Day 8 - Chiva Bus - yo quiero mas ron!

Looks like you are in for a treat - KV is now taking over the blog. Last night, our entire group boarded a "Chiva" bus which can be best described as a Columbian party bus. Despite being told we NEEDED to do this, I don't think anyone knew what we were actually getting into. For some reason, the bus left without us on the first pickup try, but that gave us time to make up some fun nicknames such a Paco Bell, Ace Gordita, Margarita Zapatos Pantalones, Gatita Negrita, Joker Chalupa, Esmeralda Quesadilla, and Jairo Romera. You can try to guess whose name is whose. Once we did a role call, we were off touring the city, listening to the band and our great MC, Wilson.  My first thought was the volleyball from Cast Away, too. To our surprise, some of our newly made friends from the Mud Volcano were on the bus. Good old Trenton with his 7-month beard and Linda. Our first order of business was to get some maraccas and make some nooooise. Then we stopped inside the city walls to take in the views and dance to some old school Columbian music. The Chiquita banana woman was on in full force and taught me a move or two. We arrived at the discotheque around 11 and took over the dance floor. I tried learning how to salsa and failed miserably. The highlight had to be Sireenah, Rachel and Kat on top of the bar, but for whatever reason, none of the non-Americans seemed to care. Guess their dance moves aren't that impressive down here. The "Chiva"  bus was an interesting and fun experience but can hold a candle to the Anderson Party buses. Tomorrow, we say goodbye to half of our crew and have one more day to explore the Old City and see the San Felipe Castle! 

Chiva Bus - Dinesh, Rachel, Sireenah, Kevin and Georgie

Taking a break from the bus to enjoy the views of Cartegena

Love my noise makers

Dance Party in the club

Sireenah, Kat and Rachel busting a move on the bar

Day 8 - Mud Volcano and Chiva Bus

Today started out with a early morning bus ride to the mud volcano. All along the planning process I have wanted to go to this mud volcano that our friends have raved about when they visited Categena. The bus driver pulls up to what look likes a huge ant hill and you climb these steep stairs to get to the top of the hill where you find a pool size pit of mud filled with people who one were a normal skin color and now they are grey/brown. We al waited in line for our turn to dip ourselves into the mud pit to experience the healing powers of the mud for ourselves. According to our guide we are supposed to look 10 years younger by the time we get out. We all hung out in the mud together and then walked down to lagoon to rinse off. After we were all fresh and clean again we took the bus to a beach for lunch and some more fun in the sun. After our excursion for the day we went back to our hotels and got ready for our last night in Cartegena. As Anderson students we couldn't leave this country without checking out the one and only Chiva bus = party bus.

Mud pictures to come!

Guest blogger Krishna is going to updates us all on the Chiva bus and one correction from our last blog I mixed up the last two islands. Playa Blanca was were we had lunch and Isle de Rosario was the beautiful white sand beach we stopped at mid way on our trip.

Day 7 - Boating to Island in Cartagena

Today we rented a private boat and traveled to the islands around Cartagena. We started off snorkeling at a private island where only Kevin and Georgie saw fish and the rest of us just floated around enjoying the sun and warm air. Then we headed off to Playa Blanca, one of the most beautiful beaches, with clear blue water. We spent some time in the water and met many locals selling us everything from lobster to necklaces. After we left that island we went to Playa Rosario, had lunch and spend the rest of our day frolicking in the water. At Playa Rosario we drank from coconuts, ate whole fish and had a wonderful time talking and laying out in the sun. Sine I know our parents are reading this I just want to let them know we have only had minor sun burns and have been using sunscreen diligently. After the last island we took the bumpy ride back to our port. Now back at the hotel I have caught up on our trip blog and am getting ready for dinner at the Cevicheria, another local must do. I will let you all know how it goes, hopefully tomorrow. However tomorrow we are doing the mud volcano which was on my must see list and the Chiva bus at night so it might take we a couple day to recover. 

In response to our commenters - we are having a great time and my parents are usually right about everything. Also we have seen a burger king but haven't gone in yet, maybe if I am feeling withdrawals from my crown I will find one and ask for the royal treatment!!

