Colombia

Our first stop was Medellin, the city of “eternal spring”, how is called due to its all year round spring weather!

We landed in this beautiful city in the evening of July 24th and happily met with my friend Emily and her dad at the hotel.

We went out to get dinner in Parque Lleras where we all shared a big meat plate with some additional lemonade drinks. We were all super tired so we went back to the hotel and fell right asleep. Today was very short since we got to Colombia quite late but I’m sure that we will have a lot of fun things to do tommorow.

-Alexandra Sandu

When we got out of the metro we headed to the cathedral metropolitana where we saw a gathering of pigeons waiting for food. We took a couple pictures and the left to see the rest of the area. We stopped by a fruit shop where we got minature bananas.

It was gettin kind of hot so we found the perfect place to enjoy and to have shade, the botanical garden! We wandered around for a while taking pictures and then stumbled apon a native tribe showing off their dances. We also ran into a couple of iguanas and ducks. By the time we finished we headed out to eat some dinner. The food here is sooooo good. Well that’s all for today but their is always still tommorow.

-Alexandra Sandu

Day 3

Once again we woke up super early to go too dentist! I was going to get braces but ended up not since we didn’t have enought time. All I did was get a checkup.

After we went to Pueblito Paisa. It is a beautiful old Colombian town at the top of the mountain. We went in some houses while we saw some traditional rooms and how they looked like. We got really hot so we ordered a passion fruit icee. We roamed around for a bit and then went back to the hotel.

We rested for a while and then left to go get dinner. We ate some appetizers since we weren’t that hungry and then left back to the hotel. We also ran into a giant version of a french bulldog. Anyways we only have 1 more day in Medellin so we will be sure to make the most of it.

-Alexandra Sandu

Day 4

We woke up early in the morning to go to the airport to Cartagena and sadly leave Medellin. Although Medellin was fun we were so excited to go to Cartagena and explore the city by the beach. At the airport we asked if we could take a picture with the police that were patrolling the outside of the airport. We hoped on the plane and left to Cartagena.   

We got there around 4 p.m. so we didn’t have time to do much we had a really early dinner since we were really hungry and then went to a friend’s house where we saw his dancing birds. It was late by then so we went back to the hotel and went to sleep. I’m so sure that we will have lot’s of exciting activities tomorrow and fun things to do!

-Alexandra Sandu

Day 5

In the morning we got breakfast which was sooooo delicious since they served us eggs and pineapple juice which all tasted great. We walked around for a bit and then stopped by some church where we saw the place they used to decapitate people with and where their blood and head fell. 

Right before the beach we headed to the wall that separates the city inside and the beaches outside it. We walked on it for a little bit but then got too hot since the stone was burning. The wall was meant for the soldiers to see if anyone was coming in Cartagena.

We got so hot that we decided to head to the beach and cool off for a while and get a drink. After we were done we got dinner and then went back to the hotel. We were so tired that we all fell asleep instantly.

-Alexandra Sandu

Day 6

We had to wake up really early to go to banana beach which was so beautiful since the water was so clear and warm. We also went snorkeling since the the corals were so close to shore. We also got lunch were we had an amazing virgin piña colada. My dad “caught lobsters” (it actually means he just took the lobsters from the plate and took a picture with it.

We left pretty late so we ate dinner right after we got back from the beach. We ate a really good taco dinner with a killer passion fruit smoothie. Today was so great and I know tomorrow will be too!

Day 7

Once again we had to wake up early so the sun wouldn’t kill us. We were going to castle San Filipe and since it’s built by stone it traps heat quickly so the only way we could visit it with dying of heat was to go early in the morning when it was cooler. It took us a while to climb all the way to the top but it was worth it when we finally got there since we could see the entire city. It was starting to get hot so we ate a popsicle and then left.    

We got hot really quickly so we grabbed a bite at a restaurant for lunch and then went to the pool for a “quick” dip. These past couple days we have been rehearsing a show in the pool so we showed it to our dads since it was our last full day in Cartagena. We all thought it looked pretty cool.

After we were refreshed we went out to buy some authentic columbian white dresses. We went back to the hotel to rest for a bit and then went out for our last dinner in Cartagena. We weren’t that hungry so we all just shared an appetizer and had some drinks. Sadly this was our last full day in Cartagena but I’m sure we will be back one day for more adventures. 

-Alexandra Sandu

Day 8

We got up early in the morning to sadly leave Cartagena but happily go to San Andres. We quickly ate breakfast and then headed to the airport. We got a new bento box for this school year and some chocolates and then headed off to San Andres.

When we got to San Andres it was around dinner time so we quickly went to the apartment, left our things, and then headed off to find a restaurant. We stumbled across a bright and colorful path way which led us to a restaurant by the port. By the time we finished we were all past out and ready to fall asleep. Well, today was quite short but tomorrow will be full of adventures, I’m sure of it. 

-Alexandra Sandu

Day 9

Today we had a list of activities to do. First we had to wake up early to walk to the beach. It didn’t take us too long since we were close to the beach. We hoped on a boat and then set off to a small island near by where we planned on going snorkeling. It was so much fun since the water was so clear and turquoise and there was so much fish. We even saw a manta ray. We snorkeled for a while and then snorkeled for 10 minutes to another island which we could’ve walked to in the water.

Once we finished we were all super tired so we rested for a bit, took a shower, played in the pool, and played some games of poker and black jack. We were all hungry by then so we set off to go get dinner. We all got some drinks, shared a plate, and then went to sleep. I’m so excited for tomorrow but you’ll have to wait a little bit to see what it is that we’re doing. 

-Alexandra Sandu

Day 10

Today is the day I have been waiting for, the day where we go diving! It was so much fun. We are doing two dives today and two dives tommorow. Today we saw so many fish and we even saw baby caamari (squids). The second dive was more shallow than the first so we saw more fish and they were closer to the surface. All the fish were going so close to us since they thought we all had food since one person did.

We were really tired after diving so we rested for an hour or two, went in the pool, and then headed out for dinner. We ate and then prepared our. selves for another day of diving.

-Alexandra Sandu

Day 11

Once again we had to wake up early to go diving but this time our friends are coming with us to try diving, they ended up really liking it. We saw a sting ray which was so cool. My dad ended up making a short film with his go pro. When we finished we looked all over the place for a place to go paragliding. Sadly we couldn’t find any but we are sure to find a place next vacation.

After we rested once again since a day of diving really tires you out. After we came back from dinner we packed to go to Bogota the next morning. By San Andres, we will miss you!

Day 12

We had to wake up fairly early in the morning to go to the airport to leave for Bogota. We packed our bags the night before and finished packing this morning. There was not much to do in the airport so we just hanged since we got there two hours early.

When we got there it was pretty late so we checked in, got a late lunch at a restaurant near the hotel, and then we rested. For dinner we went to a really cool restaurant that had 5 floors and a 89 page menu. Once we finished we fell right asleep and into the next morning.

Day 13

I woke up pretty late since I was really tired from the night before. I was so rushed that I forgot to have breakfast! Since today was our last day on this trip we decided to relax and have a girls day. We went to a spa where we got our nails done and where Emily got her haircut. Our dads even tried facials. After we were done we went back to the restaurant where we ate last night since it was so good and then preped for the airport. Bye Coumbia, hope to see you soon!