My name is Carlos; I am a 24 year old third year law student. I caught the travel bug when I was 20 years old and sailed around the world on the MV Explorer from Jan. 2008 to May 2008. It was the most amazing experience of my life. I learned a lot about myself along the journey, I don't know if I would have the passion for travel I do now if it was not for that experience. Ever since I can’t get enough, going so many places I would've never even dreamed just a few years ago when I was complacently trapped in my American bubble. In what is presumably my last summer of freedom before I become imprisoned by corporate America, I am embarking on a journey through South America. Mostly to become fluent in a language I should’ve been taught a long time ago as a child being half Puerto Rican, but also to see, learn, explore and grow in a way only possible through travel.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

From Amazingly Beautiful To Are We F’ing There Yet!


  Luckily the Irish were still pretty jetlagged they were up around 6:30-7am.  Which in turn woke me up so I went downstairs to check departure times to Medellin.   I had to be at the bus stop by 11 otherwise I would not make it, and it was 3 hours till the next bus.  (45 min cab ride to bus stop $7)  I packed quickly made sure I had everything I had brought with me.  (Bus ticket $30) or (Flight $100) I chose to take the bus, I need to be frugal so later I do not get stuck not being able to see sights I want to see.  Traveling gets expensive but if you cut where you can it actually ends up being pretty cheap.  At least cheaper than what I would normally spend in a week in any American city I was living in.   I got to the bus station, which is chaos in itself, masses everywhere starting their trips or returning from somewhere in Colombia.   I made it to my bus 15 mins before we were scheduled to leave.  You hand your luggage to the attendant they place markers on it then give you the corresponding number so no one else can take your luggage. 

              Thank God the bus is only half full.  I guess this is normal for the nice coach buses with air and bathroom.  Before we left the bus agent pulled out a flip video cam and recorded each of us.   I have no idea WTF that’s about, I’m hoping its some safety measure and not for any type of online marketing because at the moment I look like the damn unibomber.  They immediately put on a movie “The Secretariat” which is an awesome movie but its dubbed in Spanish so in goes my iPod.  If you are ever taking buses in Colombia its probably good to know that they blast the AC on full blast so even if its 85+ outside its like 50 inside so dress warm for the bus.  Otherwise you could be like the old lady in front of me who was not properly dressed, and while we were on a normally 9 hour bus ride from Bogota to Medellin, that ride quickly turned to 13 because of wet roads.  She threw a fit the whole way but the driver refused to take the AC off full blast.  The ride was beautiful, large scenic drop off cliffs, millions of trees, sprawling green meadows, random lakes popping up every 30 mins or so.  It was truly a good 8 hours of awesome views then it got dark and I was no longer a fan of being on this cold bus any longer.   
             I knew it had taken us a little longer to get down from the high elevation of Bogota to the valleys and meadows around 2 hours I believe but I had no idea it would turn this 9 hour bus ride into 13.  Someone shoot me now is all I could keep thinking at hour 11 because I had no idea how far or even if we were close or lost.  I knew in my mind we obviously weren’t lost this is this mans job he drives this route daily.   We finally arrive in Medellin at 1:30am I have never jumped off a vehicle faster than in that moment.  My bus to Cartagena is supposed to actually be 13 hours, I wonder if I will have to splurge on the flight or if I mentally prepare myself I can handle it.   I guess I’ll find out what I’m doing when the time comes those are game time decisions 

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