Medellin

Christian made it in, we walked down the street had some beers then got something to eat. It was 11pm when we got back to our room, so we forced ourselves to sleep. This morning we checked out and cabbed to the terminal and caught us a bus to Medellin. It cost 37 million pesos about $20. It was the nicest bus i had ever traveled on. Plenty of leg room, not too cold like we were told it would be. The driver was a bit suicidle passing big rigs up hill on blind corners, barely making it back into our own lane. We came in at 9:00pm i tried calling Carolina, but i think i got an answering machine? I will try her again tomorrow. I do not know what there is to do here in Medellin, hopefully enough to keep us here until Sunday as i have found a bar that will be showing the Super Bowl. I would like to get up north to the coast and do some diving. I think we may try and make it to the Galopogas Islands too?

buenas dias Muchacho´s

I forgot to mention, and don´t know if this is why but Bogota is 8600 feet above sea level. I noticed that my ears did not plug and pop as we decended and landed. I do notice the altitude in my stomach and my heart is being over worked and i find it difficult to breath after walking only a short distance. Phew iam out of breath just typing that.
I had taken a little nap yesterday so figured i would be wide awake at 7am this morning, i finally dragged myself up at 11:00. That is still Buenas dias though. I don´t think i can blame it on jetlag since it is only a three hour time difference, but i was wiped out when i got here. I am pretty impressed with the coffee here at the hostel, plus it is free. I got a message and Christian will be here tonight around 9:30 pm and we will leave for Medellin in the morning. I also got word that i have been hired for three months by the Washington Fish and Game dept. Starting Mid March. Woo Hoo for me.
I spoke with a couple of NY kids who have been traveling through Columbia for three weeks now, they say they have felt perfectly safe, and that the people are very friendly. The gave Medellin and the north high marks too.
I walked around a bit in the afternoon and evening. There is a university near by so there are lots of young peeps around. the area reminds me a bit of a cross between Bangkok only way less people and way less diry, and Spain only way more people and way dirtier. I am headed down to check out Bolivardo del toro, AKA the park.

Donde Esta Bogota

made it no problems, I had three seats to myself on the plane from SFo to El Salvador and slept the whole way. From El Salvador to Costa Rica i was at the window in an exit row with about ten feet of extra leg room. The last lef of the flight i had an empty seat next to me, put them all together and it was like sitting in first class. El Salvador and Costa Rica reminded me of the CIA, planned coudeta´s and drug smuggling. Bogota looks similiar to Bangkok, but with twice as less people and cars and not nearly as dirty, there was no trash lying around all over. But it was the same in the fact that there would be tall buildings, 10 story apts, then cows grazing in the ajoining lot.
We got in a wreck in the cab on the way to the hotel, little fender bender. I sat in the cab while the driver and the guy that hit him yelled at each other. The drive got back in cursed under his breath and then did made a cross across his chest all Catholic style, i guess he should have done that earlier.
the guest house is clean and good enough for me, i like the owners as he decided i should have a coffee and a beer before i check in. He says it is safe to walk around durring the day, but to treat it like any big city, just use your head and do not believe when people come up and tell you they are the police.
Christian is not here yet but hopefully he shows up tomorrow.

A lunch date with Juan Valdez

in about 12hours i will be stepping out for a bit. I am headed down to Columbia. Not the Sonora Columbia, or the river that separates Oregon and Washington, but the Country of Columbia. I will be down and around there until March 5th. I know, I know I will be careful. I have never been scared of anywhere i have traveled, but i am just a teency weency bit nervous, and afraid of running into the ELN or FARC and having my gold fillings ripped out with pliers. I hope they at least allow me to rub coco leaves on my gums to numb them first. I am sure i will be fine. I can't guarantee photos but i will do my best at keeping everyone posted on what i am up to and what is going on via Myspace and travelwithbon.blogspot.com
I sure wish i took Spanish in school instead of dumb old German. I wonder how far i can get with "dos cervesa porfavor" and "uno mas taco"