Bogota, round 2 - Days 24-26
We were finally leaving the coastal area after having been there for the past 3 weeks. Though sad to leave because we truly loved it (beautiful scenery, amazing cultural
experiences, met tons of great people), we were definitely looking forward to returning to more of a “civilization” we are used to - non-dirt floors, having 4 walls around our bed, etc. And of course, cooler weather. So we decided to book an AirBNB back in Bogota for a few nights for nothing but relaxation, good food, and Netflix. To start the laziness off right, we ordered Chinese food delivery for dinner once we arrived at the apartment. Good idea because we had a long travel day (bused a few hours from Palomino to Santa Marta then flew back to Bogota) and didn’t want to leave the comfy, cozy, awesome studio we rented. Bad idea because Asian food down here is not good. Quite terrible, actually. (Can’t wait for some EE Sane in August). Nonetheless, we ate our “sesame chicken” and “Mongolian beef” and choked down the soggy spring rolls while watching episode after episode of Friends.
Netflix: Are you still watching?
Us: You bet your bottom dollar.
End of D24 cribbage score: Ben 47 (7skunks) – Meg 35 (7 skunks)
I can’t accurately describe our excitement at being about to make our own proper breakfast this morning. We haven’t had much kitchen access so our breakfasts for the past few weeks have mostly consisted of one of three options: (1) arepas with an overcooked fried egg, (2) rubbery scrambled eggs, or (3) leftovers. I’d like to point out that option #3 is true even if we go out for breakfast. Warmed up rice and beans from last night? Sure why not. It’s not that breakfasts haven’t been good (the fruits and juices that accompany the meal are always fantastic at the very least), but its not the great, bacon-filled, food coma-inducing breakfasts that makes Ben’s eyes light up and arteries clog. So we did that this morning and it was phenomenal.
The menu:
Appetizer: An assortment of pastries – Chocolate croissant, guava jam filled pastry, cheesy bread
Entree: Potato and vegetable skillet with sunnyside up eggs
Sides: Avocado, bacon, lots of fruits
Beverages: Fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee and milk out of the bag (we finally gave in)
Coma-induced successfully.
The rest of the afternoon was spent lounging around the studio. Finally having reliable
internet, Ben wrote and published the Cartagena portion of the blog and I split my time between watching movies, reading, and napping. We eventually became a bit restless so despite the rain, we ventured out in the evening to wander around the neighborhood and grab dinner. We stumbled upon a delicious little Mexican restaurant, Maria Bonita, where Ben supposedly had the best burrito he’s ever had (featuring pineapple!).
End of D25 cribbage score: Ben 49 (7 skunks) – Meg 36 (7 skunks)
Ben is a great trip planner. This may be surprising to some (or most), but its true! He’s constantly researching what to do, where to go and how to get there (which I appreciate to the fullest extent). His specialty seems to be finding fun and delicious restaurants and cafes. So today we spent the morning hopping around a few trendy coffee shops in the area that Ben had “starred” in his research. Once again, he nailed it. Great coffee, cool décor, tasty treats and good vibes. Feeling adequately caffeinated and a little jittery, we head back to the AirBNB in the late afternoon and discover a staircase leading up to the roof! The views of the Bogota valley and the surrounding hills were phenomenal. Great place to watch the clouds roll by and play some cribbage. Opted for one last night of relaxing and watching movies (Men in Black on cable in English!) before we start our volunteering stent tomorrow.
End of D26 cribbage score: Ben 51 (7 skunks) – Meg 37 (7 skunks)