tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76716640699101165302024-02-19T17:17:33.917-08:00(AMONN)A student utilizing travel and living abroad across Colombia, North Africa, Middle East, and Central Asia as his classroomKevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-8758003752303552452010-12-05T20:33:00.000-08:002011-05-27T18:20:37.212-07:00Coming soo...eventually?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3A1xWvCwZYa85qbo1_D82hydpnhevcVcQHzKBuni7Bm5luqd9tC2kXyfRPRXirLqTnDwetGY5Maih1iQgvpZIgg0Xeqvemr3Ihan_QdyNzETlEQRuIRPChJlnTsIS_rhJXi7V1VRhT0wb/s1600/amonn.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3A1xWvCwZYa85qbo1_D82hydpnhevcVcQHzKBuni7Bm5luqd9tC2kXyfRPRXirLqTnDwetGY5Maih1iQgvpZIgg0Xeqvemr3Ihan_QdyNzETlEQRuIRPChJlnTsIS_rhJXi7V1VRhT0wb/s400/amonn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547422798861022882" border="0" /></a>It's been a very long time since I've written "coming soon" for my website in the works amanofnonation.com and honestly it could be a few more months before things are up and running like they should be. Life has been very stressful and complicated for me; I'm paying for an apartment I'm not even living in, financially supporting my girlfriend while she goes for her masters in industrial engineering at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, in a committed long distance relationship, working two jobs and just barely getting by economically. However, with all of this sacrifice and hard work I will be able to visit Colombia every two to three months until my girlfriend Tomasa del Carmen obtains a visa to the United States. For those who know me, I look forward to returning for the eighth time because Colombia is a place that has too much in store for me; enough passion and exploration for decades to come.<br /><br />With the help of several people close to me amanofnonation.com will be a publication and production based website/company focused primarily on rock-climbing, mountaineering, long distance trekking, cultural studies and living situations in some of the world's least talked about places and the places in between. We have several publications in the making that will blow your minds so stay in touch. It wont necessarily be a blog but you will be able to find some of our photos, writings and gear reviews on website such as <a href="http://blog.travelcountry.com/">travelcountry.com</a>, <a href="http://gobackpacking.com/">gobackpacking.com</a> and possibly others.<br /><br />We are very excited about things to come but we also have to be patient and wait for when time and money allows us to truly move forward.<br /><br />See you soo...eventually. In the meantime check out <a href="http://kevinpost.wordpress.com/">my language log</a> (current language mission is Turkish).<br /><br />Attentively,<br /><br />-KevinKevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-20972323305981052972010-03-01T11:45:00.000-08:002010-03-01T12:53:48.723-08:00AMANOFNONATION.COM<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqwhUxqTsEgp5y03aAak_99awc4OEuAuer9Jk5O-aLaACyrfRdzLmDBeBn-hBj-4aVdc9XGiDO4TpA57tCMPQSa1RDxExVygKlFuqqTqj5YexJuf0kTWIB3JR_8lwrjTwyiF2NnhjoKE6/s1600-h/n2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqwhUxqTsEgp5y03aAak_99awc4OEuAuer9Jk5O-aLaACyrfRdzLmDBeBn-hBj-4aVdc9XGiDO4TpA57tCMPQSa1RDxExVygKlFuqqTqj5YexJuf0kTWIB3JR_8lwrjTwyiF2NnhjoKE6/s400/n2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443771272332310162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />AMANOFNONATION.COM is currently under construction but should be ready to rock within a few weeks. I love that my girlfriend is a systems engineer because I couldn't have designed and put this website together without her.<br /><br />Let's keep that dance floor moving parceros, we'll talk soon!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsaXHw3NZ_r69_QiIummQ5eq9glWw_4qaFB1HGNBNgf8ua_TFYj9v7sWbpe85uufhVTfYAaEQru9gY253rwBwjkmDGO2xnT_Rvl7L7m-yQsFmtJqDW5aGghVkQ-C-8GSUwniCGAUIwL0P/s1600-h/4578201_l_161309e695653f8a40f17911027b91a9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsaXHw3NZ_r69_QiIummQ5eq9glWw_4qaFB1HGNBNgf8ua_TFYj9v7sWbpe85uufhVTfYAaEQru9gY253rwBwjkmDGO2xnT_Rvl7L7m-yQsFmtJqDW5aGghVkQ-C-8GSUwniCGAUIwL0P/s400/4578201_l_161309e695653f8a40f17911027b91a9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443769250884825826" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo by <a href="http://maxwellhartley.blogspot.com/">Maxwell Hartely</a></span><br /></div><br /><br />P.S. <span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/11/blog-posts.html">CLICK HERE FOR OLDER ENTRIES</a><br /><br /><br /></span>Kevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-32919397765246787852010-02-08T15:08:00.000-08:002010-04-08T15:22:57.352-07:00PICNIC PARA AYUDAR EL PUEBLO DE ITUANGO - PICNIC TO HELP THE TOWN OF ITUANGO<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">///ENGLISH VERSION BELOW///</span></span><br /><br />Fuente: CM&<br /><a href="http://cmi.com.co/?ir=noticia&nota=42407&seccion=7" target="_blank">http://cmi.com.co/?ir=noticia&nota=42407&seccion=7</a><br /><br />--------------------------------------------<br /><br />Domingo, 04 de Abril de 2010 15:21<br />Unos 1.500 campesinos abandonaron sus tierras y buscaron refugio en el casco urbano de Ituango presionados por la guerrilla de las FARC, denunciaron hoy las autoridades civiles de esa localidad.<br />Los labriegos proceden del caserío de La Vega del Inglés y otros tres parajes rurales de la población, precisó su alcalde, Carlos Mario Gallo, quien indicó que el éxodo se registró el sábado. Los desplazados atribuyeron el desplazamiento forzado al frente 18 de las FARC, reducto que actúa en la región, agregó el funcionario, que dispuso que los campesinos fueran acogidos en un establecimiento educativo.<br /><br />En declaraciones a la cadena Caracol Radio, el alcalde pidió a la Gobernación de Antioquia, departamento al que pertenece Ituango, lo mismo que a entidades estatales y al Comité Internacional de la Cruz Roja (CICR), que ofrezcan ayuda humanitaria a los desplazados.<br /><br />La zona del éxodo estuvo bajo control de grupos paramilitares, cuenta con siembras de cocales y es escenario de frecuentes choques armados.<br /><br />EFE<br /><br />--------------------------------------------<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lHcDNWBe3VxN-V6l-CoIu1DBQPm2UMGRALNbSHPIG0MsSc9zzoLsln0Up6y5oITPHQFx82ggvv_DqTzPQRw-1MccKXOawNg7iw_2se7A0L5sathqCHJ8oQkvokVxk5vUy-vdCx43fpV_/s1600/PicnicIes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lHcDNWBe3VxN-V6l-CoIu1DBQPm2UMGRALNbSHPIG0MsSc9zzoLsln0Up6y5oITPHQFx82ggvv_DqTzPQRw-1MccKXOawNg7iw_2se7A0L5sathqCHJ8oQkvokVxk5vUy-vdCx43fpV_/s400/PicnicIes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457892478342809442" border="0" /></a>Hola todos, vamos a tener un picnic en el <b>Jardín Botánico</b> a las <b>12PM</b> para ayudar los desplazados en Ituango. Lo que pasa es que el pueblo de Ituango tiene apenas 5.900 habitantes pero porque hay conflicto en la región ahora tiene más que 1.500 desplazados en el pueblo (como 25% incremento de la población).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOek9_GZ-3hqDJBz2t-zMka__Beqvb5NhyPiMA2DKDK4gtCHF19AN6PzKnJnDfXDP4E3xcoQTPM-9aRJ_LKXQFcL6my9zdF7Xe3G1yjRhRz10-0-t7OaAQ2Zf3sNXnxAUhH6vpnAwIMwU/s1600/PicnicII.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 389px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOek9_GZ-3hqDJBz2t-zMka__Beqvb5NhyPiMA2DKDK4gtCHF19AN6PzKnJnDfXDP4E3xcoQTPM-9aRJ_LKXQFcL6my9zdF7Xe3G1yjRhRz10-0-t7OaAQ2Zf3sNXnxAUhH6vpnAwIMwU/s400/PicnicII.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457892604117871490" border="0" /></a>NO SE PREOCUPEN, el picnic va a ser un picnic normal con mucha diversión, risas, comida, y amigos nuevos; SIN EMBARGO, para participar con el picnic tienen que traer por lo menos unas comidas no perecederas, artículos de aseo (como papel higiénico), y/o cobijas para donar a los campesinos desplazados de Ituango.<br /><br />Gracias por su apoyo.<br /><br />Attn,<br /><br />-Kevin Post<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">///ENGLISH VERSION///</span></span><br /><br />Source: Latin American Herald Tribune<br /><a href="http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=354766&CategoryId=12393" target="_blank">http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=354766&CategoryId=12393</a><br /><br />--------------------------------------------<br /><br />FARC Forces 1,500 Peasants off Land in Colombia<br /><br />Some 1,500 peasants left their land and sought refuge in Ituango under pressure from Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, guerrillas, officials in the northwestern city said.<br /><br />The peasants, who are from the hamlet of La Vega del Ingles and three other rural communities, left their land on Saturday, Ituango Mayor Carlos Mario Gallo said.<br /><br />The peasants were forced off their land by the FARC’s 18th Front, which operates in the area, the mayor said, adding that the refugees were given shelter at a school.<br /><br />The government of Antioquia province, where Ituango is located, public agencies and the Red Cross must provide assistance to the displaced peasants, Gallo told Caracol Radio.<br /><br />The area where the peasants live was once under the control of right-wing paramilitary groups and is home to coca plantations.<br /><br />Fighting among rival groups frequently takes place in the area.<br /><br />Colombia, where leftist rebels and right-wing militias have been battling each other for decades, is second only to Sudan in the number of internally displaced people.<br /><br />The FARC, Colombia’s oldest and largest leftist guerrilla group, was founded in 1964, has an estimated 8,000 to 17,000 fighters and operates across a large swath of this Andean nation. EFE<br /><br />--------------------------------------------<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapsRaJxSSmll3EHXO83HCjjt0mBSJxYvkGOH6vKi37lVMOvrOQjC4P-cTqJFKj0iDh4sKhEvQ268a-j-tX0HFrc5Qa2ywLcLOwPsk9Lrlip2uqUhq9VpoBfiDXzOjUNq1bYzLFXBbGan2/s1600/PicnicIen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapsRaJxSSmll3EHXO83HCjjt0mBSJxYvkGOH6vKi37lVMOvrOQjC4P-cTqJFKj0iDh4sKhEvQ268a-j-tX0HFrc5Qa2ywLcLOwPsk9Lrlip2uqUhq9VpoBfiDXzOjUNq1bYzLFXBbGan2/s400/PicnicIen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457892541778198658" border="0" /></a><br />Hey everyone, we are going to have a picnic in the <b>Jardín Botánico</b> at <b>12PM</b> to help the displaced population in Ituango. The thing is the town of Ituango has a population of about 5,900 inhabitants but because of the conflict in the region the town has more than 1,500 displaced persons (roughly a 25% increase in the local population).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOek9_GZ-3hqDJBz2t-zMka__Beqvb5NhyPiMA2DKDK4gtCHF19AN6PzKnJnDfXDP4E3xcoQTPM-9aRJ_LKXQFcL6my9zdF7Xe3G1yjRhRz10-0-t7OaAQ2Zf3sNXnxAUhH6vpnAwIMwU/s1600/PicnicII.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 389px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOek9_GZ-3hqDJBz2t-zMka__Beqvb5NhyPiMA2DKDK4gtCHF19AN6PzKnJnDfXDP4E3xcoQTPM-9aRJ_LKXQFcL6my9zdF7Xe3G1yjRhRz10-0-t7OaAQ2Zf3sNXnxAUhH6vpnAwIMwU/s400/PicnicII.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457892604117871490" border="0" /></a><br />DON'T WORRY, the picnic is going to be a normal picnic with fun, laughs, food and new friends; HOWEVER, to participate you have to bring at least some non-perishable food, toiletries (such as toilet paper), and/or blankets to donate to the displaced campesinos of Ituango.<br /><br />Thanks for your support.<br /><br />Attentively,<br /><br />-Kevin PostKevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-83851322467181978932010-02-01T15:23:00.001-08:002010-02-01T16:09:43.135-08:00UNDER CONSTRUCTION<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJe8G8R3RgrNGIT-jNEtg-FDk28MKAH58pYplZrDnmdRHaPGYbF1ewspxIxS6wYCBtfuwTMJXI-WdVawyCDTfQBPKPi6lm342rBMd-2hsAfF8sAX6WUfw4x6bZLEeBKtt_2XT_VCmMtCKd/s1600-h/4578201_l_161309e695653f8a40f17911027b91a9+-+Copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJe8G8R3RgrNGIT-jNEtg-FDk28MKAH58pYplZrDnmdRHaPGYbF1ewspxIxS6wYCBtfuwTMJXI-WdVawyCDTfQBPKPi6lm342rBMd-2hsAfF8sAX6WUfw4x6bZLEeBKtt_2XT_VCmMtCKd/s400/4578201_l_161309e695653f8a40f17911027b91a9+-+Copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433431211070991026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Me in my youth (Photo by <a href="http://maxwellhartley.blogspot.com/">Maxwell Hartley</a>)<br /></span></div><br />This blog is under construction until further notice in order to reorganize my thoughts on what I would like to achieve with this blog of mine. I will be taking a course on travel blogging through <a href="http://travelblogsuccess.com/">Travel Blog Success</a> over the next few weeks in order to improve what I would like to express and present to the world in a very positive way through my writing (which I will improve upon with time). I am also currently looking for an affordable photography course here in Medellín so that I might learn how to do the places I visit justice while still leaving those places a mystery to the reader through my photos.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjK5Xqd9KvQt2eQBpZL13x2u7S9EBZ7zKIOJISbs5X63_rfzCuilKY1Lkfv7eF5j0gwDSMVVELtNKmwYvY73cJrxVF2k1W0PbtjxmvL-oL86bQO-Qgr7WdqGVVwf8V6t8thQ56JXhhipI/s1600-h/468x60-tbs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 51px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjK5Xqd9KvQt2eQBpZL13x2u7S9EBZ7zKIOJISbs5X63_rfzCuilKY1Lkfv7eF5j0gwDSMVVELtNKmwYvY73cJrxVF2k1W0PbtjxmvL-oL86bQO-Qgr7WdqGVVwf8V6t8thQ56JXhhipI/s400/468x60-tbs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433423222926579074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Writing for and maintaining a blog takes a lot of time and effort, and although I know very little about maintaining a travel blog it has been a lot of work for me; nevertheless, I haven't made a single cent from it. I'll be honest, I could greatly use some money right now to pay for my classes and living expenses here in Medellín, Colombia.<br /><br />My perception on travel writing has changed quite a bit over the past few weeks and I've seen how much of a positive impact it can have on my travels as well as the economies of the places less traveled. I greatly look forward to sharing a portion of my life story on my upcoming website and if it pays the bills even better!<br /><br />In the meantime, to read my previous posts <a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/11/blog-posts.html"><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICK HERE</span></a>. I am also going to write some contributing blog entries for <a href="http://www.gobackpacking.com/">Go Backpacking</a> in order to get my name out there in the backpacking communities across the globe.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfi9ezvPL0HKHKWzNWXTBD_ztmYahblKTNP3d5iLLIyMM5LEs6VKulV5Y_ojdkkwaK2-9HmFXvSAjSS-ZIFLdcwQ2ZadQHtVg21vP9rAOR7hUeoL_D0J-8d0KQ41pe1Mv6AdUxhc2O448B/s1600-h/GBnewlogo5.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 83px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfi9ezvPL0HKHKWzNWXTBD_ztmYahblKTNP3d5iLLIyMM5LEs6VKulV5Y_ojdkkwaK2-9HmFXvSAjSS-ZIFLdcwQ2ZadQHtVg21vP9rAOR7hUeoL_D0J-8d0KQ41pe1Mv6AdUxhc2O448B/s400/GBnewlogo5.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433421788883535650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thanks everyone (especially my mom for reading)! Have fun and keep in touch.<br /><br />Attentively,<br /><br />-Kevin M. PostKevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-40447691437881996432010-01-28T17:00:00.000-08:002010-02-04T22:41:56.314-08:00BLOG ENTRIES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER<span style="font-size:180%;"><br />Click the links below and enjoy!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2010/01/long-time-no-blog-whats-to-come.html">Preview: Los Llanos Orientals and What's to Come</a> <span style="font-size:85%;">(Last updated Wednesday, January 27, 2009)</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JNbbRoUxwryaP_HTsfkiCnthrPI9l3FWxENQpj_mxct8gSGVPMoz9QUB3Fa_F-D_M3tKP3qgCNxL-SirTJHEqxZ28M30nJrC4MfTuKglRknoV6AYbVA4WcvqCu4Q1V26-gsnI-_yx9Md/s1600-h/Mapa_Relieve_Sombreado_Colombia_1985_CIA+-+Copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 79px; height: 103px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JNbbRoUxwryaP_HTsfkiCnthrPI9l3FWxENQpj_mxct8gSGVPMoz9QUB3Fa_F-D_M3tKP3qgCNxL-SirTJHEqxZ28M30nJrC4MfTuKglRknoV6AYbVA4WcvqCu4Q1V26-gsnI-_yx9Md/s200/Mapa_Relieve_Sombreado_Colombia_1985_CIA+-+Copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431527728450658082" border="0" /></a><a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/12/prelude-caqueta-colombia.html">Prelude: Caquetá, Colombia</a> <span style="font-size:85%;">(Last updated Wednesday, December 23, 2009)</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTHTswil0UzX6URWjlu-oNCNInnsvNhlAn9vBcbNnuuc4iRY3XJ3AAofFPVF2q0S6goyDsvHOtFF8MGtECHz1LJVAyszFLZv5KNr-zEXRPVVWnCEZcdXajXpvDMkQail4PIif1G0xtDp8/s1600-h/Caquet+-+towns.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 93px; height: 54px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTHTswil0UzX6URWjlu-oNCNInnsvNhlAn9vBcbNnuuc4iRY3XJ3AAofFPVF2q0S6goyDsvHOtFF8MGtECHz1LJVAyszFLZv5KNr-zEXRPVVWnCEZcdXajXpvDMkQail4PIif1G0xtDp8/s200/Caquet+-+towns.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418464234586239170" border="0" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/12/few-days-in-bogota-with-few-moments-in.html">A few days in Bogotá with a few moments in Guasca</a> <span style="font-size:85%;">(Last updated Monday, December 21, 2009)</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFM29Znh1o-TfgSlzyxazWtNjFpOXq0xz0_gwLnBToUQ_AWaNxUFlsP-1_F5Dt9LHiKDYsiTEPvBJbUualvBhbhD3a9PEkKcRi1Ada8xjZNKkH4qelMkjE-NFZtomxvxmyzBdBSH7GuOa4/s1600-h/IMG_1460.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 72px; height: 101px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFM29Znh1o-TfgSlzyxazWtNjFpOXq0xz0_gwLnBToUQ_AWaNxUFlsP-1_F5Dt9LHiKDYsiTEPvBJbUualvBhbhD3a9PEkKcRi1Ada8xjZNKkH4qelMkjE-NFZtomxvxmyzBdBSH7GuOa4/s200/IMG_1460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417803194757123154" border="0" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/12/cooking-in-bogota-november-2009-pic.html">Cooking in Bogotá November 2009 (wine, police, 3am picnic & good times in Bogotá) </a><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);font-size:85%;" >(Last updated Thursday, December 10, 2009)</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE3kuWHDyDfT8IOo0SDFYXtXykJ5z3IJLdA_Ry-58Ge9x9ljw93jCxN-xCdhi5UD8vDCfDGc6uDz5xDBxQ6o0T8VNaKfRmU2cJeU8O-7mNpmeRNNTA_6D7z6EvUqGpq6LNpr7WmhPv5zd/s1600-h/13765_357411685397_907540397_9873164_1117745_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 87px; height: 77px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE3kuWHDyDfT8IOo0SDFYXtXykJ5z3IJLdA_Ry-58Ge9x9ljw93jCxN-xCdhi5UD8vDCfDGc6uDz5xDBxQ6o0T8VNaKfRmU2cJeU8O-7mNpmeRNNTA_6D7z6EvUqGpq6LNpr7WmhPv5zd/s200/13765_357411685397_907540397_9873164_1117745_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413514756818323762" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/12/colombian-hitchhiking-part-ii-manizales.html">Colombian Hitchhiking Part II - Manizales & Villamaria </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-size:85%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span">(Last updated Friday, December 4, 2009)</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYFOWxGKcOkuj4PaI68Sk8d2kA9Rck9Zkg73xq6NAiRImivstWHzCb-Ti9p3qCAZYwhv_1gPmcWn6rDgkLJzKYMc0JrxE4HgxbqcZlMuRnYfH77hWF6aTN-v5mNE383wh7cm9vUO9gAZ-/s200/CALDAS1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411485925801518306" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 84px;" border="0" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/11/cooking-in-bogota-flashback-from.html">Cooking in Bogotá flashback from September 2009<span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);font-size:85%;" > (Last updated Saturday, November 28, 2009)</span></a></span></span></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMNShodls_PBez0UTfcKuMOgVt8z5tIJFUsXDjaS0mdXpRqudmzd7k7vzKm5bdT8UT6plLDIrph6Nkmudc3XYTlHfgzPGvX51-3BtcpmocXAaiOA1RdVkg_w4eo2mehUKESsxfxrfnaZ4/s1600/9026_530943926996_4502802_31400976_4265995_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 114px; height: 85px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMNShodls_PBez0UTfcKuMOgVt8z5tIJFUsXDjaS0mdXpRqudmzd7k7vzKm5bdT8UT6plLDIrph6Nkmudc3XYTlHfgzPGvX51-3BtcpmocXAaiOA1RdVkg_w4eo2mehUKESsxfxrfnaZ4/s200/9026_530943926996_4502802_31400976_4265995_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409287966328318146" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/11/more-photos-of-my-5-days-in-monteria.html">More photos of my five days in Montería, Córdoba, Colombia <span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);font-size:85%;" >(Last updated Friday, November 20, 2009)</span></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4d4WTRpRWbwRbjVG09oICscBmqIPgzqmdLdQB3KJs6FgXReQ01wainmRVdCyNGxoU61d6XMwrSgl_v9Wz6vVsioqOirNTYLm15zh288KGSPZPjZEkAgKwtyWuKDJrK1XNp61alqX1OuB/s1600/IMG_2903.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 71px; height: 95px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4d4WTRpRWbwRbjVG09oICscBmqIPgzqmdLdQB3KJs6FgXReQ01wainmRVdCyNGxoU61d6XMwrSgl_v9Wz6vVsioqOirNTYLm15zh288KGSPZPjZEkAgKwtyWuKDJrK1XNp61alqX1OuB/s200/IMG_2903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406331620554589890" border="0" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/11/colombian-hitchhiking-part-i-sabaneta.html">Colombian Hitchhiking Part I - Sabaneta, Amagá, Fredonia, Venecia & Bolombólo <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">(Last updated Friday, November 20, 2009)</span></span></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3VF9N26DRLw8wL33_w2rtP6vTXW3S0FyWlg64PQrb4cO7ygN_CuSu_mRH0ttG9rJdHVpIL2Ge8FzZBGGaz478vNPtnhoJFzWoA8lM-5wgeWI_SbO8HA4vgnqFFi29GfWYRC38EWfXQEp/s1600/semana+santa+hitchhiking.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 97px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3VF9N26DRLw8wL33_w2rtP6vTXW3S0FyWlg64PQrb4cO7ygN_CuSu_mRH0ttG9rJdHVpIL2Ge8FzZBGGaz478vNPtnhoJFzWoA8lM-5wgeWI_SbO8HA4vgnqFFi29GfWYRC38EWfXQEp/s200/semana+santa+hitchhiking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406264794447353154" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/10/some-photos-from-my-short-trip-to.html">Some photos from my short trip to Córdoba <span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-size:85%;" >(Last updated Wednesday, October 28, 2009)</span></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdEd9mYsMHtCzhtDOsC8shzx5XNB2WsNV_ceIhcFeFmoBRPZGhWemLWTVJ0eO3BhYIV9jKBUiK9kjdRIpoEPnlc3ttNEvplxLhGL5Dpoxye5pYl-7FxRnrd38D1ntR_xXVuv05aYrCtbm/s1600/cordobablog.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 84px; height: 95px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdEd9mYsMHtCzhtDOsC8shzx5XNB2WsNV_ceIhcFeFmoBRPZGhWemLWTVJ0eO3BhYIV9jKBUiK9kjdRIpoEPnlc3ttNEvplxLhGL5Dpoxye5pYl-7FxRnrd38D1ntR_xXVuv05aYrCtbm/s200/cordobablog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404769971087492882" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/10/dont-give-them-single-cent-dont.html">Don't give in to them, don't encourage this behavior and save lives <span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);font-size:85%;" >(Last updated Friday, October 9, 2009)</span></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/10/i-leave-tomorrow-for-quindio-tolima-9.html">I leave tomorrow for Quindío & Tolima; nine beautiful days in the mountains of Central Colombia <span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);font-size:85%;" >(Last updated Friday, October 2, 2009)</span></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyrDYllW8aCe50Q_mhl75bfFxkE_Pzbsg6viJpTWG95eHQ2-vtWSd6SEOcMV3-niRfM2lfxXGguHJjQTs7EbJLQNOFsK7Rsv9MHDXHcbvERpwmDajE-_4Xh07B2p5HYDavA6sCn4O5g8u/s1600/blog.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 84px; height: 96px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyrDYllW8aCe50Q_mhl75bfFxkE_Pzbsg6viJpTWG95eHQ2-vtWSd6SEOcMV3-niRfM2lfxXGguHJjQTs7EbJLQNOFsK7Rsv9MHDXHcbvERpwmDajE-_4Xh07B2p5HYDavA6sCn4O5g8u/s200/blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404770224290093186" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/09/meze-ii-gecko.html">RANDOM I - gecko <span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);font-size:85%;" >(Last updated Friday, September 18, 2009)</span></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/09/photos-from-pic-kevin-nic-in-bogota.html">Photos from PIC-"Kevin"-NIC in Bogotá <span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);font-size:85%;" >(Last updated Monday, September 14, 2009)</span></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWG-Ua_2g9JJ4sy2XRWfNjsRLds0EEKsIC5Ihyphenhyphenqbhof0ixLyvTneFZpmg4_7a1hD8PWp-_iX4XV24CGd7y3gDpN427ntlTjlUBrXuJJ83Xo5eHNYskQaPLCqWR-MogQXKY4AVwR2G2dIR/s1600/pic3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 77px; height: 102px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWG-Ua_2g9JJ4sy2XRWfNjsRLds0EEKsIC5Ihyphenhyphenqbhof0ixLyvTneFZpmg4_7a1hD8PWp-_iX4XV24CGd7y3gDpN427ntlTjlUBrXuJJ83Xo5eHNYskQaPLCqWR-MogQXKY4AVwR2G2dIR/s200/pic3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404771132809642210" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/08/best-of-my-photos-july-2009.html">Best of My Photos July 2009 (Couchsurfing) <span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);font-size:85%;" >(Last updated Thursday, August 27, 2009)</span></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2bNVy5q6uiRwTrgNyb8HDxtwAMyq05IX3wszu5B54WXcf_ZHbzftuwJVRdywwkKHPa-6Z9bd1LZ1wyL8EowZq0McnkgD4L_px43cJrP6aVttMd0fMWlP_vCA1kBJZ92WW8RLkHIVyhfC/s1600/IMG_1032.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 86px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2bNVy5q6uiRwTrgNyb8HDxtwAMyq05IX3wszu5B54WXcf_ZHbzftuwJVRdywwkKHPa-6Z9bd1LZ1wyL8EowZq0McnkgD4L_px43cJrP6aVttMd0fMWlP_vCA1kBJZ92WW8RLkHIVyhfC/s200/IMG_1032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404770819431619762" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div></div>Kevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-77934845179560943412010-01-28T14:58:00.000-08:002010-01-28T15:08:49.424-08:00"Traveler's Omertà:" by David Page (LINK)This was such a fantastic article that basically sums up how I feel about travel writing. I HIGHLY recommend that you check it out:<br /><a href="http://thetravelersnotebook.com/photography-q-a/travelers-omerta-is-there-no-place-we-should-keep-secret/"><br />"Travelers Omertà: Is There No Place We Should Keep Secret?"</a> by David Page<br /><br /><br /><br />*Note: I am not taking any credit what so ever for David Page's work. I just thought that it was a very well written article and wanted to share it with those whom stumble across this blog. Thanks.Kevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-70470328912131920112010-01-27T12:25:00.000-08:002010-02-04T22:41:48.977-08:00Preview: Los Llanos Orientals and What's to ComeHey everyone, this is going to be short because the last blog entry I attempted to write didn't save correctly and my internet briefly went out. It has happened to all of us and it is frustrating because all of us hate wasting time. Sorry but this is the shorter (a little bit frustrated) version:<br /><br />I just got back from an incredible trip over the past few weeks in the <span style="font-style: italic;">llanos orientales</span> (eastern plains) of Colombia. Diego and I (check out his website at: <a href="http://dsblox.com/">http://dsblox.com/</a>) have proudly hitchhiked over 960km/600mi across this region of the country (100% of our time in <a href="http://www.colombiassh.org/site/IMG/png/Meta_A3.png">Meta</a> done completely by hitchhiking). We have tons of photos to share with you and the rest of the world but we have a bit of a dilemma, over 80% of our photos are on different computers throughout the llanos. You see, before I went to Puerto Berrío, Antioquia to celebrate Christmas with my girlfriend I realized that I had left my 4GB memory card in my computer. Without sufficient funds I had to settle for a 1GB memory card which sounds good until one takes hundreds of photos at 8mega-pixels and video; it fills up fast. Therefore, Diego and I had to upload them onto other peoples' computers and put them into Diego's <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/">dropbox</a> (basically an online hard-drive). We are still waiting for all of the photos to upload.<br /><br />So hang tight everyone, it very well could be a few weeks until a few months before I receive all of the photos we had taken of this forgotten region of Colombia. Remember that blogs regarding Puerto Berrío, Ibagué, our trip through the llanos (<a href="http://www.colombiassh.org/site/IMG/png/Meta_A3.png">Meta</a>, <a href="http://www.colombiassh.org/site/IMG/png/Casanare_A3.png">Casanare</a>, & <a href="http://www.colombiassh.org/site/IMG/png/Arauca_A3.png">Arauca</a>), and working in the llanos will be posted in the upcoming weeks.