South America

DOLE, Colombia's biggest export

We all know that Colombia's biggest export is fruit. I mean, what else do they make in that country?

The picture is from the beach just across from downtown in Santa Marta, on the Northern Colombian coast. After ridiculing this beach for over an hour the day I took the picture for its seeming uncleanliness, I hopped in the water the next day, regardless of the huge port and Dole ships in view.

I figure, if I can swim in Coney Island and Staten Island with the big ships, then why not South America?

Stencil Graffiti Trash Can

A pic snapped just across from the Museum of Gold in downtown Bogota - Trash cans done in stencil graffitit. Pretty cool stuff, I had no previous idea that Bogota was going to be as hip and glamorous as it actually was. Whilst I was there, they had a gay pride parade and where gearing up to host an electro-clash funk festival, all paid for by the city. Not standard fare for South American cities, by any means. The museum of gold, which I have no pictures of, was also pretty fantastic. At the end of the museum visit, a sliding half-moon electric door opens up and puts you in a musical lightshow of thousands of gold pieces. It is pretty over the top, but well worth the free admission on Sundays. Ummm - Cuidemos? Is that the imperative of nosotros? I did not know that was even possible.

Nuff said

Nuff said about this pic, taken just outside the old city in Cartagena.

Also, I just noticed that my category for this post says Columbia travel, instead of Colombia travel. I believe I should change that, immediately. Sorry for my Ameri-centristness.

Yes, the people on the coast are just a bit larger.

RUMBA EN CHIVA!

RUMBA! DANCE! PARTE! GET DRUNK AND FALL OUT OF A MOVING VEHICLE!

What you see (not too clearly, thanks to my overexposing stupidness) on your right is a Chiva, or Colombian partymobile. This one is in Cartagena, but they are all over the country, and are even popular in Ecuador. The idea is this -

Pay 12 bucks, get on at 8, get served tons of crappy food and booze, party with a live band, get totally silly, and get dropped off at a club with your new best friends to dance the night away some more.

I love it, but it is with deep regret I have to admit that I didn't actually ride in one, even in my months of travel through Chiva-controlled territories. Unfortunately, travel plans and bad illness pretty much took Chivas out of the picture for a while, as it sometimes happens with long-term travel. Something to go back for, however. VIVA LA CHIVA!

How to make your own coffee, from the tree to the cup

Ne'er have I made a good cup of coffee in my life, even with modern coffee making equipment. I think that is what motivated me, whilst travelling in the Colombian coffee region (about 8 hours by bus from Bogota, take Bolivariano, trust me) to attempt the unheard of:

CREATE MY OWN COFFEE FROM THE VERY BERRIES THAT COFFEE COMES FROM, by hand. Did I succeed in making a potable caffeinated beverage?
If you have never heard of anyone doing this, do read on...

How to keep the Vallenata coming from overseas

Vallenata is awesome, if only because your friends will hate it. It is the kind of music that neighbors you hate play. Now, it is time for me once again, to be that neighbor.

I picked up a healthful liking for this coastal Colombian music while travelling up there, and now found that I can have it all day long if I want, right here in the states, and for free.

http://www.lavallenata.com/

amazing what technology will do.

Jews?

Gramma, are you etching stained glass windows in South America again?

Seriously, I took this picture of a house in a tiny pueblo called Salento in the coffee region in Colombia. There couldn´t be a place geographically and politically further from where Jewish People might hang out. How, I ask you, then did this happen?

We have found Jewish relics all over South America. From Jewish stars on houses at the Colombian coast to a cemetery in a tiny colonial town in the center of Bolivia, it seems the Jews where, are, or will be - everywhere in South America.

Grandma will be happy to know that in the course of 8 months of South America travel, I´ve hung out with more Israelis and Jewish people than I would have in the same period of time in Chicago, hands down. SHECKET BAVAKA SHAAA or something.

Juan Valdez, found

GOT YOU, Juan Valdez! Take that!

Spotted Juan chillin on the corner of the plaza in our little coffee town. He had a niiiice machete, too.

If this man isn´t a living ad for travelling to the coffee region, who is?

WILLYS

WILLYS are old jeeps from the 40s and 50s. In the Colombian Coffee Region (think Juan Valdez), they are still alive and kicking.

Big up to our man Guy, the solo travelling Israeli man, who makes the best Maracuyá shakes this side of Armenia. Ladies, he might be available, so keep a look out...

Nature, I now respect you

Mothers teach respect, and Mother Nature is no different. Pachamamma here in South America has beaten me silly, but now I know why. I finally respect, instead of fear, wild wild nature.

aint she a beaut? (we´re all looking at the Wax Palms of the Colombian Coffee Region. Check out this one - The General Sherman).