Happiness Is A Warm Beach

I left the funny guys in Merida, quite reluctantly. They had their own plans, and so did I. Sorry, you smashing young fellows. Moving on. I would now like to tell you a little story involving transport. I will be referencing cities as 'Point A' and 'Point B' so as to not bother you with confusing names and attempt to not have you too lost. Step 1: Go from 'Point A' to 'Point B.' 10 hours. This meant an overnight bus. We arrived at 8 in the morning unscathed from the heavy rain. Delightful. Step 2: Get to 'Point C.' 3 hours. I now have a Korean man and a French girl by my side. In order to do this lovely number, we need another small bus. We are sitting, melting in our juices at 35C. This may seem all fine and dandy, except that there aren't enough people to fill the bus. We are waiting. It is now 1:30 in the afternoon. Do not be alarmed, for during these 5 and a half hours entertainment was never far. There were other taxis ready to go, who spotted us and asked us to join with them instead. Well, they didn't exactly ask us, we made an educated guess when our backpacks had been moved and piled in the back of their dirty trunks along with the beer and gasoline. Quite honestly I'm not sure the driver of our original cab fancied this. The problem was, the other taxis were more than triple the price. We couldn't switch. We watched, a little amused as our belongings played musical cabs for hours, prancing from one taxi to the next as angry drivers fought bloody murder like my blue backpack was one of their newborns. Joy happens. People finally arrive, enchanting south americans are here to fill the spaces in our original small cab and we are finally ready to depart. Alas, it will not start. I'm not sure the engine ever worked in the first place. Folks, our hours of waiting might have been in vain, I will never know. We took one of the cabs containing a driver who had fought valiantly for us, as well as agreeing to let us pay at our original, reasonable price, to what would now be 'Point C.' Review, this was to be 3 hours from where we currently were, 'Point B.' Step 3: Once at 'Point C,' there is need for only one more bus to 'Point D' and you are home free! 4 hours.

Yes indeed, this rather less than fortunate event does have an end. We arrived to Maicao after being stopped seven times by the Colombian/Venezeualan police because it was quite obvious we were smuggling drugs in and out of the country. Once our papers were in order and our passports stamped, all the while being harassed by mobs of other south americans in our personal space looking to change our money and rip us off, we boarded the bus to our final destination, 'Point D' to Santa Marta. See? Easy as cake. I have nothing negative to say about these things. Quite honestly, the reason I am telling you this story is so you don't feel as jealous while you look at pictures of me on the beach in hot balmy weather enjoying with other travellers. The price of such matters can be a hefty one sometimes. You are now back in Colombia. Quite possibly your favourite country in the world, with cheap, plentiful coffee, happy hospitable people and a never ending feeling of splendid, roaring good times. From here happiness is always around the corner and it no longer includes a warm gun, but a warm beach. Ladies and gentlemen I give you Tayrona National Park, a magical fairy tale of a place with natural beauty, relaxing beaches and jungle terrain as far as the eye can see. Ahh. Aaaaahh! I could go on. Breathe in the sweet air of your Colombian bungalow, gaze at the beautiful waters and soak up the hot sun as you lay back and drink a well deserved ice-cold beer. Mmm. Now, to any normal human being looking innocently at these photographs as well as those on facebook, it may seem like a vacation. It may look like a secluded beach resort with fantastic people, a fantasy of paradise which I retreated to for a number of days. Well, I won't argue with you, these are valid points. Although, the real reason I am back in Colombia is not just to gallivant around and enjoy while possibly reliving my past glee. Oh no, my dear loved ones, I am killing time for a different reason altogether. I am waiting for someone. But, who could that be? Hmmmm... The Colombiana.