<br /><br />Here is the route we took over the course of one month (click to enlarge photo):<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoMqr98-_a5Crowvm_edW_1Kv1fWiuQoJD9Cd-bKI5yWrqQBIHoLBu9k6JRHWgSbfGn2LiiyQakAO8N6tTcO7_klBgGjTdJuFJqkT_kApcwjfmiWYSH5KJbRtmFDnmeaT_GIOMny-klFM/s1600-h/Mapa_Relieve_Sombreado_Colombia_1985_CIA+-+Copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoMqr98-_a5Crowvm_edW_1Kv1fWiuQoJD9Cd-bKI5yWrqQBIHoLBu9k6JRHWgSbfGn2LiiyQakAO8N6tTcO7_klBgGjTdJuFJqkT_kApcwjfmiWYSH5KJbRtmFDnmeaT_GIOMny-klFM/s400/Mapa_Relieve_Sombreado_Colombia_1985_CIA+-+Copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431524311763749410" border="0" /></a><br />(BLACK = Diego & I / <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">BLUE</span> = Me solo)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In other updates, Diego and I are talking about redesigning this blog to give it a cleaner look and create my own website. I have a lot of thinking to do because I don't even know why I have a blog in the first place so imagine how I would feel having a website to deal with (it costs money). If the website paid for itself maybe.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That is all for now, I have a lot of work, studying and visa renewal to take care of in the upcoming weeks. Take care and please keep in touch.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Un abrazo de oso</span> (a bear hug)<br /><br />Attentively,<br /><br />-Kevin Post<br /><br /></div></div>Kevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-46204128600740301352009-12-22T06:58:00.000-08:002009-12-23T10:47:49.384-08:00Prelude: Caquetá, Colombia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkIBydPdEFYJYxgFt_i8ccseHK3OrQHRTn03-kAGzjWauXHdECIYBp6sZ5_Fx99hXR8oEquKo_czRrsj-2AxeaNrTr88mwsFDYuCaRCQgqPzjTMi2FvRhrUPQ2sHmvOS6pxwsuR69-O8i/s1600-h/Caquet+-+towns.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkIBydPdEFYJYxgFt_i8ccseHK3OrQHRTn03-kAGzjWauXHdECIYBp6sZ5_Fx99hXR8oEquKo_czRrsj-2AxeaNrTr88mwsFDYuCaRCQgqPzjTMi2FvRhrUPQ2sHmvOS6pxwsuR69-O8i/s320/Caquet+-+towns.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418450908820164002" border="0" /></a><br />I almost never think of death while I travel but recently the governor of the Colombian department of <a href="http://www.colombiassh.org/site/IMG/png/Caqueta_A3-2.png">Caquetá</a> was captured from his home in Florencia and assassinated by what was believed to be the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or simply Las FARC. Las FARC is to this date still the largest leftist guerrilla army in the Western Hemisphere with an estimated 9,000 soldiers.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091223/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_colombia_governor_abducted;_ylt=Ao9MLtercdiPLgePuMrKelRvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTMzZ2ZrZWRtBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMjIzL2x0X2NvbG9tYmlhX2dvdmVybm9yX2FiZHVjdGVkBHBvcwMxOQRzZWMDeW5fYXJ0aWNsZV9zdW1tYXJ5X2xpc3QEc2xrA2RlYWRseWFiZHVjdA--">Click here for a well written summery of what has happened</a></span><br /><br />Now, I feel for the governor's friends, family and admires but this also puts a huge dent in my plans. You see, I was supposed to be in Caquetá beginning in Florencia for Christmas. I understand that plans change so I have decided to spend Christmas with a girl I'm dating in her home town of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Berr%C3%ADo">Puerto Berrío</a> along the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalena_River">Río Magdalena</a>. It should be a good time with lots of freshly caught fish, music, dancing, humidity, swimming and kissing before I meet my travel partner Diego in Ibagué.<br /><br />In regards to Caquetá, my theory is that now is the time to be there while security is at its peak. Just like a calm after a storm, after a large well planned attack occurs anywhere in the world it is usually peaceful afterward.<br /><br />I am going to consult with Diego as well as my contacts in Caquetá before we go to see things from their perspectives. That's how Colombia works, to get way of the beaten path the local population should be consulted first.<br /><br />For months now I have tirelessly researched, made contacts and planned to go to Caquetá; from my research and advice I have received it is an amazing and very off the beaten path destination for both Colombians and foreigners with a hint of danger. Much of Caquetá was once part of a DMZ created as a safe-haven for Las FARC in order to commence peace talks with the Colombian government. Caquetá has an incredibly strong guerrilla, paramilitary and military presence. Adventure, remoteness, a distinct culture, history, beauty, and a hint of danger is what I am looking for right now and Caquetá provides all of that. It's not a matter if I go but when. If we allow these players of war & public disorder to create an atmosphere of fear, they have already won.<br /><br />As soon as I'm on my way to Caquetá, you'll be the first to know. Take care everyone and enjoy your vacation time (if you have any).<br /><br />Attentively,<br /><br />-Kevin PostKevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-33870214509043243492009-12-20T16:18:00.000-08:002009-12-23T22:46:25.035-08:00A few days in Bogotá with a few moments in GuascaHey everyone, first I'd like to mention that it is so great to be back in Colombia (my second home). I loved seeing friends, family and former coworkers as well as meeting like-minded people with good vibes in my home town of Orlando; nevertheless, Colombia rocks my world.<br /><br />I usually catch flights to Miami from Bogotá because it is usually less expensive than catching a flight from Medellín to Miami. I have two main motives for going to Bogotá:<br /><br />1. to renew my student visa<br />2. to catch flights home<br /><br />Although I enjoy my time in Bogotá seeing friends of mine, I really don't have any other reason to go there; I've been at least ten times and lots of money have gone down the tubes because Bogotá is a very expensive city weather or not you make Colombian pesos or U.S. Dollars. Still a fun city to kick back cheap boxes of wine in a park and enjoy illegal political urban art.<br /><br />I honestly didn't take many pictures of Bogotá. As I have mentioned, I have been there many times and therefore no photos needed to be taken. Besides, I am sure that there are millions of photos of Bogotá in Google images.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(Click on photos to enlarge them)<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw80H52_lMMiEi6x_Idb0fUdPE39pkrQP562rcsZ1bQBsbu-3at-mbGH8B7Ke1zDpbjxIZWZiEk8YxkHFGTGQncUrMPCL_fSKuHC8__a25q0BOcmB_USc9DNrXEKaRMl6mLo4BZkptc9Ek/s1600-h/IMG_1479.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw80H52_lMMiEi6x_Idb0fUdPE39pkrQP562rcsZ1bQBsbu-3at-mbGH8B7Ke1zDpbjxIZWZiEk8YxkHFGTGQncUrMPCL_fSKuHC8__a25q0BOcmB_USc9DNrXEKaRMl6mLo4BZkptc9Ek/s320/IMG_1479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417771653461374978" border="0" /></a>This is what I would picture an eerie 1940's mental hospital would look like.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQHG_8nAtNMd4HGbngQ3rASTKZcaANh5xah4f8STavfVKfJPHMOFLnfBeV66PGQWEtS_7PEWcHMvqaCN2ED44pSPvMA0Ne7Hkqo8GHLh_OByp199MVyxK_1k5cOAU8mQIrlxGfRZI81VK/s1600-h/IMG_1458.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQHG_8nAtNMd4HGbngQ3rASTKZcaANh5xah4f8STavfVKfJPHMOFLnfBeV66PGQWEtS_7PEWcHMvqaCN2ED44pSPvMA0Ne7Hkqo8GHLh_OByp199MVyxK_1k5cOAU8mQIrlxGfRZI81VK/s320/IMG_1458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417772438692156178" border="0" /></a>From left to right: Leo, Kevin, Joanna. I was honored to be Leo's first <a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org/">Couchsurfer</a> and had a blast being simultaneously hosted with Joanna from the Netherlands. Leo is one of my all time favorite people and most definitely my favorite costeño (Valledupar, Colombia). He's moving to Madrid in a few months meaning I have to visit him while he's in Valledupar (I'll be there in a few weeks).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2-QPY0ZLuPOOG-aFuvAPHm221Okxmf6of-o5Owtt76TExc90hADn8FfoeeRvSkq0m8prnGEfpCG2lmg5Oldq4UB9ukSZVyXdAj5QQSzJJsL3aetXyus8cenKUr_n10QWhAAoDTwGnE0P/s1600-h/IMG_1457.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2-QPY0ZLuPOOG-aFuvAPHm221Okxmf6of-o5Owtt76TExc90hADn8FfoeeRvSkq0m8prnGEfpCG2lmg5Oldq4UB9ukSZVyXdAj5QQSzJJsL3aetXyus8cenKUr_n10QWhAAoDTwGnE0P/s320/IMG_1457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417772229431377170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL29_HeEz02zlH2jws3Xpi1X_HiPnHasw7ihp0NL-1vwRViisgBkFnzN1QPSIk4NANexHfvN_vR85JECiB7HQLwvDwhDuZ-U-AM9ThAoc6_nm7EE-dHEjnWIoTUS2lsJQ8G_HPBM2iz-VZ/s1600-h/IMG_1456.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL29_HeEz02zlH2jws3Xpi1X_HiPnHasw7ihp0NL-1vwRViisgBkFnzN1QPSIk4NANexHfvN_vR85JECiB7HQLwvDwhDuZ-U-AM9ThAoc6_nm7EE-dHEjnWIoTUS2lsJQ8G_HPBM2iz-VZ/s320/IMG_1456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417771976231183490" border="0" /></a>Being a traveler on a tight budget in an overpriced city makes free food a jump for joy occasion. Thanks Joanna for the awesome vegetarian lasagna along with an amazing salad (that was my dinner and breakfast the next morning).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ43JrSPZc6pK7pSt7YEVibl8wcPIz04qQSCLVx5V9wChd1gC11yOMuzc34kWi-AnouogCCo7ASJaW9JM44zcJ15ZIxHB5tWiwYuZr14hMwOA0T4qykIZtk4xd7Dak2PLtANAj_o-ZExcf/s1600-h/IMG_1460.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ43JrSPZc6pK7pSt7YEVibl8wcPIz04qQSCLVx5V9wChd1gC11yOMuzc34kWi-AnouogCCo7ASJaW9JM44zcJ15ZIxHB5tWiwYuZr14hMwOA0T4qykIZtk4xd7Dak2PLtANAj_o-ZExcf/s320/IMG_1460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417773681729958274" border="0" /></a>The photo above and the rest of the stencils below are wonderful works of art that send a power yet subtle message to those whom pass by. A good friend of mine <a href="http://thelifelesstravelled.com/">Ara </a>took hundreds of photos throughout Bogotá of political graffiti. Bogotá is a goldmine for powerful political urban art. Now, Ara is taking a break from his blog which is smart because spending hours at a time on a computer screen while traveling is a huge waste of time unless it pays the bills. Anyway, check back on his <a href="http://thelifelesstravelled.com/search/label/Graffiti">graffiti page</a> from time to time because eventually he will upload some killer stencil artwork from the streets of Bogotá:<br /><a href="http://thelifelesstravelled.com/search/label/Graffiti"><br />http://thelifelesstravelled.com/search/label/Graffiti</a><br /><br />Here are the rest:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCI7KDXyvR20hQXjGEzYD2RU6i4qeQVqi0FwA0NtWpoz-IObURoEj83Bs4p5eZMQRSDkctc5CUZzO7Fi8L9oLJcnwwecD73XypvRsuCJYklRiwJPMSKJ5wQbZbnryttti9MkDfC9BtsxM1/s1600-h/IMG_1461.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCI7KDXyvR20hQXjGEzYD2RU6i4qeQVqi0FwA0NtWpoz-IObURoEj83Bs4p5eZMQRSDkctc5CUZzO7Fi8L9oLJcnwwecD73XypvRsuCJYklRiwJPMSKJ5wQbZbnryttti9MkDfC9BtsxM1/s320/IMG_1461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417774052160571378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrsBgVLL4g3XQUeNUGj8dwxkxQk1vlQN5Nx9VWwKgmCVGtbl510TUSlGEnx42BRLGY-2D_Ool4vcG9JiPg533X3WKtQYL9FiAUsraZ6ikAbG39m1_oJV5Nfn_B5hyphenhyphenp5yyIQXNlOGMVwAh/s1600-h/IMG_1462.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrsBgVLL4g3XQUeNUGj8dwxkxQk1vlQN5Nx9VWwKgmCVGtbl510TUSlGEnx42BRLGY-2D_Ool4vcG9JiPg533X3WKtQYL9FiAUsraZ6ikAbG39m1_oJV5Nfn_B5hyphenhyphenp5yyIQXNlOGMVwAh/s320/IMG_1462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417774338587124802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaUSBM4d39LzDgRit6t83mTTKu5GJg77oPOVfoJTEEotPlzKCxM6Ig7F7LgILZS-7PhHGAoVJUNU837M7XAmKyCixdo99lU5cZoBHowE3rScI52G3op6BXA0YzakN4MQhLUUcKhNuSHFz/s1600-h/IMG_1465.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaUSBM4d39LzDgRit6t83mTTKu5GJg77oPOVfoJTEEotPlzKCxM6Ig7F7LgILZS-7PhHGAoVJUNU837M7XAmKyCixdo99lU5cZoBHowE3rScI52G3op6BXA0YzakN4MQhLUUcKhNuSHFz/s320/IMG_1465.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417776447574656722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSO4ZSBpfy7ByiOp8EuCo7l4nCbHonEXkUKN9x5MWbkh1cqUWPq5gGooGTcvovHqaKJUZJdbMl9jY-fUPtJrerQjfn33RcRqr2BBp96ekiT-3ALiJYQ6Nqu8IF4mSodaQ7dF5i97qCL9jU/s1600-h/IMG_1464.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSO4ZSBpfy7ByiOp8EuCo7l4nCbHonEXkUKN9x5MWbkh1cqUWPq5gGooGTcvovHqaKJUZJdbMl9jY-fUPtJrerQjfn33RcRqr2BBp96ekiT-3ALiJYQ6Nqu8IF4mSodaQ7dF5i97qCL9jU/s320/IMG_1464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417776341880196642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pym-opPruVY8-s1clTIWZTTIWV6LXaHVqMZVWwyupP13Qk42wnJ4BJvYkDWeuEd-l5IC2NE4YLxN1SCqgyIZy-Eoeg5qn7zhaTmybuzsgxA_n252SVpmVItnZ0Of3YV3BkztlX1Apyvm/s1600-h/IMG_1469.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pym-opPruVY8-s1clTIWZTTIWV6LXaHVqMZVWwyupP13Qk42wnJ4BJvYkDWeuEd-l5IC2NE4YLxN1SCqgyIZy-Eoeg5qn7zhaTmybuzsgxA_n252SVpmVItnZ0Of3YV3BkztlX1Apyvm/s320/IMG_1469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417777850044802274" border="0" /></a>These two above remind me of a line from a song called <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCG0CyxcSRU">"Succexy" by Metric</a>: <span style="font-style: italic;">"Let's drink to the military, their glass is empty"</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1cniYJ9mnUTWcJc7CuEUdBBiQr85htCpHv4eFWwEtjOVakMQpiELok_7iLpcJIjEVh3k05rcXuHNJd_gBURVwoO_qHMU-ytXDo5XAJLyC0lmgcN7hU3BXtnHVwvZu-8yNJeiFXKEOd1p/s1600-h/IMG_1470.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1cniYJ9mnUTWcJc7CuEUdBBiQr85htCpHv4eFWwEtjOVakMQpiELok_7iLpcJIjEVh3k05rcXuHNJd_gBURVwoO_qHMU-ytXDo5XAJLyC0lmgcN7hU3BXtnHVwvZu-8yNJeiFXKEOd1p/s320/IMG_1470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417777961929488418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEind_d-NnOeEgn5-ZkoIvTrqPVd41bMIJTT5nuxL-S6Dp2ZUCRHp4c4fQcu_q93CvwONZfS6DLjsRJRUPKeCi9fXb_OsMt33diIBH2bUtxNVNuAM8yVXEJLQgrjpR6IkVDIuLeypXTsTQRD/s1600-h/IMG_1468.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEind_d-NnOeEgn5-ZkoIvTrqPVd41bMIJTT5nuxL-S6Dp2ZUCRHp4c4fQcu_q93CvwONZfS6DLjsRJRUPKeCi9fXb_OsMt33diIBH2bUtxNVNuAM8yVXEJLQgrjpR6IkVDIuLeypXTsTQRD/s320/IMG_1468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417777403824387106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TOFPZ-cG68b_0a3IYkzzAn0zHcaF61HYeiRbKIyiHHdEMKaAp_jK_L2PknQcZQiw4xg6RM8K-vY9sLegneeNv4ORgYU0oU6mcfuUR_N7WhDT2Jd8X-8WB0BWT8JAOda7v5UrqSoPSoRl/s1600-h/IMG_1467.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TOFPZ-cG68b_0a3IYkzzAn0zHcaF61HYeiRbKIyiHHdEMKaAp_jK_L2PknQcZQiw4xg6RM8K-vY9sLegneeNv4ORgYU0oU6mcfuUR_N7WhDT2Jd8X-8WB0BWT8JAOda7v5UrqSoPSoRl/s320/IMG_1467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417777330145995666" border="0" /></a>By far some of my favorite pieces I've seen in Bogotá. The last piece is a game of tic-tac-toe saying "<span style="font-style: italic;">Nadie Gana</span>" (Nobody wins). I've seen many more that I loved (like a "<span style="font-style: italic;">Falso Positivo</span>" piece that I LOVE...coming eventually) but didn't have my camera with me. Again, I am sure that eventually <a href="http://thelifelesstravelled.com/">Ara</a> will post them in his blog.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbj0kFUVc843qY8VTn5t2w-KWcOdMi8dX0GIFQiQ40QUos1kpTds2jqqf6Dep8BB3QoEBmOvnxKSFq6M3ErdVuFKrghzATjk4tajQIJT92wWeP6gNPKboDIe_OvF9VK1P8MsZ9a6drtd80/s1600-h/13342_214694574518_513584518_2948043_6739609_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbj0kFUVc843qY8VTn5t2w-KWcOdMi8dX0GIFQiQ40QUos1kpTds2jqqf6Dep8BB3QoEBmOvnxKSFq6M3ErdVuFKrghzATjk4tajQIJT92wWeP6gNPKboDIe_OvF9VK1P8MsZ9a6drtd80/s320/13342_214694574518_513584518_2948043_6739609_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418680606353512098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cpnM0Dc5R8YvylNzJqPrhEzOzVGU9iYPYKacVwJVNUIQ_lWugieMCU4Y77U_oTQ_HMKadnl3oGfyRtBhP-RF_riydcDHmWi131dksWD3JsoQCtDy6z8tAF9JHcRKE4YxeGvk0ipjTXzX/s1600-h/13342_214694509518_513584518_2948037_3086197_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cpnM0Dc5R8YvylNzJqPrhEzOzVGU9iYPYKacVwJVNUIQ_lWugieMCU4Y77U_oTQ_HMKadnl3oGfyRtBhP-RF_riydcDHmWi131dksWD3JsoQCtDy6z8tAF9JHcRKE4YxeGvk0ipjTXzX/s320/13342_214694509518_513584518_2948037_3086197_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418680554942557122" border="0" /></a>These two photos above were taken by my good friend Catalina Rumbo. She's quite the photographer, many of her works can be found here:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ktiusk/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/ktiusk/</a></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Guasca, Cundinamarca</span><br /><br />Guasca happened last minute and by accident. I had no idea this place existed and to be honest didn't really want to go at the time. I was supposed to catch a bus at 1am but to the <a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org/">CS</a> Bogotá crew it was more important to drive out to a remote place away from light pollution. Of course, there were small towns everywhere with plenty of electricity to block the stars' beautiful, taken for granted shine and it just so happened to be cloudy everywhere we went. Long story short, we ended up driving for hours looking for stars and I ended up missing my bus back to Medellín.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsFJUxCjQcLUfMrawYSzZzaKzf90JMcityTvFmPxPri1phkrDKb4VjI8YgVqIuMhiBSuKqotHDSRBAfwGtwzBu1z5hltuL0N5wcZUPE9f9kCOiZYS69UHZWjfclN7EynGNH4tzbEMSy4o/s1600-h/16233_244554835210_519945210_4781693_3314956_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsFJUxCjQcLUfMrawYSzZzaKzf90JMcityTvFmPxPri1phkrDKb4VjI8YgVqIuMhiBSuKqotHDSRBAfwGtwzBu1z5hltuL0N5wcZUPE9f9kCOiZYS69UHZWjfclN7EynGNH4tzbEMSy4o/s320/16233_244554835210_519945210_4781693_3314956_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417780262875649202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPG03c28O6Aya_jRRsG-NYo7kr6Skmi-Xr7jelZSyRMTJ0aEJT_wUZKlju-wb9OnhjKozG0nK3n51zZN4t7o-FWJNEfcJKZiiqyT99xxMuUaE2SnoOFyl-UfUpv8YLeDEV4yGuWzNrqFj/s1600-h/16233_244554840210_519945210_4781694_7438669_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPG03c28O6Aya_jRRsG-NYo7kr6Skmi-Xr7jelZSyRMTJ0aEJT_wUZKlju-wb9OnhjKozG0nK3n51zZN4t7o-FWJNEfcJKZiiqyT99xxMuUaE2SnoOFyl-UfUpv8YLeDEV4yGuWzNrqFj/s320/16233_244554840210_519945210_4781694_7438669_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417780417266823410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFVsZiNulUf1YKwc2yfx8cF79CiOCAoYy-H8xR1G9SjtRj5_N6vgmfnNERrqqA6B-uEEgNO4wiS65YkpKseH5pO2-j62xMhD1KeLsuroStgRwH1PouczRWtY40Q2KwCjHZRrGKwC5isMH/s1600-h/16233_244554850210_519945210_4781695_1185531_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFVsZiNulUf1YKwc2yfx8cF79CiOCAoYy-H8xR1G9SjtRj5_N6vgmfnNERrqqA6B-uEEgNO4wiS65YkpKseH5pO2-j62xMhD1KeLsuroStgRwH1PouczRWtY40Q2KwCjHZRrGKwC5isMH/s320/16233_244554850210_519945210_4781695_1185531_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417780917456744210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cuo-yHA3_7ouTqDniuXOXy2dCkmKTgxkK0dd8-osK8loH205FeP05wJqplW1iBODJP5eJAzYjqS4XPPv-u3R9Zv3DsgRTuhF7exPJ2cN_8ztdi21toEFr-gpLuT2NoYJSGB3OuSElYAB/s1600-h/16233_244554940210_519945210_4781705_4773802_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cuo-yHA3_7ouTqDniuXOXy2dCkmKTgxkK0dd8-osK8loH205FeP05wJqplW1iBODJP5eJAzYjqS4XPPv-u3R9Zv3DsgRTuhF7exPJ2cN_8ztdi21toEFr-gpLuT2NoYJSGB3OuSElYAB/s320/16233_244554940210_519945210_4781705_4773802_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417781008932133506" border="0" /></a>Eventually we stopped in a small town called Guasca and decided to take some pictures so that our long drive didn't go completely to waste. However, most of us weren't in agreement because the people who had cars had no consideration that many of us had work early in the morning or in my case a bus to catch back home. I had an okay time but next time I would rather catch the bus and be home on time (I had a date to attend). By the way, these four photos above were not taken by me nor my camera, I forgot the name of the person who had taken them. I will give them credit a.s.a.p.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAk32PzS7WIzlpiX7x-Fz2MqVDh4wwGaKP3oxrYo0SHe3gH4KyjhAgt1AG2IMdRCzDrI7-D_aVIdSVNXUSf4gYrEyJ9VnQ3tADxF6RkRm4FM3sx5l3gJldhmWMMHf0h6yGCsXSrzSH-km/s1600-h/IMG_1482.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAk32PzS7WIzlpiX7x-Fz2MqVDh4wwGaKP3oxrYo0SHe3gH4KyjhAgt1AG2IMdRCzDrI7-D_aVIdSVNXUSf4gYrEyJ9VnQ3tADxF6RkRm4FM3sx5l3gJldhmWMMHf0h6yGCsXSrzSH-km/s320/IMG_1482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417781426993033682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsAD5nU4hGqagEpOffB4wyfIyAa9Y357u-AE7DN5gFzBRz6LhSyjo96JuGPEQlrMOYET0FizuYWCvr_nnvZ3tsKb9Uo0P26Ql8YlvSIieJ6XivMQfQZq4yS9APUr2uwHSjwmsc_KHcpdR/s1600-h/IMG_1486.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsAD5nU4hGqagEpOffB4wyfIyAa9Y357u-AE7DN5gFzBRz6LhSyjo96JuGPEQlrMOYET0FizuYWCvr_nnvZ3tsKb9Uo0P26Ql8YlvSIieJ6XivMQfQZq4yS9APUr2uwHSjwmsc_KHcpdR/s320/IMG_1486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417782365200240386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR92cEYV56BR0MOi36HU0GwIklYrAHeH5ujsPVQiKVbLOnkbmYJIroyvZUQZLuE5F_3cuBxGhB_wG1DDQZv241v00x6_ssSil1B79yd9yPHBbqUig6AL8W7vXU-xJ-71k9VoTNzK1jypp/s1600-h/IMG_1487.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR92cEYV56BR0MOi36HU0GwIklYrAHeH5ujsPVQiKVbLOnkbmYJIroyvZUQZLuE5F_3cuBxGhB_wG1DDQZv241v00x6_ssSil1B79yd9yPHBbqUig6AL8W7vXU-xJ-71k9VoTNzK1jypp/s320/IMG_1487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417782642620884722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcQlmAX4ozmcvCNdUq9UClA3mAcX_jB_cjz4OW1RQNbtVNm5IHJmkvYAbsY_3UZ3D-fAujuuwm8e3vJiGv7DhOiN-NFF211Yg3LVNTbFFO0Js_3gv2MFNhVWK-sXfRRzD3aZKOPEQJlD-/s1600-h/IMG_1483.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcQlmAX4ozmcvCNdUq9UClA3mAcX_jB_cjz4OW1RQNbtVNm5IHJmkvYAbsY_3UZ3D-fAujuuwm8e3vJiGv7DhOiN-NFF211Yg3LVNTbFFO0Js_3gv2MFNhVWK-sXfRRzD3aZKOPEQJlD-/s320/IMG_1483.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417783693801595234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQpWkILa7CEcH3q5osYjV86pDPucmaIDkkxG_eLcX4xltOhEqZeUT54a7FChsctNI4l9fWaJPgvnhtbrpx8JEYVcwaXIk0bsgXqNeqStvDdqVlpDDzevlaOrFT-_Ze_R6ESbJLLANnpeu/s1600-h/IMG_1500.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQpWkILa7CEcH3q5osYjV86pDPucmaIDkkxG_eLcX4xltOhEqZeUT54a7FChsctNI4l9fWaJPgvnhtbrpx8JEYVcwaXIk0bsgXqNeqStvDdqVlpDDzevlaOrFT-_Ze_R6ESbJLLANnpeu/s320/IMG_1500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417783064002518194" border="0" /></a>It was a cute little town and now that I look back I am glad that I went and spent more time with Leo and Catalina.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_APtPK6jEn1upuz5W9XB3Ra6nTXY5XmqvN5gBJwAfJsvlQm39UB6iEOXlRJjkxQHphy2p2bCZDfHTJX4d6eUWUyKKcA-PGtoaAbvjZCpVjQuOIvJHsm3DlpVQfKOYkAhCQfZw1ag7vHy/s1600-h/IMG_1485.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_APtPK6jEn1upuz5W9XB3Ra6nTXY5XmqvN5gBJwAfJsvlQm39UB6iEOXlRJjkxQHphy2p2bCZDfHTJX4d6eUWUyKKcA-PGtoaAbvjZCpVjQuOIvJHsm3DlpVQfKOYkAhCQfZw1ag7vHy/s320/IMG_1485.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417781666296600226" border="0" /></a>Reality bites. Here I am in this quaint little town in Cundinamarca with cute energy consuming Christmas decorations and I stumble upon this. It says, "AUC" which stands for <span style="font-style: italic;">Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia</span> (United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia) and is the most dangerous armed group in the country (According to <a href="http://www.hrw.org/">Human Rights Watch</a> approximately 70% of all human rights violations in Colombia are caused by right-wing militias such as the AUC). This is Colombia at times, a quaint cute little town with a bloody past or a shinning grace with a dirty secret.<br /><br />I am so happy to be back in Medellín. In a few days I will be on the road for several weeks before classes start back up again. That's all for now, I promise that while not traveling I will upload more photos and publish more posts.<br /><br />Attentively,<br /><br />-Kevin Post<br /><br />P.S. Another photo taken of me by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ktiusk/">Catalina Rumbo</a> in Guasca (I don't remember why or what I was doing when this photo was taken):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3nQJMlDxhgUURNpTrPHLhsiND1hwgkqIk9s2oFcrHaqg8mptMDgz7XyE1B_qFlNFsawNOLakLN1CwpN7V6T3Gz1hFj8220VHmWSNSUJMZbuca88iAD7aks2_SMl_XzUgZ0-ktoTvw2pw/s1600-h/13342_214694654518_513584518_2948052_98015_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3nQJMlDxhgUURNpTrPHLhsiND1hwgkqIk9s2oFcrHaqg8mptMDgz7XyE1B_qFlNFsawNOLakLN1CwpN7V6T3Gz1hFj8220VHmWSNSUJMZbuca88iAD7aks2_SMl_XzUgZ0-ktoTvw2pw/s320/13342_214694654518_513584518_2948052_98015_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418689790450411714" border="0" /></a>Kevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-89857163895678509472009-12-18T10:59:00.000-08:002010-03-18T11:07:45.579-07:00Help Ara while he crosses the United States of America<span style="font-size:130%;">I am writing this post because a very good friend of mine Ara Sarafian lost everything he had except for the clothes on his back. Here is what he wrote me in an e-mail:</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I had my big backpack mysteriously disappear from the back of a mini-van in Guatemala a few days ago. My gf, the driver and his assistant were all confused what the hell happened. We watched it be tied on securely, and were watching out during the ride, but when we arrived it wasn't there. We drove back an hour or so to check the whole route for a fallen backpack but found nothing. It sucks because I loved that backpack and it had pretty much my life of the last 2 years in there: tent, sleeping bag, mattress, all my clothes, etc...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="PresenceContainer"><span style="font-size:130%;">Now if there is anything you can do to help this incredible person on his journey across the U.S. it is greatly appreciated. You can contact him through his website: <a href="http://thelifelesstravelled.com/">The Life Less Travelled</a><br /><br />On a side note, I have hosted hundreds of people through <a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org">Couchsurfing</a> and by other means and Ara was by far the best hosting experience I have ever had. Don't miss the opportunity to help him out.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />-Kevin Post<br /></span></span></div></div>Kevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-3063271472958817682009-12-09T01:30:00.000-08:002009-12-10T00:20:08.874-08:00Cooking in Bogotá November 2009 (wine, police, 3am picnic & good times in Bogotá)As many of you know, I love to learn just about anything on how to better my life as well as the life of others. That is what I love about learning to cook: it's more economical than eating out, it brings people together, makes people happy, it nourishes, introduces new ideas, ethics and flavors, and is all about sharing. It has become a little tradition that I cook and organize a picnic in <span style="font-style: italic;">Parque El Virrey</span> (Virrey Park) every time I visit Bogotá. Below here are some photos from PIC-KEVIN-NIC NÚMERO II:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I forgot to add that although my hostess in Bogotá is AMAZING!!!!! and I absolutely love her apartment and location she has carpeting but no vacuum cleaner and as you can imagine my allergies over the period of a few days began to RAGE havoc on my life! So NO, although my eyes are bloodshot red in these photos I am not high and I don't have <span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">conjunctivitis.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(click photos to enlarge them)</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0HalwUpjkkH22TWt9oQh26kBCvTs-mlWTXIxMgceEY48RUatN25r5FujMB2i6U1jOkdzH7DBn6qVOEDx3HJ76_1CkY3wl31APHlip0Q2T50xwQZBwWIr6V3vSxg-TxFzuwqwEogazyI9/s1600-h/13765_357411685397_907540397_9873164_1117745_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0HalwUpjkkH22TWt9oQh26kBCvTs-mlWTXIxMgceEY48RUatN25r5FujMB2i6U1jOkdzH7DBn6qVOEDx3HJ76_1CkY3wl31APHlip0Q2T50xwQZBwWIr6V3vSxg-TxFzuwqwEogazyI9/s320/13765_357411685397_907540397_9873164_1117745_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413497161190738994" border="0" /></a>I prepared <span style="font-style: italic;">pizza de pesto</span> (pizza with pesto) which was a success hot or cold. It's easy but making the pesto from scratch without pine nuts proved to be a little challenging as well as a little expensive for Colombian standards (still well worth it!).