4/5/2012 Santa Veronica
Hernan had arranged for me to come on a field trip with his 1st year tourism students. The bus picked me up on the highway, a 10 minute walk from the house.
Climbing onboard, a presentation about my time traveling in the Americas was made in Spanish.They seemed to understand. Any way they laughed when one was expected.
Quite rightly the students were really interested in my thoughts on Colombia. “Buenissimo,y la personas aqui son muy amable. Su comida es buena y barato en la calles”. was my reply.
Well we headed off to Volcan el Lodo del Totumo. The students were a great bunch, the bus was like a mobile disco with everyone dancing and singing. I was up for a dance, that latino body rhythm will take some practice. We played a classic game about a flea, it was a such a laugh.
It went something like this:
Pulgo Cantar
Jo tengo una pulga
Que mi picar
Por aqui
Y mi pica poro aca
Como lo no quiero
Si la pasa a Hernan
All the while Hernan was providing good music on the CD. The students were having a ball. He has got a good job.
Their degree is over 5 years. They didn't have a gap year like many do in Australia.
At the volcan most of the students took the mud bath.
Conversation with the girls was great, they are so willing to help with pronunciation and grammar, they all spoke very slowly and clearly.
The afternoon saw Hernan and I head in Barranquilla, I needed a new computer pouch and to use the net.
The evening meal was fish and yucca soup, it was great as expected.
5/5/2012 Santa Veronica
Arising early, some bike maintenance was performed, namely new brake pads and an inner rear tube.
Having problems with the rear brake adjustment Hernan and I headed into Barranquilla to see if a part was available, we needed to go to the old part of the city, it was a vibrant, busy place with people everywhere, definitely working class people. I feel these people play a great role in making cities what they are, you know street vendors etc. One intersection a middle aged guy was dancing in campo gear. He was in the middle of the intersection selling fruit. Hernan informed me he is called Dr Aguacate (avocado). He sells a tidy banana.
Hernan has been so good to me, it is so enjoyable being around the house free to be alone or enjoy their company, visiting the city is easy with a local. He is also helping me with my Español.
Thunder was circling the city, cracking like a whip, then rumbling. All the while, greyness of the sky deepened. The weight of water up there just got to much and down it came. The streets were just moving water, rubbish bags were catching a ride, cyclists were riding in front cog deep torrents.
Some streets in Barranquilla are designated as arroyos (streams) during heavy rain. Hernan has seen buses adrift in these streets. Far beyond their duty of picking up commuters.
Signage nearby was “Arroyo Peligroso”. Dangerous creek.
This was heavy rain, on our bus the driver had no working wipers, common here, he was lucky to see 10m ahead, it was really no problem no doubt a common issue at this time of year.
Arriving at “Exito” a large “could be anywhere in the World” shopping mall we used the net and bought some fruit.
Of all the things from a food point of view it is the greens that are missed the most, very hard to find in plentiful supplies without going to a supermarket.
The streets of Barranquilla are full of cars mostly just as modern as any western city. The big difference is people tooting horns, it appears to be a bit of a game if some one is holding traffic for any reason it is all on, though not aggressive one feels, more just trying to get the rhythm to a new song. It is quite amusing.
The electrical storm had caused a few brief power outages, consequently the traffic lights were not functional. The police are a bit slack in this area. Waiting for the bus home, as guy was trying to control a major intersection with a red rag. It was classic some people obeyed him others didn't, he would yell at them or throw his arms in the air. This all made the wait for the bus insignificant.
Hernan was saying that during the wet many things come to a standstill here including his lectures. Many students wont come to uni if it is raining hard. It is understood.
Hernan had arranged for me to come on a field trip with his 1st year tourism students. The bus picked me up on the highway, a 10 minute walk from the house.
Climbing onboard, a presentation about my time traveling in the Americas was made in Spanish.They seemed to understand. Any way they laughed when one was expected.
Quite rightly the students were really interested in my thoughts on Colombia. “Buenissimo,y la personas aqui son muy amable. Su comida es buena y barato en la calles”. was my reply.
Well we headed off to Volcan el Lodo del Totumo. The students were a great bunch, the bus was like a mobile disco with everyone dancing and singing. I was up for a dance, that latino body rhythm will take some practice. We played a classic game about a flea, it was a such a laugh.
It went something like this:
Pulgo Cantar
Jo tengo una pulga
Que mi picar
Por aqui
Y mi pica poro aca
Como lo no quiero
Si la pasa a Hernan
All the while Hernan was providing good music on the CD. The students were having a ball. He has got a good job.
Their degree is over 5 years. They didn't have a gap year like many do in Australia.
At the volcan most of the students took the mud bath.
Conversation with the girls was great, they are so willing to help with pronunciation and grammar, they all spoke very slowly and clearly.
The afternoon saw Hernan and I head in Barranquilla, I needed a new computer pouch and to use the net.
The evening meal was fish and yucca soup, it was great as expected.
5/5/2012 Santa Veronica
Arising early, some bike maintenance was performed, namely new brake pads and an inner rear tube.
Having problems with the rear brake adjustment Hernan and I headed into Barranquilla to see if a part was available, we needed to go to the old part of the city, it was a vibrant, busy place with people everywhere, definitely working class people. I feel these people play a great role in making cities what they are, you know street vendors etc. One intersection a middle aged guy was dancing in campo gear. He was in the middle of the intersection selling fruit. Hernan informed me he is called Dr Aguacate (avocado). He sells a tidy banana.
Hernan has been so good to me, it is so enjoyable being around the house free to be alone or enjoy their company, visiting the city is easy with a local. He is also helping me with my Español.
Thunder was circling the city, cracking like a whip, then rumbling. All the while, greyness of the sky deepened. The weight of water up there just got to much and down it came. The streets were just moving water, rubbish bags were catching a ride, cyclists were riding in front cog deep torrents.
Some streets in Barranquilla are designated as arroyos (streams) during heavy rain. Hernan has seen buses adrift in these streets. Far beyond their duty of picking up commuters.
Signage nearby was “Arroyo Peligroso”. Dangerous creek.
This was heavy rain, on our bus the driver had no working wipers, common here, he was lucky to see 10m ahead, it was really no problem no doubt a common issue at this time of year.
Arriving at “Exito” a large “could be anywhere in the World” shopping mall we used the net and bought some fruit.
Of all the things from a food point of view it is the greens that are missed the most, very hard to find in plentiful supplies without going to a supermarket.
The streets of Barranquilla are full of cars mostly just as modern as any western city. The big difference is people tooting horns, it appears to be a bit of a game if some one is holding traffic for any reason it is all on, though not aggressive one feels, more just trying to get the rhythm to a new song. It is quite amusing.
The electrical storm had caused a few brief power outages, consequently the traffic lights were not functional. The police are a bit slack in this area. Waiting for the bus home, as guy was trying to control a major intersection with a red rag. It was classic some people obeyed him others didn't, he would yell at them or throw his arms in the air. This all made the wait for the bus insignificant.
Hernan was saying that during the wet many things come to a standstill here including his lectures. Many students wont come to uni if it is raining hard. It is understood.
Volcan el Lodo del Totumo a small vent outside Barranquilla a mud bath at the top.
A fun day was had with everso friendly tourism students from Universidad Atlantico
Traffic controller with no control, very entertaining, Barranquilla
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Great views
Juliana to the left is copying me some popular Colombian music while I am giving her some of my favorites,how she"ll like Neil Young or Wishbone Ash will be interesting.
Margarita getting one of the pups already for its new owner
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