Bonus Night in Bogota

Dec 15, 2009 | Colombia, Returning Home

The crispy Bogota air had the rich aroma of brewing coffee and the lingering spice of a new day full of possibilities. Scrappy the super bird woke up early feeling refreshed and had a delicious breakfast of leftover grasshopper parts. Being careful not to overeat, he...

Taganga, Colombia: Paradise?

Dec 1, 2009 | Colombia

After taking care of some business in Santa Marta such as finding a working ATM and admiring the first Santa Claus I have ever seen on a beach, we grabbed a 20-minute taxi across a sea cliff to the tourist village of Taganga, Colombia. I gave the driver his $3 and...

Santa Marta — Paradise?

Nov 23, 2009 | Colombia

I had the eerie feeling that I was being watched. As I dug through my pocket for enough pesos to make the taxi driver happy, I was vaguely aware that there were people watching me from every shuttered window and from behind the black-iron security bars of every hidden...

Bullfights and Ladyboys

Oct 25, 2009 | Colombia

The crowd was in a frenzy. After navigating some rough neighborhoods to find the arena, braving a roaring pop-up thunderstorm, and waiting 2 additional hours past the start time for the ring to dry, my very first proper bullfight was about to commence. I sat on a...

Heading South

Oct 23, 2009 | Colombia

I pulled the brown curtain shut on my overnight bus from Bogota to Cali. The AC had created a nice frost built up inside of the window and as we put distance between ourselves and the city lights, winding into the mountains, I couldn’t help but think that I was...

Bogota, Colombia

Oct 20, 2009 | Colombia

I wasn´t sure if I was in China or South America. So many similarities here in Bogota….in neither place could I communicate at all when I first arrived.  The weather is similar, with a damp cold constantly gnawing at your bones in the open air hostel.  There...