<br /><br />Ingredients: basil, olive oil, parmesan, pasteurized cheese (local cheese), tortilla, mozzarella and tomato. Optional is feta cheese in place of pasteurized cheese, preparing the pesto with pine nuts (recommended but incredibly expensive in Colombian supermarkets), and sun-dried tomatoes (also VERY expensive to obtain in Colombia).<br /><br />I'm making this for my mom tomorrow evening :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUrHxNvdKYeMMuEKdNuY0BpBE6ffOTVTZBJTh2TD-R111nufF0G5xIuEH8jp8J4um1fDoz8_foPrzU1N65_R-cmn5Z2XrQbPfXtf4l27_-zdQuAZ_9O0gLwS9SrWEjgek9ex3dxgHf-cD/s1600-h/13765_357411615397_907540397_9873156_5158535_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUrHxNvdKYeMMuEKdNuY0BpBE6ffOTVTZBJTh2TD-R111nufF0G5xIuEH8jp8J4um1fDoz8_foPrzU1N65_R-cmn5Z2XrQbPfXtf4l27_-zdQuAZ_9O0gLwS9SrWEjgek9ex3dxgHf-cD/s320/13765_357411615397_907540397_9873156_5158535_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413496629054859058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIe5u5S8vZKmclUilAffY2RWHaWKDmx5IFSRsmYFJ5_If6Dm5ul1ljDyPObuVAfzcXPovHTgDOOcjCIneVIekiFrCoqxAR2HvxuEv9XtCcnTFK_SoqqHBFslOtRNHzOu8Bf_M3JaEmDpGi/s1600-h/12436_1295603108731_1189931201_30926880_7539218_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIjkA83ouHtf1pXQXrqJXnyjNMrS6e-lnVuN3goE8GXsXLSJKotHXstYYoZNa0TP-29bz1Q50uTcIG9g3ZbF7Ib18XXOmhxyZpqgn6s3TE0MYb_guEZDL3W_XnvsAHJ4KFa643e-SkTjB/s320/13862_229197321040_693976040_4618506_1025132_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413492763136946658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaApDj8dn07PKBQVY58dL1mcabY0wWc3OBAFz5_28r7VC-kGRHHeps6RLpDb0Qa0BXxoBIgK7TphWToI07Y-Mjd_gyk1BeK113Ys9ohBMBRJIx9UmsNhUxONlXTWnNzzvzLrZUDajnK_Qo/s1600-h/13862_229197586040_693976040_4618549_6826587_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaApDj8dn07PKBQVY58dL1mcabY0wWc3OBAFz5_28r7VC-kGRHHeps6RLpDb0Qa0BXxoBIgK7TphWToI07Y-Mjd_gyk1BeK113Ys9ohBMBRJIx9UmsNhUxONlXTWnNzzvzLrZUDajnK_Qo/s320/13862_229197586040_693976040_4618549_6826587_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413494407403425330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkqwGQJlZ18_uPUejmPJWP2mXdUGe9C8ysVCUmTE8C88q6DhA8rE717TOtsvZ2sDUOayJploeBAeF412Ta9I6L58o0dyXjputUZ1lCFhqWzHAKuy8xhkkC9uOnfp5Fx02702-tbis-7RX/s1600-h/13862_229197346040_693976040_4618510_330721_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkqwGQJlZ18_uPUejmPJWP2mXdUGe9C8ysVCUmTE8C88q6DhA8rE717TOtsvZ2sDUOayJploeBAeF412Ta9I6L58o0dyXjputUZ1lCFhqWzHAKuy8xhkkC9uOnfp5Fx02702-tbis-7RX/s320/13862_229197346040_693976040_4618510_330721_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413493404097011522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStFYl_jgN92qq6tavo1HfzVCRC5utbfedsmqcw9h33iRAeHeyP9LpJYj_8ZbqsR3PIpNft9tk-Y0CPHddq58GoAsIzPQQVFoKkW4Vi8RBm_GiiV8xmAFrQ2WiDgu793zCuUK470PgvrMK/s1600-h/13862_229197401040_693976040_4618519_8071862_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStFYl_jgN92qq6tavo1HfzVCRC5utbfedsmqcw9h33iRAeHeyP9LpJYj_8ZbqsR3PIpNft9tk-Y0CPHddq58GoAsIzPQQVFoKkW4Vi8RBm_GiiV8xmAFrQ2WiDgu793zCuUK470PgvrMK/s320/13862_229197401040_693976040_4618519_8071862_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413493916397961394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSTyB6XLKirvp_kOhdFCAdceqrjcx7_vKm_1Lx_cBmyylgOCyGfBeWWuAWHp-V4JgisalxCGI1qzFqsXytPCHrKENmMpUMnUg7GT1st6SjABcX6oU6ewZJKOWx-4Ev1x524Sf_5YEOMy0/s1600-h/13765_355392770397_907540397_9847335_3210321_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSTyB6XLKirvp_kOhdFCAdceqrjcx7_vKm_1Lx_cBmyylgOCyGfBeWWuAWHp-V4JgisalxCGI1qzFqsXytPCHrKENmMpUMnUg7GT1st6SjABcX6oU6ewZJKOWx-4Ev1x524Sf_5YEOMy0/s320/13765_355392770397_907540397_9847335_3210321_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413495920842140706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOAOgKDeuntEpXQfwMns4SPmmj0C-8HN0e88VkMmChE9oS1Z0s6Spjj-TtZykTWsDHjFKibd3J6ZWijWatpWhd5FcuQqv5ZOh6758CK2VRrFegPUOXkccXskPVuPG927dxPKq7uXi5Du7/s1600-h/13765_357412090397_907540397_9873214_7424362_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOAOgKDeuntEpXQfwMns4SPmmj0C-8HN0e88VkMmChE9oS1Z0s6Spjj-TtZykTWsDHjFKibd3J6ZWijWatpWhd5FcuQqv5ZOh6758CK2VRrFegPUOXkccXskPVuPG927dxPKq7uXi5Du7/s320/13765_357412090397_907540397_9873214_7424362_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413497871964575714" border="0" /></a><br />PIC-KEVIN-NIC NÚMERO II wasn't as successful as the first <a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/09/photos-from-pic-kevin-nic-in-bogota.html">PIC-KEVIN-NIC</a> only because I organized it on a Tuesday while most people were busy with exams or work. But I can always count on the <a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org/">Couchsurfing</a> crew of Bogotá for a great time; they never disappoint.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMlqu7ZV05XDmw_zzIUJjLhFnd_E98IqUqkLwFum6oIVsTGu3PJVE3OvHYwVzM7Gz6Z_nJZOYxvfK5wwVkt-NapRLeG017McyRPke5cFJW0lAaAIR2VE1267JfXSyTNHep1XzqHLD-1rt/s1600-h/13862_229197591040_693976040_4618550_3383992_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMlqu7ZV05XDmw_zzIUJjLhFnd_E98IqUqkLwFum6oIVsTGu3PJVE3OvHYwVzM7Gz6Z_nJZOYxvfK5wwVkt-NapRLeG017McyRPke5cFJW0lAaAIR2VE1267JfXSyTNHep1XzqHLD-1rt/s320/13862_229197591040_693976040_4618550_3383992_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413494494480818786" border="0" /></a>We don't actually like each other all too much, we were just cold!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpDrZA2BsOK38vz9GpGsq5aM2gMG3RNiiiTLf-f-C60X2lME8JWTy_pakKKBvi_N4bYaR0KbnBnNJOInEEEewmor71ni94q6syjcyVKplRoTti8Iwhkgvb6iDtSXvj_vL52SqOAuhvMkh/s1600-h/13765_357411790397_907540397_9873176_1912933_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpDrZA2BsOK38vz9GpGsq5aM2gMG3RNiiiTLf-f-C60X2lME8JWTy_pakKKBvi_N4bYaR0KbnBnNJOInEEEewmor71ni94q6syjcyVKplRoTti8Iwhkgvb6iDtSXvj_vL52SqOAuhvMkh/s320/13765_357411790397_907540397_9873176_1912933_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413497366427992834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOP7wbqc5aHCCwP2c3-n0vHsr-GTdCqYq1gNcLYw4yB6XIwSO9PUnJ8AQGjHwRFWdaV-O9HnYbeDrm5bGnG72Aytcc3trise6iLollou0v3nEGIsPjTUsfrygrtcA0DgehD0zjygNKQTDh/s1600-h/13765_357411805397_907540397_9873178_1454726_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOP7wbqc5aHCCwP2c3-n0vHsr-GTdCqYq1gNcLYw4yB6XIwSO9PUnJ8AQGjHwRFWdaV-O9HnYbeDrm5bGnG72Aytcc3trise6iLollou0v3nEGIsPjTUsfrygrtcA0DgehD0zjygNKQTDh/s320/13765_357411805397_907540397_9873178_1454726_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413497469993309378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRRFmFmfcsOlIL3XXdRU24ENby1qCda0a8b4d9TUsGYqxm5LTfLRwpgW-qyxz93d_iZD5tRXKXPo9-iv4o4T-arkna1WKxFDsZvYQKcYjguv1bHBnx8gx52WJWRHp78hL6HvzQfJhg5Xo/s1600-h/13765_357411720397_907540397_9873169_3259865_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRRFmFmfcsOlIL3XXdRU24ENby1qCda0a8b4d9TUsGYqxm5LTfLRwpgW-qyxz93d_iZD5tRXKXPo9-iv4o4T-arkna1WKxFDsZvYQKcYjguv1bHBnx8gx52WJWRHp78hL6HvzQfJhg5Xo/s320/13765_357411720397_907540397_9873169_3259865_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413497297213578194" border="0" /></a>Playing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu4Hnbor9rI">"Cancion Del Mariachi" by Los Lobos</a> on guitar which is always a hit with Latinos from México to Argentina at parties.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8X0TmsD8MmTK-3JR9BLXaJnv0UFa71U87dFe49SH-5bUPJ5qldCAWDer3D3i-hkJOsvvExaS2RrDb2q16JzfNDhYAwZLKvzhx7uycfJ7M-TkiCCKdLVukIBUl4oi49YCIyhEeI6xdBPlM/s1600-h/13862_229197351040_693976040_4618511_5468358_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8X0TmsD8MmTK-3JR9BLXaJnv0UFa71U87dFe49SH-5bUPJ5qldCAWDer3D3i-hkJOsvvExaS2RrDb2q16JzfNDhYAwZLKvzhx7uycfJ7M-TkiCCKdLVukIBUl4oi49YCIyhEeI6xdBPlM/s320/13862_229197351040_693976040_4618511_5468358_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413493561100944466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZzP0ChzFLEbSPz9OB6dabUNTIAACmuoLnkdbcGNFZVcIcozf0A4pd-u0L1SnnnziirQYAyKAD-fK5ukDxI4He6eB0UFndyEqKnBGIZ5b1XeGbS3CQMN4ltuOY5QAv888MPXWp82TiiAB/s1600-h/13862_229197596040_693976040_4618551_3640763_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZzP0ChzFLEbSPz9OB6dabUNTIAACmuoLnkdbcGNFZVcIcozf0A4pd-u0L1SnnnziirQYAyKAD-fK5ukDxI4He6eB0UFndyEqKnBGIZ5b1XeGbS3CQMN4ltuOY5QAv888MPXWp82TiiAB/s320/13862_229197596040_693976040_4618551_3640763_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413494799401602546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDxmnIAwr9BO8EKS33Gb3tdcT5SbYxCnXykbPQpY9yT-oIKRCNdYBAV961ZaEjRHJaFTtdB0Jdrs_Zjt7gA1uzFwIfWwZQicwg9dBWO-yDQ-mZ3KpYb_ag513MxLrrJ7eyexdIciG05rq/s1600-h/13862_229197601040_693976040_4618552_6955874_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDxmnIAwr9BO8EKS33Gb3tdcT5SbYxCnXykbPQpY9yT-oIKRCNdYBAV961ZaEjRHJaFTtdB0Jdrs_Zjt7gA1uzFwIfWwZQicwg9dBWO-yDQ-mZ3KpYb_ag513MxLrrJ7eyexdIciG05rq/s320/13862_229197601040_693976040_4618552_6955874_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413494853038924290" border="0" /></a>Parque El Virrey November 24, 2009.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrYtPs-l_Lp8L-YlgMybvaE5To5wLZLzYlOCXX7PHSNxap0PM9nT8-FrpNtIZ-9hupR0ThZ02-F-eWPW_ux3bAlkukznJGwM9GzvVyKcvosAymaPKdzW2ryViS3j7suldHV5J7yjHsHzm/s1600-h/13765_357411625397_907540397_9873157_7940373_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrYtPs-l_Lp8L-YlgMybvaE5To5wLZLzYlOCXX7PHSNxap0PM9nT8-FrpNtIZ-9hupR0ThZ02-F-eWPW_ux3bAlkukznJGwM9GzvVyKcvosAymaPKdzW2ryViS3j7suldHV5J7yjHsHzm/s320/13765_357411625397_907540397_9873157_7940373_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413497013126366834" border="0" /></a>Oh red wine...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQ_ubk6eUDzEg-n5t6QChrd61TXfd5Zo8H5S1ycG0CDBDtuvs5JdC49-pCmCR2qoaAs1QCtdPdt9BvqkKnprTV2_TIv-yAqttIqr92-T3d1aYQ4Ky92fS7IhtS0DtlH35gGfb7xlu3cJF/s1600-h/13765_357412130397_907540397_9873219_2223316_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQ_ubk6eUDzEg-n5t6QChrd61TXfd5Zo8H5S1ycG0CDBDtuvs5JdC49-pCmCR2qoaAs1QCtdPdt9BvqkKnprTV2_TIv-yAqttIqr92-T3d1aYQ4Ky92fS7IhtS0DtlH35gGfb7xlu3cJF/s320/13765_357412130397_907540397_9873219_2223316_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413497956534257186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVo11Mp4QQPA5HxF8AsuSRSCrVWfjlOguIj7DYC3cSH51EYH3kwrgm3Ee0KR6WNl3i3ilinOm7Q6Hrwzj8cg5NbGPXlxqwpNznMxtojH8l2O1S0MUOp4s-QmQKJhwINsLxEHLyRG7X5K3/s1600-h/13862_229197471040_693976040_4618531_3884463_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVo11Mp4QQPA5HxF8AsuSRSCrVWfjlOguIj7DYC3cSH51EYH3kwrgm3Ee0KR6WNl3i3ilinOm7Q6Hrwzj8cg5NbGPXlxqwpNznMxtojH8l2O1S0MUOp4s-QmQKJhwINsLxEHLyRG7X5K3/s320/13862_229197471040_693976040_4618531_3884463_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413494309996535538" border="0" /></a>...no comment.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrOwFlSzP_IJ_Fr9I9jXGkLSd642__ZZ3LM2N_DAX1lSwHSuR8NfcEsIhK4U-ABPPDKy_p0AjQ1qszsd5lDJmpLm6N1IeO3gAjKtkARePqbRg0p9S9c87BmRqHkhGNYSinJtUPem5kqaY/s1600-h/12436_1295603508741_1189931201_30926889_2488657_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrOwFlSzP_IJ_Fr9I9jXGkLSd642__ZZ3LM2N_DAX1lSwHSuR8NfcEsIhK4U-ABPPDKy_p0AjQ1qszsd5lDJmpLm6N1IeO3gAjKtkARePqbRg0p9S9c87BmRqHkhGNYSinJtUPem5kqaY/s320/12436_1295603508741_1189931201_30926889_2488657_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413492049564874274" border="0" /></a>Finished "mooning" another camera, I am still looking for those photos!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvsEtARvh2pTAH19NVWmVbHzlXZhR6K352qkJkkVVb_d8eMnDtbg9DrhCQGF9dahSt_7JZQrSBvKAQMjzrxcPrXq-N4dFlvKUUBXXsxcIpPQtKwHd77fF1UBlH5cDGw6CceIp5MqF5bLE/s1600-h/13862_229197391040_693976040_4618518_5520181_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvsEtARvh2pTAH19NVWmVbHzlXZhR6K352qkJkkVVb_d8eMnDtbg9DrhCQGF9dahSt_7JZQrSBvKAQMjzrxcPrXq-N4dFlvKUUBXXsxcIpPQtKwHd77fF1UBlH5cDGw6CceIp5MqF5bLE/s320/13862_229197391040_693976040_4618518_5520181_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413493805724794258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFymhNdoBffTIFMM14R8N7tyKC1uBJGdx5-vps6yu7Q3hXbb7064NqOqdmOuOgSFLJe6-5V3i-LBJm6uJX_FmCwLmYRQzAMy3O7kmyGiiyCy5o03_DUvlm55smlKEaqksjZZjFxeAyUvMR/s1600-h/13765_355392775397_907540397_9847336_5126571_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFymhNdoBffTIFMM14R8N7tyKC1uBJGdx5-vps6yu7Q3hXbb7064NqOqdmOuOgSFLJe6-5V3i-LBJm6uJX_FmCwLmYRQzAMy3O7kmyGiiyCy5o03_DUvlm55smlKEaqksjZZjFxeAyUvMR/s320/13765_355392775397_907540397_9847336_5126571_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413496036296850162" border="0" /></a>Ladies, if you are interested in kissing me tickling is a HUGE hint...I'm not that naïve.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2wwH9vbDdYZ1BxytNrRqQG9bjfaYTUoP883QvKxmKSwM_ZkvaPvBTc8lSJC0Jxn96QiGUomMSvQPcDkXNx6rlpinYH7sdMimqfzm1zUadrdOAEw89LTDVUxaqFVvwp5CL9BeA-h-4fau/s1600-h/13765_355392780397_907540397_9847337_1302787_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2wwH9vbDdYZ1BxytNrRqQG9bjfaYTUoP883QvKxmKSwM_ZkvaPvBTc8lSJC0Jxn96QiGUomMSvQPcDkXNx6rlpinYH7sdMimqfzm1zUadrdOAEw89LTDVUxaqFVvwp5CL9BeA-h-4fau/s320/13765_355392780397_907540397_9847337_1302787_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413496261203013586" border="0" /></a>I completely forgot why I made that face.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJRzdFskwH1ve4RKfB_CMoO-PMSnbbcXp48DobkD_PjAgubSKBAbJCefFDzt8NR4ejvQC0O-HoLx-orF7K7sl6ER4DagaclVYpVH07pO_fwekrY3mB7dOje_F7cmA3xXPgRKih2lfvf1z/s1600-h/13765_357412085397_907540397_9873213_3281186_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJRzdFskwH1ve4RKfB_CMoO-PMSnbbcXp48DobkD_PjAgubSKBAbJCefFDzt8NR4ejvQC0O-HoLx-orF7K7sl6ER4DagaclVYpVH07pO_fwekrY3mB7dOje_F7cmA3xXPgRKih2lfvf1z/s320/13765_357412085397_907540397_9873213_3281186_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413497699532922914" border="0" /></a>Notice the red wine on my right shoulder.<br /><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL85cjJXZyznpJbvjiJ-S5BJPp1xGhYqFQ1p0WQvsvKe2Hb-uQYbly1ktK6aEvLv04je2CR0TpS6Ndgs_Nc1EKBNU13ymuoVfu_FjaPU6THVNt6Owl7UR4qBmga9tqrh6K76kaL4YNYFEX/s1600-h/13862_229197366040_693976040_4618514_5556183_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL85cjJXZyznpJbvjiJ-S5BJPp1xGhYqFQ1p0WQvsvKe2Hb-uQYbly1ktK6aEvLv04je2CR0TpS6Ndgs_Nc1EKBNU13ymuoVfu_FjaPU6THVNt6Owl7UR4qBmga9tqrh6K76kaL4YNYFEX/s320/13862_229197366040_693976040_4618514_5556183_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413493679685532242" border="0" /></a>I even had a band play at my picnic. I'm not gonna lie, my picnics are epic and last forever.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aEtBehwHSgbZ_DQ49nzLHfrdYII3zjlLq2HTesfKv6M5w7QQtHCmzxfT7ojnGNpbccOWaiIxmEvCRog0AFMvc7hXhKNJnqsxjFDVoIIouB1siM0ZrOdDXe1YKBsPfxHHAZnjclJhjuT-/s1600-h/13862_229197621040_693976040_4618556_6186931_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aEtBehwHSgbZ_DQ49nzLHfrdYII3zjlLq2HTesfKv6M5w7QQtHCmzxfT7ojnGNpbccOWaiIxmEvCRog0AFMvc7hXhKNJnqsxjFDVoIIouB1siM0ZrOdDXe1YKBsPfxHHAZnjclJhjuT-/s320/13862_229197621040_693976040_4618556_6186931_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413494988078578338" border="0" /></a>The hardcore picnic enthusiasts, we lasted until 4:30am! Speaking of which it is a funny story that ended with some crazy results at my hostess's apartment until 5am. A group of us walked to a supermarket open 24/7 to buy several boxes of cheap red wine and as a result we laughed a lot, peed on a warehouse door due to lack of public restroom, I ended up getting kissed by a rola (a girl from Bogotá), and us being taken to a police outpost for drinking in public at 3:30-4am. Turns out the police had no proof of us drinking in public because a friend of mine carefully ditched to open box in the trash with 007-like precision and he filmed the police officers while they interrogated us (again, Leo is 007). In the end, the police let us go, we go back to my hostess's apartment, drink more wine, I take a shower, drop a glass of wine on my foot while in the shower, and the rest from there is none of your business :)<br /><br />I'd love to write more but I am falling asleep at the keyboard. I'm flying from Miami to Bogotá Saturday morning and I can't wait to be back in Colombia even though I am going to miss my friends and family in Florida A LOT. If I could bring my Floridian friends and family to Colombia permanently and make them love it as much as I do, Colombia would be heaven and a half for me.<br /><br />Goodnight for now! Thanks to everyone for the photos (after hunting you down on facebook under a strange name).<br /><br />-Kevin Post<br /><br /><br /><span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search"><br /></span></span>Kevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-89353769646712653152009-12-03T15:42:00.000-08:002009-12-05T00:24:29.145-08:00Colombian Hitchhiking Part II - Manizales & Villamaria<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0j5Eqj-2H8JqMnEERnOcUZkEKlXEtWo9mCVwWRukYZVzaAaNBZdsfQtWcGc065t1Weln1s-T0j0GRW6bD0Xd4CW2EFyfjlzTBSBbXwbv8YHaw5ae1CtjwgnAmZf0bcx4zlM78KGQ8O1K/s1600-h/CALDASCOL.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0j5Eqj-2H8JqMnEERnOcUZkEKlXEtWo9mCVwWRukYZVzaAaNBZdsfQtWcGc065t1Weln1s-T0j0GRW6bD0Xd4CW2EFyfjlzTBSBbXwbv8YHaw5ae1CtjwgnAmZf0bcx4zlM78KGQ8O1K/s320/CALDASCOL.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411460533398510050" border="0" /></a><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlGrTRJX8yI1qsiVa40AGHmEYi7iqzCujU9kqDpBktzCRziegu39OY0pryOzWVsyeo_tqPVnA16mQAs0_1S66gl_KLmWAXNv0d5yzIYhq2EMUGzAk2OhDUv1BVqQKopW0BjIGzquth-7_/s1600-h/CALDAS1.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlGrTRJX8yI1qsiVa40AGHmEYi7iqzCujU9kqDpBktzCRziegu39OY0pryOzWVsyeo_tqPVnA16mQAs0_1S66gl_KLmWAXNv0d5yzIYhq2EMUGzAk2OhDUv1BVqQKopW0BjIGzquth-7_/s320/CALDAS1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411475115871564850" style="cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 211px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Click on photos to enlarge them)</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Just like the first <a href="http://amanofnonation.blogspot.com/2009/11/colombian-hitchhiking-part-i-sabaneta.html">Colombian Hitchhiking</a> blog entry, this trip (end of April 2009) took place when I didn't have a blog and didn't care too much about keeping a journal regarding my thoughts, funny quotes and a little bit about my random life in and around Colombia. I regret not writing these series of little moments while they were still fresh. In the upcoming months I will have tiny composition notebooks to jot down the good times while they remain fresh in the mind with me at all times and I have hopes of taking a photography class to improve my picture taking abilities which will then greatly improve this blog. However, I am not the kind of person that likes traveling with an elaborate camera with several types of lenses; too much weight, too much money and too much unwanted attention. I would like a camera that is compact, very durable, used (there is no way I could afford a new one), and takes good shots...recommendations are more than welcome.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Unlike the last time I went hitchhiking, this was not planned. My hostess <a href="http://mumbainomad.blogspot.com/">Manisha</a> (while she was living and teaching in Manizales) and I decided to head south to the municipality of Villamaria to get away from the urbanization of Manizales and venture into a more rural setting. Near by is the active volcano Nevado del Ruiz at 5,321m (17,388ft) above sea level and can easily be seen from Manizales on a sunny day. We took urban transportation as far as we could southeast from the city of Manizales and began walking past farms and friendly <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">campesinos</span> (peasant farmers). It was quite coincidental but a driver stopped with his pickup truck to ask if we needed a ride only a few minutes after telling Manisha how easy it was for me to hitchhike in Colombia without even holding out my thumb. </div><div><br /></div><div>We expected a few hours walk along the rural coffee farms of Caldas but ended up hitchhiking to wherever the driver wanted to go.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUqoJ8AMQaSPkBpHzJdiECOmj3Kl3YFAgsYgSw9eBSHeNNZTs2uoqHWuhzAoi7dtv7tmvPvNsiZlhcVFkVQX7wR1Jk0rOunRMJ8hmjoaMGea38YjyrRFlg1HbqGwEQVUjLKGir8aT4oJs/s1600/IMG_0816.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUqoJ8AMQaSPkBpHzJdiECOmj3Kl3YFAgsYgSw9eBSHeNNZTs2uoqHWuhzAoi7dtv7tmvPvNsiZlhcVFkVQX7wR1Jk0rOunRMJ8hmjoaMGea38YjyrRFlg1HbqGwEQVUjLKGir8aT4oJs/s320/IMG_0816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406298652670682418" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We were excited to go as far as possible but Manisha and I were completely unprepared for such an exciting trip. The two guys in the back of the pickup truck (sorry for not remembering their names) were very nice guys from Medellín whom had great recommendations for us regarding future travels off the beaten path in Colombia. Sadly, again I forgot their recommendations because I have conversations like this all of the time. </div><div><br /></div><div>The driver was drinking <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Caldense</span> rum (a rum from this region which is considered by experts to be some of the best rum in the world), blaring reggaetón, and driving at full speed along unpaved country roads which at times sent us flying in the air and slamming against the hard truck bed. Eventually our hour long drive with this crew came to an end as they had planned to drive further up to the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co/PNN/portel/libreria/php/decide.php?patron=01.020208">Parque Nacional Los Nevados</a></span> (Los Nevados National Park) which was too high of an elevation (we didn't have enough cold weather clothing to handle the snow) and too expensive for Manisha and I to enter (foreigners have to pay a minimum of about 80,000 Colombian pesos, which is roughly $40USD, just to enter the park). They dropped us off at a lodge which was convenient because they served typical food from the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paisa_region">Paísa</a></span> region filled with protein and calories we needed. It was a bit over priced but at +4,000 meters (+13,000 feet) above sea-level I can't complain. The lodge was lovely and had a very Alps feel to it but we couldn't afford to stay and we only had a few hours of light to guide us down the mountain back to civilization. We asked if it would be easy to catch a ride back but we were quickly informed by Colombian tourists and staff that it would be highly unlikely. We began walking at a fast pace while enjoying Caldas's beauty.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nuPAwr85YTMFViIZrvsjXCg3PQDyzpLjMcsk53C1KOgzD1_dIIJr9ms3zSH7CFQYCa-2BuSdqDM6Y-D1vQXUkXhqo1FRE1fjGppIuBKex4LXituF-PWNr-MAgtTOzMwTSX9O6kyrgBnu/s1600/IMG_0817.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nuPAwr85YTMFViIZrvsjXCg3PQDyzpLjMcsk53C1KOgzD1_dIIJr9ms3zSH7CFQYCa-2BuSdqDM6Y-D1vQXUkXhqo1FRE1fjGppIuBKex4LXituF-PWNr-MAgtTOzMwTSX9O6kyrgBnu/s320/IMG_0817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406298893014013138" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6kNjQNDwC_SW0D0h2aW5zOAhpsbTxpjg5w9D8oGodZ16thhAgp1bqT6hXnwaE3ybjP_FspkEP3fSGe1f1cj06PUz0U_XB7GS3vKvnIpmmLX018lswBNK430fTCWEc2IlGMW1BIFql7zN/s1600/IMG_0818.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6kNjQNDwC_SW0D0h2aW5zOAhpsbTxpjg5w9D8oGodZ16thhAgp1bqT6hXnwaE3ybjP_FspkEP3fSGe1f1cj06PUz0U_XB7GS3vKvnIpmmLX018lswBNK430fTCWEc2IlGMW1BIFql7zN/s320/IMG_0818.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406299131182972370" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMb0Xuxera5-Z3SCkrES4CBvUYXzxYRkEVlw8mRambCRcx_71_N4c9WQH_fbtTEt8anbRNE_LciaFuVgxbLm9xsLyFt0QWHJIn1M3IVm-p_jD4DSkqFXQu-TbcSmKL24VYrq7JlPB8Ck4J/s1600/IMG_0819.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMb0Xuxera5-Z3SCkrES4CBvUYXzxYRkEVlw8mRambCRcx_71_N4c9WQH_fbtTEt8anbRNE_LciaFuVgxbLm9xsLyFt0QWHJIn1M3IVm-p_jD4DSkqFXQu-TbcSmKL24VYrq7JlPB8Ck4J/s320/IMG_0819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406299419437263090" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8nRsWsUWWIqN2bq0tZGd6nzmyQWA_PHJvIS6dTtk07JnmjvbB1SCE91hogrFldHUVDzOXGKUbjh_q0PjXJDCq95ZLtnKoRNOeNXPqAVJcrJc978hqGuHzftsjJo4S8wZy47ucah01GCF/s1600/IMG_0820.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8nRsWsUWWIqN2bq0tZGd6nzmyQWA_PHJvIS6dTtk07JnmjvbB1SCE91hogrFldHUVDzOXGKUbjh_q0PjXJDCq95ZLtnKoRNOeNXPqAVJcrJc978hqGuHzftsjJo4S8wZy47ucah01GCF/s320/IMG_0820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406299643304546626" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Along the road Manisha and I stopped to enjoy the warmth which the natural volcanic hot springs provided. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3SwIBeBgkIS5ysnb4erAbDyJhvOX721TPqje9OLFwOg1KzvM-LcwoTyB-5sqt1Zpcn_7hpBj2ymfVRRtcZRWbWainsO2YTyQJkIGyMSZDWg1RqmxsSodP29IrM73AGbUVLZPrPQ98skY/s1600/IMG_0822.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3SwIBeBgkIS5ysnb4erAbDyJhvOX721TPqje9OLFwOg1KzvM-LcwoTyB-5sqt1Zpcn_7hpBj2ymfVRRtcZRWbWainsO2YTyQJkIGyMSZDWg1RqmxsSodP29IrM73AGbUVLZPrPQ98skY/s320/IMG_0822.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406300092746304450" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsngbr8MZCsIXhL61Zu7c3Oe_VWAO3zWGXidbpj3zoVEtqTVYpX_GplRvdJ-1c6U1htwIVAUurNkjl9RdHuaOA5Uo_mR4AdGQlOqIqrGg4KaUxcS3D2xPHP0cRn4KEGcEeoZWOJ1UUPey9/s1600/IMG_0823.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsngbr8MZCsIXhL61Zu7c3Oe_VWAO3zWGXidbpj3zoVEtqTVYpX_GplRvdJ-1c6U1htwIVAUurNkjl9RdHuaOA5Uo_mR4AdGQlOqIqrGg4KaUxcS3D2xPHP0cRn4KEGcEeoZWOJ1UUPey9/s320/IMG_0823.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406300451641802370" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7vJVfF74ULt0eGSRrfEXCp4023hXuZX_rhkwmE5OaRaatNi2An2HXhIa9wZDmw92zZnMh1CUWARHYutZEb2YXWozmQhpr24xebUGKVj0u-CbKmNAFCVEVAlN1rA7RnnoCnzE8mtRGbIi/s1600/IMG_0824.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7vJVfF74ULt0eGSRrfEXCp4023hXuZX_rhkwmE5OaRaatNi2An2HXhIa9wZDmw92zZnMh1CUWARHYutZEb2YXWozmQhpr24xebUGKVj0u-CbKmNAFCVEVAlN1rA7RnnoCnzE8mtRGbIi/s320/IMG_0824.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406300674342106290" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DuGi5Qf6sie0TtvFE7DjGNK2Q6cpzHMTwGknynd6p7pX1u6htDUPivoRLP2ZdyDSeoIzyJN24ksUpLiS_MCAFtVwPX6_a2QJWvDemDM6BWwEvKR6ZBMz1XcAPpCtB9DbluzxTa_v8mwk/s1600/IMG_0825.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DuGi5Qf6sie0TtvFE7DjGNK2Q6cpzHMTwGknynd6p7pX1u6htDUPivoRLP2ZdyDSeoIzyJN24ksUpLiS_MCAFtVwPX6_a2QJWvDemDM6BWwEvKR6ZBMz1XcAPpCtB9DbluzxTa_v8mwk/s320/IMG_0825.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406301045320326834" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccXYZGyZsRtscC2426BH3wRxOes-Xe2OxdOj-2pJbz5wjC0y3qrsSsjtBLcP7Yhk27UkvAucqu5W7d324zuE3IizlTlY_kK3_p6i5-KvNdt41SJ7XroSoD3GnhQhpYi39B8C_sZBtzE3t/s1600/IMG_0826.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccXYZGyZsRtscC2426BH3wRxOes-Xe2OxdOj-2pJbz5wjC0y3qrsSsjtBLcP7Yhk27UkvAucqu5W7d324zuE3IizlTlY_kK3_p6i5-KvNdt41SJ7XroSoD3GnhQhpYi39B8C_sZBtzE3t/s320/IMG_0826.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406301239252567298" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Enjoying the company of cows.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiks6FpPdWR-JSdczhUU2rCvpFZv21KKdCmEeZYLv-TGicx_x2FizwoFCDon1kk3EhoV0HK76txUxrLUnSHm_5zVD_ga5B5xMyxDH9lkX9Lg38qP4FpJgEqRdvbWSaVqiSqQXWSA_djL9IN/s1600/IMG_0829.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiks6FpPdWR-JSdczhUU2rCvpFZv21KKdCmEeZYLv-TGicx_x2FizwoFCDon1kk3EhoV0HK76txUxrLUnSHm_5zVD_ga5B5xMyxDH9lkX9Lg38qP4FpJgEqRdvbWSaVqiSqQXWSA_djL9IN/s320/IMG_0829.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406301478457977282" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Hiking without the intention of hiking is fun but I know from experience that not being prepared and getting lost usually ends in hunger, hypothermia, injures and near death experiences in these parts. Although enjoying the nature and our conversations we were in a hurry to get back quickly before nightfall. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0zPYBwaTtJ_9F3o_b_BDZPQ6eIdbR1Idja50O4zCjMrSdRrzASq2-5aIT0sHNgGM5WiFNjUYYVjU2-FM7X5E0XXDtXAfvXm3bxPHcHBdUp5B5AL0rTWf5RxHturXFuDm7a0Ub4Q2Y9ff/s1600/IMG_0830.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0zPYBwaTtJ_9F3o_b_BDZPQ6eIdbR1Idja50O4zCjMrSdRrzASq2-5aIT0sHNgGM5WiFNjUYYVjU2-FM7X5E0XXDtXAfvXm3bxPHcHBdUp5B5AL0rTWf5RxHturXFuDm7a0Ub4Q2Y9ff/s320/IMG_0830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406301682578226322" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0s4u3om2gPw1R4heTQ8GRia9i36ntritwyP_PVUT8MwepoaM9ugmJbVKsJlbbe78uTy2NS-RnSxkFcE1BfF03yt8MPNWiTaPleL2MFoBZMEaiU698NYijk2mDepzm0nnT33ShB3IK3gu/s1600/IMG_0831.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0s4u3om2gPw1R4heTQ8GRia9i36ntritwyP_PVUT8MwepoaM9ugmJbVKsJlbbe78uTy2NS-RnSxkFcE1BfF03yt8MPNWiTaPleL2MFoBZMEaiU698NYijk2mDepzm0nnT33ShB3IK3gu/s320/IMG_0831.