Showing posts with label Armenia 2013. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Armenia 2013. Show all posts
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Back to Calarcá
Yipao in 2013 was a blast and I'm so glad that I recorded a bunch of mini movies so that a decade later I could relive the experience.
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Yipao 2013
June 30th of 2013 I went to the Yipao festival in Calarcá with Marina, Mario, and lil' Mateo. It was such a great time and I'm so glad I captured the noise and zaniness in one of my mini movies.
Friday, March 18, 2016
Salento y Cocora
June 29, 2013
Up at 6:30ish - me, Marina & Mateo to the market for food, snacks, & coffee! (Marina has her entire order set to be delivered to the apartment later) - walk back - chill - try to take a shower (it's just a spigot with no shower head and the water was so ice cold that it literally took my breath away - worse shower experience ever) - take a taxi to the bus stop - bus to Salento - walk around - eat fried plantains with queso and salsa (delish!) - take a Jeep to Cocora and see the Andes from way up - so much fun!!
bus ride back to Armenia - not so good - a truck fell over the side (of the mountain) and the driver died, thus causing the road to be blocked for 1.5 hours - Baby (me) was NOT happy (I threw a bit of a moody bc I really had to peepod and they had no idea how long it would be til they let us pass - I tried to get out and walk the rest of the way with Marina telling the police that we needed to get by on foot immediately bc the baby (Mateo, the real one, not me) needed medicine - it was a no-go - there wasn't even a spot on the side of the road for me to bust a squat and peepod - I was miserable - but the three of us stood next to the bus and had a smoke and eventually they let us through and all was right in my world...I do feel bad in retrospect for not being more compassionate about the driver. I can be so cold-hearted and self-centered sometimes.) - we got to Armenia and I was fine (no peeing of the pants, thank god!) - FaceTimed with Mum out on the balcony - me and Marina to the cinema to see Guerra Mundial Z in Spanish (without English subtitles which was fine by me - it was a zombie flick, I pretty much figured the plot out in the first two minutes) - Marina talked thru the whole thing (like in her normal speaking voice, not in a whisper - fifteen minutes of this and finally I turned to her and said, "Are you black now? Why the fuck are you talking during the movie?!") - at one point she turned to me to say something or explain what was happening (which I didn't need her to do) but said it in Spanish (I whispered back "No habla Español." - BTW - Brad Pitt? not believable as a father)
stopped at the market in the mall (attached to the cinema) for chocolates and pens - I'm so weird - run into Marina's pal Joanne from school - so beautiful! and very sweet. - back to the apartment - smoke on the balcony and to bed by 10:30pm. Whew!
Up at 6:30ish - me, Marina & Mateo to the market for food, snacks, & coffee! (Marina has her entire order set to be delivered to the apartment later) - walk back - chill - try to take a shower (it's just a spigot with no shower head and the water was so ice cold that it literally took my breath away - worse shower experience ever) - take a taxi to the bus stop - bus to Salento - walk around - eat fried plantains with queso and salsa (delish!) - take a Jeep to Cocora and see the Andes from way up - so much fun!!
bus ride back to Armenia - not so good - a truck fell over the side (of the mountain) and the driver died, thus causing the road to be blocked for 1.5 hours - Baby (me) was NOT happy (I threw a bit of a moody bc I really had to peepod and they had no idea how long it would be til they let us pass - I tried to get out and walk the rest of the way with Marina telling the police that we needed to get by on foot immediately bc the baby (Mateo, the real one, not me) needed medicine - it was a no-go - there wasn't even a spot on the side of the road for me to bust a squat and peepod - I was miserable - but the three of us stood next to the bus and had a smoke and eventually they let us through and all was right in my world...I do feel bad in retrospect for not being more compassionate about the driver. I can be so cold-hearted and self-centered sometimes.) - we got to Armenia and I was fine (no peeing of the pants, thank god!) - FaceTimed with Mum out on the balcony - me and Marina to the cinema to see Guerra Mundial Z in Spanish (without English subtitles which was fine by me - it was a zombie flick, I pretty much figured the plot out in the first two minutes) - Marina talked thru the whole thing (like in her normal speaking voice, not in a whisper - fifteen minutes of this and finally I turned to her and said, "Are you black now? Why the fuck are you talking during the movie?!") - at one point she turned to me to say something or explain what was happening (which I didn't need her to do) but said it in Spanish (I whispered back "No habla Español." - BTW - Brad Pitt? not believable as a father)
stopped at the market in the mall (attached to the cinema) for chocolates and pens - I'm so weird - run into Marina's pal Joanne from school - so beautiful! and very sweet. - back to the apartment - smoke on the balcony and to bed by 10:30pm. Whew!
