Captivated by Colombia

• My heart breaks as I write this.
• After a month in the wonder that is Colombia, it is time to move on.
• I shall forever cherish the magic of the past month.
• I started in Bogota, the capital city, which is BEAUTIFUL Set high up in the mountains, the student area where I stayed in is a slice of exquisite colonial architecture, surrounding by lush green mountains, fresh air, and a general atmosphere of welcoming, warmth and loveliness.
• After that, I moved up north to Cartagena, a romantic and magical Spanish colonial city on the Carribean coast.
• Ostensibly, I thought I´d base myself somewhere fabulous where I could stop and learn Spanish - not being able to communicate has been driving me crazy, as you can all imagine!
• But my lessons lasted only about a week, after which I decided I had enough basic vocab down to throw myself into conversations and bumble my way through, learning as I go.
• While on the coast, I travelled around a bit - the highlight of which was Playa Blanca, a glorious Carribean island with no running water, no electricity, hammocks for beds, and delicious fresh fruit, fish and seafood for every meal.
• It´s so hard to encapsulate the incredible month that I´ve just had! The Carribean coast is wonderful - people here are SO FRIENDLY! Warm and kind and laid-back and chatty... there seems to always be a fiesta happening somewhere, dancing in the streets, drinking and laughing everywhere...
• I have also been blessed with my Cartagena family - travellers and Colombians alike - all of us reconnecting time and time again in a hostel that became like a home.
• I shall miss Señor Everything and Super Mario, who hung out on the street corner daily and nightly, somehow learned my name, and were always full of smiles and bargain-offers... :)
• I shall miss the set lunch and dinner menus - a choice of fish, chicken or beef soup, followed by fish, chicken or beef done in about 10 different ways, with rice, beans, salad and a drink - all for under $3.
  
• I shall miss the casino across the street, with loud music and happy people milling about outside all day and all night...
• I shall miss the Historical City Centre, with its 500 year-old Fortress walls, its balconies overflowing with bougainvillias, its colourful and beautiful homes - alive with life and concerts and people and salsa music...
  
• I shall miss the Plaza up the street, where you can get beers, delicious street food, fresh fruit juices and cocktails until the wee hours...
• I shall miss the heat, the daily sunshine, the evening breeze, the sounds of laughter everywhere...
• I love Colombia. I feel like I have left a part of me there... forever.