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406302271640870466" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LSssVp1oisHX-Bvo3NYdW0l4hMdi7nn06ExVS0oJ-_Hg1n2y8mUot7vljfOUEYrOIJmaTh5y0owqRdiZUkqs4FkIyBsrqD_B85cczmZ9fOUVgyDm-eZCC_gfgWx9zHxlQeUyOPXMlcC5/s1600/IMG_0832.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LSssVp1oisHX-Bvo3NYdW0l4hMdi7nn06ExVS0oJ-_Hg1n2y8mUot7vljfOUEYrOIJmaTh5y0owqRdiZUkqs4FkIyBsrqD_B85cczmZ9fOUVgyDm-eZCC_gfgWx9zHxlQeUyOPXMlcC5/s320/IMG_0832.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406302487896562818" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Qdpx6rF9eQDe6P_RprRSRVuh4UApIAGN1-lqME7ZYgmgAaYHBlV6siBPg2girLOMhZDBea5DGeLuYaeEP2HF__Lnoz3fnNpmmTm6V1KQZv28jeuPxjnavTNKH_hE1OrmcZ18ANr17KhK/s1600/IMG_0833.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Qdpx6rF9eQDe6P_RprRSRVuh4UApIAGN1-lqME7ZYgmgAaYHBlV6siBPg2girLOMhZDBea5DGeLuYaeEP2HF__Lnoz3fnNpmmTm6V1KQZv28jeuPxjnavTNKH_hE1OrmcZ18ANr17KhK/s320/IMG_0833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406302721406326210" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>I definitely see myself coming back here for some light mountaineering as well as some remote rock-climbing. The down side to climbing in Colombia is its tropical climate and heavy rainfall, the upside is that there are thousands of routes that have never been attempted. I will attempt these routes next time during the brief dry season in Caldas. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4RXCiDSSaID-IMSOSf9a-3ZWDOq0sUd4pjKI75aRqFlk3ra2Rdi2JUP28szrFKKh_MEOUhyj53eIalgXHnfH8lCuEU13JNSjVS-fOlywgPTmz2Q2pNfGIEmPaa2Njk6umUICue14yChb/s1600/IMG_0834.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4RXCiDSSaID-IMSOSf9a-3ZWDOq0sUd4pjKI75aRqFlk3ra2Rdi2JUP28szrFKKh_MEOUhyj53eIalgXHnfH8lCuEU13JNSjVS-fOlywgPTmz2Q2pNfGIEmPaa2Njk6umUICue14yChb/s320/IMG_0834.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406302925079938114" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOeS2pCDMgpshSHmf4P0rhEP1p8K52U1SzSJvZfA4W7tkc8LFhyphenhyphenDjzVE_INk3r8V-dJF9B29pVKfE2nsYFanS7PO59cxnM_051rN0lTUmETSJP99YM5bA063l_UeA9P6Qb5ST1Gf7GMq1/s1600/IMG_0835.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOeS2pCDMgpshSHmf4P0rhEP1p8K52U1SzSJvZfA4W7tkc8LFhyphenhyphenDjzVE_INk3r8V-dJF9B29pVKfE2nsYFanS7PO59cxnM_051rN0lTUmETSJP99YM5bA063l_UeA9P6Qb5ST1Gf7GMq1/s320/IMG_0835.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406303074242045474" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxS99FWUG8OkKxgQeaJZ20IpjNpsmw28vVldn2HKY1nUnKKvE-Is66GATPDbUhmLgEM3BMwvQAcwOk48A7yFXMWMt6MmDIHe75X7f3r5aq91k1TZqVJA3LEc30N6Gk9hANG3xIDoVJEYv/s1600/IMG_0836.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxS99FWUG8OkKxgQeaJZ20IpjNpsmw28vVldn2HKY1nUnKKvE-Is66GATPDbUhmLgEM3BMwvQAcwOk48A7yFXMWMt6MmDIHe75X7f3r5aq91k1TZqVJA3LEc30N6Gk9hANG3xIDoVJEYv/s320/IMG_0836.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406303209309954530" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqXXxQBfe_W96vNEb66rUXAQAznkzJ8dOah8w7_tFIom0l9hUWrDnizuibqW7uMkiIsvcLu-BJTUfxUxIceu-riIKGGJHnVR9HBDkilJDIJU2CXSf91vGsWghBVs5giXZiZSLhkcii0Yw/s1600/IMG_0837.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqXXxQBfe_W96vNEb66rUXAQAznkzJ8dOah8w7_tFIom0l9hUWrDnizuibqW7uMkiIsvcLu-BJTUfxUxIceu-riIKGGJHnVR9HBDkilJDIJU2CXSf91vGsWghBVs5giXZiZSLhkcii0Yw/s320/IMG_0837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406303393911617250" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>The sunsets, we're in a hurry but still manage to appreciate the beauty of southeastern Caldas.</div><div><br /></div><div>.........</div><div><br /></div><div>Night joins us on our walk leaving us walking in complete darkness. Manisha and I lock arms so that we don't trip or lose each other. Several hours pass and we eventually see a car parked with two lovers inside listing to classic salsa rhythms as well as each other's heavy breathing; we leave them alone but at least we know that civilization is near and that the temperature rises as we decrease in elevation. We didn't dare to knock on the window asking for a ride, because one I didn't want to scare them in the middle of love making and two if I were that guy I would have been pissed at the guy who killed the spark of sexual desire of my sex partner. We don't have any more water which makes us chose our words wisely and of importance. After many hours we begin to see farms in the distance, we feel confident that we'll make it back home. A car drives up and we stop the car asking for a ride late at night while the driver and the passenger look at each other with mutual feelings of uneasiness. We ride in the way back to another bumpy ride into Manizales. They drop us off outside a hospital and a grocery store where we buy supplies and take a bus ride back home. </div><div><br /></div><div>We celebrated with a group of friends, ate lots of much needed calories, played twister and talked a little bit about our little day trip. Manisha couldn't believe the energy I had the entire day. </div><div><br /></div><div>Great times always in Manizales especially when the weather is nice. Be sure to stop by and explore the most mountainous department of Colombia: Caldas.</div><div><br /></div><div>Blog coming soon regarding Couchsurfing in Manizales.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Kevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-46709408948600002392009-11-28T14:13:00.000-08:002009-11-28T14:58:18.450-08:00Cooking in Bogotá flashback from September 2009I recently arrived in Orlando from Bogotá to spend 16 days with friends and family (basically the same thing right?). I have photos on the way from my crazy - in a fun kind of way - five days in Bogotá; for now all I can offer are some photos I had never seen from the last time I was in Bogotá to renew my student visa (September 2009). I hope to receive the more recent photos shortly.<br /><br />The first few times I went to Bogotá I didn't care for it too much, but now I love the place and I have more fun each and every time.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />(click to enlarge photos)</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4J3LbAKxgak3Lv7Em5Z8kBiJTmkAh2VSztm7FZENG82AIQqnPlDjqDOgd2tibBbo0pYXOkI94c7Et8d5ZKqR26THEysF7KCnedKGWHNGfHLptHe2pY10-QVAt4ohCQlRnjcA9Imbx9ER/s1600/9026_530943926996_4502802_31400976_4265995_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4J3LbAKxgak3Lv7Em5Z8kBiJTmkAh2VSztm7FZENG82AIQqnPlDjqDOgd2tibBbo0pYXOkI94c7Et8d5ZKqR26THEysF7KCnedKGWHNGfHLptHe2pY10-QVAt4ohCQlRnjcA9Imbx9ER/s320/9026_530943926996_4502802_31400976_4265995_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409283283093409618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtSk6qLurOu21yk4lJj_xfiM8T5Enwuuua1ZR5wAIiIjFuod-VNYkTtrHeg5kyXVAqd6VCaL4r_1gOxVwW75gyzM1lqI4TGDC7-BYcpTTX2qApwXVn8thY9SBn15uQHzvP_R6BYBI4hHs/s1600/9026_530943922006_4502802_31400975_1167361_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtSk6qLurOu21yk4lJj_xfiM8T5Enwuuua1ZR5wAIiIjFuod-VNYkTtrHeg5kyXVAqd6VCaL4r_1gOxVwW75gyzM1lqI4TGDC7-BYcpTTX2qApwXVn8thY9SBn15uQHzvP_R6BYBI4hHs/s320/9026_530943922006_4502802_31400975_1167361_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409291919451686594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8tr9O6wULNISN_R_iuUdKrvjXXoO2dUHyGnYfp6FifZ3QdEQ3jFg2OSbomyV4hck7LUJK2-NUaPYsYfc-fuScWxlXI-Lbc6JBLPZJnagdUBQl71-iDpHyGMMCS4Bi_-m0PkYJhtfH9cr/s1600/9026_530943907036_4502802_31400972_7968797_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8tr9O6wULNISN_R_iuUdKrvjXXoO2dUHyGnYfp6FifZ3QdEQ3jFg2OSbomyV4hck7LUJK2-NUaPYsYfc-fuScWxlXI-Lbc6JBLPZJnagdUBQl71-iDpHyGMMCS4Bi_-m0PkYJhtfH9cr/s320/9026_530943907036_4502802_31400972_7968797_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409292227181216546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35FtofIbZqvN1eC-maeKhEoxSzwRKorI8mTmcJc8VCkblmB9yDrtojbJ19QAzLstYTcnnoafeN8XmQMjNrYc-Tf1idcKzHFjtv6b7XaD7DFkZ7nPBVMeimO7KDp_sGsrN55KrdbTdHvLr/s1600/9026_530943912026_4502802_31400973_5223772_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35FtofIbZqvN1eC-maeKhEoxSzwRKorI8mTmcJc8VCkblmB9yDrtojbJ19QAzLstYTcnnoafeN8XmQMjNrYc-Tf1idcKzHFjtv6b7XaD7DFkZ7nPBVMeimO7KDp_sGsrN55KrdbTdHvLr/s320/9026_530943912026_4502802_31400973_5223772_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409292292891025122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0j53gYBl8B1F66qt5G7QKBxvi9QbXoSJI-yYuLZ6BEXap4nkShBShWHFj5XqIAOAxvDgNQ11Wq1D085RlkM_EkHVzlwO29yp-SBCKHwhmMAeMCfhkLG1eR5mSoWzOJI163ns3Tod3Ud2/s1600/9026_530943917016_4502802_31400974_3010522_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0j53gYBl8B1F66qt5G7QKBxvi9QbXoSJI-yYuLZ6BEXap4nkShBShWHFj5XqIAOAxvDgNQ11Wq1D085RlkM_EkHVzlwO29yp-SBCKHwhmMAeMCfhkLG1eR5mSoWzOJI163ns3Tod3Ud2/s320/9026_530943917016_4502802_31400974_3010522_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409292379301237298" border="0" /></a><br />Lost photo of the PIC-KEVIN-NIC NÚMERO I in September 2009. The end result of our several hour long picnic. We took many photos like this and I am still waiting for them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbvY-TdJt89m44OPQ1UykhXf67ioCg0GzMnqYqEHax5rtq5om5FqaCPuy46AUSw1uc1wY_aPy9CF0URZZcDKd2YfTbCBeU2APme2eIg7U7SJoPuMsuUu771__1s4hV8Y_9hH8KfFKGXNM/s1600/9721_152375191607_591086607_2782049_5594139_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbvY-TdJt89m44OPQ1UykhXf67ioCg0GzMnqYqEHax5rtq5om5FqaCPuy46AUSw1uc1wY_aPy9CF0URZZcDKd2YfTbCBeU2APme2eIg7U7SJoPuMsuUu771__1s4hV8Y_9hH8KfFKGXNM/s320/9721_152375191607_591086607_2782049_5594139_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409283440287709362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyvY8B5gHoJ90CO7f8SEJw1SrxLnaQB8u7Bo2n5_jyFEESAJk3vGer6Gx_uQCBQtFxxYdTMDJvUD2-HQK4EoH1pVjExgp06YxaHet4DZg52JtfzcMfMH1WnxsJVWi89-AD_TepIvoxrO9/s1600/9721_152375201607_591086607_2782050_8334471_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyvY8B5gHoJ90CO7f8SEJw1SrxLnaQB8u7Bo2n5_jyFEESAJk3vGer6Gx_uQCBQtFxxYdTMDJvUD2-HQK4EoH1pVjExgp06YxaHet4DZg52JtfzcMfMH1WnxsJVWi89-AD_TepIvoxrO9/s320/9721_152375201607_591086607_2782050_8334471_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409283568778377186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDoC36OxV4qnjGQdmZInPp_mutbTSJM14O7D6SOeugXbBZbtyK9lKD6WzkSKBBBeG8M5hKAH4qKiYRJogtEfcFCadBAMj0UfV3dg34jRm-OS44Maiag4ftOavLASLZVljuwVDCohEH6RI/s1600/9721_152375206607_591086607_2782051_335260_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDoC36OxV4qnjGQdmZInPp_mutbTSJM14O7D6SOeugXbBZbtyK9lKD6WzkSKBBBeG8M5hKAH4qKiYRJogtEfcFCadBAMj0UfV3dg34jRm-OS44Maiag4ftOavLASLZVljuwVDCohEH6RI/s320/9721_152375206607_591086607_2782051_335260_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409283651130887490" border="0" /></a><br />I prepared a feast of pita bread, hummus, baba ganoush, tabouleh, and a potato-spinach casserole with several couchsurfing friends in northern Bogotá September 2009. In the middle of cooking several dishes at the same time, Diana (the hostess) mentioned to me that she can't/will not eat onion nor garlic which were the primary ingredients of everything I was making. I had to improvise and create separate dishes which had no onion nor garlic. Nevertheless, my dinner was a success.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMj6ydv0I2UrAXinkMZjGo4XO_AhzjRDRiF8A7zjDQIPmKKxV20n2OMq6rz14vbYL6ozumgRGM07E5_STtmN7aImA4bYm9CN-OgqdDVrn10pCg8BFg74bfmvpREldOI1t77we-Xp4UttG/s1600/9721_152375266607_591086607_2782058_2099385_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMj6ydv0I2UrAXinkMZjGo4XO_AhzjRDRiF8A7zjDQIPmKKxV20n2OMq6rz14vbYL6ozumgRGM07E5_STtmN7aImA4bYm9CN-OgqdDVrn10pCg8BFg74bfmvpREldOI1t77we-Xp4UttG/s320/9721_152375266607_591086607_2782058_2099385_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409284459814388450" border="0" /></a><br />I am an amazing boyfriend, not only am I sweet and fun I am a good cook and I clean up after myself :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoFFQ65gYLcLGdm7QxJOs96fHCvrOkLdAfq-_E6cUeb6_LjsWSaL6eMTjAge7zNTruQDzhrrTnZMr7xL6QX77_Rn7X5l_jxominSyd1JPF6bIdiHHyq9YCUOd-fUJi9uLEIvgF0A2I0kd/s1600/9721_152375286607_591086607_2782061_6250777_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoFFQ65gYLcLGdm7QxJOs96fHCvrOkLdAfq-_E6cUeb6_LjsWSaL6eMTjAge7zNTruQDzhrrTnZMr7xL6QX77_Rn7X5l_jxominSyd1JPF6bIdiHHyq9YCUOd-fUJi9uLEIvgF0A2I0kd/s320/9721_152375286607_591086607_2782061_6250777_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409284513872900066" border="0" /></a><br />Pride after a long good dinner.<br /><br />MORE PHOTOS COMING SOON.<br /><br />attn,<br /><br />-Kevin PostKevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-37702669433776363592009-11-20T18:22:00.000-08:002009-11-20T15:31:24.540-08:00More photos of my five days in Montería, Córdoba, ColombiaHey everyone, some photos finally sent to me by my friends from <a href="http://www.colombiassh.org/site/IMG/png/Cordoba_A3_sin.png">Córdoba</a>. These photos aren't spectacular but they mean a lot to me; I made some amazing friends there :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicudGQ_VcpY9RxoyC8DoXngUJxFQ2iH8NJ7Cxk2o_ThPxTxCZGYYfGh81hG5OARugx62pzKIZcEUY3LpXXhl_Y1pUWq_n0dGkBT1xRtBvsiIxeGDKlZNWGdSt_IncRJiSexRbi9kstM_eV/s1600/IMG_2898.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicudGQ_VcpY9RxoyC8DoXngUJxFQ2iH8NJ7Cxk2o_ThPxTxCZGYYfGh81hG5OARugx62pzKIZcEUY3LpXXhl_Y1pUWq_n0dGkBT1xRtBvsiIxeGDKlZNWGdSt_IncRJiSexRbi9kstM_eV/s320/IMG_2898.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406326972840736466" border="0" /></a><br />Me next to the Río Sinú. Due to the lack of rainfall the water was quite low. I saw many bridges calling my name to jump off of them...maybe next time (when the water level is higher and when I have health insurance).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRzvkNJoDB8TuzAWA12bRURtMiKvFaGeofMZN9OpiadjXfSZ28pJswstvzhSu1H2uxwq6i54gzPx52tUNQm4vVPrpqIZvqrvfXXxxdG4pNATwoQBUiWZ0KnCQBNZAdURVmH4niXbYFkVp/s1600/IMG0147A.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRzvkNJoDB8TuzAWA12bRURtMiKvFaGeofMZN9OpiadjXfSZ28pJswstvzhSu1H2uxwq6i54gzPx52tUNQm4vVPrpqIZvqrvfXXxxdG4pNATwoQBUiWZ0KnCQBNZAdURVmH4niXbYFkVp/s320/IMG0147A.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406326443736889954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WNvZdo68CIN92CB57Mg63MtWgPkPSf22xRQsUg3HFxaI4xNk4dYZ31Kk7apqByUxoZLN6nXckgpQ_BOb91YOPgHcNcqO7ZQ7LPKAwtBtvcCdUA1LFjURw3JUPawsnd3usvwfEsg3rME8/s1600/IMG0146A.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WNvZdo68CIN92CB57Mg63MtWgPkPSf22xRQsUg3HFxaI4xNk4dYZ31Kk7apqByUxoZLN6nXckgpQ_BOb91YOPgHcNcqO7ZQ7LPKAwtBtvcCdUA1LFjURw3JUPawsnd3usvwfEsg3rME8/s320/IMG0146A.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406326389058379106" border="0" /></a><br />I left my camera at a friend's house so camera phone photos had to do. Me on the Río Sinú.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwXaL8QdwE_YGHnrGz9xPPV277ESgA6FpOL1crdnFG2Y95WlpFrM9FSHBZKeLtZl4jSd51DulxWUxmJyT3EFHirhRffWuvu2LMmydFZaeioE_mnrbj8lE2kprJNrLpevnjixa2P1JmUDt/s1600/IMG0152A2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwXaL8QdwE_YGHnrGz9xPPV277ESgA6FpOL1crdnFG2Y95WlpFrM9FSHBZKeLtZl4jSd51DulxWUxmJyT3EFHirhRffWuvu2LMmydFZaeioE_mnrbj8lE2kprJNrLpevnjixa2P1JmUDt/s320/IMG0152A2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406326541644012114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6nPb6pOPGLZMCpvYmwwn03ijx6NyTDvWgQnvVofN5ZKsSqKv9krDshXcWw-T38dXciAZO5pc-_uukN2vNviSydeW0N18xBEI8ZeSHzhQv7L5GQ4zxpZNjWKf85mkD2GjY1xMCJaEjkJZ/s1600/IMG0151A.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6nPb6pOPGLZMCpvYmwwn03ijx6NyTDvWgQnvVofN5ZKsSqKv9krDshXcWw-T38dXciAZO5pc-_uukN2vNviSydeW0N18xBEI8ZeSHzhQv7L5GQ4zxpZNjWKf85mkD2GjY1xMCJaEjkJZ/s320/IMG0151A.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406326494228308770" border="0" /></a><br />I love these people.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6do2Vf2YVf3K_moPyu3yxftNDplDZ54TPEZ3gU2QV-fsTI2vl6sxIf5mCBZuyPrjMI5BCnEv9yaH1Jtaq3LpbC5ZHgyYKgcGuJWkmgpCfSFxRTyU7PJHFPTF1Ul2xeDOQvIOzVG7Kx77G/s1600/IMG_2903.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6do2Vf2YVf3K_moPyu3yxftNDplDZ54TPEZ3gU2QV-fsTI2vl6sxIf5mCBZuyPrjMI5BCnEv9yaH1Jtaq3LpbC5ZHgyYKgcGuJWkmgpCfSFxRTyU7PJHFPTF1Ul2xeDOQvIOzVG7Kx77G/s320/IMG_2903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406327195065978290" border="0" /></a><br />One downside to Montería are the abundance of iguanas. Don't get me wrong, they're cool until you step in their droppings every fine minutes. Nah, even then they're still cool.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRekhQVzoIQuIgZksJNwTw7sRwLRwtp2GJwLcQ6swIXkbfxnLL9i_ab51ilO40vrYVVzw3LSnQ15Zh3bsrdoP-gPjEk45oOw7qYo3LqozWKlEiQ-MXKT0gQAq3N55zlXmXHSaEbVIvJV3j/s1600/SDC12071.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRekhQVzoIQuIgZksJNwTw7sRwLRwtp2GJwLcQ6swIXkbfxnLL9i_ab51ilO40vrYVVzw3LSnQ15Zh3bsrdoP-gPjEk45oOw7qYo3LqozWKlEiQ-MXKT0gQAq3N55zlXmXHSaEbVIvJV3j/s320/SDC12071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406326701533502786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0vImPWcUzvtCpkrZSsPZskPbltb2VT2aUpEfcl5eqw1CXq08khHtrW-Q-DB9okSiWI4l3_m5joNVzqmB-XhbPENjv_Byxehypdv27nubE7Pd-2ttPQH-on9txKiTRZiUUKJJxHJC3juY/s1600/SDC12072.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0vImPWcUzvtCpkrZSsPZskPbltb2VT2aUpEfcl5eqw1CXq08khHtrW-Q-DB9okSiWI4l3_m5joNVzqmB-XhbPENjv_Byxehypdv27nubE7Pd-2ttPQH-on9txKiTRZiUUKJJxHJC3juY/s320/SDC12072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406326852975160898" border="0" /></a><br />Ebelín and I sleeping in a van from Coveñas to Montería.<br /><br /><br />Later!<br /><br />-Kevin PostKevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-171034725945994492009-11-18T22:21:00.000-08:002009-11-20T11:31:02.209-08:00Colombian Hitchhiking Part I - Sabaneta, Amagá, Fredonia, Venecia & Bolombólo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7W_TKB6vQAk6Yazqw9ogT68zpSGMMQL7wMW9_aBhpay0kF1UFHjQtcKVUkuUQyeMoAExgWgagIScEVDq5UvX3qEDZQsZVQ7mAmYtSZ0E5nFuCnZri4ha97FVr1CjI390y92QaE9B6_8w_/s1600/antioquia+bia.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7W_TKB6vQAk6Yazqw9ogT68zpSGMMQL7wMW9_aBhpay0kF1UFHjQtcKVUkuUQyeMoAExgWgagIScEVDq5UvX3qEDZQsZVQ7mAmYtSZ0E5nFuCnZri4ha97FVr1CjI390y92QaE9B6_8w_/s320/antioquia+bia.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406233803497700322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiw-8Pt8O-cwWUdxUwgnOg1R1NNsKGUS8wJlibFox9v6pvU1jpjWk0UjSmcQxaLMvr8YHA6p5rf0JGiaM0GQ-5Tjm2IuV2e91iL9_MFIWm7M0Q58bmYJIbJjoqznBq0SiLHepHuSgGesr/s1600/semana+santa+hitchhiking.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiw-8Pt8O-cwWUdxUwgnOg1R1NNsKGUS8wJlibFox9v6pvU1jpjWk0UjSmcQxaLMvr8YHA6p5rf0JGiaM0GQ-5Tjm2IuV2e91iL9_MFIWm7M0Q58bmYJIbJjoqznBq0SiLHepHuSgGesr/s320/semana+santa+hitchhiking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406233634343509842" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(click to enlarge photos)</span><br /></div><br />I completely forgot that I had these photos from a hitchhiking trip here in Antioquia during <span style="font-style: italic;">Semana Santa</span> (Holy Week) in April. Sadly I didn't keep a journal log of this trip so I am afraid that there is a lot I don't remember and as a result this entry is going to be briefer than I had hoped. Nevertheless, I hope to inspire some of you to take some time to hitchhike is this wonderful country with no itinerary or specific destination...just go for it! If you have any questions regarding hitchhiking in Colombia feel free to ask.<br /><br />I started the trip from southern tip of Sabaneta and caught a ride from a truck driver named Juan Carlos (there are thousands of Juan Carloses in Medellín alone) to Amagá. Very nice guy who couldn't believe that I wasn't with my family during <span style="font-style: italic;">Semana Santa</span>. He treated me to an empanada while in Amagá which was very nice of him. I found very cheap accommodation that night in Amagá after participating with the celebrations (which was basically a six hour church service). I didn't have my camera with me because this was a very religious occasion and I didn't want to offend anyone; sorry for not having any photos from Amagá.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmu4A_fUzalg4nxVrPKB73c471a7q5ojkvdiHw52pwpBEzRkumwuYU6tsGV2ewR-OXfLRJEAFs-00yBawF1-XKWssCooZqoV6d9xMji_b-FjqH53tVLeFTqdO6Fc4XdrqChUzm-P9HuQ9/s1600/4857608_l_28091663e84536866a91dc3ea5c55e69.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmu4A_fUzalg4nxVrPKB73c471a7q5ojkvdiHw52pwpBEzRkumwuYU6tsGV2ewR-OXfLRJEAFs-00yBawF1-XKWssCooZqoV6d9xMji_b-FjqH53tVLeFTqdO6Fc4XdrqChUzm-P9HuQ9/s320/4857608_l_28091663e84536866a91dc3ea5c55e69.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405698588087519794" border="0" /></a><br />Before I headed out on the open road for four days of hitchhiking wherever the drivers were heading during <span style="font-style: italic;">Semana Santa</span> (Holy Week) here were some of the supplies I had brought with me. The sign says, "If you would be so kind" in hopes to make drivers feel sorry for me and give me a lift. Luckily for me it turned out that the sign wasn't necessary in order to be picked up constantly by drivers. My list of supplies and why I brought them:<br /><br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />GEAR REVIEW/PACK LIST<br /><br />-35 liter <a href="http://www.gregorypacks.com/products/mens/technical/19/z35-r">Gregory Z-35</a> backpack. I traveled throughout Turkey, Iraq and Syria for two months with this pack. It is light weight, is a roll top, breathable, and has a good amount of lumbar support. I highly recommend Gregory packs for their support and durability. However, always buy a pack that fits perfectly, is best for your needs and is able to fit all of your gear (the backpack should be the last thing you buy before going on a trip).<br /><br />-Vanilla soy milk powder.<br /><br />-Assorted oatmeal bars.<br /><br />-<a href="http://www.arcteryx.com/Product.aspx?Mens/Pants-Shorts/Palisade-Pant">Arc'teryx Palisade Pant</a>.<br /><br />-Bathing suit. This actually wasn't and still isn't a necessary item, I just swim in my <a href="http://www.exofficio.com/product_details.aspx?item_cd=1241-0016&key=b223f216-78c3-40a6-8463-dd35ddb0c5fc">ExOfficio boxers</a> which by the way are AMAZING. I warn you, once you buy <a href="http://www.exofficio.com/product_details.aspx?item_cd=1241-0016&key=b223f216-78c3-40a6-8463-dd35ddb0c5fc">ExOfficio boxers/briefs</a> it is incredibly difficult to go back to cotton underwear.<br /><br />-Sun glasses. I didn't use these either. Sun glasses are a must during mountaineering pursuits or while on the water but other than that I've never been a sun glasses kind of guy. Just make sure while purchasing sun glasses that they are <span style="font-weight: bold;">polarized</span>.<br /><br />-The last of my <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.couchsurfing.org">couchsurfing</a> cards. Sometimes we (couchsurfers) meet people along our journeys and think to ourselves, "Man, this guy is what couchsurfing is about". Sometimes we just have to spread the good word.<br /><br />-Cell phone.<br /><br />-<a href="http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/product.php?catname=Ultralight&prodname=Ultralight%20&%20Watertight%20.9&product=119">Adventure Medical Kit</a>.<br /><br />-Regular glasses in order to see the mountains more clearly.<br /><br />-<a href="http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/shop/mountain/lighting/cosmo">Black Diamond Cosmo</a> headlamp.<br /><br />-At least 3 liters of drinkable water in case of little luck hitching a ride.<br /><br />-Pack cover to protect pack and gear from getting wet or damaged.<br /><br />-Quick drying synthetic towel.<br /><br />-<a href="http://www.golite.com/main/home.aspx">Golite</a> windstopper jacket.<br /><br />-<a href="http://www.westernmountaineering.com/index.cfm?section=Products&page=Sleeping%20Bags&cat=ExtremeLite%20Series&viewpost=2&ContentId=17">Western Mountaineering ultralite</a> -7°C/20°F down sleeping bag. Luxury baby. Trust me on this one, as soon as you sleep in one of their sleeping bags you're hooked.<br /><br />-<a href="http://cascadedesigns.com/msr/tents/fast-and-light-tents/hubba-hubba/product">MSR Hubba Hubba tent</a>. This is a wonderful tent but I would have been happier with the one person version the Hubba. A two person tent is a bit much when traveling alone (which is usually the case).<br /><br />-And of course a synthetic t-shirt that is breathable and quick drying, jeans if invited to dinner or a special event with hosts, and a camera so that your parents don't scream at you for not taking enough photos.<br /><br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUH0Xx8P3mwfWUAVSXvX1S_DsShZIQbazXQ0lgYkIgpOyGqm8KUkhjEZFmeaF7RYRTIzBYyoVTViQ9_wFHE-i1wySlF_Ffil-JfeGT3ALF8soY4REhF4QKLN9OIS_8jIWdWMy6XWNn_o7u/s1600/IMG_0738.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUH0Xx8P3mwfWUAVSXvX1S_DsShZIQbazXQ0lgYkIgpOyGqm8KUkhjEZFmeaF7RYRTIzBYyoVTViQ9_wFHE-i1wySlF_Ffil-JfeGT3ALF8soY4REhF4QKLN9OIS_8jIWdWMy6XWNn_o7u/s320/IMG_0738.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405715120227693826" border="0" /></a><br />The road somewhere between Amagá and Fredonia in the department of Antioquia. Not the best place to hitchhike due to lack of shoulder space for the driver to pull over; a beautiful area nonetheless.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDN1rxg6deqiRCIQbptwSNDpJ1sVRRUFNlwwaaXXGjo201wA7V69FPMAxcTUzYKm-CExQY_HgqK9Rf_COKPBCxYp9V4jmHfbw6l-66ayVfZ_oL3TH2bbwL8Mafdy7wpvlOysTrr6zecWc/s1600/IMG_0739.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDN1rxg6deqiRCIQbptwSNDpJ1sVRRUFNlwwaaXXGjo201wA7V69FPMAxcTUzYKm-CExQY_HgqK9Rf_COKPBCxYp9V4jmHfbw6l-66ayVfZ_oL3TH2bbwL8Mafdy7wpvlOysTrr6zecWc/s320/IMG_0739.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405715324000734338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQOuf6DhfAkzybQXLIxPwIYVCqZRKw-kZakixkHNkBL4e92GAavQYZkItlEsWMxPwbkJsgCep2cfI32ydf7hwk182sNeRh4rd87-WQhouqNroqAc2sm1jwL_avXuJknCT53XpG2eUMqG2/s1600/IMG_0740.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQOuf6DhfAkzybQXLIxPwIYVCqZRKw-kZakixkHNkBL4e92GAavQYZkItlEsWMxPwbkJsgCep2cfI32ydf7hwk182sNeRh4rd87-WQhouqNroqAc2sm1jwL_avXuJknCT53XpG2eUMqG2/s320/IMG_0740.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405716663670360722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDp5UQu2ZjYWP_05rxHy_q276_mCWjVQSvgxm6yvos5oD1gA3NRx4zeCRJfLMrG5TjtIvS4Tg4dhMCYdf7sVBYJiD-Bf05hvo9jBbsEvkaUTdx9RVh5vnMEyZxKu3TWmPB3-0r1e64QhwE/s1600/IMG_0741.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDp5UQu2ZjYWP_05rxHy_q276_mCWjVQSvgxm6yvos5oD1gA3NRx4zeCRJfLMrG5TjtIvS4Tg4dhMCYdf7sVBYJiD-Bf05hvo9jBbsEvkaUTdx9RVh5vnMEyZxKu3TWmPB3-0r1e64QhwE/s320/IMG_0741.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405716852963344866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqBpM3UUwX3FMAv6IMaJzXICg1t5jrcZahW-SsUihxhrjL4e_Pc1DERtg2hvAfOQkBzVwpK6aNkPMnYRoCd3z8aanqFcPgEbWj2b9rXoCEd04W170SbDtlLbxIhU-CPWXjXbhM3wL3Daq/s1600/IMG_0744.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqBpM3UUwX3FMAv6IMaJzXICg1t5jrcZahW-SsUihxhrjL4e_Pc1DERtg2hvAfOQkBzVwpK6aNkPMnYRoCd3z8aanqFcPgEbWj2b9rXoCEd04W170SbDtlLbxIhU-CPWXjXbhM3wL3Daq/s320/IMG_0744.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405717015706393154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz6mKC4OhaJjSi1un2mxYi8GSvo_5puGdhlbFICubQwiZ-Nj6GeCFOeUBOdgnyu8gA6DCYshlD9iEVkeFNgnYYOA0g6uZIVvwT6AXjLF1HOg_2jVz0cEZOcFqppVqV9wj7sOtXZIkOJAv/s1600/IMG_0745.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz6mKC4OhaJjSi1un2mxYi8GSvo_5puGdhlbFICubQwiZ-Nj6GeCFOeUBOdgnyu8gA6DCYshlD9iEVkeFNgnYYOA0g6uZIVvwT6AXjLF1HOg_2jVz0cEZOcFqppVqV9wj7sOtXZIkOJAv/s320/IMG_0745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405718344697937682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVthtFMefrL_Ap0E2bhcFW8DRFweI2xTrZmvBDYenNbPnnaa7ggmfCRIbk2XYTp_Bfbre4_vG0GsxbjyUO32reCKx0ByyirpDE_6qj9xmF2g9vt8rfkQ1LUkIBSA334fr5mUwhVc3UVtMf/s1600/IMG_0746.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVthtFMefrL_Ap0E2bhcFW8DRFweI2xTrZmvBDYenNbPnnaa7ggmfCRIbk2XYTp_Bfbre4_vG0GsxbjyUO32reCKx0ByyirpDE_6qj9xmF2g9vt8rfkQ1LUkIBSA334fr5mUwhVc3UVtMf/s320/IMG_0746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405718716651107234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICMPR8em4-0G_0NiuxcmHJSJwBIc4eT8qpwIhxhM5bGtnws5S2Zzxiw8oRfEezkt3u4xHIftQZkl8VjwxR6hWRt4WJ6P1dFkjX9HITTaBw-mJ28R0gOa0u-FaibOyuFJnMnXDPoxNOJIT/s1600/IMG_0747.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICMPR8em4-0G_0NiuxcmHJSJwBIc4eT8qpwIhxhM5bGtnws5S2Zzxiw8oRfEezkt3u4xHIftQZkl8VjwxR6hWRt4WJ6P1dFkjX9HITTaBw-mJ28R0gOa0u-FaibOyuFJnMnXDPoxNOJIT/s320/IMG_0747.