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| Album - Medillin, Colombia |
The overnight bus to Medellin was uneventful for me as I slept most of the time.Youngmi said there was a police check in the night and all the bags were pulled out. She got out to keep an eye on the police.
Black Sheep hostel in Medellin was good. Lots of apartment blocks make Medellin look prosperous.
A walking tour of the city for 5 hours was a great success. Our guide had grown up in the city and said when we was at school much of the city was a no go area with bombings and shootings by Pablo Escobar and his drug cartel. Now much improved and big modern libraries have been built in most areas to encourage education instead of guns. He led us through the old centre which still looked very dodgy. Lots of locals staring at us. They are not used to tourists said our guide. In one area lots of low class cocaine being smoked-we were told.
There was an advert at the hostel for the Escobar family tour. Meet the family.
Another day metro to cable car station then with same ticket cable car up through three stations in the poor area. 5 minute walk through very lively streets to the library. Lots of locals using free computers -mainly for facebook as in the hostels.
Another ticket and cable car went on for 20mins up to a national park. Very nice and great view down to city. Risked one night out for dinner with Kathryn a Melbourne lady in Medellin for a few weeks. Went to the very smart Zona Rosa by taxi both ways. So many people.
Medellin was much better than expected and we then flew for $63 to Cartagena. Better than 14 hour bus ride. Cartagena red hot as expected but see not very blue. Old city nice and had recovered from Sir Francis Drake robbing the place in 1565 ish.
We were about to leave an Indian restaurant becuase we didnt have enough money. Pay what you have and enjoy yourselves said the manager. Very good idea.
Safe inside old city after dark so we stayed there.
Big modern hotels a bit like surfers paradise down the road. Two had all inclusive packages for $100 a night but terrible reviews on Trip Adviser.
Minibus for 5 hours to Taganga near Santa Marta. Followed other passengers into Casa de Felippe hostel which was a very good move.Gardens, terraces and a fantastic filet mignon cooked by the french chef and cheap beer.Three days of swimming, lying on the nice sandy beach ,clearing away street dogs and watching for robbers a pleasant change. Had dinner with Evelyne and Stefan who we were surprised to find had been in town for a week diving.
6 month dinner tonight.Filet mignon I guess.
In the heat of the day spent ages on the internet booking our flight to New York for 14 May, a hotel in New York for 5 days Pan American and a two week intrepid trip New york, Washington, Niagara,Quebec, Boston and places in between
Fly to Manchester to arrive Monday afternoon 3 June.
We have also spent heaps of time communicating with Peter in Melbourne who is very kindly helping us to apply for a replacement citizenship certificate for Youngmi and gathering lots of documents for the subsequent full passport application. So much paperwork.Thanks Peter and enjoy the Shiraz expo at Dan Murphys on Sunday.
Thanks also to Columbus direct insurance who have paid out our insurance claims from the robbery and noted their will be further costs for the passport.
Back to the beach for my 5pm swim
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