Sep 25th, 2008
Moving on from Medellin
Flickr set with latest goings-on is here.
What’s our Vector, Victor?
I am ready to move on from Medellin. I’ll be catching a bus back to Bogotá early on Friday morning. From there I’ll have five days in Bogota to spend time with friends, and then it’s back to Lima for a little bit before heading on to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Why Lima again, you ask? Two reasons. For one, it was inexplicably cheaper to buy a return flight from Lima to Bogotá when I first came to Colombia and will be cheaper to fly to Buenos Aires from Lima rather than Bogotá. Already got the ticket, may as well use it. Secondly, I’m looking forward to seeing Gaby again. She ended up being a better friend than anyone I met in Colombia.
Speaking of Friends
I’ve been gone long enough now (three and a half months) that I have occasions where I miss seeing my friends back home. It’s usually simple things such as drinking a High Life while Andrew does woodworking, going for a car ride to get Jimmy Johns, and then getting home to the evil beagle attacking me for no reason before he ruthlessly devours my napkins. Or perhaps walking to get Mexican food in Chicago with Dan or Amy. Or going with a group of people to the Living Room Lounge. Maybe a ride around Dad’s lake on the Jet-Ski.
Medellin Round Up
The Colombian Flakiness has not subsided. I’m fine with it now because I simply don’t expect anyone to ever actually keep a date they make. It’s a bonus when they do.
This past week has been pretty tranquil, overall. Nothing particularly crazy has happened, but I’ve enjoyed spending time with some new friends here.
Let’s tell the story with pictures:
Colombian Hospitality
Brent and I met a mom and her two daughters and got invited to their apartment for a day of tennis, swimming, and hanging out with the family. They lived with the two younger brothers and grandma. Mom cooked lunch and dinner! I later taught the twelve year old brother how to play guitar and we all went bowling. It was fun.
Dancing on Colombian Valentine’s Day
My friend Amelia, who I met through previously-mentioned Mark, invited me to join her and three friend to go out on the Dia del Amor y la Amistad, which is pretty much Valentine’s Day except it’s celebrated in September here in Colombia. We went to a big bar/dancing spot called Babylon and they gave all the girls light-up devil horns. Also fun.
Some Dude Gives Us a Mouse
I met up with my graphic designer friend Monica (she designed a bunch of shirts on sale in the clothes section of Exito) and a group of friends and we went to a park. I liked the park very much and am disappointed I am only now finding out about it right before I have to leave. Some dude made a little wire rat for me and a roach clip for Monica. Some other dude gave us a mouse, which was arguably the highlight of the evening. Monica named him “Stuart.”
Guitar Case / Probable Bomb or Contraband
Finally, I have constructed a ridiculous box/coffin to carry my guitar in with me to Lima out of six other boxes given to me by the grocery store. It is heavy and will be unwieldy to carry, but should look funny if nothing else as the skinny guy walks through the airport with backpack, duffel bag, and monster box. I will be amazed if this thing doesn’t raise suspicion or get me searched.
Gotta pack now! Here’s the Flickr set.
Nathan, you need a handle for that box. A piece of rope properly secured might do it.
Duly noted, J-Grom. In fact, I already made a half-assed strap out of some nylon straps I brought with me. I didn’t know why I would need nylon straps when I left West Lafayette, but it is now obvious. Great minds, my friend.
See here:
Is that a guitar, or an albatross? You are just one accordion away from getting laid every night in Eastern Europe.
Damn you, Stiles.
The guitar almost got left here, actually. However, there’s a doctor in Lima that wants it. Ole Red goes no further than that.
Now, accordion in Eastern Europe… That is an idea!
I noticed you were also wearing the devil horns…yet they were for the ladies. They must have thought you were just too pretty to not get one.
Awwwwwwwwww so sweet… mua!
mua!
You know what I think and feel….. thanks for your words cariño. I am looking for to see you again too…cant wait!!!
Mmmmm… now I want to eat some Los Tres Panchos at 8:12 am.
Hey Nathan I put your link on my travel blog, if you like my blog feel free to put my link of your blog.
Nice travels yo have going.
I have been in the Middle East for the last year, it is good traveling out here, also.
please tell me you ate at Mario Bros. fast food instead of just walking past it, and that when you went inside all they served were mushrooms and spicy flowers that made you shoot fire.
missing your friends? at least you have one friend with you…rosey palmer. some things just don’t change.
Well look who’s reading this thing, Kerkhoff! Don’t you need to go put some mentholated Gold Bond on the boys or something?
I’ll wait here with the quiet comfort of Rosey. No one can take her away from me.
Rosey Palmer?…. the best friend uh? LOL … easy to understand in every language!
In Bogota, do the phones work like Brent has illustrated here in Medellin? Speak into the microphone whilst firmly grappling your nut sac. — At first glance I thought those light-up horns were psd’ed on. Then, I remember your missing Adobe’s goodness and knew them to be genuinely illuminated representations of satan’s theorized protrusions. — If only you had a striped pair of tube socks and a headband to have accompanied that tennis racket. Hello Nike endorsement!
Your taking those nylon straps is akin to the Boondock Saints and their rope. Well, the one guy wanted the rope. But the other soon learned how handy it would become, especially when confronted with 11 (or was it 12) Russian mob guys? Booyah!
No, make it nine . I owe you a latte.
excellent post but your web page loading very gradual
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