Mom and I were invited over to my friends Javi and Carla's house for a friends and family Christmas Eve. Christmas day in Uruguay is not a very big deal. Most of the big presents are given to the children on the three kings day (Jan 6). In addition, the magic of Christmas comes at … Continue reading A Very Special Christmas Eve
New Friends
Day 10 – Salento
Catie and I made a plan to get up fairly early and make our way to the Cocora Valley to hike to the wax palms, the national tree of Colombia. I got up a little later than I anticipated, while Catie met a new friend at breakfast. Our duo quickly became a trio. Catie, Heather, … Continue reading Day 10 – Salento
Days 9 – Salento’s Coffee
My favorite place in Colombia was definitely Salento. Even though it took an entire day to get there and I wasn't feeling very well, Salento really stole my heart. Nestled between Medellin and Bogota, the coffee district is becoming more and more popular with tourists. The mountain view is simply stunning, and there are plenty … Continue reading Days 9 – Salento’s Coffee
Day 7 – Cartagena and the Rosario Islands
Rosario Islands So remember that 3am stumbling home to bed part? Probably not the best idea. I had a 5:30am wake-up call at the hostel because I had signed up to tour the Rosario Islands. I got my tired and still slightly drunk ass out of bed, put on my swimsuit and grabbed the sack … Continue reading Day 7 – Cartagena and the Rosario Islands
Day 6: Cartagena
I love a good beach town, and Cartagena did not disappoint. Although criticized for being too touristy, Cartagena is worthy of a trip when traveling through Colombia. But fair warning: you will fall in love with the place. Walking Tours: Every major Colombian city has free walking tours. They highlight the main attractions while providing … Continue reading Day 6: Cartagena
Day 5: Medellin to Cartagena
I woke up really excited. Today was the final for the world cup: France vs. Croatia. Although my friend's love of the underdog win ran through my head for a bit, making Croatia appealing, I was going for France. I was going to watch the game with the Swed at some random bar, but I … Continue reading Day 5: Medellin to Cartagena
Day 3: Medellin
Night I arrived in Medellin at around 8:00 at night. The flight from Bogota is super short. In fact, if you have some time in Colombia, I recommend taking a bus to Medellin instead. It is super economical and you can do an overnight easily. I was on Vivia Colombia. It was a super cheap … Continue reading Day 3: Medellin
James (pronounced Ha-mess)
I love hostels. The best part about hostels are the instant friends you make. It is a community in and of itself. The notion of sharing a living space infuses into the residents until you cannot help but make conversation and share new experiences with complete strangers. Ana, Katie, and I were sitting on the … Continue reading James (pronounced Ha-mess)
The Wine Experience
The amazing Tavis organizes wine events through the ever fabulous Internations, which brings international people together through community events. This month the Wine Explorers of Montevideo went to a little wine bar in Mercado del Puerto called The Wine Experience. This is an amazing venue! It is well decorated, super open for mingling and conversations, and … Continue reading The Wine Experience
Teach Abroad Coyle 