Colombia's North & San Andrés

It has been quite a while since I last posted on this blog. But for those who think that I am still wandering around Colombia, I'm sorry to disappoint you because I have been back in Germany for two months now. I didn't have much time to write at home either. Reuniting with my family and friends, preparing for the medical test, and applying for jobs have kept me busy. That's why it took a few weeks until I found the time to write again ;)

After the rather mediocre weather in Medellin, I finally arrived in the truly dreamlike temperature zone. Although I have to admit that it was almost a bit too warm and humid - you can never please us humans^^
But on the northern coast of Colombia, I discovered another favorite city after the Peruvian city of Arequipa: Cartagena. Founded by the Spaniards in 1533, it is only the old town that fascinates. While chaos reigns around the 13-kilometer-long city wall or a huge skyscraper ("Cartagena's Miami Beach") blocks the view, Cartagena's old town is a different world. Beautiful churches and buildings in colonial style, narrow alleys, small balconies adorned with flowers, and cafes and restaurants in the countless squares that the city has to offer. Even the street vendors (who can sometimes be a bit annoying^^) contribute to an atmosphere where you want to forget about sightseeing tourism and just stroll through the city at any time of the day.
And so, during my visit to the mud volcano "El Totumo" two hours away, I decided against a commercial tour and set off on my own. What sounded quite simple in the guidebook turned out to be a bit more complicated and even involved some panic attacks, because in some areas, a white girl should not wander around alone^^ But even though the tour didn't turn out to be much cheaper without a guide, I had experiences that I would have never had otherwise. Because when you finally sit in one of the public buses (as the only white traveler, mind you, and after a taxi ride of three-quarters of an hour to the bus terminal just to find out that there is no bus going where you actually want to go^^), you have no idea where you should go, let alone whether the bus driver will actually tell you where to get off (which in the end did happen, but at a different place than I wanted^^), and crazy locals get on and off carrying either two-meter-long construction material, a flower arrangement for a funeral, or a waist-high toy horse, and you drive through all kinds of very poor villages in the countryside and everyone stares at you as if you were from another planet, these are already interesting experiences. :D
Visiting the small volcano was definitely worth it because anyone who tells me that they wouldn't even like to bathe in the mud themselves must be lying - there's no other explanation :D So there I lay in a pool of mud, unable to touch the bottom but not sinking either, and above all, unable to move. But as they say, mud is good for the skin, and it was definitely fun. And when there is a lake right next to it where you can at least clean yourself a little bit, you can't complain either ;) And I even made it back to Cartagena safe and sound - and not for the last time, because Cartagena was my destination two more times ;) But as much as I love the city, it was mainly due to my flight connections. But I also didn't complain :P
So I made my way to Santa Marta to embark on a journey to the Tayrona National Park, but also to embark on a 4-day trek to the "Lost City" (Ciudad Perdida). But then my health suddenly went crazy. Because after some stomach problems in Bogota, they caught up with me again in Santa Marta. And if you also get food poisoning on a trek, it doesn't make things any better. So if there's one thing I've learned, it's that being sick at home is terrible, being sick in a hostel is even worse, but being sick on a trek is the worst of all. Because hiking somewhere in the Colombian jungle in high temperatures and even higher humidity is already a tough challenge even when you're healthy ;) But despite all the hardships, it was a beautiful tour!
The "Lost City" is like the Machu Picchu of Peru, but while Machu Picchu is completely overcrowded, you can only reach the so-called Lost City on foot, and believe me, that scares enough people off ;) And so we set off into the rainforest (mostly uphill and downhill, I unsuccessfully looked for relaxed and flat sections^^) to immerse ourselves in the world of history and nature.

However, when I returned to Santa Marta through my half-dead state due to my stomach problems, I finally decided to go to the doctor, who immediately put me on a drip. I felt good that evening and the next day, but already in the second night, it hit me again, so my plan to go to the Tayrona National Park had to be postponed. After a second visit to the doctor and a prescription for antibiotics (which I accidentally found out were antibiotics^^), I was finally able to go, though still quite weakened and far from being completely fit, but I wanted to move on.
The Tayrona National Park is the most famous national park in Colombia and unfortunately, it is also quite crowded with tourists. Their main goal is the dreamlike Caribbean beaches that merge directly into the rainforest. Unfortunately, due to the strong currents in the sea, swimming is only possible in a few areas, but the beaches where swimming is not possible are almost empty. On the other hand, the hike to the few camps was basically a hike among people - not exactly what I had hoped for, but I did meet some cool people from time to time ;) The heavy tropical rain that surprised us in the camp in the evening and soaked our tent even more than it already was definitely brought us together. Because nobody really appreciated a completely flooded camp - it brings people together :D

On my way back to Cartagena, I decided to make a short stop in Barranquilla. The city was mainly described to me as an industrial center with few tourists, but since I would pass by anyway, I thought I would check it out. In the end, it felt more like I ended up in a ghost town that didn't have much to offer (yes, I know, I was warned :D), except for one thing: the really great and interesting Caribbean Museum. Although I am absolutely not a fan of museums, this one somehow captivated me and took me into everything that Colombia has to offer - its history, its people and their mentality, and its nature. So the short stop in Barranquilla was still worthwhile, although I was glad to return to Cartagena, even though I only spent one night there, to fly to the Caribbean island of San Andrés the next day. Although it is actually closer to Nicaragua, it still belongs to Colombia. Even though I had considered spending my last days in South America there and was then discouraged by the prices, I ultimately decided to go and was firmly convinced that I deserved it in the end ;) And I definitely do not regret this decision! Because even though, as many people don't know, I encountered a huge waste problem and some less safe areas, the typical Caribbean beaches absolutely convinced me. The white beaches, the coconut palms, but especially the crystal-clear blue water amazed me. And who could have anything against a beach holiday in the Caribbean? ;) In any case, San Andrés was a beautiful finale for me, because I even fulfilled an absolute dream: going diving! And I loved it so much that I am convinced that I will eventually get a diving license! The underwater world has its charms ;)
And so I made my way back to Cartagena one last time - to spend one last evening and one last night in Colombia before flying back home. And when a street vendor personally designs an individual necklace for you with a stone that bears the Colombian flag to show you that "Colombia loves you," you can leave with peace of mind, knowing that you are always welcome ;)

But with my last return to Cartagena, something much bigger has come to an end: my seven-month break from my German everyday life. And as nice as it is to be back home, I miss South America. But I am incredibly grateful for all the people I met and all the experiences I had. This time was both eventful and educational for me, and I will take it with me into everyday life - with all the memories this time has given me. I wouldn't want to miss a single day!