Marie & her new Hombre ;)

Hola!

The school festival was a lot of fun! We stayed most of the afternoon & watched Chris run the bowling booth. The school really went all out for this...they even hired one of the most famous child stars from Colombia to perform on stage (a mini Ricky Martin). We walked around the markets this evening & bartered goods. Tomorrow @ 8a.m. we leave to Isla Baru...Sport Baru Resort. We will board a speed boat & ride about 40 miles to the island & we should arrive around 10a.m... I'm not sure of the internet access there so if I don't respond I'll be back Tuesday.
Adios! Amy

It's Hot!

Hola....! Marie & I had a nice tour yesterday with Dora from 10am-2pm. She speaks English well & she was educated at the school where Chris teaches. Highlight's were: Over a bridge to Manga Island where there is an old Monastary on a Mtn top that was built in the 1600s. They have up there The Virgin of Candles, which they carry her down evry year & for a week they celebrate her watching over them & protecting the people. It 's predominately Catholic (90%) but they have freedom for any religion now like U.S. The view on the Mtn was spectacular of the city & the Spanish architecture is breathtakingly beautiful here. On to a gigantic fort where they battled the enemies, then to an Emerald factory where they custom design jewelry made from the Emeralds mined near the mtns around Bogota (interior capital)...There is a blend of African, Indian & Spanish ethnicity & after 2 days I realize that the people here have a lot of passion for life. Passion for music, dance, food & being with each other. Today we are going to Chris's school for an outdoor festival w/ all the kids & their families.
Adios! Amy

We're here!

Hola,
We are here safe & sound in Cartagena....I am sitting on Chris's balcony/apt across from the ocean listening to the hussle & bustle of the street below. Marie is cleaning up the lotion that crushed in her bag...The temp. feels around 85 degrees @8am. The salty air is feeling nice. We are on the edge of a poor neighborhood in the grittier part of the city....it is really cool. Last night we visited Old Town which is very touristy (or where the wealthier locals hang) but well preserved for 500 years old. We sat on the Fortress Wall where there is a cafe/bar, the dj was playing loud Techno/Salsa type music which sounded really nice too...The skyline looked so beautiful at dusk. We then walked around Old town, between the awesome structures to a park & grabbed a bite. The food here isn't spicy as you would think....we ate Crepes w/ beer. Today Marie & I are having a tour of the city w/ a local woman, then we can venture out & know where to revisit. The pics I post now will be my own...Adios! Amy

: ) ....

...I should be finished with my packing but am not, oh well minimal is good I hear. My cousin Marie & I have a long flight tomorrow from Yooper land. It's like flying out of Alaska it seems, you never know where when & how you will get to your destination. First Detroit, then N. Carolina, then Miami @ midnight...sleep & head to Cartagena around 2pm arriving at 4pm. Adios!

March 14th 2008

...........Counting down the days to fun in the sun.... It is 38 degrees here & I am ready!!!