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405719605957598978" border="0" /></a><br />Although sporadic showers bombarded me from time to time I am happy that no one gave me a lift for the first two hours of my walk from Amagá to Fredonia. The walk was stunning with mountains, very <span style="font-style: italic;">Paísa</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">fincas</span> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paisas">Paísa</a> farm houses) and coffee farms in every direction. Several minutes after taking these photos a guy from Medellín gave me a lift in his 4x4 jeep from the 1960's through "roads" that eventually led to Fredonia. He even invited me to some beer which I happily drank even though I don't care too much for beer.<br /><br />From Fredonia I was instantly offered a ride from a girl that seemed to be quite interested in me. She gave me her contact information and seemed quite eager to go out sometime to dance salsa and vallenato with me in Medellín. I still have her number and might actually call her sometime. Nevertheless, she dropped me off in the middle of nowhere and didn't even invite me to her <span style="font-style: italic;">finca </span>(farm house) for some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arepa"><span style="font-style: italic;">arepa</span></a>. Luckily ten minutes after dropping me off a family picked me up whom we very nice people and invited me for dinner in Venecia. The trout was amazing as well as free which made it taste better I suppose! Sadly they didn't give me their contact information and went on their way. Venencia is a lovely Antioqueño town surrounded by amazing trekking opportunities but during the peak of tourism season (Holy Week) I couldn't find free accommodation nor a place to camp and it was getting late.<br /><br />It's funny because <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmu4A_fUzalg4nxVrPKB73c471a7q5ojkvdiHw52pwpBEzRkumwuYU6tsGV2ewR-OXfLRJEAFs-00yBawF1-XKWssCooZqoV6d9xMji_b-FjqH53tVLeFTqdO6Fc4XdrqChUzm-P9HuQ9/s1600/4857608_l_28091663e84536866a91dc3ea5c55e69.jpg">my sign</a> was absolutely useless except when bombarded with rain it helped shield some of the rain. Being an obvious foreigner with red-blondish hair greatly helps in regards to Colombian hitchhiking to the point where I don't even stick out my thumb to get rides. Here is a typical dialogue (more or less) between me and drivers in Antioquia:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">A secondary road in Antioquia with a bright blue pack-cover alone with a good walking pace while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Every time I hear a vehicle behind me I turn around and make eye contact with the driver in attempts to show the driver that I am in need of a ride and have no intentions of robbing the guy. The driver pulls up next to me and the dialogue begins with a heavy dose of the Paísa (or Antioqueño) dialect of Latin American Spanish.</span><br /><br />-<span style="font-weight: bold;">Driver:</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">"</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">Oíga mono, venga pues!</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">" (Hey white person, come here)</span><br />-<span style="font-weight: bold;">Myself:</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">"</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">Hola muy buenas tardes señor ¿cómo le va?</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">" (Hello good afternoon sir, how's it going?)</span><br />-<span style="font-weight: bold;">Driver:</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">"</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">¿Bien o no? Gracias</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);"> ¿y vos?" (I'm good thanks and you?)</span><br />-<span style="font-weight: bold;">Myself:</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">"</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">Muy bien gracias. Señor, ¿me puede llevar?</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">" (Very good thank you. Sir, can you give me a ride?)</span><br />-<span style="font-weight: bold;">Driver: </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">"</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">Claro pues, bien pueda mijo</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">" (Of course, you're more than welcome my son)</span><br />-<span style="font-weight: bold;">Myself:</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">"</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">¡Esoooo! Listo pues! Gracias!</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">" (Yessssss! Ready! Gracias!)</span><br />-<span style="font-weight: bold;">Driver:</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">"</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">Con mucho gusto</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">" (My pleasure)</span><br /><br />Most driver that pick up hitchhikers are either incredibly curious about the foreigners' journeys or are just incredibly lonely and need someone to talk to. During vacation time in Colombia (especially Holy Week) drivers will often pick up hitchhikers out of pity for that hitchhiker's lack of family. Family is INCREDIBLY important throughout Colombian cultures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiz-6b8sRGllOZlG6QJo8fQHGN1_DJjcSzEBAA0ZVLDuFYkLnJ5PN-e7KrJo9F1qGLDhZEzH1QgJlKUrGCSpbz8Na4c0EP_3H7hSivvrbwRqZYBEqJaQDvFiReHOe7UVR8Ogk7Ehm4OCA/s1600/IMG_0749.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiz-6b8sRGllOZlG6QJo8fQHGN1_DJjcSzEBAA0ZVLDuFYkLnJ5PN-e7KrJo9F1qGLDhZEzH1QgJlKUrGCSpbz8Na4c0EP_3H7hSivvrbwRqZYBEqJaQDvFiReHOe7UVR8Ogk7Ehm4OCA/s320/IMG_0749.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405720731879649842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodwTD_EceEm3FrrimtU3CDvqJWt7VVDUShNPJvykuhhjI_78i0Pe9O-9qO_9lvi8xi3KmMM11QZazxj8XNSL-9EytTt4-5jUmBBRwvgIEKRrO5OLgz3lsOjU27CnFn7flaF949SeHVxzV/s1600/IMG_0750.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodwTD_EceEm3FrrimtU3CDvqJWt7VVDUShNPJvykuhhjI_78i0Pe9O-9qO_9lvi8xi3KmMM11QZazxj8XNSL-9EytTt4-5jUmBBRwvgIEKRrO5OLgz3lsOjU27CnFn7flaF949SeHVxzV/s320/IMG_0750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405721742724266418" border="0" /></a><br />On the road from Venecia to Bolombólo. The girl that picked me up in Fredonia had told me about a town called Bolombólo which isn't on any map I've seen. She told me that I had to go there so I took her word for it and began walking from Venecia to Bolombólo. The light soon faded and so did the small amount of day traffic. When a car did pass by once an hour at most they weren't too crazy about picking up a hitchhiker at night; I don't blame them honestly. Long story short, I spent the next five hours walking down an empty road where anything could have happened. There were times when I literally couldn't see anything which was both a relief from light pollution but also a bit sketchy. These photos were taken with a flash and still nothing can be seen. My head lamp came in handy. Finally I arrived in Bolombólo and was greatly disappointed to find nothing more than a truck stop with a population of roughly 13,000. If it weren't for the <span style="font-style: italic;">Semana Santa</span> (Holy Week) I probably would have been mugged. After an entire day of hitchhiking and many many hours of walking I was ready for bed. Bolombólo is at a much lower elevation so as a result it was a good 27<span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">°C/80</span></span><span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">°F at night. I slept in the cheapest accommodation I could find </span></span>which was 10,000 Colombian pesos a night (roughly $5 at the time) which was double the normal price (normally 5,000 Colombian pesos a night or $2.50) due to Holy Week celebrations. I slept incredibly well in this truck stop prostitute infested motel.<br /><br />The next morning I woke up at 6am and walked around a little bit. Sadly my hitchhiking trip came to an end because I literally had about 8,000 Colombian pesos ($4) on me and had some homework to finish. I couldn't risk running out of money because I didn't have my debit card with me and it is always a good idea to have some money just in case of an emergency. So after about 45 minutes waiting for a ride I finally came across a bus that took me to Sabaneta for 6,000 pesos ($3). Sadly my original four day plan was only three days.<br /><br />I greatly look forward to going back to Amagá, Fredonia, Venecia, and Bolombólo to spend more time exploring these areas and as a result write more about them.<br /><br />By the way, I am currently in the process of writing and uploading photos for my next blog entry "Colombian Hitchhiking Part II - Manizales"<br /><br />I hope that you guys enjoyed this entry and were encouraged to hitchhike as well as support the smaller towns of Colombia. Take care.<br /><br />Attn,<br /><br />-Kevin PostKevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-78641616941627069982009-10-28T20:36:00.000-07:002009-11-20T14:37:05.932-08:00Some photos from my short trip to Córdoba<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIl84maZ9woxpiLoBUHIkQv8Uoi-MF51IA8-A1xt-w2INhxtMsQmST6VLNb88_YuBWZyRvqzrxDMHfbUBA8ZJkswcKgg6n9_-HPVStNJh07-Y29s0BtnYxpaap7V3EZwBT2kQtEa2HEiB8/s1600-h/cordobablog.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIl84maZ9woxpiLoBUHIkQv8Uoi-MF51IA8-A1xt-w2INhxtMsQmST6VLNb88_YuBWZyRvqzrxDMHfbUBA8ZJkswcKgg6n9_-HPVStNJh07-Y29s0BtnYxpaap7V3EZwBT2kQtEa2HEiB8/s320/cordobablog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397863885181490450" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">(Click to enlarge)</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Hey everyone, I just got back from an amazing five days in Córdoba (and half a day on the coast of Sucre). I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked because most of the time I left my camera by accident at a friend's house. Some friends of mine took photos as well, but who knows how long I will have to wait until I see them and post them here. These are some of the photos that I do have; five incredible days of pure humidity, dancing, 39</span></span><span style="visibility: visible;font-size:130%;" id="main" ><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">°C/102</span></span><span style="visibility: visible;font-size:130%;" id="main" ><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">°F</span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> of windless heat, beautiful women, delicious food in Montería and Coveñas. Enjoy (more photos of the actually city and places I visited will be posted in the upcoming days...I hope):</span><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0GFb6G0S3XLnM4y77kkOAWdEBgYypzvugWwBNuVl6pk4faDiOVIhHpDuMt1zmhhVZfZoL6XsK_ET1k61j5Q04mSqG-1o-baSrOulRg180AwRoDXgvusnuHxaVpJsikZ7xGg44TAM4mAy/s1600-h/IMG_1262.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0GFb6G0S3XLnM4y77kkOAWdEBgYypzvugWwBNuVl6pk4faDiOVIhHpDuMt1zmhhVZfZoL6XsK_ET1k61j5Q04mSqG-1o-baSrOulRg180AwRoDXgvusnuHxaVpJsikZ7xGg44TAM4mAy/s320/IMG_1262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397868006623515890" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">No hiking, no camping and no cold weather means super small pack. I will never understand why travelers going from hostel to hostel (i.e. not actually camping nor climbing mountains just getting drunk with other foreigners in the hostel) carry huge 90 liter backpacks as well as another backpack in front. How many pair of pants and shirts does one actually need on a trip? This is not rhetorical I seriously would like to know.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlrnioa4OJhETYIX5J5yf39RxtL4jFFcfOMyCYPFC5hWvvaXzUi4XFaqKL0Z61lY9B5Q6o6Qr1-n18Ex7DMV1Y0IdeFpQhqGmat3WB2csMQT2pUUt-bY6hXqqDWUV-T1iv4ziR3BWxZZk/s1600-h/IMG_1265.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlrnioa4OJhETYIX5J5yf39RxtL4jFFcfOMyCYPFC5hWvvaXzUi4XFaqKL0Z61lY9B5Q6o6Qr1-n18Ex7DMV1Y0IdeFpQhqGmat3WB2csMQT2pUUt-bY6hXqqDWUV-T1iv4ziR3BWxZZk/s320/IMG_1265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397869630176034386" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">With several friends I had met the first night.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6UEw0RdpBPBdnPL3jYwNcinUZgMLIrhSPkNJYxRxg3d2VUq_zWRkx-p2BSl7Tr_CUWyN_tYxVubiXJ-_3TtnLFk8Um1X2lSPwYfg5cN5K7AsOXxZzhZc9OrD0ckKSQmQKPgdEkN6J3zf/s1600-h/IMG_1270.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6UEw0RdpBPBdnPL3jYwNcinUZgMLIrhSPkNJYxRxg3d2VUq_zWRkx-p2BSl7Tr_CUWyN_tYxVubiXJ-_3TtnLFk8Um1X2lSPwYfg5cN5K7AsOXxZzhZc9OrD0ckKSQmQKPgdEkN6J3zf/s320/IMG_1270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397870124254730738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Dancing with a friend (I honestly don't remember which dance style; most likely <span style="font-style: italic;">reggaeton</span>)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNZGlZV20HstTGn7D1CffjyhXoORYFCe4s73T4D3Y_FQPNaqIPF8U2ndNZCqFWZLWYaFlCrcl1tHVKDb2AAqvDODqW-HsMkjijjzyFIn55RqRlDGlItDIUBtCWwRPzE2gsbMVBU6EGWtQ/s1600-h/IMG_1273.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNZGlZV20HstTGn7D1CffjyhXoORYFCe4s73T4D3Y_FQPNaqIPF8U2ndNZCqFWZLWYaFlCrcl1tHVKDb2AAqvDODqW-HsMkjijjzyFIn55RqRlDGlItDIUBtCWwRPzE2gsbMVBU6EGWtQ/s320/IMG_1273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397870701211687666" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Dancing with the beautiful Ebelin Victoria<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8wMjRvEUQcEpGdMseZCPsmqKbwjSn03iXKJr_Vnhpe9g9MoQxgY1ts8fUHlFRA3OWG20HUPFT9WGM16CKVQITIAQAy1k7CUndHldGUB4tZwCwHJMfiLyY4XKWYYqi16e-IKxWFzIcaSh/s1600-h/IMG_1276.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8wMjRvEUQcEpGdMseZCPsmqKbwjSn03iXKJr_Vnhpe9g9MoQxgY1ts8fUHlFRA3OWG20HUPFT9WGM16CKVQITIAQAy1k7CUndHldGUB4tZwCwHJMfiLyY4XKWYYqi16e-IKxWFzIcaSh/s320/IMG_1276.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397871285220930402" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16vMJ_IPyXx0UiWuQJqra51YzvkfuCN2WzQG6_oG6Jf6NqcrJOaUueUewdi7MQkontT-Cp_uvJT7E-HHlvSzjpDDLjquc2yWk5JvYa2J8a4Ga2lIdVoLsPseIXHe4T3Xny4dxdJv45nJT/s1600-h/IMG_1277.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16vMJ_IPyXx0UiWuQJqra51YzvkfuCN2WzQG6_oG6Jf6NqcrJOaUueUewdi7MQkontT-Cp_uvJT7E-HHlvSzjpDDLjquc2yWk5JvYa2J8a4Ga2lIdVoLsPseIXHe4T3Xny4dxdJv45nJT/s320/IMG_1277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397871593677451730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULKjI0TFHmdv3xgcV5YOZ6Df3nE7X8yBWLZ_oplU9nUCbDhimtymeyH4VB_JtCProramd6HJXwV88XWbecWA9lmzNrPFgP3Wil1iky0ayGkwsRTFgfdlPL3YORW7N0Wh-X2CTpEBSc7mv/s1600-h/IMG_1280.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULKjI0TFHmdv3xgcV5YOZ6Df3nE7X8yBWLZ_oplU9nUCbDhimtymeyH4VB_JtCProramd6HJXwV88XWbecWA9lmzNrPFgP3Wil1iky0ayGkwsRTFgfdlPL3YORW7N0Wh-X2CTpEBSc7mv/s320/IMG_1280.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397871902769540770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Dancing "<span style="font-style: italic;">porro</span>" which is by far my favorite dance.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrHN-5BSsdJG9pxN6RQh8ggyw-62f0FABeiK4fnnHbZlH3IOwO2ZGk4_RlXO6msWE-Z7rJlE9t4O8QzikmQ0brSoeNNHjNLn4dgbDsN57j_lGEVm7nZyooj6yJq4dX-7Oq3QguPrrdjph/s1600-h/IMG_1281.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrHN-5BSsdJG9pxN6RQh8ggyw-62f0FABeiK4fnnHbZlH3IOwO2ZGk4_RlXO6msWE-Z7rJlE9t4O8QzikmQ0brSoeNNHjNLn4dgbDsN57j_lGEVm7nZyooj6yJq4dX-7Oq3QguPrrdjph/s320/IMG_1281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397872433631420946" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">She missed and as a result I smelt like aguardiente the entire night. Man I hate that stuff.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqfwORoBEv3wrk-Cmdh9KvmArutgaK3TcqUcjq5O5-bU4y05BWA9KZtB-HL1r77GkKYfkKs_GuX3Z_gGYQa7sD38pEg07o_5oozPJ29wIbfcGSVMhyphenhyphen1GF8Til4HSZpghIfjkR7D4SC9KC/s1600-h/IMG_1284.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqfwORoBEv3wrk-Cmdh9KvmArutgaK3TcqUcjq5O5-bU4y05BWA9KZtB-HL1r77GkKYfkKs_GuX3Z_gGYQa7sD38pEg07o_5oozPJ29wIbfcGSVMhyphenhyphen1GF8Til4HSZpghIfjkR7D4SC9KC/s320/IMG_1284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397873368985591346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__HtlrAnUnuTDXXDjXYymNCuT8KiatVfeoJoPKHY4St82ph3ia_NYhX7V3ey0-OzzaqhUR8EGtCHnAT3g8jjdC5n0_IEnWtv9Jhgp_wIVHChHNAGezCYAJTdeXJxNszG9GDiDwpclCF_E/s1600-h/IMG_1285.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__HtlrAnUnuTDXXDjXYymNCuT8KiatVfeoJoPKHY4St82ph3ia_NYhX7V3ey0-OzzaqhUR8EGtCHnAT3g8jjdC5n0_IEnWtv9Jhgp_wIVHChHNAGezCYAJTdeXJxNszG9GDiDwpclCF_E/s320/IMG_1285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397873716382817074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">An idea of what central Montería looks like. More and better photos as soon as my friends send them my way.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0FsC5qO7QPeaH6LNsr26_k8xctt5l-ElkXLaJoPtoBvT3ZLB8eLtHbEJX0pirWygoi6EmDBDNWUeMIH8Csth_Q1W2P4YfUrLvXO1BXwB-M_05-ulU16Ht-mpfcVjynWTR0amCqpvojMP/s1600-h/IMG_1287.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0FsC5qO7QPeaH6LNsr26_k8xctt5l-ElkXLaJoPtoBvT3ZLB8eLtHbEJX0pirWygoi6EmDBDNWUeMIH8Csth_Q1W2P4YfUrLvXO1BXwB-M_05-ulU16Ht-mpfcVjynWTR0amCqpvojMP/s320/IMG_1287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397874996995420514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF2GRBChzQgLKG4YFGcc8ts6VGo2Gj7Q0Rr6pVb9OMo3fgem68UN9YYeAS6Be3B6_0CAW1j3r4h8L7DbMBmL_ZD_Jt1BbSkeEejIccUxRQJ1Bd9TlLJs_FISlZ5vKWjOi9CM2ToBgcIWMP/s1600-h/IMG_1286.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF2GRBChzQgLKG4YFGcc8ts6VGo2Gj7Q0Rr6pVb9OMo3fgem68UN9YYeAS6Be3B6_0CAW1j3r4h8L7DbMBmL_ZD_Jt1BbSkeEejIccUxRQJ1Bd9TlLJs_FISlZ5vKWjOi9CM2ToBgcIWMP/s320/IMG_1286.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397874290249394290" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">My birthday present to Ebelin's mother. Come to think about it this is exactly what I want for my birthday and right this minute :)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFChxwFlWlBHaTvUv-Ird-HIeXYqmEjiD3M5aH4vmcZVGHNILDVs29dij8AjbYVtBLBC3k-y1V8k4bPD5Y5QFY_PDXXYjDCZeVBaP0iKvI28Iacsn0acX2SxjwcLXT2QX8dofBV5oL3Gk/s1600-h/IMG_1288.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFChxwFlWlBHaTvUv-Ird-HIeXYqmEjiD3M5aH4vmcZVGHNILDVs29dij8AjbYVtBLBC3k-y1V8k4bPD5Y5QFY_PDXXYjDCZeVBaP0iKvI28Iacsn0acX2SxjwcLXT2QX8dofBV5oL3Gk/s320/IMG_1288.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397875674458449234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36u15R4veqYu2uZjN7jfCMzBUL1Z00JzZrsfeezKZ2aBSP66Cgnjrt1rTkEqNuAyd5kZmDNM8_NBGw3nt-3ftqPK5_UGDXhQ2b9_XRYH29noaXPnG7WS1I5FgfSu86P3rw1HmhRVm3y4j/s1600-h/IMG_1289.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36u15R4veqYu2uZjN7jfCMzBUL1Z00JzZrsfeezKZ2aBSP66Cgnjrt1rTkEqNuAyd5kZmDNM8_NBGw3nt-3ftqPK5_UGDXhQ2b9_XRYH29noaXPnG7WS1I5FgfSu86P3rw1HmhRVm3y4j/s320/IMG_1289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397876012664006978" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Presenting my present while singing happy birthday to my "Cordobesa mother"<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9G1NBwY9DuNtAUyHolKQ4ZWLI_KzsxGgI7rd9zmQooyKcgsv3wLILLmknUWxEFn5ZyNrQbffGUT8ZyWQTQhslbFhR51SQBYcrzWfKGj0rijg-qP2FcbnCnh_hRrelb8A8ma2j-ogrjIM/s1600-h/IMG_1294.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9G1NBwY9DuNtAUyHolKQ4ZWLI_KzsxGgI7rd9zmQooyKcgsv3wLILLmknUWxEFn5ZyNrQbffGUT8ZyWQTQhslbFhR51SQBYcrzWfKGj0rijg-qP2FcbnCnh_hRrelb8A8ma2j-ogrjIM/s320/IMG_1294.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397877665949698770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6V_Mq_8NeuIPqZYbDSm5yjcv5A5K3pjNConbgK9uU2fiZMkLhxhk7FoBGXqr-vCoESoSI03JhNqJixezEuoBJXLrooR0w5uKmYeteyPEIBX9b95caQCD_9juvAnNsN6oi1G5H6bmE7Cs/s1600-h/IMG_1295.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6V_Mq_8NeuIPqZYbDSm5yjcv5A5K3pjNConbgK9uU2fiZMkLhxhk7FoBGXqr-vCoESoSI03JhNqJixezEuoBJXLrooR0w5uKmYeteyPEIBX9b95caQCD_9juvAnNsN6oi1G5H6bmE7Cs/s320/IMG_1295.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397878676147294450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nIpdHWJhsPPG2wEJa-spAsZ-t1k0_JbSSD37gKrhDB0nlX9x_iHtjGElhGMystPLnvElGHDemns5LMDgUXanTdSTwIZOeELihArTgFQ3grFT5Uz3-i4EXFCcYI7Ip8x7QadnRragrdZU/s1600-h/IMG_1299.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nIpdHWJhsPPG2wEJa-spAsZ-t1k0_JbSSD37gKrhDB0nlX9x_iHtjGElhGMystPLnvElGHDemns5LMDgUXanTdSTwIZOeELihArTgFQ3grFT5Uz3-i4EXFCcYI7Ip8x7QadnRragrdZU/s320/IMG_1299.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397879101835597522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEq5KurnIcCG-4DyhLlci_WCZv7XDX6HE8Zt_6V-QJV6IJViRn99i1525KWt7LzNip5-jS_HjaXnWWGs1HI5AocwmTH8ljyf9xL5ehyphenhyphenbr-X-dl6E8UaF0g-cJmkkxrOtTpqInHAsQskGbC/s1600-h/IMG_1301.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEq5KurnIcCG-4DyhLlci_WCZv7XDX6HE8Zt_6V-QJV6IJViRn99i1525KWt7LzNip5-jS_HjaXnWWGs1HI5AocwmTH8ljyf9xL5ehyphenhyphenbr-X-dl6E8UaF0g-cJmkkxrOtTpqInHAsQskGbC/s320/IMG_1301.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397881140856266642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjC0nGMgmQz6CXGbtOQGJBKEbC4JcJpAnbWmS1nKFbRNelfaykl3UcgFnU7eFYOc_gvPePQb274uJT9Jb6S5YXGv5ZWZmCE4Ml7IATe9MetrKIh_zv75pQwxslNRH3BRjSo84833xuct7/s1600-h/IMG_1306.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjC0nGMgmQz6CXGbtOQGJBKEbC4JcJpAnbWmS1nKFbRNelfaykl3UcgFnU7eFYOc_gvPePQb274uJT9Jb6S5YXGv5ZWZmCE4Ml7IATe9MetrKIh_zv75pQwxslNRH3BRjSo84833xuct7/s320/IMG_1306.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397882581581786578" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I am addicted to <span style="font-style: italic;">porro</span> (the dance not ganja*). I now have the <span style="font-style: italic;">sombrero vueltiao </span>(<a href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sombrero_vueltiao">http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sombrero_vueltiao</a>) but before I did I felt naked dancing <span style="font-style: italic;">porro</span> without it.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">*In certain parts of Latin America including Spain <span style="font-style: italic;">porro</span> means " join" or "ganja" but in most of the Colombian departments, especially the coast, <span style="font-style: italic;">porro</span> is a type of music similar to <span style="font-style: italic;">cumbia</span>. Still lost? I'll explain later.</span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQn3priAsAW-Bprzp2nQCsXkmKMKKOG2WNG4liU_3CEuiWtnJpIxclNOVW9lvVWAFB3iNx8cd_-BLeXo5UrwRZ85fv_GLNE2MiR-sGWKV8s_YVb8T_Y1FxOE0fLrkEK7_Dq8uXm2q1ONpy/s1600-h/IMG_1302.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQn3priAsAW-Bprzp2nQCsXkmKMKKOG2WNG4liU_3CEuiWtnJpIxclNOVW9lvVWAFB3iNx8cd_-BLeXo5UrwRZ85fv_GLNE2MiR-sGWKV8s_YVb8T_Y1FxOE0fLrkEK7_Dq8uXm2q1ONpy/s320/IMG_1302.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397881430358273458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzKrZxMjxx-ibZLuAWoCZYi8qQXW7mZzmgO3GKs-b5F1ef7pnTKpvO9d2ASMoOyrQma9zdMJhQY_r3EVRQJyKC9WZSusvGAS4TPviLAzWW91HPQMy0j4PJkcSOXc8dSWOYmoCr5nGKeDk/s1600-h/IMG_1303.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzKrZxMjxx-ibZLuAWoCZYi8qQXW7mZzmgO3GKs-b5F1ef7pnTKpvO9d2ASMoOyrQma9zdMJhQY_r3EVRQJyKC9WZSusvGAS4TPviLAzWW91HPQMy0j4PJkcSOXc8dSWOYmoCr5nGKeDk/s320/IMG_1303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397882239862075058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some friends from below<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0004DEPno6yklqaf8jmMas4g06utt3ZLDie7OZfJtlcYacfFkwFxaxe-E2thpWpu5JOfFj7J6zE5CsC7NrOu2XdajqE6GJufI8-d7k91hTEqtsf4NVuHisLFIZ3iaM6E62bdk7TbuJm9y/s1600-h/IMG_1316.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0004DEPno6yklqaf8jmMas4g06utt3ZLDie7OZfJtlcYacfFkwFxaxe-E2thpWpu5JOfFj7J6zE5CsC7NrOu2XdajqE6GJufI8-d7k91hTEqtsf4NVuHisLFIZ3iaM6E62bdk7TbuJm9y/s320/IMG_1316.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397884620440963938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">In Coveñas with Ebelin.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eTRI5H97OZfGUclj0S-eKS3MLh8mC_QSKchK17dvUri4lK7kn4XrDsWSRs1peYIg5YCmz-IuIiHI7gDjQCf_VCUqf2igg5RCHQ0Ejk5YTWpbq7axSMGTmXALuiIpZhqEtLFkJCaInqlr/s1600-h/IMG_1322.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eTRI5H97OZfGUclj0S-eKS3MLh8mC_QSKchK17dvUri4lK7kn4XrDsWSRs1peYIg5YCmz-IuIiHI7gDjQCf_VCUqf2igg5RCHQ0Ejk5YTWpbq7axSMGTmXALuiIpZhqEtLFkJCaInqlr/s320/IMG_1322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397885378911094066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQtdcBVv9S6iTHwmW63vIULZuY7pWVz3tUvSMB6N_Ml3dLgoNE4GTPpvqsTwBk2koMsgpe0J3vMpNLrMM-6TcKH2JngYOdhEYskyfbUJ0O7kTXTb4OiMfa_sHQBkDneBuhiFRqPK58b5s/s1600-h/IMG_1323.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQtdcBVv9S6iTHwmW63vIULZuY7pWVz3tUvSMB6N_Ml3dLgoNE4GTPpvqsTwBk2koMsgpe0J3vMpNLrMM-6TcKH2JngYOdhEYskyfbUJ0O7kTXTb4OiMfa_sHQBkDneBuhiFRqPK58b5s/s320/IMG_1323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397885794964576834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFGByBqCeQQnWhQj9FWg5pmQ46WYzqqZXz3Jd3RfOmz58WsR7ptknvwfNmoQeQouMqvuqCT7OLR2LjFBveVWgG5u8uvPqWWN6ncsseKQXmdt4VUzDan1flVzXf4QyRcYrBBLwXISU4klO/s1600-h/IMG_1325.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFGByBqCeQQnWhQj9FWg5pmQ46WYzqqZXz3Jd3RfOmz58WsR7ptknvwfNmoQeQouMqvuqCT7OLR2LjFBveVWgG5u8uvPqWWN6ncsseKQXmdt4VUzDan1flVzXf4QyRcYrBBLwXISU4klO/s320/IMG_1325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397886196771683186" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I didn't have a swimsuit so I just swam in my boxers. Funny story, maybe I'll tell you sometime.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMjBY5_xbbf38BZu50l_v-4Wdq95R2rRy0_F4p7L2WhcmuE6U13BxBxtB5OjHPqbNvfUPoIxmj7vhunAj5W7y82CznsU_vWXBAjikI-thfd8iOtaN1ENuLpUCllLIyRC8vs1jeNvGiWJS/s1600-h/IMG_1326.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMjBY5_xbbf38BZu50l_v-4Wdq95R2rRy0_F4p7L2WhcmuE6U13BxBxtB5OjHPqbNvfUPoIxmj7vhunAj5W7y82CznsU_vWXBAjikI-thfd8iOtaN1ENuLpUCllLIyRC8vs1jeNvGiWJS/s320/IMG_1326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397886533636234434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi356Bx5Auiy0NautxrrkYs8M159_VTlPngytKtpV4gOMJ9PvG7G4MBEZAlrxmQXId3ubAZ741PIdQYJFLZRG-oX7h3IOhGWeRFkyV-ohCyMlFxC93q3uz0KPZyJkYReBrW-Lmp_FAuGEQC/s1600-h/IMG_1327.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi356Bx5Auiy0NautxrrkYs8M159_VTlPngytKtpV4gOMJ9PvG7G4MBEZAlrxmQXId3ubAZ741PIdQYJFLZRG-oX7h3IOhGWeRFkyV-ohCyMlFxC93q3uz0KPZyJkYReBrW-Lmp_FAuGEQC/s320/IMG_1327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397887043892875938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Coveñas, Sucre, Colombia<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCoIkL6A-GGpq0RBdQVjC1utEuYjkb79-ICrrEV77yTmb-s6qEBJrwsl9uWObX8uQE4KFilKd1uixNn_-LhpH-naTctoNYVdZtAq-xRlp_0A3eV3egLSV2fUIFbH__7frdVBy1TtPRvUn/s1600-h/IMG_1332.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCoIkL6A-GGpq0RBdQVjC1utEuYjkb79-ICrrEV77yTmb-s6qEBJrwsl9uWObX8uQE4KFilKd1uixNn_-LhpH-naTctoNYVdZtAq-xRlp_0A3eV3egLSV2fUIFbH__7frdVBy1TtPRvUn/s320/IMG_1332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397887389953198850" border="0" /></a><br />Beautiful<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TsrunKjBPip3_9qMMS4mUDHYVGvFD8m-hZAnaGTbgdUdWEVDDztUIWIprp0Fxy7usy3FULxxWy8on0BK4VKaiKoLFs6nD1_EPirmH82ovpjbKuCy3k1k2oub258IZtdvyE-qhy5hYiOV/s1600-h/IMG_1355.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TsrunKjBPip3_9qMMS4mUDHYVGvFD8m-hZAnaGTbgdUdWEVDDztUIWIprp0Fxy7usy3FULxxWy8on0BK4VKaiKoLFs6nD1_EPirmH82ovpjbKuCy3k1k2oub258IZtdvyE-qhy5hYiOV/s320/IMG_1355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397887690563079106" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">No comment<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpXp7uv_w4ADkwnbgE7cZ3WISDgi2Ym19Q89ccOWVYF33rDkXGTDhtm7jmjVIR5Y0QH4oifDB_mlsSal7V84u2baJYuA97i8OI1K2Q2vVEBmFKBOP4xz7Mixj_RsxrYnjML_GkKnw2i4s/s1600-h/IMG_1360.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpXp7uv_w4ADkwnbgE7cZ3WISDgi2Ym19Q89ccOWVYF33rDkXGTDhtm7jmjVIR5Y0QH4oifDB_mlsSal7V84u2baJYuA97i8OI1K2Q2vVEBmFKBOP4xz7Mixj_RsxrYnjML_GkKnw2i4s/s320/IMG_1360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397888038141801170" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I wasn't quick enough, I didn't grab my camera in time! I saw a cat walk under the table and I knew Ebelin was going to freak out as a cat gropes her leg. Oh well, didn't capture the moment digitally but it was very funny in person.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_O6jUhgQ08fvQwyZ0aj6j_pQ7FGT6GL8j5AkWPvmOgmsCF8dSWw1lPGcrG3Ju26voWvVgt9HLLIIktlmHfLdIu9lkrmCxx6cHeqSurbW2rvywNPAm_FielGQZJPbvsebszuSCrei9K3W3/s1600-h/IMG_1367.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_O6jUhgQ08fvQwyZ0aj6j_pQ7FGT6GL8j5AkWPvmOgmsCF8dSWw1lPGcrG3Ju26voWvVgt9HLLIIktlmHfLdIu9lkrmCxx6cHeqSurbW2rvywNPAm_FielGQZJPbvsebszuSCrei9K3W3/s320/IMG_1367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397888507498130466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPXLYz1xM531NWhCsDRUv-F7B5Ij9VcU3_cy56vwoznss6fuuVOMLK7m64dO-kkcBx2mTvaI5iMACwud9vGaiQWjVPC33r_RCb7UZ1SefQjlyTktP_KgScOuPol6CCVWbgUrhQlUrxP_A/s1600-h/IMG_1368.