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Jeepin' It
One of my favourite memories from my trip to Armenia in 2013 was when we rode in the jeep through the mountains in Cocora. On the way back Mario and I stood up in the back and I had the opportunity to snap tons of photos. It was so cool just to take it all in and realise that I was in South America. Everything was so gorgeous and serene. Mario, sweetie that he is, snapped a pic of me goofing off. It's still one of my favourite shots of me ever.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Fave Travel Moments
- Landing in Colombia and leaving the plane à la the Beatles by walking down a mobile staircase and right onto the tarmac, then being greeted outside near the taxis by Marina. We screamed (like Beatles fans, no less) and smacked into one another for a great big hug that brought on tears. Our screams also provided a nice little laugh to all the others waiting for their loved ones. After a smoke break and chit chat we drove to Marina's apartment and all I saw out the window were lush green mountains.
- Stepping outside the San Francisco airport and discovering a smoking section - in California! It was a beautiful start to my adventure in Cali with little brother Xavier.
- Being mistaken for an actual Londoner in the West Kensington tube. A fellow foreigner (not American) needed assistance in reaching the Hammersmith line and I was able to help. Hurrah!
- Stepping off the train at Santa Lucia in Venice, walking out the door and discovering that we must be on a film set. It was completely unreal. Sitting on the steps and looking at the canal and hearing so many different languages was truly unbelievable. (By the way, if this moment was indeed from a film, it was clearly starring George Clooney.)
- Seeing Captain EO in Disney - my first 3-D movie! It was 1986 and Michael Jackson was all the rage.
- Helping a German woman and her child, who spoke zero English, find the loo at the train station in Italy with Nicole. We were breaking down language barriers!
- Finding Vlaeykensgang all by myself when I was in Antwerp. It was this little winding alleyway that felt like a sanctuary; so quiet and peaceful. My fave place in the whole city.
- Seeing the Picasso in Daley Plaza that I first saw in The Blues Brothers when Amy and I were kids. We had wanted to visit Chicago for so many years and recreating our own little Blues Brothers tour was heaven.
- Picking up broken tiles on the beach in Positano with Nicole. Positano was a place I had dreamt of seeing and smelling and experiencing since I was seventeen. Stepping onto that beach was surreal and dreamlike. I cannot wait to return again.
- Meeting Natalia on the flight to Dublin and spending the entire next day with her - goofing off, acting like tourists, chatting like old friends, and laughing the whole time.
- Being mistaken for an actual Londoner in the West Kensington tube. A fellow foreigner (not American) needed assistance in reaching the Hammersmith line and I was able to help. Hurrah! 
- Stepping off the train at Santa Lucia in Venice, walking out the door and discovering that we must be on a film set. It was completely unreal. Sitting on the steps and looking at the canal and hearing so many different languages was truly unbelievable. (By the way, if this moment was indeed from a film, it was clearly starring George Clooney.)
- Seeing Captain EO in Disney - my first 3-D movie! It was 1986 and Michael Jackson was all the rage.
- Finding Vlaeykensgang all by myself when I was in Antwerp. It was this little winding alleyway that felt like a sanctuary; so quiet and peaceful. My fave place in the whole city.
- Seeing the Picasso in Daley Plaza that I first saw in The Blues Brothers when Amy and I were kids. We had wanted to visit Chicago for so many years and recreating our own little Blues Brothers tour was heaven.
- Picking up broken tiles on the beach in Positano with Nicole. Positano was a place I had dreamt of seeing and smelling and experiencing since I was seventeen. Stepping onto that beach was surreal and dreamlike. I cannot wait to return again.
- Meeting Natalia on the flight to Dublin and spending the entire next day with her - goofing off, acting like tourists, chatting like old friends, and laughing the whole time.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Walking in Armenia
Just a few random snapshots of when Marina and I walked through her neighbourhood in Colombia. It was pretty fantastic.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Looking Back on 2013
This year brought some major life changing events, such as...
~Mateo is born! This little man brings so much joy to everyone that meets him.
~I ate better and am now on the road to extraordinary good health.
~Began writing my first (and possibly only) work of fiction in the form of a short story.
~I read more - that is always on my New Year's list of things to achieve.
~Got my passport, took my niece to Italy and finally saw Positano. Dream conquered!
~Went to Colombia to finally meet my cousin Mario and lil' Mateo in person.
~Said goodbye to someone I wasn't ready to lose.
~Reached out to my godson and kicked off our new relationship. (It's about freakin' time!)
Aside from losing Donna, 2013 was a spectacular year, but something tells me that 2014 is gonna totally kick ass. Ashlee and Sean are getting married then Ash and I go abroad - I get to see Belgium!!, Marina, Mario, and Mateo move to the States, and god willing to Jersey, and that's just the first half of the year. So long 2013 and hellllloooo 2014!
~Mateo is born! This little man brings so much joy to everyone that meets him.
~I ate better and am now on the road to extraordinary good health.
~Began writing my first (and possibly only) work of fiction in the form of a short story.
~I read more - that is always on my New Year's list of things to achieve.
~Got my passport, took my niece to Italy and finally saw Positano. Dream conquered!
~Went to Colombia to finally meet my cousin Mario and lil' Mateo in person.
~Said goodbye to someone I wasn't ready to lose.
~Reached out to my godson and kicked off our new relationship. (It's about freakin' time!)
