Colombian family | The Wanderer

Colombia (Part 13)-Cartagena, My Journey to Colombia comes to an end

Posted by sbarrymore

on August 22, 2008 at 6:41 pm

On Thursday, my next to the last day in Cartagena, Jenny insisted in taking the afternoon to accompany me into the center of the city to do some shopping and just generally show me around to some places I might not have seen. Jenny had lived in Cartagena for many years and seemed to know just about everyone. She seemed to enjoy introducing me to all her friends. She even took me to her bank and introduced me. Have to admit, I kind of liked this new found “celebrity status”.

She took me to a number of stores and gave me her opinion on many of the products on the shelves. She would tell me which products were overpriced and which ones she thought were reasonable.The most interesting store was one named “Exito”. It was like the Wal-Mart of Cartagena, but on a smaller scale. She walked me down aisle after aisle often times running into people she knew. All of her friends were extremely polite to me and all wanted to know my opinion of Colombia

Exito store, the Wal-Mart of Cartagena

After spending the afternoon shopping, we stopped at a sidewalk café for coffee. Jenny told me about her life and her goals for her family. Sitting in a sidewalk café, far away from home, drinking rich Colombian coffee with a relative stranger with whom you have shared their home for only 72 hours, reaches deep into your travel soul. Whether it is going to language schools with other people from around the world, talking with Dr. Olga in her country home, walking the streets of Cartagena with Jenny, or having Germán giving us the “Pablo Escobar tour”, this type of travel in my opinion, is about as good as it gets.

Here’s a twilight shot of one of the town squares where the Colombianos would stroll through in the evening.

The next morning it was time to leave Cartagena. Jenny and Gustavo wanted to take us to the airport. We agreed, but only with the promise that we would help with the cost of the gas. At the airport, they insisted on taking us inside, patiently waited for us while we stood in the ticket line, and wanted some last minute conversation with us before we cleared security. They were genuinely interested in helping us and making sure we left Colombia with a positive image of the country and the people. I can assure you, we did. It was a great trip and one that I will remember forever. I hope you enjoyed this blog about Colombia. I am interested in any and all comments or questions you may have. Feel free to post a comment here.

My next series of blogs will be about a recent trip through Southern Mexico.

Until the next trip,

–Steve

See my other travel blogs on NewsOk.com:

Colombia:http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/colombia/ Mexico:http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/mexico/

Caribbean island of Barbuda: http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/barbuda/

San Juan with a 5 hour layover: http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/san-juan-puerto-rico/

Fly around the U.S. for the day: http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/day-trip/

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Colombia (Part 12), Cartagena, The hospitality of my Colombian family

Posted by sbarrymore

on August 15, 2008 at 10:05 pm

We would usually return to our respective homes in the evening for dinner with the families we were staying with in Cartagena, Colombia . This is where it could get really lively because I never knew who would be at my house for dinner. Jenny had 4 children, 2 sons and 2 daughters who were always stopping by. Both the daughters were married. Gustavo was engaged to be married in July. Everyone was very friendly and we enjoyed each other’s company. They were very curious about my life.The one thing I enjoyed about Jenny’s family is that they were all very well read and enjoyed discussing the political and economic issues of Colombia and Latin America which is also something I like. Their Spanish was at times very difficult to follow and my accent was at times difficult for them. When they got excited about a topic there was no slowing them down! Often times I just sat there nodding as if I understood them while they left me in the dust.

The food is my house was very good and quite diversified. For breakfast I would usually have juice, Colombian coffee, and fruit or eggs. One morning for breakfast, I was served a toasted ham and cheese sandwich with fruit. Strange combination, but good. I would eat lunch out everyday and dinner at the apartment. The family usually didn’t eat with me but someone in the house was always at the table talking with me. Here is representative photo of breakfast one morning. That is eggs in the plate with a couple of bowls of fruit. Jenny was always concerned about how I felt about my accommodations and she went out of her way to make sure I was comfortable. There was no air conditioning in the apartment and it was very hot, but I kept the windows open all the time. She seemed concerned that I never turned on the fan in my room so she would come in every night and turn it on for me.

One day while I was doing homework in my room, Jenny insisted I come out to meet a friend of hers. Her friend was a vendor of homemade desserts and sold them door to door. Her bowl of desserts was full and she balanced it on her head. Jenny insisted we take some pictures. I bought some desserts to share with Jenny. Talk about carbs!! I was on a sugar high for hours after that. Here is a pic of the vendor and her desserts. She looks a little unhappy. I guess you would be too if you walked around all day with that bowl of desserts on your head!