The colorful side of Colombia
Trip Start
Mar 14, 2004
1
69
227
Trip End
Ongoing
Santa Marta,
Colombia
Monday, January 31, 2005
Well, I donīt think it would be appropriate to come to Colombia and not even mention one of their top export products; cocaine. Itīs everywhere! Itīs easy to get, high quality, and cheap. In 1999, Colombia exported about 460 tons of the stuff, bringing billions of dollars into the country and representing a significant portion of their GDP. My European friends say that cocaine is about 80 euros or about $100 per gram. I think itīs also about $100 a gram in the US. Here, itīs about $4 or $5 per gram and itīs pure cocaine straight from the jungle labs. You can get it on almost any corner ... from the guy thatīs selling coffee to the woman mixing natural fruit juices. As the product makes its way around the world, it becomes less and less pure as other things are cut into it to make the cocaine go further. So cocaine fans here rave about the wholesome goodness of Colombian cocaine just like an athlete promotes their favorite vitamin fortified cereal. Cocaineīs effect on people is also fun to observe. I saw a shy British guy with little knowledge of spanish having a lively conversation with a Colombian girl. "I thought you couldnīt speak spanish?" I asked. "Itīs OK, Iīm fluent now." Hmm, perhaps cocaine is whatīs missing in our education system.
My hotel is Hotel Miramar, one of the cheapest places in town and a backpacker ... and drug user ... magnet. Drugs are used openly and freely in the bedrooms, dormitories, and on the roof. The place is full of people from everywhere including Colombian girls that have come here from other cities to walk the streets for "clients". In fact, most of my friends ...the people I talk to the most, eat dinner with, hang around with, and go to the bars or discotechs with, seem to be European coke heads and Colombian prostitutes. Itīs an eclectic mix; from the German girl that has voices in her head to Maria, the sweet 20 yr. old Colombian girl in the dorm bed next to mine that is a prostitute(yes, business is conducted elsewhere), to the Europeans and Israelis having 40 hour party days. So what the hell am I doing here? Well, I quite like the place actually. I get to use more spanish here than anywhere before so itīs good practice. Plus, Carnaval is right around the corner. I decided a while ago that I wouldnīt make it to Rio in Brazil for Carnaval but there is a "famous" Carnaval here in nearby Barranquilla, just a couple hours away. So I am just waiting to pack up and go there in a couple days. I also visited a Finca, or farm, recently and stayed for a few nights. I was the only tourist there and the owners and the food were great.