Playa Blanca

Loading our boat back up at Playa Blanc

Our lunch of fish, cocunot rice, and plantains

Jenn and Krishna drinking out of the coconut

Iile Rosario

On our way to the island, Jenn thought my swimsuit matched the water

Day 6 - Cartagena: Pool + Sun = happy

Since landing in Categena the weather has been amazing. 90 degrees and humid everyday makes everyone happy and ready to lay out at the pool. After all our exploring in Bogota and Medellin we decided we needed a day of realxaing and just layed by the pool, ordered drinks and went down our water slide. At night risked fate again and took cabs to down town to see Cafe del Mar. One cab got there smoothly and the other went through some sort of check point with every cab stopping and showing id. Luckily we made it through in enough time to catch the sunset and have a fun drink. After Cafe del Mar we walked around old town and then had dinner at a popular local restaurant called La Vitrola for Sarah's birthday. Afterward we went to a local hostel night club and promtly left after we discovered it was 5000 degrees inside and we needed to be up for our boat tour of the islands the next morning. 

Kat is the first one at the pool

Rachel and I at Cafe Del Mar

Day 5 – Bogotá – Gondola. Oro, and Aeroporte

On our last day in Bogota we had a lot to cover since the rain had slowed us down the day before. We started off the morning with a trip to Cerro de Moserrate. We took the funicular up the hillside 10,340 ft to the top of the mountain to see the sprawling city of Bogota. On the top of the mountain we visited the Basilica del Senor de Moserrate which is a destination for pilgrims and religious people. We had great sunny weather and toured around the local shops until afternoon when the gondola started up. We walked up and down the mountain trying to find the gondola ticket counter until we discovered tickets were sold at the cafeteria. We hopped onto a gondola and slowly moved down the mountain. A few hurks and jerks shock up the group a little bit but we avoided all melt down and made it successfully down the mountain. We hopped into cabs to go to the Museo de Oro or the gold museum. The gold museum was amazing and filled with lots of history of Colombia’s rich past. Thank goodness we did the Moserrate in the morning and the museum in the afternoon since we had another thunder and lightening storm while we toured around the museum. After the museum we headed back to our hotel to get our luggage and then go the airport. Lauren had reserved two vans to take us the airport one with Jenn and Katie and all the luggage and the other with the rest of the girls. On the way to airport our taxi driver decided to drive through the median to avoid traffic. Since all of you know it has been raining pretty hard in Bogota for the last couple days can guess what happened, we got stuck. All the girls wondering what he was doing since there were already two cars stuck in the mud asked our driver what was going on and how were we going to get to our flight. Our driver continued to spin the wheels of the van digging us further and further into the mud giving us no suggestions on fixing the issue. Lauren and I decided since we were wearing rain boots we would get out lessening the load in the van and try and do something since we had a flight to catch. Lauren quickly realized the van was going no where and we came up with a plan to hail taxi cabs. Only in Colombia can you hail taxis on the side of the freeway. Once I had gotten two cabs on my side of the road, Lauren yelled to the other girls to get out of the van and jump in the cabs. We got everyone into cabs and headed off to the airport. At the airport I found Katie and Jenn with all the luggage overly excited to see us. Katie told me that their driver did a few hand motions that looked like we had fallen into the earth and where no longer in our cab. Thinking we had gotten into an accident she was overjoyed to see all of us laughing at the situation that had unfolded. We were all alive and with one more story to add to our public transportation book we checked into our flight and headed to Cartagena. Once we reached Categena we met up with the other group, Krishna, Sarah, and Lucy and Allen. That night we explored the old town and head our own dance party at a local club!

