More than anything everything was in one way or another a favorite experience. I will surely miss the people, their generosity and unforgettable smiles, the various genres of music heard everywhere here and the way it is all intertwines with the way that people live.
Even the pop here is delicious.
I'll miss the traditions, the noise, the hustle and bustle in the streets, how people are out and about until very late into the night. I'll miss the gorgeous landscapes and the scenic wonders that continue to impress. Seemingly, the more you discover, the more there is to be discovered! I'll miss the road side vendors and fruit stand ladies who made it their livelihoods to whip up the best fruit smoothies ever. I'll miss arepas con queso from the guy in Getsemnni. 50 cents for a fill of pure goodness and how he makes it his life to create the best Arepas in existence. Day in, day out, all over again. I'll miss Caseros, mani mote, jugos de banano and arroz con coco, bread with guanabana and cheese, platano maduro, patacones... I'll also miss the great Crepes and Waffles, the Colombian restaurant chain that blends the sophisticated feel of Starbucks, the flavor of a Ben and Jerry's, and the excellent food of fine dining in a rediculously affordable way. All brought to you by employed single mothers. (I wouldn't be surprised if it ever makes its way to the U.S.) I'll miss the art and culture, the unpredictability of life and everyday happenings, the perseverence of a people after a history ramshackled in violence. I'll definitely miss how the streets are dirty and not everything is aesthetically manicured and clean, like 'living' is constantly on display. People could learn a lot by that I think. Happiness is so much more than the things you have, the way stuff looks or what you have accomplished in life. I'll miss a lot of things...I've also learned in my short life of travelling that you can judge the development and size of a county's tourism industry by the quality of its t-shirts and postcards. Easily put, if they have postcards that are 20 year old pictures and t-shirts that nobody would want to wear - which both suck in Colombia, then you know the industry is either very young, not very significant or both. For me, that is a good thing. Right now, the people of Colombia are open-armed and inviting however I wouldn't doubt that after 10 years of dealing with an influx of tourists, they'll probably realize that wished it were back the way it use to me, how it is now.
For now though, I had better go take advantage of the last few ticking hours...
Goodbye from Colombia.
