Saturday, June 21st, 2014

Last night I went to bed at 10:15, got up only once during the night, woke up at 5:50 and got up at 6:15.  Could it be because I had an early dinner and didn’t eat anything after?  Sounds like something worth trying again.

I finished packing my bag and walking past Viva CC a young man asked me if I speak English.  I told him I did but I wasn’t interested in any more Jehovah’s Witness information.  End of conversation.

I had my usual breakfast at El Comedor de Chava, and was at the store across the street from Viva CC by 9am.  The problem was that the store was closed so I had no place to sit.  I walked up the block to the bus stop and sat there for a few minutes until I noticed Teresa across the street.  I motioned for her to stay there and after a short wait I crossed the street to her side.  I took her to Mall Laureles where she ordered a little something to eat.  Ten minutes to 10 we went to the other end of the mall and they loaded us into a van with 8 other people and we were off exactly on time.

On the way I saw a couple of roadside tents advertising and selling Pringles potato chips.  There were several different colored cans so I assume they come in a number of different flavors.  Probably at least regular, Bar-B-Q, and lemon.

After an hour we stopped at a roadside diner named Parador Rancho Alegre with enough time so that people could get a snack.  I had an iced tea and Teresa had a mango juice and for 1mil she bought a just baked Almojabana just as we were getting back on the bus.  It was kind of tasty.  The name kind of sounds like almond and that’s kind of how it tasted.  However, Wikipedia says Almojábana is a type of bread made with cuajada cheese and corn flour.  It is typical of some South American countries and is a staple in Panama and Colombia, where it is sold in most bakeries. 

We left at 11:15, arrived at the hotel just before noon and I was able to pay the 60 mil per person fee right away.  I don’t like carrying cash around with me that I need to pay later to someone because If I should lose it somehow then I’m really screwed.  One of the World Cup games was on television in their lounge area and Teresa settled herself right in front of the TV to watch it while I changed into my swimming suit.  I put on a little SPF 50 sunscreen and she put some SPF 100 on her face.  It was obvious her mother had given it to her because it was in English.  She put on so much she looked like a ghost.  I told her she put on too much and she needs to rub it in so it will be absorbed.

I swam a few lengths in their pool for a little exercise and about 1:30 we had lunch.  Unlike last time with my brother when they had a buffet, today they took our orders and brought the food to our table.  I had chicken soup, a small mixed salad, a few small baked potatoes and a piece of beef which actually was chewable and a mango juice.  Teresa had something similar.

I told her the snack that comes later isn’t anything special so I changed into shorts and sandals and we started walking the streets of Santafé.  It was really hot and today I made the decision I had no interest in coming back here again unless it’s just to hang out at the pool because I can’t take the heat.  We wandered into several stores where we found some piggy banks and I was surprised she didn’t want me to buy one as she told me she wants me to save all my change for future vacations.  Maybe she doesn’t like seeing me give my change to the poor.  We had some ice cream at the same place I’ve been to before with Beatriz and also with my brother.  While we were sitting there this strange looking man with a Mohawk haircut, tattoos and piercings showed us bracelets he was selling.  Teresa found a single strand one with the same colors as the Colombian flag that I bought for her for 6mil.

Just after 4:30pm I took her to the hotel my brother and I had explored – the Hotel Mariscal Robledo – but as soon as we stepped inside she told me it’s too expensive and she led me back outside.  

The flyer that advertises this day trip has Spanish on one side and English on the other.  In English it says “Arrival: Every day 7:00 p.m.” and in Spanish it says “Regreso: 7:00 p.m.” and I translated “regreso” to “return” or “come back” so I believed we would be back in Laureles by 7pm and Teresa would have plenty of time to get back home with me escorting her as usual part of the way.  So just before 5pm we headed back to the hotel.  We waited and waited and it became increasingly obvious we weren’t going to be leaving in order to get back by 7pm.  

Finally at 7:10 the bus driver showed up and we all climbed back into the bus.  At 8pm we arrived at Parador Rancho Alegre again and were told we would be there for 30 minutes.  Teresa bought us 4 almojabanas and a small coffee for me and a small Coke for herself.  It’s nice that she doesn’t expect me to pay for every little thing.  At 8:30 we were on our way again.  As we approached Medellin traffic got very heavy and we were barely moving as we merged with other traffic.

After some previous discussion, just before 9pm Teresa got out at the Floresta Metro Station so she could take the train all the way to Envigado (of course, having to make a transfer at San Antonio).  I got out on Avenida 80 a couple blocks from my apartment and was home just after 9pm.  Walking back to my apartment it was obvious there were some parties going on and I did hear a few firecrackers.

T-shirt of the day: Less is more.