 Cerro de Moserrate - The church on top of the hil

Girls picture on top of the mountain

The Gold Museum 

An Exhibit at the Gold Museum

Sarah, Rachel, KAt and I at the Cartagena night club

Day 4 - Bogota - Rain, Botero and lots of laughs

Today was our first day in Bogota and we decided to go check out Parque 93 and the Candelaria area. After a walk around Parque 93 and a cup of Juan Valdez coffee we took taxies out to the Candelaria area. As we were driving it started to rain so hard we couldn’t even see through the window to see the motor cycles and cars darting around us. We finally arrived at the Museum de Botero just in time for the rain to really start pounding down and the thunder booming. After we walked around the museum we decided to go check out the town and see the State Capital and the first Church where mass was conducted in Bogotá. We explored the city a little and then ducked into a restaurant for quick lunch and then venture back out in to the rain.  We saw more of the architecture around the city, tried a local delicacy called Chocolate Complete which was Hot Chocolate, cheese and bread and even witnessed an amazing sight … A McDonalds Deliveryman. Kat literally chased the deliveryman down the street to get a picture which the local security guards thought was hilarious. The Hot Chocolate sounded pretty gross to me but the other girls really liked it. I volunteered to pick out the pastries and ended up trying four new delicious desserts. After our tour of Candelaria was over we took taxies to a bar Lauren read about in a New York Times Article. Kat, Jen, Katie and I ended up in a cab with an address written on a piece of paper that literally didn’t exist. The paper said Calle 276 but Bogota only goes to Calle 230. Luckily,  Kat remembered that my B’s look like 6’s and we headed to 27B. On our way we ended up in a lot of traffic. I thought this would be a good time for we to share my Spanish knowledge with the group and tell them the word for traffic, embottelmente. Both the girls and the driver literally laughed out loud and said no it is not it is traffico. When we got home tonight though we looked it up and I was half vindicated when we found out that embotellamiento means traffic jam. I am still fighting fighting for full vindication but according to Katie my pronunciation is off. I guess I really should have listened to my parents and applied myself more in Spanish class. However when we got to the bar it was closed. Not ones to be discouraged we found a near by destination that served delicious mojitos and even had a two for one special on Monday.  After our drinks we went back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. Lauren picked out a local steak house that was recommended by a classmate. The food was delicious and they gave me a crown and a sash and called me the queen of the house. So of course I loved it. After dinner we headed back to the hotel and talked before heading to bed.

The local McDonald's Deliveryman 

The location of the first Mass in Bogeta

One of the favorite paintings from the Botero Museum

Vivien, Jen, Lauren and I with our Hot Chocolate

My dancing skills at dinner that won me my sash and crown!!

Day 3 – Last Day in Medellin

On our last day in Medellin we wanted to check out the Gondola ride to Avia and the Botanical Garden. We set out back to the Metro Station but this time we were much better prepared and didn’t even get lost or ask for directions once!!! We took the Metro to the Gondola and then rode the Gondolas up the hillside to see the entire sprawling city of Medellin. The ride gave us all an incredible perspective of just how large the city is and the location of the city in the valley. Once we reached the top of the mountain we walked around a local market and tried local foods from empanadas to caramels to tropical fruits. After we were done on the mountain we took the gondola back down and rode the Metro to the Botanical Garden. After a quick lunch at the Botanical Garden we started exploring the park, lagoon, and orchid sanctuary. After we strolled through the park we walked outside to find a pack of cheerleaders practicing their moves in the middle of the entry. Lauren and I purchased the delicious looking fruit cups from the street vendors and we all watched the cheerleaders do their moves until in started to rain and we headed back to the Metro. Once back at the hotel we decided to check out one of Jairo’s recommendations and see one of Medellin’s malls. The mall was so large we had to split up to take it all in Kat, Katie, and Jenn explored the food court and McDonalds to see what Colombian McDonalds has to offer while the rest of us shopped the stores. Now we are waiting for our flight to Bogota and explore a whole new city!!!

Gondola ride up to Avia - Kat and Sireenah had to pretend it was a ski lift

The view on Gondola

The girls at the Botanical Garden

The lagoon at the Botanical Garden

Day 2 - Dulce Jesus Mio

After our busy day yesterday we all met up for a delicious dinner at a local steak restaurant in Medellin. Not only did the meal start with three rounds of appetizers we got bibs to wear with our main course. Luckily Rachel reminded me that I was still wearing mine as we were leaving or else I would have spent the rest of the night rocking it at the discothèque. After dinner we ventured out to a recommended nightspot called Dulce Jesus Mio. We figured any nightclub with the word Jesus in it was worth checking out and as we pulled up to the place we were not disappointed. The building was covered in Christmas lights and there was a giant Santa Claus on the roof. Once we got in the put us at a table with Batman as our waiter. The club was almost too amazing to put into words. The waiters were dressed like cartoon/super hero/crazy people and they had clowns walking around making balloon hats while everyone danced around on the chairs and tables. We thought we weren’t going to know any of the songs that the band was playing until the Chicken Dance came on and then the Macarena followed it up. Who knew you could come all the way to Colombia and still experience the music from a bad wedding…  If we thought the club was crazy we were in for an even bigger surprise when we went to the bathroom (just check out the pictures below). 

Dinesh and Georgie rocking the bibs!!