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPXLYz1xM531NWhCsDRUv-F7B5Ij9VcU3_cy56vwoznss6fuuVOMLK7m64dO-kkcBx2mTvaI5iMACwud9vGaiQWjVPC33r_RCb7UZ1SefQjlyTktP_KgScOuPol6CCVWbgUrhQlUrxP_A/s320/IMG_1368.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397888795175779810" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">This is where I slept every night. The blaring morning sun and a good </span><span style="font-size:85%;">39</span><span style="visibility: visible;font-size:85%;" id="main" ><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">°C/102</span></span><span style="visibility: visible;font-size:85%;" id="main" ><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">°F</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> with strong humidity in Montería.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxVEGSDRxQuKh_m33M6URRjRx0HXgk9wmT-C-ol9_22UmbvTpywPteq-7Vw8USOOSBwMAvgnOAdSCBdn4vk87puhThJWIol-WLyK1pf-iW8mnk9FL_wFil2y1K31yLq76q4IG9vt85axe/s1600-h/IMG_1371.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxVEGSDRxQuKh_m33M6URRjRx0HXgk9wmT-C-ol9_22UmbvTpywPteq-7Vw8USOOSBwMAvgnOAdSCBdn4vk87puhThJWIol-WLyK1pf-iW8mnk9FL_wFil2y1K31yLq76q4IG9vt85axe/s320/IMG_1371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397889249353922594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8MtRb4Ish24J4Xbv8UXWM6pHmlKojLdQT9c2d_r839GA87FDKDbic3iiVn35O23RYNRcYfQHkqkBiBkKvEgmz5w83TUwVJ1lKEWByr0rClXbx1E5w8aJrajansdQcvsczKEpzNmQ7Kw6/s1600-h/IMG_1372.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8MtRb4Ish24J4Xbv8UXWM6pHmlKojLdQT9c2d_r839GA87FDKDbic3iiVn35O23RYNRcYfQHkqkBiBkKvEgmz5w83TUwVJ1lKEWByr0rClXbx1E5w8aJrajansdQcvsczKEpzNmQ7Kw6/s320/IMG_1372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397889613691379698" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">My last night with Ebelin and Montería :(<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRmmZ0SKWj8tRH3GSjte9ywIZn7S7N3SAba-YFK5Tk2J4f9J48cAOVWW_it-6xGJsjtSSq7hmNtMB6AJhdb8QaY8C-9Gr8Rcx_t5S_jpyekWdy2qeH35ZfIfyzHU0T-601WPA39syOMf9/s1600-h/IMG_1377.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRmmZ0SKWj8tRH3GSjte9ywIZn7S7N3SAba-YFK5Tk2J4f9J48cAOVWW_it-6xGJsjtSSq7hmNtMB6AJhdb8QaY8C-9Gr8Rcx_t5S_jpyekWdy2qeH35ZfIfyzHU0T-601WPA39syOMf9/s320/IMG_1377.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397889951436979314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Enjoying in the evening heat of Montería two hours before I caught the last bus to Medell</span><span style="font-size:85%;">ín. Although 8:30pm it was a good 30</span><span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">°C/91</span></span><span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">°F.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1ZpvIBsVfDWI3oXKBNYWldY-s8_MnaTJGCdPHyMXM6UynqVwwnSvUTX3h6189T8ikxxFR6VuBy5DCsa9B-ieaW-s1OzczrjrOOBewdA9xIJag9HcqjlPO-hKTaKYBuUkSnT7-K5sH11B/s1600-h/IMG_1378.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1ZpvIBsVfDWI3oXKBNYWldY-s8_MnaTJGCdPHyMXM6UynqVwwnSvUTX3h6189T8ikxxFR6VuBy5DCsa9B-ieaW-s1OzczrjrOOBewdA9xIJag9HcqjlPO-hKTaKYBuUkSnT7-K5sH11B/s320/IMG_1378.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397890374952931330" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Just about to leave and quickly saying goodbye to good friends I had met in this lovely region of Colombia.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I cannot wait to go back. Córdoba is a very special place for me.<br /><br />-Kevin Post<br /><br /><br /></span>Kevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-49217518200222853282009-10-09T19:35:00.000-07:002009-10-10T08:31:15.707-07:00Don't give in to them, don't encourage this behavior and save lives<span style="font-size:85%;">Hello family, it was great hearing from you today. I cannot wait to have more conversations with you guys. Well, it turns out that I can't travel on the weekends until I get a new debit card and pay off my utilities from the old apartment.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">But when I do travel, as you know, <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">I love going off the beaten path to the roads that lead to nowhere. I love meeting people whom almost never receive visits from foreigners. I love to go places that change me for the better and teach me many lessons. I like to lightly stimulate the economies that haven't developed a tourism industry. I love how much my stories have meant to people as a result. I love the surrealism of being there. I love the hint of adrenalin of being in places I have been told not to visit. I know that these experiences will pay off one way or another.</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">Colo</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">mb</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ia</span> is a much safer place than it was a few years ago. I mean, the place is flooded with tourism and foreigners are beginning to discover how amazing this country is although buried in their guide books as if it answered the meaning of life. However, off the beaten path in <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">Colo</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">mb</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ia</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"></span> can lead to potentially risky situations. Roads that lead to nowhere often mean that they lead to problems with public disorder; in other words teenagers with plastic boots, kalashnikovs and a warped perception of reality outside the mountains and jungles of <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">Colo</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">mb</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ia</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span>. <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">Colo</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">mb</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ia </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span>was once number one in the world for kidnappings but of the time of this writing </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">Colo</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">mb</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ia</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> is at number four after Mexico, Venezuela and Brazil depending on whom you ask.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">I write this blog as a message to family and friends:</span> If I am to be kidnapped (which statically is HIGHLY UNLIKELY) don't give in to their demands. I mean, if they charge something like a few hundred dollars then fair enough (I'll pay you back hehe) but as soon as it reaches the thousands do not give it to them. Like all economies kidnapping for ransom is a lucrative business because it's easy money and easy money signifies that people are continuing to do it. I understand that it is an immense amount of stress knowing that one's loved one is rotting in the jungles of Colombia but if you pay the ransom that is incentive for these players in this ongoing conflict to continue kidnapping. Is that fair to the rest of the Colombian people? If I am to be kidnapped, I would rather have something happen to me than pay them off in order to send a message that kidnapping will not be rewarded. The less we give into grief by paying off armed groups the quicker they will lose funds and in the long run lose power.<br /><br />My basic message, don't support their dirty war. I am just one life and when we chose to fight against this disgraceful act, the more lives we can save. If I am ever to be kidnapped (I hope that this is never the case), I will comply with my captors and do whatever it takes to survive. But I will do as much as I can to discourage this behavior as well.<br /><br />This isn't a matter of politics, it doesn't matter if it's the left or the right, kidnapping is unacceptable; especially when one claims to fight for the <span style="font-style: italic;">pueblo</span> (population).<br /><br />Take care, sorry for writing a depressing blog entry for you to read. Love you guys and I promise that I'll be fine, plan my trips carefully, and not get into intentional danger :)<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">-Kevin Post</span><br /><br /></span>Kevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-39704349558011220732009-10-02T23:25:00.000-07:002009-12-01T10:47:56.469-08:00I leave tomorrow for Quindío & Tolima; nine beautiful days in the mountains of Central Colombia<span style="font-size:85%;">It is such a relief and I feel as if happiness is giving me a bear hug right now because I am going to my favorite place on earth. I have been here eight times and still I have so much more climbing & too much exploring to do. I also look forward to climbing Nevado del Tolima* (Colombia's tenth largest peak at 5,216 meters</span><span style="font-size:85%;">) one of these days. My only drawback to summiting is that I don't have my <a href="http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/shop/climb/ice-axes-piolets/raven-pro">piolet</a> nor my <a href="http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/shop/climb/crampons/contact">crampons</a> with me in Colombia; therefore summiting +5,000m(+16,000ft) snow/ice covered peaks is going to have to wait for now.<br /><br />*4.647605, -75.333252<br /><br />This is an amateur visual of where the departments (states) of Quindío and Tolima are located in relativity to where I live:<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXXTawVSIwRcC6u4GCq-iZwTOxG5SN9-3Pv5IqM7KB-vSb-cAvptKuNL0q_W3xW1sy9PNhU4owohOQZlwXszR0rqzzOQXO6lemFKI0dFroyl4L0sXHudEWwPxLeMF5XUsTP9wLakrVa7G/s1600-h/blog.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 351px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXXTawVSIwRcC6u4GCq-iZwTOxG5SN9-3Pv5IqM7KB-vSb-cAvptKuNL0q_W3xW1sy9PNhU4owohOQZlwXszR0rqzzOQXO6lemFKI0dFroyl4L0sXHudEWwPxLeMF5XUsTP9wLakrVa7G/s400/blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388268636002354770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Anyway, I need to get some sleep because tomorrow morning I have French class at 8am and then a 6½ hour bus ride to Armenia (the capital of the Quind</span><span style="font-size:85%;">ío department of Colombia)</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> which I don't look forward to to be honest. I have been on hundreds of buses with long durations throughout my travels on three continents but every time I get off a several hour bus ride in the Andes I still feel as if I hadn't slept in three days and gotten my ass kicked by a gang. I could have an abundance of energy (which is usually the case) five minutes before I get on a bus and 30 minutes into the journey I feel like taking a nap. I have never gotten off a several hour bus ride and thought to myself, "Man, my neck doesn't hurt, I don't feel like bathing and I slept wonderfully!" But it's all good because when I arrive at my destination I love the destination even more.<br /><br />Before I go I would like to share with you some photos of the last time I was in the mountains of Quindío and Tolima with my sister McKenna. Enjjjoy! <span style="font-size:78%;">(All photos, unless otherwise noted, were taken and are property of McKenna Post)<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfubsdXEICjM7OnN06HH1cwMZhyWvq1njZJfcM8Z8HrTeyO9n7QvxP7zBaS3Av5EUZlbZ-I3hgPUb1bIh-jJFahoWXn2IYCY8QeWlCv0eaX_Sh4w-TUJzx7RpRXJ840c4bQkMb3uwwAyWF/s1600-h/DSC_0003.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfubsdXEICjM7OnN06HH1cwMZhyWvq1njZJfcM8Z8HrTeyO9n7QvxP7zBaS3Av5EUZlbZ-I3hgPUb1bIh-jJFahoWXn2IYCY8QeWlCv0eaX_Sh4w-TUJzx7RpRXJ840c4bQkMb3uwwAyWF/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388276392087464594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Coffee Plantation of Salento, Quindío, Colombia<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_FRixn_e-U1ahBhcbqQ_tBRqjlLtDTkMOf88lI9eX1WUx7SHRR7RA0fXnP68VvVuwUuEtPhOfy5_FwArhsuxATuyvTdSUgNkR_c7oKXSDqY-BqDfD3EGMUEOkm86nKDxZPcAoh03jxEY/s1600-h/DSC_0028.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_FRixn_e-U1ahBhcbqQ_tBRqjlLtDTkMOf88lI9eX1WUx7SHRR7RA0fXnP68VvVuwUuEtPhOfy5_FwArhsuxATuyvTdSUgNkR_c7oKXSDqY-BqDfD3EGMUEOkm86nKDxZPcAoh03jxEY/s320/DSC_0028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388282022331994226" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Me in Salento, Quindío, Colombia<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAGfyFtCUNghmFkbPp9XgFb0Ys4b1KcIXzouU57LXndPg62Nf9UZWUcpsJtgZsQuJ8vr6vBRwXd2w_CTEcWUUhxRAD9JGR4fknsgDo-X2i-IGcxQNO-69kS-PlLqT9kNJygOkRtNhmBQk/s1600-h/DSC_0034.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAGfyFtCUNghmFkbPp9XgFb0Ys4b1KcIXzouU57LXndPg62Nf9UZWUcpsJtgZsQuJ8vr6vBRwXd2w_CTEcWUUhxRAD9JGR4fknsgDo-X2i-IGcxQNO-69kS-PlLqT9kNJygOkRtNhmBQk/s320/DSC_0034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388283747151234466" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">In Salento looking towards Cocora. I was sure that it was going to rain during our time in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Cordillera Central</span>*. Lucky, very lucky for us our four days in the mountains of </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Quindío and Tolima we weren't burdened by heavy rainfall which is a normal occurrence in the tropical mountains of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Zona Cafetera</span> (Colombia's coffee zone).<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">*<span style="font-size:85%;">In southwestern Colombia the Andes break off into three major mountain chains called the <span style="font-style: italic;">Cordillera Occidental</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Cordillera Central</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Cordillera Oriental</span> (Western, Central, and Eastern mountain ranges).<br /><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYy7iQjfYE_4xwa-969zmRKBcb3b0Xt2Fa5rRkq2wG_UB-2vTtgDWSnYVCBstiUD4vdwdwjlm-vQbrosFglIKpt4n8r_5NLO8r7qlI_QYyys0Q7lM-9aDbWYjMo59SCgBwPoRTyvO6CjJn/s1600-h/DSC_0040.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYy7iQjfYE_4xwa-969zmRKBcb3b0Xt2Fa5rRkq2wG_UB-2vTtgDWSnYVCBstiUD4vdwdwjlm-vQbrosFglIKpt4n8r_5NLO8r7qlI_QYyys0Q7lM-9aDbWYjMo59SCgBwPoRTyvO6CjJn/s320/DSC_0040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388287779826484722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkqQsuq99Od8VzC_cse1NRcnlofNkXChG3W8TCLA6fLhmUiISkEqt4Qc4BKvw-lUWcAz0vD5St2HnPQUqiPmoou9_jtwtOyTxdw-UxmRL744_r6i4PtnsJbMjtXqC6Vry3Ud3UecfcivW/s1600-h/DSC_0047.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkqQsuq99Od8VzC_cse1NRcnlofNkXChG3W8TCLA6fLhmUiISkEqt4Qc4BKvw-lUWcAz0vD5St2HnPQUqiPmoou9_jtwtOyTxdw-UxmRL744_r6i4PtnsJbMjtXqC6Vry3Ud3UecfcivW/s320/DSC_0047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388288792959581378" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Me in <span style="font-style: italic;">El Valle de Cocora</span> (Cocora Valley) which is my favorite place on earth. I want to spend my last years of my life here.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiLqR1aif1IzP-mHNcblHkU32mndKQzrmoRT8o_yUrtnIMrzOVWGsRkA_RAu3eVwzwtaNwxpu6lHvuKUCJ_nr0eb9uzHPSTxQB1LsVkMnzlD3ScYixYMaMPE74KMkuesEUrt5Z3-hutTp/s1600-h/DSC_0057.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiLqR1aif1IzP-mHNcblHkU32mndKQzrmoRT8o_yUrtnIMrzOVWGsRkA_RAu3eVwzwtaNwxpu6lHvuKUCJ_nr0eb9uzHPSTxQB1LsVkMnzlD3ScYixYMaMPE74KMkuesEUrt5Z3-hutTp/s320/DSC_0057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388290015164353170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwzZ9NhrT19OZecZi9Dw2a4v_ZGKWcb6JQ4BoYlNLKY4gFChzY887Ta2NvEOfAzSv_AmqSAS25vQ_BbI-W4Ua_wvKljdSUaCV-HWOITzVZh1fWxJhjcCnRRtKavTYkcK3rPHYoeK9I_Lp/s1600-h/DSC_0056.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwzZ9NhrT19OZecZi9Dw2a4v_ZGKWcb6JQ4BoYlNLKY4gFChzY887Ta2NvEOfAzSv_AmqSAS25vQ_BbI-W4Ua_wvKljdSUaCV-HWOITzVZh1fWxJhjcCnRRtKavTYkcK3rPHYoeK9I_Lp/s320/DSC_0056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388289544844084418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">McKenna crossing a makeshift bridge in Cocora, Quindío, Colombia. <span style="font-size:78%;">(Photos: me)</span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYTH-ZC8HfRpvR_3ym_UfA7ZF897VBk5FsmZekOXO4-0mC_wfOH2OgUxy2NBRR-zxdel7khHD9htUUVsd3BIGHscF60XGeIfJF3GBWrhyphenhyphenYhd_h5lJBH9AcmjVVoQ4wcQzVjDUJyoFd7Ye/s1600-h/DSC_0063.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYTH-ZC8HfRpvR_3ym_UfA7ZF897VBk5FsmZekOXO4-0mC_wfOH2OgUxy2NBRR-zxdel7khHD9htUUVsd3BIGHscF60XGeIfJF3GBWrhyphenhyphenYhd_h5lJBH9AcmjVVoQ4wcQzVjDUJyoFd7Ye/s320/DSC_0063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388290960183782370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Esneda and I. We met in Cocora and she tagged along with us and we became good friends. I look forward to seeing her this upcoming weekend.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdAc0oVvlsGHeS9fEg8MM6oSRBVIFKuXBoBXFGsSO0Oop9AQZdycY61-H3lf3HH6k29bqLEoYlJfmwMUqSpjh_CEIQ2wtQaZnGXXjgNVVPudUAAAr6LT75_sp6rV8P_OVVX1To-ICajzR/s1600-h/DSC_0066.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdAc0oVvlsGHeS9fEg8MM6oSRBVIFKuXBoBXFGsSO0Oop9AQZdycY61-H3lf3HH6k29bqLEoYlJfmwMUqSpjh_CEIQ2wtQaZnGXXjgNVVPudUAAAr6LT75_sp6rV8P_OVVX1To-ICajzR/s320/DSC_0066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388291774885813186" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">For me, simply paradise.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hyphenhyphenLDOuk_YykIODV1Pd1a9oOAwA6tCzJzWlHZzRFj_X3RaUtKjrAxbZqyUMbtnTS72vsbd4xqRK3CfPOPt7gJd-c2vHIviB-XmtvrEE6B9O6_1XW3of57gnIMmiDO7Wm2z6c0vp7aQpKC/s1600-h/DSC_0058.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hyphenhyphenLDOuk_YykIODV1Pd1a9oOAwA6tCzJzWlHZzRFj_X3RaUtKjrAxbZqyUMbtnTS72vsbd4xqRK3CfPOPt7gJd-c2vHIviB-XmtvrEE6B9O6_1XW3of57gnIMmiDO7Wm2z6c0vp7aQpKC/s320/DSC_0058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388316736910396386" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The sad thing is that there is a lot of fighting going on in order to have power and control over paradise. This bridge was recently destroyed (no more than a year ago) by, let's say, "problems with public order" (aka armed groups).<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1CqqP4nHIRt7HtndibxWFa5_vHQT83yxHuT2RduUIrwlvIlscqM9ZoFpQUfwetfBc4_a8LFUIOOPV7iPmDsPJaXV56NXyz3twIwPpFVHyYvIJGd_ojaD5bl94s_SnkVZJ_CWwkJExT2_/s1600-h/DSC_0075.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1CqqP4nHIRt7HtndibxWFa5_vHQT83yxHuT2RduUIrwlvIlscqM9ZoFpQUfwetfBc4_a8LFUIOOPV7iPmDsPJaXV56NXyz3twIwPpFVHyYvIJGd_ojaD5bl94s_SnkVZJ_CWwkJExT2_/s320/DSC_0075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388293786486290530" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some of the coldest water I've ever bathed in.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBGnj9wefugmeUkqnt44DJMyG3bsig5dGjjjwRatZOKENjqfxLRhYMp_sKgccw_K0EIM1acNJZ0dpD7Rg8P-LJT16xwN2VR1aaf3z6_cp2l4ipVkkr-d963xoytqe-VuhXV0l6fvDr081/s1600-h/DSC_0072.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBGnj9wefugmeUkqnt44DJMyG3bsig5dGjjjwRatZOKENjqfxLRhYMp_sKgccw_K0EIM1acNJZ0dpD7Rg8P-LJT16xwN2VR1aaf3z6_cp2l4ipVkkr-d963xoytqe-VuhXV0l6fvDr081/s320/DSC_0072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388292300395933122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiemm6DhQ73POltwVd4JcfVk4JDkq_6YfqrURKah3vq8G19P7BJnu6snsxBjCkkg8HeRhwW71JhO-A_bdwYUh-27iER3JBa2z_SwEoUjvTCZA4ABq6-QYsBdVRP9bFYzhyUdsDML-WcyV/s1600-h/DSC_0073.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiemm6DhQ73POltwVd4JcfVk4JDkq_6YfqrURKah3vq8G19P7BJnu6snsxBjCkkg8HeRhwW71JhO-A_bdwYUh-27iER3JBa2z_SwEoUjvTCZA4ABq6-QYsBdVRP9bFYzhyUdsDML-WcyV/s320/DSC_0073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388293112186259122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-iut1In32TEsM-zz33oGZzSKzv0gM94QxYxxL_rty0Wwh-eXN3t1g9IQSx0_tVnCwl8WZ5ZENSlk2e7kRk5m2cUmbi1bACvjlB8ZUMDJQTzvB3OH3ZHvmVhp-GIPr4jTa4uP9B2HnhNr/s1600-h/DSC_0094.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-iut1In32TEsM-zz33oGZzSKzv0gM94QxYxxL_rty0Wwh-eXN3t1g9IQSx0_tVnCwl8WZ5ZENSlk2e7kRk5m2cUmbi1bACvjlB8ZUMDJQTzvB3OH3ZHvmVhp-GIPr4jTa4uP9B2HnhNr/s320/DSC_0094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388294875729370498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgz1qv1O1NgVlrAty5zgedqnndyuPrIFBG-vDfgrpN5vwjjrK0ZIXy9H34XDFysboqLGcT8MwwTP0a0R4Qg8HnqudcRa_YZ0xnujZIB4vZR9zZ3cEHHV-Li6MzrxV_TvfAHn6UBpzBxOS/s1600-h/DSC_0095.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgz1qv1O1NgVlrAty5zgedqnndyuPrIFBG-vDfgrpN5vwjjrK0ZIXy9H34XDFysboqLGcT8MwwTP0a0R4Qg8HnqudcRa_YZ0xnujZIB4vZR9zZ3cEHHV-Li6MzrxV_TvfAHn6UBpzBxOS/s320/DSC_0095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388296254082055410" border="0" /></a><br />Beautiful<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSWZrCBsQkrZPQCAUZtq6nu_aOAyNt6Uws_RjlM-NaZUVDLuqoKSXucJbTbCy5HQjjfgD9wbQAz5SrWULtM55oyczURRMV9mERy2H4g64Qy0hajA8fIrhTVAc-1SSmhOWWaI1zzvPAqtS/s1600-h/DSC_0105.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSWZrCBsQkrZPQCAUZtq6nu_aOAyNt6Uws_RjlM-NaZUVDLuqoKSXucJbTbCy5HQjjfgD9wbQAz5SrWULtM55oyczURRMV9mERy2H4g64Qy0hajA8fIrhTVAc-1SSmhOWWaI1zzvPAqtS/s320/DSC_0105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388296849980506882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_h2WiBdQnj9qBEDeTfFaOEt-nqfUdUfbSD7U2fpPojr3Ggpj2gOcMFUcpSFPBA24ZYu3Zt6kJrk-w0OvVkPuK8qvd04HZV4XTDDkmsyjh-0YwEkN7EYmnzc5Ppd9iktSxfXbo5t_ELLT/s1600-h/DSC_0106.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_h2WiBdQnj9qBEDeTfFaOEt-nqfUdUfbSD7U2fpPojr3Ggpj2gOcMFUcpSFPBA24ZYu3Zt6kJrk-w0OvVkPuK8qvd04HZV4XTDDkmsyjh-0YwEkN7EYmnzc5Ppd9iktSxfXbo5t_ELLT/s320/DSC_0106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388297344187391794" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Sometime in October 2007 (I was here in December of 2007) the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Las FARC) destroyed this <span style="font-style: italic;">finca </span>(farm house) as well as another one completely burnt to the ground in the same area because they were owned by the regional government...<span style="font-size:78%;">(Photos: me)</span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhCA3dwxzdLdZWJ4guWvuch8QtIeKi95RDiS9fgCpkTPjVwPxOxx7pIhbbsDdKUEEdEE_9PEX91guKWaDKn32w85Y8SBko4BNZUE8qnrDney6miXQXb2H-J0DsHEg9lM0I81admP3Krq2/s1600-h/DSC_0111.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhCA3dwxzdLdZWJ4guWvuch8QtIeKi95RDiS9fgCpkTPjVwPxOxx7pIhbbsDdKUEEdEE_9PEX91guKWaDKn32w85Y8SBko4BNZUE8qnrDney6miXQXb2H-J0DsHEg9lM0I81admP3Krq2/s320/DSC_0111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388298305050958562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqPkNjlDXsiKfvzq23YcdiRtUJWbmXQ-W01zVU5fQcmpdwAHii3NaAp10IC-W2bcAKpszoPHACeHdYRi18chG1UGTgIKLaQFuKBT9TmV9EXqCYd1vhCl0gct2L3S1tH-VQZE2xGdaqwXQ/s1600-h/DSC_0112.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqPkNjlDXsiKfvzq23YcdiRtUJWbmXQ-W01zVU5fQcmpdwAHii3NaAp10IC-W2bcAKpszoPHACeHdYRi18chG1UGTgIKLaQFuKBT9TmV9EXqCYd1vhCl0gct2L3S1tH-VQZE2xGdaqwXQ/s320/DSC_0112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388300205404641538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-wgKKFY71oVZ1Hya2-WsMYy0vF2fnq5Eze2zVH0LgI0NDAFR3MCMbYLb9cxHhk5ITfq_3pJmYHyclARqzon_cq8I5oVIFq-B6u3lQX9zU26e1oeVNlS6_SpdFC4y8pYF8spLdYlBfuX0/s1600-h/DSC_0113.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-wgKKFY71oVZ1Hya2-WsMYy0vF2fnq5Eze2zVH0LgI0NDAFR3MCMbYLb9cxHhk5ITfq_3pJmYHyclARqzon_cq8I5oVIFq-B6u3lQX9zU26e1oeVNlS6_SpdFC4y8pYF8spLdYlBfuX0/s320/DSC_0113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388300576585411634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbr7PA69SFOFKtmjmh13oI3Uch46tYXk2OfiGmp09xuXyauSoA2jk6Iw0DPv643J9nGtw3jbb6jrE2e-1P0XJeuuPcrMsdO_JxFb6XBW_mN3CL33yqwtTRXWI3xPa6uhUhYy2NpZieG0Z0/s1600-h/DSC_0114.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbr7PA69SFOFKtmjmh13oI3Uch46tYXk2OfiGmp09xuXyauSoA2jk6Iw0DPv643J9nGtw3jbb6jrE2e-1P0XJeuuPcrMsdO_JxFb6XBW_mN3CL33yqwtTRXWI3xPa6uhUhYy2NpZieG0Z0/s320/DSC_0114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388300948760041618" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">...and Esneda, McKenna and I camped inside of the <span style="font-style: italic;">finca</span> to escape the strong wind. The MSR Hubba Hubba* is an amazing tent but NOT for three people (Esneda and I had to get quite cozy together). Mom, dad, I am sorry for bringing your one and only daughter in the mountains of Colombia to camp in a <span style="font-style: italic;">finca</span> destroyed by leftist guerrillas. <span style="font-size:78%;">(Photos: me)<br /><br />*Gear review regarding the MSR Hubba Hubba coming soon.<br /></span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD63IGrqWdgaeyooojwb88UV66gpONcJwMHTMW98r5N2F1N69_o__LplNFgmQAj69SK0bDB8UrNUsnA-VEXAtfnY3kmsWcjmpwzNfObj3T28o4GawXFGJwiAYWhVDr3DON_2ez9wvV1y5G/s1600-h/DSC_0125.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD63IGrqWdgaeyooojwb88UV66gpONcJwMHTMW98r5N2F1N69_o__LplNFgmQAj69SK0bDB8UrNUsnA-VEXAtfnY3kmsWcjmpwzNfObj3T28o4GawXFGJwiAYWhVDr3DON_2ez9wvV1y5G/s320/DSC_0125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388301862335110770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I didn't realize that I am in this photo until now. My Arc'teryx Beta AR* blends in very well to these type of surroundings (i.e. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A1ramo"><span style="font-style: italic;">páramo</span></a>, jungle (not recommended), tundra, dense forest).<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">*Gear review regarding the Beta AR coming soon<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFeiMeItI8oec_VMD0j2KOEe65wDxovT88jUkhLIJrV2DFX-IxHZsK5HuHlONcNDyv9p1Fz826CNL-CAMAozPwAKMWzHKURSNxswsKStJSruc4W7z_l5AXVfUmUFV0IJH8Hk2t0phmVAU/s1600-h/DSC_0126.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFeiMeItI8oec_VMD0j2KOEe65wDxovT88jUkhLIJrV2DFX-IxHZsK5HuHlONcNDyv9p1Fz826CNL-CAMAozPwAKMWzHKURSNxswsKStJSruc4W7z_l5AXVfUmUFV0IJH8Hk2t0phmVAU/s320/DSC_0126.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388302305147063042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt3avNwgAbg57lWGPCf7kIir5JvvMF9idaIXjyECrCZ29Tv-7pzaTms3BXilU8YvhqaTv2p2uCWaiDBR73o90DbskLm_7lETxx4TCBAbxbbqLhHJsrzlJxfj0x6OiAz2tvZFLSAdfVpvJ/s1600-h/DSC_0127.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt3avNwgAbg57lWGPCf7kIir5JvvMF9idaIXjyECrCZ29Tv-7pzaTms3BXilU8YvhqaTv2p2uCWaiDBR73o90DbskLm_7lETxx4TCBAbxbbqLhHJsrzlJxfj0x6OiAz2tvZFLSAdfVpvJ/s320/DSC_0127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388302681924037554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Almost a perfect circle carved into the rock. We were amazed by natures beauty and unexplained complexities. <span style="font-size:78%;">(Photo: me)<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPSHcACeGILfbJ06NyeHUEbHKwbZFhxv97BRUwsBYL8X3KjKbnKas1n-lQJ5yTHYXtNppY9YHHTzwb0aj3YStdmYs6BVMKPcz2qP_07ieB6ySg6q0qfOYHad2b-B11xMBSIlCcjjca8sq/s1600-h/DSC_0132.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPSHcACeGILfbJ06NyeHUEbHKwbZFhxv97BRUwsBYL8X3KjKbnKas1n-lQJ5yTHYXtNppY9YHHTzwb0aj3YStdmYs6BVMKPcz2qP_07ieB6ySg6q0qfOYHad2b-B11xMBSIlCcjjca8sq/s320/DSC_0132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388302973472217810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfj7mjjKSghTTgF4wSegOabIi5zX_AySP3i757HpGFZc8WZUAYA5CtvfDVFbCRFhY0vK4uc9y6M57EAfiDKmNmANn2VmfVkrv6YqWemsM1JzhfWeZLTZ1qKnh55eWVcpPCDUARdEYl8bN/s1600-h/DSC_0133.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfj7mjjKSghTTgF4wSegOabIi5zX_AySP3i757HpGFZc8WZUAYA5CtvfDVFbCRFhY0vK4uc9y6M57EAfiDKmNmANn2VmfVkrv6YqWemsM1JzhfWeZLTZ1qKnh55eWVcpPCDUARdEYl8bN/s320/DSC_0133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388303506258579266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5xAcP4RRKoNiPUqHiNc72bwD9s8OwpWi5XVF4ibDXag-zBadK9AbFeRegg3ISTlS4u_ExZC4AardIHB-2e5ePOPMUEhBHGDEd7Urv4WhPDwI8LcQt6py5H3AZ9UmniZSmqg-y00NrbRG/s1600-h/DSC_0135.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5xAcP4RRKoNiPUqHiNc72bwD9s8OwpWi5XVF4ibDXag-zBadK9AbFeRegg3ISTlS4u_ExZC4AardIHB-2e5ePOPMUEhBHGDEd7Urv4WhPDwI8LcQt6py5H3AZ9UmniZSmqg-y00NrbRG/s320/DSC_0135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388304329618084962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0JtlbteEPI3rR8j7-KIIgr2ykR2e9fOiaeyeCRtNDv0Aliym1Mb9Qs-EV4ajYT8poZPKXjcSJ8iRmWe5lB726i7ct8W5ykT2XBSpKGDyU4Pkj7eqqSZ7wkDFcLQTTjdi3RH-0Oszyqwn/s1600-h/DSC_0138.