Sorry, Pen and Mum. I did actually write this a week ago – and thought it had posted. Apparently not. And only a little bit was saved as a draft – so here goes again…
30 Nov – got up this morning, and got myself a beer. And breakfast. Then, some more cervezas and sitting in the sun. Finally checked out, and walked into town. Stupid hot sunshine and stupid big pack and stupid long walk. Then, some internet, and watch the Black Caps thrash South Africa. Lunch – with some decent barbequed meat. At last. A couple of potatoes as the vegetable side of things. More cerveza. Eventually get a colectivo to Tunja. Buy a bus ticket to Santa Marta, but discover I’m low on cash. My Quito spending habits seem to have stuck with me. Quick taxi to the centro, get some cash, and back to bus station. Buy bus ticket, and then drink cerveza while waiting. Bus to Bucaramanga.
So, arrive at Bucuramanga at 3am 01 Dec. Bus to Santa Marta leaves at 3am. But I have to wait until 7am. Dumb. Try to figure out a way of sleeping at the bus station without having my stuff nicked. Then, soon after 4 – the lady comes to find me, and tells me I can get on a bus at 4:30. Sweet. Dodgy arrangement of getting on a bus to somewhere else – which takes me to where a bus is waiting on the side of the street. All to avoid the bus station taxes/fees, I think. Anyway – got myself a bus to Santa Marta.
Arrive in aforementioned Santa Marta – and undecided on where to stay. Research at internet cafe. Still undecided. Decide to go to the first place the taxi driver assumes I want to go. Casa de Felipe, in Taganga – a small village just outside of Santa Marta proper. With a beach which isn’t too polluted. Book into the hostel – and walk around the village. Which takes about 5 minutes. Fresh seafood for dinner. Sweet.
02 Dec starts with a swim in the Caribbean. And then not much else. Drinking cerveza in a hammock while reading a book, with a couple of breaks to eat seafood.
03 Dec – similar to 02 Dec. But I also accomplish something. Book a tour to the Lost City – Ciudad Perdida. Go to dinner with some folks from the hostel, and return to the hostel well past a sensible bedtime for somebody starting a trek tomorrow. And also with far too many cervezas under the belt to be sensible for the same trek.
I’ll write about the actual trek next time. When I’ve got more energy. But – I’m back safe and sound. And considering another trip into places where there is no internet or other such things. This time – for beaches.