Aside from losing Donna, 2013 was a spectacular year, but something tells me that 2014 is gonna totally kick ass. Ashlee and Sean are getting married then Ash and I go abroad - I get to see Belgium!!, Marina, Mario, and Mateo move to the States, and god willing to Jersey, and that's just the first half of the year. So long 2013 and hellllloooo 2014!
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Hey ladies.....
Marina sent me this photo of everyone's favourite little Colombian cutie - Mateo! He's clearly going for the Playgirl centerfold pose and he has nailed it. Oh my goodness do I love this boy. I miss him so much - June 27th can't get here soon enough!
Monday, July 29, 2013
Rio Quindío
I snapped this picture from the back of the jeep when we were leaving Cocora and heading back to Salento. I can't wait to go back to Colombia. It was absolutely stunning.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Things I Learned About Colombia
~The 80s are back and in full swing. It was not unusual to see bold coloured Ray Bans paired with Heavy Metal t-shirts and mullets or worse yet, tails. Do you remember when boys would have super short hair and then a tail? Ew. And we saw one kid with a braided tail. Ugh. I wanted to gouge my eyes out.
~White people are extremely rare and often stared at as though they were encaged at a local zoo. I mean blatantly stared at; to the point where I turned to one person and in my bitchiest Philly girl tone said, "¿¿Qué??" I really wanted to say, "What the fuck is your fucking problem, asshole?" But I decided against it in the end.
~When using the toilet, paper goes in the bin and is not to be flushed. This I already knew from when Marina lived in Costa Rica. It sounds totally gross, since that's not what we do in the States, but in reality, it's no big deal.
~The coffee is sensational. I was a barista for over four and a half years and I made damn good coffee. However, I never drink the stuff and I just can't stand it. Coffee smells heavenly but tastes so bitter. Bleck! But, I was in Colombia, so I had to try it again. To sum up - it's phenomenal. I mean, true, I added a lot of milk and sugar and technically it was probably more like a cup of sugar with a little bit of coffee, but whatever.
~Colombians are really proud of their country. On the flight in, I was one of the few whites and so people would ask me why I was visiting Armenia and then immediately gave me a list of Must-See places. Most popular phrase after hearing I'd never been to Colombia, "Yer gonna love it - you are going to love it!" And I so did.
~Stop signs are largely suggestive. They hardly even slow down. Oh, and seat belts? Practically nonexistent.
~Speeding in a taxi through the city, it would not be unusual to see many motorcycles with a man at the helm, a woman behind him and in her arms an infant. Very scary.
~People are late. Like, they are late a lot. CPT = Colombian People Time.
~Fake breasts are everywhere. Outrageously enormous fake breasts. These gals can't afford to buy cat food but damn if they aren't gonna go get some breasts that, could they lactate, would feed a continent. These things were so crazy huge that I kinda thought, "I may have the chest of a thirteen year old boy, but at least I can walk upright." Jesus wept.
~Colombians are very concerned about pregnant women, women with infants, babies and the elderly. It was completely endearing to see young men give up their seats or compliment Mateo and especially to see people grant blessings to our little guy.
~White people are extremely rare and often stared at as though they were encaged at a local zoo. I mean blatantly stared at; to the point where I turned to one person and in my bitchiest Philly girl tone said, "¿¿Qué??" I really wanted to say, "What the fuck is your fucking problem, asshole?" But I decided against it in the end.
~When using the toilet, paper goes in the bin and is not to be flushed. This I already knew from when Marina lived in Costa Rica. It sounds totally gross, since that's not what we do in the States, but in reality, it's no big deal.
~The coffee is sensational. I was a barista for over four and a half years and I made damn good coffee. However, I never drink the stuff and I just can't stand it. Coffee smells heavenly but tastes so bitter. Bleck! But, I was in Colombia, so I had to try it again. To sum up - it's phenomenal. I mean, true, I added a lot of milk and sugar and technically it was probably more like a cup of sugar with a little bit of coffee, but whatever.
~Colombians are really proud of their country. On the flight in, I was one of the few whites and so people would ask me why I was visiting Armenia and then immediately gave me a list of Must-See places. Most popular phrase after hearing I'd never been to Colombia, "Yer gonna love it - you are going to love it!" And I so did.
~Stop signs are largely suggestive. They hardly even slow down. Oh, and seat belts? Practically nonexistent.
~Speeding in a taxi through the city, it would not be unusual to see many motorcycles with a man at the helm, a woman behind him and in her arms an infant. Very scary.
~People are late. Like, they are late a lot. CPT = Colombian People Time.
~Fake breasts are everywhere. Outrageously enormous fake breasts. These gals can't afford to buy cat food but damn if they aren't gonna go get some breasts that, could they lactate, would feed a continent. These things were so crazy huge that I kinda thought, "I may have the chest of a thirteen year old boy, but at least I can walk upright." Jesus wept.
~Colombians are very concerned about pregnant women, women with infants, babies and the elderly. It was completely endearing to see young men give up their seats or compliment Mateo and especially to see people grant blessings to our little guy.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
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