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0JtlbteEPI3rR8j7-KIIgr2ykR2e9fOiaeyeCRtNDv0Aliym1Mb9Qs-EV4ajYT8poZPKXjcSJ8iRmWe5lB726i7ct8W5ykT2XBSpKGDyU4Pkj7eqqSZ7wkDFcLQTTjdi3RH-0Oszyqwn/s320/DSC_0138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388304920377283826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">For lack of a better word: <span style="font-style: italic;">essssooooooooooooooo essssss</span>! (literally translates to "that's it", a very Pan-Colombian way of saying "Wow" or "That's what I'm taking about man!"). The one thing I miss in Medellín is the ability to see the sunrise and sunset because mountains surround Medellín on the east side of the city and the west side of the city. Medellín is cozily settled in <span style="font-style: italic;">El Valle de Aburrá</span> (Aburrá Valley) making Medellín more or less compact from north to south. <span style="font-size:78%;">(Photos: me)<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXe2AWq6QNhyxfcHtQk5kq0F8c-E_m660NbwmcFOfi2Y5FyT57hK7Ud6ihpC2XvTHAuQ4XF8ba8KaZ5PU5mXwMbnvyB_LoLlJrnCoP9NqFwLWdf3baq_rPnK39rqY1ACUSiGj2ux_XG00/s1600-h/DSC_0139.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXe2AWq6QNhyxfcHtQk5kq0F8c-E_m660NbwmcFOfi2Y5FyT57hK7Ud6ihpC2XvTHAuQ4XF8ba8KaZ5PU5mXwMbnvyB_LoLlJrnCoP9NqFwLWdf3baq_rPnK39rqY1ACUSiGj2ux_XG00/s320/DSC_0139.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388305342209782946" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The sunset casts beautiful colors onto the mountains as well as the man made destruction. <span style="font-size:78%;">(Photo: me)</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7myOAJJbQRRDXYnTZIAa-Li72LDYxVOc7qY9rz1l2OQ15R3liDZs6nnXMiWNPHyaxblKSbd474Yf5QhYCh574L1wSzymTaP1bAYHHWrrKRImeruqQSegfO657zR51ddtl-lxO-AkfGfVU/s1600-h/DSC_0140.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7myOAJJbQRRDXYnTZIAa-Li72LDYxVOc7qY9rz1l2OQ15R3liDZs6nnXMiWNPHyaxblKSbd474Yf5QhYCh574L1wSzymTaP1bAYHHWrrKRImeruqQSegfO657zR51ddtl-lxO-AkfGfVU/s320/DSC_0140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388305711512193250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjZFld_2mCyg8mFqm1u99IyveES7DPldBMvHzYiyNQVyOu1TsRZagDbzlni2L5-GdUelrYkFF5lFgpYCHhNHtJ5MeBGH1oDBTNu5uysHHWeBwq57RY3i333QLAelPII-tdOUy198MTss0/s1600-h/DSC_0141.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjZFld_2mCyg8mFqm1u99IyveES7DPldBMvHzYiyNQVyOu1TsRZagDbzlni2L5-GdUelrYkFF5lFgpYCHhNHtJ5MeBGH1oDBTNu5uysHHWeBwq57RY3i333QLAelPII-tdOUy198MTss0/s320/DSC_0141.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388306415854332690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsThnsWFdQXx5y7xKiL9d23fIH-RTw-g_LEcmBMFlY0FTWmH1iN1hFPrUISdhv29IJB0AOaw4PeQuVrzpUABAqSlnxkStpHRd5-ATny9hlAApxEteyIELtGmC5lyKxX20WZ9w_VgEC4kz/s1600-h/DSC_0142.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsThnsWFdQXx5y7xKiL9d23fIH-RTw-g_LEcmBMFlY0FTWmH1iN1hFPrUISdhv29IJB0AOaw4PeQuVrzpUABAqSlnxkStpHRd5-ATny9hlAApxEteyIELtGmC5lyKxX20WZ9w_VgEC4kz/s320/DSC_0142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388307338105122578" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(Photos: me)</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3Ra9Olc2Nn5_xNrAMzLkKjYaV05OWr5pdeBdqVprFqaCITA8pOEeLxye61yT1qCA96a3HXTj-A4A3wwI5blJ9Y922n3fGxzsA-8MfRNCMNcLmC657sLeNJvK42iSv9MynueeuPQAFmTN/s1600-h/DSC_0146.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3Ra9Olc2Nn5_xNrAMzLkKjYaV05OWr5pdeBdqVprFqaCITA8pOEeLxye61yT1qCA96a3HXTj-A4A3wwI5blJ9Y922n3fGxzsA-8MfRNCMNcLmC657sLeNJvK42iSv9MynueeuPQAFmTN/s320/DSC_0146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388308087431157906" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Páramo only exists in five countries on earth: Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Panamá and Costa Rica. The best way I can describe it is high altitude grassland with extreme humidity making it a hostile environment for humans (no food, very wet and very cold, no natural shelter, strong winds, very cloudy making visibility difficult, and every step is like taking three steps due it's mushiness). I have never seen nor had the opportunity to walk on tundra yet but I would think páramo is comparable to tundra that just melted.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPfTYZniT-c33yqSEpSV6FQ_mGw_kllzqmXG8ApWWVIhXYgUOTmwonU30mtPmw29ocJG4NwDhwm9VFPfaSRj61TFcR-8-Pn-QdZJBvsK0GkWKNc8OmzJaD4gqqZEks68wbVF7jrHDR0yI/s1600-h/DSC_0149.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPfTYZniT-c33yqSEpSV6FQ_mGw_kllzqmXG8ApWWVIhXYgUOTmwonU30mtPmw29ocJG4NwDhwm9VFPfaSRj61TFcR-8-Pn-QdZJBvsK0GkWKNc8OmzJaD4gqqZEks68wbVF7jrHDR0yI/s320/DSC_0149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388308683926084530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikaIepTOf4aJFTBBnTzrsfZbb8sRTnFH20h1VcO6y6RSUzbc-rnuuKeHzAgEJEzza6m-o7VTw5ggOyRwIZWgtPebv-OwanUjOOabnf837kJGZ34kTF2KzIILDtdkTWjVjXow5mXCn7FvV/s1600-h/DSC_0151.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikaIepTOf4aJFTBBnTzrsfZbb8sRTnFH20h1VcO6y6RSUzbc-rnuuKeHzAgEJEzza6m-o7VTw5ggOyRwIZWgtPebv-OwanUjOOabnf837kJGZ34kTF2KzIILDtdkTWjVjXow5mXCn7FvV/s320/DSC_0151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388309313094519858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04c-4_DAguMKj8DHXJF6cSAM3lMNdUPFBFXkMAGeTN5vrLmdPnG07dtzui5SaE-DvcWhDgdTDXs1rZrgXGafAX6Go_sHdbpvriIyW5RLKS6sN1fNbETTBYh1YPR4566r1h1kZK7zqnBM-/s1600-h/DSC_0152.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04c-4_DAguMKj8DHXJF6cSAM3lMNdUPFBFXkMAGeTN5vrLmdPnG07dtzui5SaE-DvcWhDgdTDXs1rZrgXGafAX6Go_sHdbpvriIyW5RLKS6sN1fNbETTBYh1YPR4566r1h1kZK7zqnBM-/s320/DSC_0152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388310038295744418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8FCMMI-NC4vWs20kpLHyfBfbCdaBy0VTv7n-0WzMiPVv1rcNcLLUNfUfk8thmgfVzDOWuYXHnL7Iir0-mFmtxI_L3hy4vlx-5nMbzWu9pHjh5KZj_mFXJabwN-ylXfJudDxJR84trNZZ/s1600-h/DSC_0153.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8FCMMI-NC4vWs20kpLHyfBfbCdaBy0VTv7n-0WzMiPVv1rcNcLLUNfUfk8thmgfVzDOWuYXHnL7Iir0-mFmtxI_L3hy4vlx-5nMbzWu9pHjh5KZj_mFXJabwN-ylXfJudDxJR84trNZZ/s320/DSC_0153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388310416850450274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AcYxFJiCd_1p5T8ivpBiVm9-mDRH8PSWbeuU6o_OsITpt3oj1BBK4nBaZyhLoBmKI6JApi63uMBAqvtYRCQlDCkYF5rooCjUi6IGrApKO3VKC9tHI92b6yYLWvP33swjC_hghM7Ttw0x/s1600-h/DSC_0159.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AcYxFJiCd_1p5T8ivpBiVm9-mDRH8PSWbeuU6o_OsITpt3oj1BBK4nBaZyhLoBmKI6JApi63uMBAqvtYRCQlDCkYF5rooCjUi6IGrApKO3VKC9tHI92b6yYLWvP33swjC_hghM7Ttw0x/s320/DSC_0159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388310808530893938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">This region is also known as <span style="font-style: italic;">El Valle de los Perdidos</span> (The Valley of the Lost) by the locals who live here due to its facilitation to become incredibly disoriented. It is impossible to differentiate landmarks, one cannot see the sun past noon, and the man made trails are not visible and/or destroyed during the rainy season. I highly recommend hiring a guide in these regions unless one is very familiar with the area. <span style="font-size:78%;">(Photo: me)<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55jjrsuZWga51_yqyEbjsXz9ycgirpDeI5szpn23ImmPsNvWxPXsL63wOxV_toPgbdXbxDox0R4qIXDHzU_-TWd04Vme7RmmWi2ks7ExQw2O2S7ygMP20lZClyGjriZ_HcbfzmBtk03Ej/s1600-h/DSC_0167.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55jjrsuZWga51_yqyEbjsXz9ycgirpDeI5szpn23ImmPsNvWxPXsL63wOxV_toPgbdXbxDox0R4qIXDHzU_-TWd04Vme7RmmWi2ks7ExQw2O2S7ygMP20lZClyGjriZ_HcbfzmBtk03Ej/s320/DSC_0167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388311321267132914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Esneda and Adriana in el páramo. We were racing each other the entire time while my poor sister suffered a bit from the altitude (4000m above sea level). <span style="font-size:78%;">(Photo: me)</span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnqi6v_qEwbL3UWNX9WpRWJx52xMXI1F7l-Zpp6d7Ot1R5BbOn3aXjagqLrv1hGzqSg6g4nmdLbh3fBFgOzxTG7XGU7gH81xwJz_lCRabIvSm34vQ2bP32duOumetpSk8DsW4MzBvbAAH/s1600-h/DSC_0168.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnqi6v_qEwbL3UWNX9WpRWJx52xMXI1F7l-Zpp6d7Ot1R5BbOn3aXjagqLrv1hGzqSg6g4nmdLbh3fBFgOzxTG7XGU7gH81xwJz_lCRabIvSm34vQ2bP32duOumetpSk8DsW4MzBvbAAH/s320/DSC_0168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388311847082053234" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">More desolation...but beyond beautiful and peaceful for me. <span style="font-size:78%;">(Photo: me)<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAd7ti6F2Wr8Dk4H5YknJiD8qysNcS1nbacnP4FxkU2zja8RmaftFaym5l191EPoeNy0SiQaAkpHnK-6dFujLG5vbNa1FfeqxmM8Ww44yWS58vRvyCZxDxD4qjpFuEwsgw8D-YNl1xAws/s1600-h/DSC_0170.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAd7ti6F2Wr8Dk4H5YknJiD8qysNcS1nbacnP4FxkU2zja8RmaftFaym5l191EPoeNy0SiQaAkpHnK-6dFujLG5vbNa1FfeqxmM8Ww44yWS58vRvyCZxDxD4qjpFuEwsgw8D-YNl1xAws/s320/DSC_0170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388313483922291586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uXSjmhS9wFnFvSNECyDGsyxI5zqMUp75KdVIcDMCSEZHqOxk-ABsABeqDeLYfyr_uP_P85u31_IHbiy2Ifc2GytDQKrZdX2UWmgVJ_6ePiANuNws-C1kmpwHmVywvSFGyE5vqWFwzP_s/s1600-h/IMG_0984.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uXSjmhS9wFnFvSNECyDGsyxI5zqMUp75KdVIcDMCSEZHqOxk-ABsABeqDeLYfyr_uP_P85u31_IHbiy2Ifc2GytDQKrZdX2UWmgVJ_6ePiANuNws-C1kmpwHmVywvSFGyE5vqWFwzP_s/s320/IMG_0984.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388314225805479922" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsRmQYc0D0B-n9n75bF4sc2dvRM4MaA_szEBHabGbnlX4nn4qwTFVD1h9rghGc43Et3yBj6Bsd-GPzIXkD-4MnD6MM-Ig-PyEUp7iO1KVlzSECB1NF2l-CnG4urYyOE168liGOfibkX2v/s1600-h/IMG_0994.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsRmQYc0D0B-n9n75bF4sc2dvRM4MaA_szEBHabGbnlX4nn4qwTFVD1h9rghGc43Et3yBj6Bsd-GPzIXkD-4MnD6MM-Ig-PyEUp7iO1KVlzSECB1NF2l-CnG4urYyOE168liGOfibkX2v/s320/IMG_0994.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388314709796802130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Finally the only landmark for many kilometers. El Nevado del Tolima (5216m). <span style="font-size:78%;">(Photo: me)<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9PJmFcXL8NwG6FgYxahSO6ZWv6WOROe-W-u6yOoRrNEonTl2Uq46YFu-tkUq5JRWxVk7IEC_8x8l442Aht9r6vN2G63eGTAmPUwCylahy7Sn8aAhktIJGXIAP6knCdMxnP3r1wf2P_lF/s1600-h/IMG_1005.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9PJmFcXL8NwG6FgYxahSO6ZWv6WOROe-W-u6yOoRrNEonTl2Uq46YFu-tkUq5JRWxVk7IEC_8x8l442Aht9r6vN2G63eGTAmPUwCylahy7Sn8aAhktIJGXIAP6knCdMxnP3r1wf2P_lF/s320/IMG_1005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388315255461693282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbjq7cYx5HPs-v72oi_doZdLwAsGSYqtvAeCIYevqvaXm7UTFc5OxXIfo4pyEIslhUBXqGQKR4wxA-6p8VQhTl1Mghs3LicKLhfgk49BsCwtj7k0ErwRbMSVYvZXzVDku0w9A86GFraky/s1600-h/IMG_1007.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbjq7cYx5HPs-v72oi_doZdLwAsGSYqtvAeCIYevqvaXm7UTFc5OxXIfo4pyEIslhUBXqGQKR4wxA-6p8VQhTl1Mghs3LicKLhfgk49BsCwtj7k0ErwRbMSVYvZXzVDku0w9A86GFraky/s320/IMG_1007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388315857238740610" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Racing to meet McKenna in Cocora. She took a horse down while Esneda and I had to almost race down to the valley all day to meet McKenna. Poor McKenna had to wait almost three hours. Anyway, Esneda and I enjoy racing each other as well as talk about nature. We also bathed in the river which was much needed before returning to "civilization". <span style="font-size:78%;">(Photo: Esneda)<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Alright everyone, I have to go! Much love, I'll get back to you in a little less than two weeks.<br /><br />A bear hug from me<br /><br />Attentively,<br /><br />-Kevin Post</span><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span>Kevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-52926769067779408462009-09-18T11:15:00.000-07:002009-11-16T09:03:51.575-08:00RANDOM I - gecko<span style="font-size:85%;">In Colombian apartments we leave all of the doors (except the principal door of course) and windows open to allow airflow and circulation in. Even on a scorching hot day it feels a hundred times better than any air conditioning unit; not to mention delicious mountain air and zero negative affects on the planet from having windows open. Once in a while a bee or a fly will make its way into the apartment which doesn't bother me just as long as they don't lay eggs in my food or eat at my flesh while I am asleep. Luckily, very rarely do mosquitoes make it up to this altitude especially in a metropolitan environment like Medellín. Still I prefer a bug free zone while indoors; outdoors is fair game obviously. </span><span style="font-size:85%;">My bug free zone may have been answered by nature. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Another interesting aspect about most Latin American countries is that one cannot flush toilet paper down the toilet because the pipes cannot handle anything more than fecal matter and other fluids. Therefore, every bathroom comes with a waste basket to dispose of toilet paper, tampons, q-tip (cotton swabs), etc...my private bathroom is no different. Although my waste basket has a lid on it it still has the potential to attract unwanted poo-eaters. Gross but I'm happy from an environmental point of view that there are things willing to eat my waste. </span><span style="font-size:85%;">The window to my shower/bathroom cannot be closed which, if bugs could write and comprehend the Latin alphabet & the English language, there could've been the possibility of a tiny neon sign saying, "Welcome poo-eaters". <span style="font-weight: bold;">I pray to the gods and the angels that a future employer reads this blog.</span><br /><br />Nature has provided me with a good solution to a problem I don't have but would like to prevent from happening. For the past week there has been a gecko living in my bathroom. He just hangs out by the window, eats bugs all day, and enjoys the humidity while and after I bathe myself with sweet scented soaps and shampoos with cold water*. The gecko doesn't have a name nor do I plan to name him/her because, well, I don't need to provide an explanation. But I do consider him/her a pet in a way strange way. Commensalism is a beautiful relationship in nature; (s)he benefits from the bugs outside my window along with the humidity while I am unaffected (because I've never had a bug problem, therefore the relationship is not considered a mutualism relationship).<br /><br />But when I finally bring a <span style="font-style: italic;">vieja muy buena </span>(attractive young lady) into my shower I hope that the gecko doesn't kill the mood. Then our relationship (between the gecko and myself) would be what is called by biologists a parasitism relationship because parasites - in this case the gecko - reduce host fitness in many ways (i.e. depriving me from making sweet love in the shower with a beautiful young lady because she is frightened and/or disturbed that I allow a gecko to chill out near the shower...what a mood killer and ball buster). If that is the case, I would then have to nicely ask the gecko to leave or even better take him with me to the Botanical Gardens of Medellín to give him a better home.<br /><br />If I had batteries I would take a picture of the cute fellow.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">*I haven't bathed with hot water since I moved into my new apartment (except for my time in Bogotá because it is a cold place (12Cº/53Fº)). It's not needed here in Medellín and my roommate and I are environmentally & fiscally conscience. </span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span>Kevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-70313424079816627562009-09-14T10:45:00.000-07:002009-09-15T11:23:38.892-07:00Photos from PIC-"Kevin"-NIC in Bogotá<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First I would like to thank <a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/luisbetancourt/">Luis Betancourt</a> for being an awesome <a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org/">Couchsurfing </a>ambassador & organizing the longest picnic in Bogotá's history in my honor. Secondly I would like to thank <a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/dave_henri/">David Florez</a> for being one of the photographers (all of the current photos are from his camera). There are more photos to come but for now I cannot access the photos because I am not a member of Facebook (yes, the "...then you don't exist" or "now we can't be friends" jokes NEVER get old :P). I am sure that there are millions of photos I haven't seen because I haven't given in to this "phenomenon". I am getting off topic; my reason for not having a Facebook account is a long story. I will post the rest of the photos a.s.a.p. (keep checking back)!<br /><br />For more information on how the picnic went and what you missed out on, join <a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org/">Couchsurfing</a> and check out the posting made in the <a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=5335">CS BOGOTA</a> group:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=5335&post=3766457">http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=5335&post=3766457</a><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The best thing about Photo blogs? NO READING! Jaja. Actually I greatly enjoy reading (I am almost finished with "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bookseller-Kabul-Asne-Seierstad/dp/0316734500">The Bookseller of Kabul</a>" by Åsne Seierstad and it is a great read; I can't put it down...but more on that later!).<br /><br />Without further wasting your time, here it is! The photo journal of the "Pic-Kevin-Nic" in Parque El Virrey in Bogotá:<br /><br />Not only did the hat protect my delicate or dare I say, "elegant" skin from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays, it also gave my saz (bağlama) jam session that special touch. The checkered Middle Eastern scarf (this particular one from Iraqi-KRG) also adds to the "feel". You know exactly what I am talking about:<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbfwSYeDuopEEu8MAFmJI3nq2fuinK1XfkQ3vOECsMaqcbBW2P2bLd6pc_-keICT8JDyzIPM2m5DazDDWJnlkITQ4UlSCcOqqBKhF83RAHzzjkpzq7vhrOE2OyPH9X25WK2pGa96ZyPj0/s1600-h/pic1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbfwSYeDuopEEu8MAFmJI3nq2fuinK1XfkQ3vOECsMaqcbBW2P2bLd6pc_-keICT8JDyzIPM2m5DazDDWJnlkITQ4UlSCcOqqBKhF83RAHzzjkpzq7vhrOE2OyPH9X25WK2pGa96ZyPj0/s320/pic1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381387873990378338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-db5oegRybW9ulZgHmXjaM8o8OZiAehEHxbKjIRAQ9ZLez8Ibt_f_-_gLtRvI1GI76CnuFtzdeepOpwpOHPaf1zzuQXP4Fe8rAdbVEbhYAzbDr1H5Wd99vdrzfmupkBFM40RKHdAR_0or/s1600-h/pic2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-db5oegRybW9ulZgHmXjaM8o8OZiAehEHxbKjIRAQ9ZLez8Ibt_f_-_gLtRvI1GI76CnuFtzdeepOpwpOHPaf1zzuQXP4Fe8rAdbVEbhYAzbDr1H5Wd99vdrzfmupkBFM40RKHdAR_0or/s320/pic2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381388756535151394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXBa75uv4fqemO5H4PByWvmCobGLlHik3GujQeCD32gVDC70kMcMcl30UiOXpQ-qsN2t7-D0ySOkWaxx3zeIiqeUibIQ1OA1qVWG2jAv4e4kPABpfZnvKDbiUW20riuGSAvwT8oPkY-09/s1600-h/pic3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXBa75uv4fqemO5H4PByWvmCobGLlHik3GujQeCD32gVDC70kMcMcl30UiOXpQ-qsN2t7-D0ySOkWaxx3zeIiqeUibIQ1OA1qVWG2jAv4e4kPABpfZnvKDbiUW20riuGSAvwT8oPkY-09/s320/pic3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381388985000412642" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />It goes without saying that Vibram Five Fingers are always a hit with the locals. Ever feel lonely in a foreign country? Just buy a pair of these bad boys and you will have an endless supply of locals asking, "Where are your shoes?" or "What the hell are those?" It is a great conversation starter (hurry and buy them before Walmart makes a knockoff and everyone has them). I am currently writing a gear review on Vibram Five Fingers which I'll post as soon as I buy batteries for my camera and take some pictures of these chick magnets in action!<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyTOE4a9rGLRhGhjldCuTF8gUMN7Is9X0rHek9aBQk_t0TTPcFcEhM7FM1WVMnm40XMsP4GO6OdcbLwPVXDPeNvswI0KNOl5e401A8hVwlksizECd6WHtW62L-Sbyv1194bgEa5-KpP6d/s1600-h/pic4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyTOE4a9rGLRhGhjldCuTF8gUMN7Is9X0rHek9aBQk_t0TTPcFcEhM7FM1WVMnm40XMsP4GO6OdcbLwPVXDPeNvswI0KNOl5e401A8hVwlksizECd6WHtW62L-Sbyv1194bgEa5-KpP6d/s320/pic4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381390979479284274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Candid shots:<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqWvm8R6QnGj2n3P_gPIgLjTsCYGylYNHLZTvgN5ZPw9F9X2MAfD93c8YAffjkeABBjpNz-AEYO05rrbJhnCttGmA5J_tRiinDrh9ed9w4MprjmfbhFFnYEjs6eAknM5O_Y3TUC9sUQmc/s1600-h/pic5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqWvm8R6QnGj2n3P_gPIgLjTsCYGylYNHLZTvgN5ZPw9F9X2MAfD93c8YAffjkeABBjpNz-AEYO05rrbJhnCttGmA5J_tRiinDrh9ed9w4MprjmfbhFFnYEjs6eAknM5O_Y3TUC9sUQmc/s320/pic5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381392339621533634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujQ-lgdaO3LHPpye2W9MMc2a4Fz3clDLvS7rN54thiq8zK3_PcTZjdpEBq7lgyEe6JVIhTcPz_UoQ-Kn7zuwdkP0-32Js5RhRJBhUSUxfHMVcNLTgv1hDNzDxB3498YWsMHL0H1c__CU5/s1600-h/pic6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujQ-lgdaO3LHPpye2W9MMc2a4Fz3clDLvS7rN54thiq8zK3_PcTZjdpEBq7lgyEe6JVIhTcPz_UoQ-Kn7zuwdkP0-32Js5RhRJBhUSUxfHMVcNLTgv1hDNzDxB3498YWsMHL0H1c__CU5/s320/pic6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381392485019882514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I love the "I'm passed out drunk" photos (I can assure you that there are more to come):<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nVjoDYBSlnltzRZAERSTdVbzlq4Y4VxeD8sQvryqUvEWmov_5Mu6eDtfUBukFTxEKIXi0-tvhEuT51TnWZ9GCCwOg54UbtJ7FnTHXOvrfMut3U86OouVBrqr1MUEdGKMkJ6E0eHBLNJw/s1600-h/pic7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nVjoDYBSlnltzRZAERSTdVbzlq4Y4VxeD8sQvryqUvEWmov_5Mu6eDtfUBukFTxEKIXi0-tvhEuT51TnWZ9GCCwOg54UbtJ7FnTHXOvrfMut3U86OouVBrqr1MUEdGKMkJ6E0eHBLNJw/s320/pic7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381393078767996514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXX9vi08NutFH-8hHZQfDPDFmLrhomh2B-z-3ltLM5XLsCHG-56BGDuz69AOIZ-7IpesN-fgFx_zAMTeNwNzWG-_H10_lbW5BaqHZVqeLrDl2wj34I59QHLaEk-FebRbXafT2muj8uKMc/s1600-h/pic8.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXX9vi08NutFH-8hHZQfDPDFmLrhomh2B-z-3ltLM5XLsCHG-56BGDuz69AOIZ-7IpesN-fgFx_zAMTeNwNzWG-_H10_lbW5BaqHZVqeLrDl2wj34I59QHLaEk-FebRbXafT2muj8uKMc/s320/pic8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381393246815989906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Group shots:<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFtCcOOui407BYQldi0b3M93MsuxnTRGpsGaJLMvlgZpuKEAmRQDx8ra16Xjcyebgp-ELHREWLtMCBEIaEibBcVgcNH7h9G8LW2D4BRh-srcj7a5AwDyQS9ovoQ0MlvM8aetAYel9-uE6/s1600-h/pic9.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFtCcOOui407BYQldi0b3M93MsuxnTRGpsGaJLMvlgZpuKEAmRQDx8ra16Xjcyebgp-ELHREWLtMCBEIaEibBcVgcNH7h9G8LW2D4BRh-srcj7a5AwDyQS9ovoQ0MlvM8aetAYel9-uE6/s320/pic9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381393984604243122" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Normal shot:</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_3hxlCc-fzirUOR4HoJ6SF0RJd2Z1TkQXtQHduNrWDxVxJiTHgyqqiAOBgnxMvR9rCkOIGVug0RkQBsRgBfvij08dU2f4q6nsyRJDZJr2zvNjfaVUmMQaDxNfnBo6VWy8bHl_k7jBJHM/s1600-h/pic10.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_3hxlCc-fzirUOR4HoJ6SF0RJd2Z1TkQXtQHduNrWDxVxJiTHgyqqiAOBgnxMvR9rCkOIGVug0RkQBsRgBfvij08dU2f4q6nsyRJDZJr2zvNjfaVUmMQaDxNfnBo6VWy8bHl_k7jBJHM/s320/pic10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381394757540953810" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Bored shot:<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmzW7uIyB6WCo3KdZoIi78jcTOEeilr8Zzyn2fim9Qaxg8NGNSrGXZFCnIZN4yhvJJjKTJEwQyNcRCSdK9kcr22Z0f9vy9_VTPLHboNJPRelPE7IbCq18OdYLMD6FiRUxUJVMaTrcE57y/s1600-h/pic12.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmzW7uIyB6WCo3KdZoIi78jcTOEeilr8Zzyn2fim9Qaxg8NGNSrGXZFCnIZN4yhvJJjKTJEwQyNcRCSdK9kcr22Z0f9vy9_VTPLHboNJPRelPE7IbCq18OdYLMD6FiRUxUJVMaTrcE57y/s320/pic12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381395281759095122" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We tried to keep the bored face but failed horribly:<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflwGGOdb-Yif2DeyiJlyuxFsT70aUb-VQjyd7CcTM5VMfkbHMJPMqkXog4xpk8fsm67FWkdEIDkVJqpZyStSAfD-4on_qp21N6MOx36Uns_yuQMuvalIMfZyoToWCpev28OXJT0-39puY/s1600-h/pic13.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflwGGOdb-Yif2DeyiJlyuxFsT70aUb-VQjyd7CcTM5VMfkbHMJPMqkXog4xpk8fsm67FWkdEIDkVJqpZyStSAfD-4on_qp21N6MOx36Uns_yuQMuvalIMfZyoToWCpev28OXJT0-39puY/s320/pic13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381395643194324178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />This is the "excitement" face; who knew that excitement could look so creepy and disastrous:<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEova2FyxWeuyMBgNJgSy9j99pB-MYPd0eKkdCv46yx9ixeqt_SXpQGakThXgpEf7kBb02Vms6mbsJmA0CI8HIezPsl478MVEuFaYy4NP9WKRJm8uj1-Oz6ygZODBe-nz_qQHKvMHMgyd8/s1600-h/pic14.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEova2FyxWeuyMBgNJgSy9j99pB-MYPd0eKkdCv46yx9ixeqt_SXpQGakThXgpEf7kBb02Vms6mbsJmA0CI8HIezPsl478MVEuFaYy4NP9WKRJm8uj1-Oz6ygZODBe-nz_qQHKvMHMgyd8/s320/pic14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381396263028870482" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Although this is a candid group shot, this is one of my favorite photos of me. It is rare that I look this "cool" in a candid photo:<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIxZwiRGnqY7zcMxeo-0mw73v9A-_R2hjD9pv9m5ZgXRtQOociD_FXbpnBhiD90XpwBSyIPsv1hXwom0c1xe47gkeZHdr4itO6bBodmBwBoeqwK7OqesDL4_ldu8JAegMWyfph_QMws7O/s1600-h/pic20.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIxZwiRGnqY7zcMxeo-0mw73v9A-_R2hjD9pv9m5ZgXRtQOociD_FXbpnBhiD90XpwBSyIPsv1hXwom0c1xe47gkeZHdr4itO6bBodmBwBoeqwK7OqesDL4_ldu8JAegMWyfph_QMws7O/s320/pic20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381396836432404226" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You can take the man out of Florida but you can't take the Florida out of the man. I can honestly say that I was cold in these two pictures (tisk tisk notice I am the only person in Bogotá without a jacket):<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qjq6nQF9OMCwZksQEYLVApqKVTa7gGqWaosUqlhSgUrt-BYH0SpNURN2TH4jLXC3CJ5gdKp4kCxpeWMd8ErSr1HOtTU35gQGUNTMz1yiVMxYsQfm3J7Jbei11Evl-8GZYtEdi95INOZU/s1600-h/pic21.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qjq6nQF9OMCwZksQEYLVApqKVTa7gGqWaosUqlhSgUrt-BYH0SpNURN2TH4jLXC3CJ5gdKp4kCxpeWMd8ErSr1HOtTU35gQGUNTMz1yiVMxYsQfm3J7Jbei11Evl-8GZYtEdi95INOZU/s320/pic21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381397592197078450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivjS23kmvPAX0frjsolxmaGq1ha_aCgm1lGVE2y5bnr4GYU83SZszcNn_vmRgqc1P-dp0KlXLmY2FTzc6o7R1h5bXbZNI0dTN_a7mtaHxgR_0D1iEb4Ge9TJMVZPHvXk4lsSl8KVn-OtZ/s1600-h/pic22.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivjS23kmvPAX0frjsolxmaGq1ha_aCgm1lGVE2y5bnr4GYU83SZszcNn_vmRgqc1P-dp0KlXLmY2FTzc6o7R1h5bXbZNI0dTN_a7mtaHxgR_0D1iEb4Ge9TJMVZPHvXk4lsSl8KVn-OtZ/s320/pic22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381398177410573634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I don't remember why my hands were in the air or why I had this expression on my face. I was probably speaking in a very <span style="font-style: italic;">Paísa</span> manner (a north western Colombian dialect) about how I wanted more cheap red wine or observing that NOBODY had any chap stick!...or something along those lines. Nevertheless, I look like I am 12 years old in this photo:<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzLLl-3SnrUIbJ_ToyI_Tc1XLquD40h8T_mtWBaAk7bbVn8vO20X46gRJDTNG77n9bZxprJUEwwIN-mCV5A0l9kS68-4XEJ6gEQ0yfkvoRD_NAIc8RET4yf9iUGiLWSNd6ruDBBOBeEOX/s1600-h/pic11.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzLLl-3SnrUIbJ_ToyI_Tc1XLquD40h8T_mtWBaAk7bbVn8vO20X46gRJDTNG77n9bZxprJUEwwIN-mCV5A0l9kS68-4XEJ6gEQ0yfkvoRD_NAIc8RET4yf9iUGiLWSNd6ruDBBOBeEOX/s320/pic11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381399187168522130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Salud</span> (cheers)!!!<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfvtildO9BX_4EnRJJG1diQwFz2vGbmYmI76TlvCOSJLZG2cp8l9cTQFe8otdvwFbG0dxf0_76f3dsaog5u_0hhgXLf3Av5zLyTG7r0eq9KTt0R4Lr3g7tWV0Yr4LrEW92zIP9nPRfMt3/s1600-h/pic15.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfvtildO9BX_4EnRJJG1diQwFz2vGbmYmI76TlvCOSJLZG2cp8l9cTQFe8otdvwFbG0dxf0_76f3dsaog5u_0hhgXLf3Av5zLyTG7r0eq9KTt0R4Lr3g7tWV0Yr4LrEW92zIP9nPRfMt3/s320/pic15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381399697527839634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78I9iEgms56E_pZA5cn3qMYXDpqOB50qiWUc4zBxV3P2lBmNU6SwF1OlGj4LDfVEU7-fyefJxcMC5AkZlVYQBvA-YYcYO-qFFTSfNTQyrWtL2RLUizOybsb-LqPwmS2555UPwqsstGfjn/s1600-h/pic16.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78I9iEgms56E_pZA5cn3qMYXDpqOB50qiWUc4zBxV3P2lBmNU6SwF1OlGj4LDfVEU7-fyefJxcMC5AkZlVYQBvA-YYcYO-qFFTSfNTQyrWtL2RLUizOybsb-LqPwmS2555UPwqsstGfjn/s320/pic16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381399930913699746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Dis jus me bein me man; in other words I know how to rock the fashion:<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZTxhFNzGaq3jJaN7xwBRdY2RMvlQSX9UMEq0dzPxNbaNrUvv55Agb_Izdui8qQkTQCXZ2Ws47zAnnoaoXjJY3LyeWZB_k1e9uRMTMlFv2Ag-S90RzstsXPvrXliJNCPtik2twISFG-jV/s1600-h/pic17.