Dulce Jesus Mio

Dulce Jesus Mio

Dulce Jesus Mio - What did we get ourselves into

Ducle Jesus Mio - The Bathroom!!

Day 2 in Medellin - Transportation Adventure + Statues, Shopping, and Spectacular Views = Good Times

Todays adventure started out with the seven of us trying to find the Metro station to get to Plaza Boterra. You would think that between all of us this would be no problem, but we ended up asking for directions four times in the span of 20 min, Rachel got attacked my a bug, and Kat made "friends" with a little dog. Once we finally made it to the Metro and got to Plaza Boterra we started our day of sightseeing. First stop was Boterra Plaza where we saw Boterra like statues, which from what I can tell just means rather plump women and oversized animals. Next we ventured into the shopping area to get a taste of the local life which is code for 3 asians and 4 white girls will not blend in. We got so sick of being stared at we immediately escaped the city and went to Cerro Nutibara. Cerra Nutibara is a small town on a hill that gave us almost 360 degree views of Medellin. We checked out the authentic town and tried authentic fruit smoothies and marshmallow taffy. After we appreciated the views we learned about the transformation of the city of Medellin in the past 10 years from a depressed place to a thriving metropolis through a philosophy of communication and movement. Its always fun to learn a few facts about the places you visit. After the museum we left Cerro Nutibara to try a lunch spot that Lauren found in our guide book called Le Bon (probably the only french restaurant in Colombia). Instead of testing our luck on the Metro again we decided to split up and take 2 taxies to the restaurant. Our taxi driver decided that he would just follow the other taxi to get us to Le Bon, which became very problematic when we had 3 non Spanish speakers with no guide book and no clue of the name of the restaurant in one taxi and the Spanish speaker  and all guide books in the other taxi. Luck was on our side though and we spotted the taxi as we approached the restaurant. At Le Bon we met and made friends with owner, Jairo. He gave us lots of information about the area and all the places we should check out. After lunch we walked around Poblado and shopped some of the local stores and then finally walked back to our hotel so we wouldn't push our luck mastering the local transportation. Tonight we are going to check out a popular restaurant and experience some more night life.

Katie and Lauren asking for directions while the rest of stand around hopelessly looking for the Metro

Jennifer, Lauren, Kat and I in front of one of the Boterra Statues

Boterra Statue

Authentic Medellin Shopping Area

View of Medellin from Cerro Nutibara

Lauren, Jennifer, Rachel, Kat, Vivian, Katie and I at Le Bon - I wish Jairo was in the picture!

First night out

Since we have been here we have encountered sun, rain, hail, thunder and lightning. However this did not stop us from venturing out into el poblado, ie the night life. We went and had dinner at a traditional colombia restaurant and tried empandas and arepas, both were wonderfully delicious!! After dinner we investigated the Colombian night life and ended up at a local Hooters. After our hooters experience we went to Office Liquor and had a few drinks and danced the night away. Tomorrow we are looking forward to learning more about Medellin and all the culture it has to offer.  

Day 1 - Arrived Medellin

Well we finally arrived in Medellin and we are so excited to get this trip going!!! We left LAX last night at 2 am and by 2 pm we had arrived in Medellin, made it through customs and even exchanged our money. We thought it was going to be smooth sailing when we headed out of the airport to grab taxis, but boy were we wrong. The taxi man at the airport recommended that we take a bus since we are such a large group. What he forgot to mention was the bus driver had no idea where our hotel was and basically drove us around town in circles for over an hour. Making things worse there was a freak hail, thunder and lightning storm that attacked the bus while we circled the city. Good thing the views coming into Medellin were so beautiful and the weather cleared up just in time for us to go explore the city.

Off exploring... talk to you soon!!

What to pack for highs of 85, lows of 50 and a couple thunderstorms?

Tomorrow we leave for Colombia and the emails of what to pack have already been flying around for a couple days. Weather.com says that we might encounter rain but I am not ready to admit to myself that it won't be sunny and warm on my very last Spring Break. Another challenge we are facing is the fact that other than celebrating Sarah's birthday and something about a mud volcano our itinerary is wide open. All this adds up to at least one super stuffed suitcase with everything from swimsuits to rain boots and seven super excited girls ready to take their last final and hop on the plane to start our adventure.

Follow along with our blog post to see all the excitement and hear about our adventure in Colombia!!!

Hopefully we packed the right stuff, really wish I had an app for this.