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZTxhFNzGaq3jJaN7xwBRdY2RMvlQSX9UMEq0dzPxNbaNrUvv55Agb_Izdui8qQkTQCXZ2Ws47zAnnoaoXjJY3LyeWZB_k1e9uRMTMlFv2Ag-S90RzstsXPvrXliJNCPtik2twISFG-jV/s320/pic17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381400615143885154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yes, wine does have an effect on people. You'll know as soon as the <span style="font-style: italic;">gringo reggaetonero</span> comes out to play (I am sorry but their isn't a good translation for </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">gringo reggaetonero</span>...ask a Latino friend to explain)</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">:<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTm5gBRpo4oNLkyhf3JMpUFOVRRIb_Pi9BCFpBPCXw0vyXgEjstnvw5wppV-ReGYZ1_IV8-pSdR9bt2Mov_49Czj98SNnfeQhSeyPmAHyIKa_Hg98Z4iZRWk6cVbMItin8-PUi2y2ijM-/s1600-h/pic18.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTm5gBRpo4oNLkyhf3JMpUFOVRRIb_Pi9BCFpBPCXw0vyXgEjstnvw5wppV-ReGYZ1_IV8-pSdR9bt2Mov_49Czj98SNnfeQhSeyPmAHyIKa_Hg98Z4iZRWk6cVbMItin8-PUi2y2ijM-/s320/pic18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381400981285501810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I am literally begging for more wine in this photo hahahah!<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDUWmRFaoLIuoyMOREVgDrAsKu2w1Epy8rm6Y8FwG33kv1yLY2i1Spq9a69czhUsT5mcIHoSuE0yf475E9l0yX2IvGAnMjpS5DCecRjkp-DhyphenhyphenMgd8T1yQRjY-i1ZAsw9l0-daaRMsUzDy/s1600-h/pic19.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDUWmRFaoLIuoyMOREVgDrAsKu2w1Epy8rm6Y8FwG33kv1yLY2i1Spq9a69czhUsT5mcIHoSuE0yf475E9l0yX2IvGAnMjpS5DCecRjkp-DhyphenhyphenMgd8T1yQRjY-i1ZAsw9l0-daaRMsUzDy/s320/pic19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381402304767540946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> No comment:<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IzZzRiBhHz4l3nhNJDEBmXZ2OMcm1n5JImsXLDDftXgwC_Xb2_9kwxmM6D25KcFzjwobVJ2w7zBKRHvnBaZ0njbtZs4d8H5INJGK9nnA1QOUUiJXSAkrIGD4bbKPBmy8-J_BSL410G-a/s1600-h/pic23.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IzZzRiBhHz4l3nhNJDEBmXZ2OMcm1n5JImsXLDDftXgwC_Xb2_9kwxmM6D25KcFzjwobVJ2w7zBKRHvnBaZ0njbtZs4d8H5INJGK9nnA1QOUUiJXSAkrIGD4bbKPBmy8-J_BSL410G-a/s320/pic23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381402698959209538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">More photos to come regarding this wonderful picnic! Keep checking back! Much love, I have three blogs coming up either tonight or tomorrow.<br /><br />-Kevin Post<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span>Kevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671664069910116530.post-44147845241041320102009-08-27T17:11:00.000-07:002009-09-15T11:23:10.428-07:00Best of My Photos July 2009 (Couchsurfing)<span style="font-size:85%;">I don't take too many photos on a day to day basis but the ones that I do take are fun (to some degree with a strange sense of humor). Sorry for not posting beautiful scenery, nice shots of Colombian architecture, me doing outdoor activities or any other shots that will make you say, "WOW!". Nevertheless, enjoy! <span style="font-weight: bold;">Note:</span> ALL of these photos are activities with <a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org/">Couchsurfers</a> of Colombia (Armenia and Ibagué). Also, keep in mind that I am <span style="font-weight: bold;">NOT</span> a professional photographer and don't claim to be, so be easy on the criticisms ;)<br /><br />P.S. These photos (and more that I am unable to publish on this blog due to "moonage" and "gooch" because it could upset the advertisers on the blog) can also be found on my <a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/kevinpost">couchsurfing page.</a> Mom, Dad, and family I hope that you guys are still proud of me after seeing these photos and are able to share them with strangers NO problem.<br /><br />JULY 2009 <span style="font-size:78%;">(ordered chronologically)</span>:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Armenia, Quindío, Colombia <span style="font-size:78%;">(Armenia is a city in West-Central Colombia; I am not talking about the <a href="http://www.ecmi.de/emap/pic/map_caucasus.gif">Eurasian</a> country which borders Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran and Georgia...NO NOT THE STATE!!!). </span><br /><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Shot of some Couchsurfers and friends in Armenia, </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Colombia.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNx3T5I8DOkef-bE36GJBIxiBzzGifDjgY5qoJy8oTFeLhDf_Ub75K1uvt7KqNWV8k27pz_VBDxVndg2ygxol5_BpDpaFofxixusR0OjDvDp03bX43D3XaK4D2713vj81Xi7L42qyLoQd/s1600-h/IMG_1032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNx3T5I8DOkef-bE36GJBIxiBzzGifDjgY5qoJy8oTFeLhDf_Ub75K1uvt7KqNWV8k27pz_VBDxVndg2ygxol5_BpDpaFofxixusR0OjDvDp03bX43D3XaK4D2713vj81Xi7L42qyLoQd/s320/IMG_1032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374812108098626210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br />This made me laugh so hard. My host Camilo gave me no explanation as to why there were random English words and phrases (sometimes spelled incorrectly and/or all around incorrect) written in permanent marker on his shower.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1H19Df0CWvZuy9bkxKfrziE-GL4ov66DY_JVZDw72HzXDrPwGV6ev3txKRNgGR0v6JXJkoJxg1eWol7zd_K79LGyVL7zgNBR-8nc3jlazc7ZkmxXHfGLo4J6zIgK9RDmM_0t-PuKBIZ5Z/s1600-h/IMG_1037.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1H19Df0CWvZuy9bkxKfrziE-GL4ov66DY_JVZDw72HzXDrPwGV6ev3txKRNgGR0v6JXJkoJxg1eWol7zd_K79LGyVL7zgNBR-8nc3jlazc7ZkmxXHfGLo4J6zIgK9RDmM_0t-PuKBIZ5Z/s320/IMG_1037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374814124671592034" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />These next three photos don't make sense on their own, they need to been seen in a sequence in order to make (somewhat) sense as to what we were doing. P.S. I hadn't slept in nearly two days when this photo was taken; everything was silly.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIqQEVWu4nKF1Ihc6YX2T8yReghqNvLrR5BSEpQny67ePncgDjRzpjcXPx7FD8a5gx0Sd0FN8WzUUDxWjGyqgbu2VP6vs6BE6f022O17kq3fzfs8-dPVZeSwpj4PKSUolATx_sUCBMIPm/s1600-h/IMG_1083.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIqQEVWu4nKF1Ihc6YX2T8yReghqNvLrR5BSEpQny67ePncgDjRzpjcXPx7FD8a5gx0Sd0FN8WzUUDxWjGyqgbu2VP6vs6BE6f022O17kq3fzfs8-dPVZeSwpj4PKSUolATx_sUCBMIPm/s320/IMG_1083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374816142807897090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22tlYsWCoCkxu8hx3qYknGZBe1jmI8DGCAxM0MSsnFMZm_Oq2H1mW4L9D9AMDoL95qu3iqVv83bMQtlrj8mSSk_Ap-iQAdDxgvGjoZ91pLk-0Q8fc1G0szH_4FaMPOjB8AirDyFPZ5s4o/s1600-h/IMG_1084.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22tlYsWCoCkxu8hx3qYknGZBe1jmI8DGCAxM0MSsnFMZm_Oq2H1mW4L9D9AMDoL95qu3iqVv83bMQtlrj8mSSk_Ap-iQAdDxgvGjoZ91pLk-0Q8fc1G0szH_4FaMPOjB8AirDyFPZ5s4o/s320/IMG_1084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374816861640018162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsld1q-8BQ6EfCsFmFlps5gOK4-aJpFrtlYk-4wNdhHyTf0ZCSOylpj7098blsjEScUYTQHb7FJGwXFsiuqdrSf0gZRQ-AWtcUeEd-3bj50okp_D7Nc8NhcIP83QOwLo8c54okkKERWmGQ/s1600-h/IMG_1085.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsld1q-8BQ6EfCsFmFlps5gOK4-aJpFrtlYk-4wNdhHyTf0ZCSOylpj7098blsjEScUYTQHb7FJGwXFsiuqdrSf0gZRQ-AWtcUeEd-3bj50okp_D7Nc8NhcIP83QOwLo8c54okkKERWmGQ/s320/IMG_1085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374818789469522306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">I LOVE the contrast!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDSA8cYAzikwsImC25u4sInchO-hLroEmCcPT3qlSYqB7C4CZWp51jGYxRNh3rcoX5ubUu2O8IZ1tC4geQH3ePrZxeD08hIt4PuUThz8jwczztv3fH37Gfx_0UhVUe0TXlhsqKJBYI6Ab/s1600-h/IMG_1114.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDSA8cYAzikwsImC25u4sInchO-hLroEmCcPT3qlSYqB7C4CZWp51jGYxRNh3rcoX5ubUu2O8IZ1tC4geQH3ePrZxeD08hIt4PuUThz8jwczztv3fH37Gfx_0UhVUe0TXlhsqKJBYI6Ab/s320/IMG_1114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374820218315229890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Now, I am no photographer and I wouldn't consider this portfolio worthy by any means. I just like how it turned out. Juanita and the girls having a good time.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtfpInDPPIFEGqBxc9KwjR879TJ7K4pLuPv3j9Iu-zMdUjWlovPKj853ObfMzrYthfN-tt-29-Fnfv_FFsdLUfwqfCX6gLdbtvCIrQyauWELgHLwY6tGMnQIEj_NEwtqBWUegLjoMYaJ0/s1600-h/IMG_1118.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtfpInDPPIFEGqBxc9KwjR879TJ7K4pLuPv3j9Iu-zMdUjWlovPKj853ObfMzrYthfN-tt-29-Fnfv_FFsdLUfwqfCX6gLdbtvCIrQyauWELgHLwY6tGMnQIEj_NEwtqBWUegLjoMYaJ0/s320/IMG_1118.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374821611718923474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Being "emo" in Armenia. It was funny at the time I swear...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLy4Efd18kNIqJsw0W8QF971hyilBY2rNDSQlzbLBTokg6qC1IqvmMVhZHA9_3W_lf2TNQKxQLh0PXsdIMCsDg2LlgdtEWZNFtYgBzipGbhPPNiVi6Jq0EhcgYCWeoa5JjnE-mfvyAYphK/s1600-h/IMG_1130.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLy4Efd18kNIqJsw0W8QF971hyilBY2rNDSQlzbLBTokg6qC1IqvmMVhZHA9_3W_lf2TNQKxQLh0PXsdIMCsDg2LlgdtEWZNFtYgBzipGbhPPNiVi6Jq0EhcgYCWeoa5JjnE-mfvyAYphK/s320/IMG_1130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374824187545423634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">These next five photos, although creepy, are quite good. Mom and Dad, you should be proud! I call it the "</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >La conclusión de mi finde en Armenia" Collection </span><span style="font-size:85%;">("The conclusion of my weekend in Armenia" Collection). </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqb7AfCoNWfBLZO9krNoZH-Pr0MXgFaWubR90QGAm6CIOVALrGFwx6Z919c2K_phhhCJDGpqscpNe1xYNYpXdLDueHRYx-q4PtjoT8U3JZ-B4Yape1SCw5zqg9VvyXcUwBn9IpP60AytAI/s1600-h/IMG_1139.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqb7AfCoNWfBLZO9krNoZH-Pr0MXgFaWubR90QGAm6CIOVALrGFwx6Z919c2K_phhhCJDGpqscpNe1xYNYpXdLDueHRYx-q4PtjoT8U3JZ-B4Yape1SCw5zqg9VvyXcUwBn9IpP60AytAI/s320/IMG_1139.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374825248907680178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDewqS-UNPZ0fD3zFlUGj4MhyphenhyphenyZlLQv6g2H3nPVPRcyfoHTCQy0-KkiT4Yn4m0506dBhNVw4_ioRaVBfDsTRkDpkYGCfH96kF4s843jzCd5OSj6ivwwrsH-G9P08K1Zt87d_pdhU8lFnL/s1600-h/IMG_1140.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDewqS-UNPZ0fD3zFlUGj4MhyphenhyphenyZlLQv6g2H3nPVPRcyfoHTCQy0-KkiT4Yn4m0506dBhNVw4_ioRaVBfDsTRkDpkYGCfH96kF4s843jzCd5OSj6ivwwrsH-G9P08K1Zt87d_pdhU8lFnL/s320/IMG_1140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374827466075838946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSg1PuecDHXKr0jnKaXCxTnCg1oKHIKQNxO15jNqB-tZtb-Z2C-UTePkVxuYas1wq9dBIIVXYT4-tzj8SGq_GWpwQEw_DyOJVDfm2bB_5g4cOwm8yMPsEd_RyM1Zgn_L_aU9iFvqyDYPwL/s1600-h/IMG_1142.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSg1PuecDHXKr0jnKaXCxTnCg1oKHIKQNxO15jNqB-tZtb-Z2C-UTePkVxuYas1wq9dBIIVXYT4-tzj8SGq_GWpwQEw_DyOJVDfm2bB_5g4cOwm8yMPsEd_RyM1Zgn_L_aU9iFvqyDYPwL/s320/IMG_1142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374827906907071458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8DwhIENHLKXdlCSWGhEpGvJTM22jT-F7M7L9DsIzZvvw7SA4k2-B0LHMhIBds_9kZSwRCQm-EeLbFuKw_XJOXwp5iDOSLNvG2uqwUqEM8eko3akJ4-L6-UfABeiV5bJbObTre3dw9d21/s1600-h/IMG_1143.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8DwhIENHLKXdlCSWGhEpGvJTM22jT-F7M7L9DsIzZvvw7SA4k2-B0LHMhIBds_9kZSwRCQm-EeLbFuKw_XJOXwp5iDOSLNvG2uqwUqEM8eko3akJ4-L6-UfABeiV5bJbObTre3dw9d21/s320/IMG_1143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374828167511169042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOshQhS4w1vApVXtZuLDj-cYKzXq5a15Dxhw4RN4Wx5fiGql_FX2EkXx544j7DtCBU3v8XXjC4IX973xU2PVh_GSyhcUpb8dXdSDkVaMxU0Asgnc2wW5S7AsPM5yrtZbDNBeqv2hWK_C6t/s1600-h/IMG_1144.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOshQhS4w1vApVXtZuLDj-cYKzXq5a15Dxhw4RN4Wx5fiGql_FX2EkXx544j7DtCBU3v8XXjC4IX973xU2PVh_GSyhcUpb8dXdSDkVaMxU0Asgnc2wW5S7AsPM5yrtZbDNBeqv2hWK_C6t/s320/IMG_1144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374828458941549570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">These next photos show the dangers of smoking and looking "<span style="font-style: italic;">bacano" </span>(cool). Here are the stages of nicotine addiction (feel free to post these in your local <a href="http://addictionsresources.com/">Nicotine Addiction Recovery Groups</a>):<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJON2G6mRydKwFNm9D2Z8heTwRNEtEPIhoNq0NOFxApFxZmw9wG8qZd0cGXvx6WxBp8EHLQ6XYZOIqk7rG3KtYqT5kn4l4oN5oniD0NqbaUDZeH5To7cPUq5kqGvqIdcmUv_XjJWKrauxP/s1600-h/IMG_1155.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJON2G6mRydKwFNm9D2Z8heTwRNEtEPIhoNq0NOFxApFxZmw9wG8qZd0cGXvx6WxBp8EHLQ6XYZOIqk7rG3KtYqT5kn4l4oN5oniD0NqbaUDZeH5To7cPUq5kqGvqIdcmUv_XjJWKrauxP/s320/IMG_1155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374829031462783778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztp5Qo-Xs77P6j2kawlkFVw4w0oS9-dhfBZTwGowF7OtNLQ8-RXUFsIPY-uLKp-2NUYPCuoKoVJ6DixSJsEH0bQs76wBOPZQp8INgKZ6zPLbWcWkXkDXwU5I5dDosJQ-6Ry7FzavL2Q8s/s1600-h/IMG_1158.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztp5Qo-Xs77P6j2kawlkFVw4w0oS9-dhfBZTwGowF7OtNLQ8-RXUFsIPY-uLKp-2NUYPCuoKoVJ6DixSJsEH0bQs76wBOPZQp8INgKZ6zPLbWcWkXkDXwU5I5dDosJQ-6Ry7FzavL2Q8s/s320/IMG_1158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374829755389037954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljy36b_1xbpXTBx0wjAEKRqsyIkEmaG1MoPoVQ8oVRUULDy3EASdHGPR4s5KowKNj5Haxkdue9yP0Ib_i_e7U26W07HGPb2Q1oRIJYXrZfCwn4XGvzBowdsreX5bQQfHxgiurn4Pzaulv/s1600-h/IMG_1159.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljy36b_1xbpXTBx0wjAEKRqsyIkEmaG1MoPoVQ8oVRUULDy3EASdHGPR4s5KowKNj5Haxkdue9yP0Ib_i_e7U26W07HGPb2Q1oRIJYXrZfCwn4XGvzBowdsreX5bQQfHxgiurn4Pzaulv/s320/IMG_1159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374832608646629106" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Juanita:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUh_HHDRXA15HkO1M9tlTAxRwR6Dz64kK9ndjLK6oRVUeAph-FXRN6ptJWpC_2DDw73PiBJ5aRnuv7i5bt6xFqPOFW0NVwM-xi50Pge8h6EoqWKkvmz13t-TzRxNekh5frlsWWbIhNXGW/s1600-h/IMG_1162.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUh_HHDRXA15HkO1M9tlTAxRwR6Dz64kK9ndjLK6oRVUeAph-FXRN6ptJWpC_2DDw73PiBJ5aRnuv7i5bt6xFqPOFW0NVwM-xi50Pge8h6EoqWKkvmz13t-TzRxNekh5frlsWWbIhNXGW/s320/IMG_1162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374833108888631266" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ibagué , Tolima, Colombia<br /><br /></span><span>CSI (Couch Surfing Ibagué)!!!</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfzzxE5kkriSJRA9eTW3BywiG-XDkJ9Jsp4e3Zucd87uTP3sqclZJgkdTSM-gimbQzulqt553-BsxP-ZWMIerX3ofthrRJjP9nDWmVetaKs2kdvliFF-N8GpPC_4YhCXAgMouPKaysEqo/s1600-h/5584807_l_a9f486712788f2679e20d48e2e212d0d.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfzzxE5kkriSJRA9eTW3BywiG-XDkJ9Jsp4e3Zucd87uTP3sqclZJgkdTSM-gimbQzulqt553-BsxP-ZWMIerX3ofthrRJjP9nDWmVetaKs2kdvliFF-N8GpPC_4YhCXAgMouPKaysEqo/s320/5584807_l_a9f486712788f2679e20d48e2e212d0d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374833798702370866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">No comment.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSruqSklSBznYTU1Po2cH8SlfETwMabdxoNRtKMoxYqOVw5O4EeCAWNcF3VN3I3Sq-mfMjIN4T02VYy01UrNOQJt-LoTLQwZN0ArJewMp4B5QuYju5IrBVBWY061YZjjHkTmnIVJMIVkmG/s1600-h/5584825_l_97f9e57da3c93f23978cdc76a47c179e.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSruqSklSBznYTU1Po2cH8SlfETwMabdxoNRtKMoxYqOVw5O4EeCAWNcF3VN3I3Sq-mfMjIN4T02VYy01UrNOQJt-LoTLQwZN0ArJewMp4B5QuYju5IrBVBWY061YZjjHkTmnIVJMIVkmG/s320/5584825_l_97f9e57da3c93f23978cdc76a47c179e.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374834228515046466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">This one definitely needs an explanation. You see, I don't drink alcohol (except for some red wine on very special occasions) so I thought that I could substitute beer for tea. However, the only tea available was strawberry tea; man did I feel like a sissy man. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuYzC2QshDWAtqPz0Fqp-3xkndx4SduViLab-8GasSFyCRL-jObXYE5nw6EApNLarQkCeRicnvpYcj3M_4aTh2LAJchUAHNXFAYU0CgqQp4T8EPkCR2o1zOysPO4vMrScp20OHbGzsaUZ/s1600-h/5584843_l_2129da3626f819aac385fe3b8ebae5cd.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuYzC2QshDWAtqPz0Fqp-3xkndx4SduViLab-8GasSFyCRL-jObXYE5nw6EApNLarQkCeRicnvpYcj3M_4aTh2LAJchUAHNXFAYU0CgqQp4T8EPkCR2o1zOysPO4vMrScp20OHbGzsaUZ/s320/5584843_l_2129da3626f819aac385fe3b8ebae5cd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374834481287892066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">How to be sophisticated <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> drunk at the same time!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyMbe-NPLYZ8Wwh5R4TdyyR5DkVHTMidOxH3BlsO3ELqTdzCH7jZbluUrYYvKdnab_U6j1e_CJqKDuCKjIZ5uJ30b7N388SQYPY92cAAFHP5E2BJJZCD7fcodp3O3uMPEaQDhOOr8dwOd/s1600-h/5584884_l_93ef920f33797580302a24382826a7f3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyMbe-NPLYZ8Wwh5R4TdyyR5DkVHTMidOxH3BlsO3ELqTdzCH7jZbluUrYYvKdnab_U6j1e_CJqKDuCKjIZ5uJ30b7N388SQYPY92cAAFHP5E2BJJZCD7fcodp3O3uMPEaQDhOOr8dwOd/s320/5584884_l_93ef920f33797580302a24382826a7f3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374835237564470994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Someone told me that I looked like one of the characters on the 1984 film "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087538/">The Karate Kid</a>"; I have no idea what they are talking about.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRga96yjdp55jV4sJcSZdVA5F1VNG_L8VvR6V2j3QyZsYt0wfO-XL3YsIbx_YachyphenhyphencjvEM2Pvde41VYzGqwjkzbakKTlWcDetr9rDjbdEC7nVAVpNoU8Y_nQm2-iZxbZxLvOkSqu4MXPxa/s1600-h/5584889_l_0c388c391206341c49b501f2288b7402.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRga96yjdp55jV4sJcSZdVA5F1VNG_L8VvR6V2j3QyZsYt0wfO-XL3YsIbx_YachyphenhyphencjvEM2Pvde41VYzGqwjkzbakKTlWcDetr9rDjbdEC7nVAVpNoU8Y_nQm2-iZxbZxLvOkSqu4MXPxa/s320/5584889_l_0c388c391206341c49b501f2288b7402.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374835523839966178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">This is how I ward off bears (and beautiful Colombian women).</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIzf8g0CS-jAwSPttdMkAQRGY6MFqmcBZ81yZIOwOy4H27bSQtRJLfuIOvyEcUJ92bC5E9Mu9CY6EUbsBwo_bpA8dYs6XYvb0r0Z63hO4H1V-Ux1KcGN1ErDDNIWA5cITEyw801kApaYi/s1600-h/5584896_l_3108196da7450ed224645a287f17d02e.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIzf8g0CS-jAwSPttdMkAQRGY6MFqmcBZ81yZIOwOy4H27bSQtRJLfuIOvyEcUJ92bC5E9Mu9CY6EUbsBwo_bpA8dYs6XYvb0r0Z63hO4H1V-Ux1KcGN1ErDDNIWA5cITEyw801kApaYi/s320/5584896_l_3108196da7450ed224645a287f17d02e.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374836191231247490" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>One of the few regular photos taken of me during my two days in Ibagué.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlIzGb7tMvrmOa64wxobR2KCjs4zy7WE0ho1YFulVWC5Ss2EjHJEkGi-dOuJndBDby2GVKH9fVGDl9dvOWgfJAC4kSgYuRvF7c5s_c9ONXorUZFCeeXLhTyqShqsSGrZEXO0xJ_3E3cbg/s1600-h/5584905_l_2a03b3f70ef4e15647b4d6c28c415675.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlIzGb7tMvrmOa64wxobR2KCjs4zy7WE0ho1YFulVWC5Ss2EjHJEkGi-dOuJndBDby2GVKH9fVGDl9dvOWgfJAC4kSgYuRvF7c5s_c9ONXorUZFCeeXLhTyqShqsSGrZEXO0xJ_3E3cbg/s320/5584905_l_2a03b3f70ef4e15647b4d6c28c415675.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374836898435236530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I took a shot of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aguardiente">aguardiente </a>because of pier pressure by CSI. I don't know how or why you guys like this stuff, honestly. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Note:</span> I was the wealthiest person there, with the exception of Paul, because I didn't pay for nor consume alcohol.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aNA0FQBCcsjxa585b32X3eNNYqAcqToEhTA4KoGfWb_zQtJSpDPjTl6M7zGB6DSSI0BIV0R1zHOiLvACUFN4CdmjMJNgFRDrZcANNFOd_sdCfd33Eu63GktVrKufXwMi0jeW5r5S4SWM/s1600-h/5584980_l_be7ffd694e549280b3bb947dffc365c7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aNA0FQBCcsjxa585b32X3eNNYqAcqToEhTA4KoGfWb_zQtJSpDPjTl6M7zGB6DSSI0BIV0R1zHOiLvACUFN4CdmjMJNgFRDrZcANNFOd_sdCfd33Eu63GktVrKufXwMi0jeW5r5S4SWM/s320/5584980_l_be7ffd694e549280b3bb947dffc365c7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374838331894359346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">This is what sober is (imagine if I did drink).</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSosOwwrhE4GDPZJXrA-dn-aUrSz_ZGMA41R8NdwzgN5L4zv2Jcq9Khbh3xDxwEqRndj-qQDZitYmo3t559oVtA_gArXd3nEp0Ec32kgYa2LDzlv19Nm8YNPKYeBO6s7twfmiLFr9XXDQF/s1600-h/5584995_l_d8c1802624710d32c12579857841c16c.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSosOwwrhE4GDPZJXrA-dn-aUrSz_ZGMA41R8NdwzgN5L4zv2Jcq9Khbh3xDxwEqRndj-qQDZitYmo3t559oVtA_gArXd3nEp0Ec32kgYa2LDzlv19Nm8YNPKYeBO6s7twfmiLFr9XXDQF/s320/5584995_l_d8c1802624710d32c12579857841c16c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374840174815597506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">No comment.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBv_u3ndOja_k1OqRKVt2-EOrt4BYSXP_GrjasofFXV2ioy9SpUZTOZi65izr9doM9_5hwXPZ9s0UVbXjJT5gUPfh5iTzJeY8H8XR_i9oG_T_1J7bPzCUdfks1oIE1ZYc8-8HmsaYboSJE/s1600-h/5585006_l_da8c559e0d3b3bc0e36792d96ce757d2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBv_u3ndOja_k1OqRKVt2-EOrt4BYSXP_GrjasofFXV2ioy9SpUZTOZi65izr9doM9_5hwXPZ9s0UVbXjJT5gUPfh5iTzJeY8H8XR_i9oG_T_1J7bPzCUdfks1oIE1ZYc8-8HmsaYboSJE/s320/5585006_l_da8c559e0d3b3bc0e36792d96ce757d2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374840453437042114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">CSI (when everyone started feeling those drinks).</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteg544K-ajz67xyZDy7NoXJ6IjzwkfTRwZ247x_GNnE5NtwFW5FrHSFWyUDlxC69OOqN8lqZltaYNdGlALc9eZ3KF1DXJ4PSWIVHZQxl3QFkwc4V9MYrjyy8ekkoCDcQ0mg8DaSReFQP1/s1600-h/5585014_l_bdbaa1713a51b7f36fc4ffc0741ac21b.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteg544K-ajz67xyZDy7NoXJ6IjzwkfTRwZ247x_GNnE5NtwFW5FrHSFWyUDlxC69OOqN8lqZltaYNdGlALc9eZ3KF1DXJ4PSWIVHZQxl3QFkwc4V9MYrjyy8ekkoCDcQ0mg8DaSReFQP1/s320/5585014_l_bdbaa1713a51b7f36fc4ffc0741ac21b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374840656672484738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The drinks get stronger...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qTZDVARjGfHORBMF8v4uUyQN3iPDcSUp-K5a_sOUU-dydC7Og_Ai_XOP6T8Box6pydwqBeUu7cVikl1-_f5cYOw4MJPey3klmq_K3_S_L204fqVcBYtDNAVKnVMRB88ksD0LhrWlv2s4/s1600-h/5585018_l_9fffe4ae46b1b262e7929af7c6e1352d.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qTZDVARjGfHORBMF8v4uUyQN3iPDcSUp-K5a_sOUU-dydC7Og_Ai_XOP6T8Box6pydwqBeUu7cVikl1-_f5cYOw4MJPey3klmq_K3_S_L204fqVcBYtDNAVKnVMRB88ksD0LhrWlv2s4/s320/5585018_l_9fffe4ae46b1b262e7929af7c6e1352d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374841024265513778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I don't quite remember what we were doing the moment this photo was taken. I guess we were excited to see so much liquor at once (three days with a total of five hours of sleep in Ibagué).</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYmYmF7NgslOqCo2LTOBc4g5i5t0A68WPxM6hyzsJ1w1kuw_fK-j1O77EEdVDtV06-ObmR2Qr-SZX7ZScPOsFOU__J8gNSs5_Hhx7W8BbLwke4Uz-VO3C4mu3-mBc2xSM1y8BPAbtUiRZ/s1600-h/5585023_l_beb875177eda2f775b51ea6e0f449e90.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYmYmF7NgslOqCo2LTOBc4g5i5t0A68WPxM6hyzsJ1w1kuw_fK-j1O77EEdVDtV06-ObmR2Qr-SZX7ZScPOsFOU__J8gNSs5_Hhx7W8BbLwke4Uz-VO3C4mu3-mBc2xSM1y8BPAbtUiRZ/s320/5585023_l_beb875177eda2f775b51ea6e0f449e90.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374841339931739938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I don't need to drink, look what I do while sober with sleep deprivation!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpocwzP4Gk5nlenxs57i-_266c5uvLuEX4YtTR-eaCJAjFLEpYh66xGmBcniIulIXf8kVVT4VrjQG0W6fG7RK7T2KM3fnKZ8L_-B5JiqBsNTi039jGnCeZSuR9pRntpVgaff-n8_J35vv/s1600-h/5585028_l_ee908557b5a0dbb7883057cdaf649983.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpocwzP4Gk5nlenxs57i-_266c5uvLuEX4YtTR-eaCJAjFLEpYh66xGmBcniIulIXf8kVVT4VrjQG0W6fG7RK7T2KM3fnKZ8L_-B5JiqBsNTi039jGnCeZSuR9pRntpVgaff-n8_J35vv/s320/5585028_l_ee908557b5a0dbb7883057cdaf649983.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374841929468464226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I was representing...Michigan?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_oFmmVS4wFVZE5zWi_Ew4iywE_rjC8aDjAENR0-2o_eadupWHf2MkP-NISiAm4AXIOYKDG8Hq7arwMCVrSRq3ldqYD9yiirwPZXbxnWvG01lwaxQYAjXNYbLeC1GSG_4HqW37xf7GYl_/s1600-h/5585029_l_e71ac6fb9bcf6171d8850ad684b20487.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_oFmmVS4wFVZE5zWi_Ew4iywE_rjC8aDjAENR0-2o_eadupWHf2MkP-NISiAm4AXIOYKDG8Hq7arwMCVrSRq3ldqYD9yiirwPZXbxnWvG01lwaxQYAjXNYbLeC1GSG_4HqW37xf7GYl_/s320/5585029_l_e71ac6fb9bcf6171d8850ad684b20487.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374842244329726626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Gotta love the checkered scarf all white long sleeve shirt with flute in hand combo!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6i_xSOprgNTO0XDmLgfiKdnLpagzpRApOAYicu5UbNqQ-CvfnkLJySLsVT4c2cgcCA_dv7okJWS1dXKjE2AnsbjCCL0rEfHW99R7GY27YJYY2RBRskT1aF-D4dzNtMjNonI38GCp0BiU/s1600-h/5585031_l_831863cdb396e67eb9f899a0813041d9.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6i_xSOprgNTO0XDmLgfiKdnLpagzpRApOAYicu5UbNqQ-CvfnkLJySLsVT4c2cgcCA_dv7okJWS1dXKjE2AnsbjCCL0rEfHW99R7GY27YJYY2RBRskT1aF-D4dzNtMjNonI38GCp0BiU/s320/5585031_l_831863cdb396e67eb9f899a0813041d9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374842487985814050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Mom, Dad, this is <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">all </span>that I had learned while in the Middle East.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUt_7E7a1mFb05mc_yF11ZwSJFq5nZGqJOdSxerkhsRnzusPoouTVGdudSwiNpiUyBy239PZq1uidMMQoc5uf1-6gO-VtMd_XihJ2zh6DRLPzalAM11e0YFzHyfazq7bJ7k7WQHnw0M6-f/s1600-h/5585034_l_42e2c6e1f58c88c68e3f36d9ab115d47.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUt_7E7a1mFb05mc_yF11ZwSJFq5nZGqJOdSxerkhsRnzusPoouTVGdudSwiNpiUyBy239PZq1uidMMQoc5uf1-6gO-VtMd_XihJ2zh6DRLPzalAM11e0YFzHyfazq7bJ7k7WQHnw0M6-f/s320/5585034_l_42e2c6e1f58c88c68e3f36d9ab115d47.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374842916907958242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I don't know if you've read up on your South American history lately, but this is Simon Bolívar. He is the man who led his army to victory defeating the Spaniards liberating what is present day Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Panama; the guy is without a doubt a true hero in these parts. Anyway, my drunk friends thought it would be good idea to climb his statue outside the capital building at 4A.M.<br /><br />Seconds after this photo was taken two men with knives ran behind two guys relatively close to us and robbed everything they had right in front of our eyes (while physically beating them). We ran with the guitar and camera but our poor helpless drunk friends were stuck on top of the statue. Luckily, the thieves couldn't reach our dear Ibagué friends due to the height of the statue and probably because our friend's pants were down (if you would like to see some "moon" pictures as well as others from this night click here: <a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org/image_gallery.html?id=22AOQOU&folder=186376">http://www.couchsurfing.org/image_gallery.html?id=22AOQOU&folder=186376</a></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFGpmqgNruV32gtl5WQVhEjEXOSaPFSEXISIzShZb7oPgsEPYqZKt1VyaznJLdTawAhmEwEbzh2phdsd3wWZTPsEg9fg-AR-j2KOi47Xm2iaf1lRvStI6amIhz7hdKiHPnE8PYh6SYder/s1600-h/5585047_l_b24403fdc2c25893988d2388a4bcc50c.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFGpmqgNruV32gtl5WQVhEjEXOSaPFSEXISIzShZb7oPgsEPYqZKt1VyaznJLdTawAhmEwEbzh2phdsd3wWZTPsEg9fg-AR-j2KOi47Xm2iaf1lRvStI6amIhz7hdKiHPnE8PYh6SYder/s320/5585047_l_b24403fdc2c25893988d2388a4bcc50c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374843242110333970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Thanks for taking the time to look and read about the Best of My Photos for July 2009 Couchsurfing Edition. I hope that I have inspired you to join Couchsurfing as well as visit Armenia and Ibagué.<br /><br />More photos to come (that goes without saying).<br /><br />Take care, until next time.<br /><br />Attn,<br /><br />-Kevin Post<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span>Kevinposthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11025081703139456019noreply@blogger.com0