Homeward Bound

Im in Madrid airport at the mo waiting for my connection home. Ring me if you want to meet up over the next few weeks
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Futbol

Went to an ostrich farm which was fun but rather disappointingly the restauant wasnt open on Saturday for us to try some. We legged it back to Bogota to party for our last Sat in South America but we were too wrecked to go out in the end. Losers, heh? It wasnt a total loss. I did spend the night learning how to play Texas Holdem.

Yesterday went to watch Colombia play Brazil in the 2010 South African World Cup football qualifiers. Was so excited to see Brazil in the flesh as they had some of their big names playing, Ronaldhino & Robhino etc but to be honest, they really didnt bring it. Colombia were all over them and deserved to win, but it ended a disappointing nil all draw. Great experience though. Watching futbool in SA must be unlike in any other country. The atmosphere was incredible despite the fact that there was a thunder storm and it pissed rain throughout the whole game and everyone was soaked.

Was too wrecked to go out last night for my last night in SA, so just packed my bag. Took longer than youd think. Im way over the weight so had to dump a load of clothes.

Northern Colombia

I spent a few great days on the Carribean coast. Its absolutely roasters up there but really humid and there was thunderstorms every day with the most incredible thunder and lightning Ive ever seen. My surgeon told me to stay away from the sun, sand, salt water and rain so heading up there probably wasn´t the brightest idea but I was so bored of Bogota and all mates were up there. It worked out really well. I got to visit two lovely towns, Santa Marta and Taganga and then I spent a few days in Tyrona National Park which was an amazing experience. You have to trek through the National Park´s forests and jungles and beaches to get to two isolated beaches that are not accessible by any road. There is a little community living there and gringos can stay overnight in hammocks. There is nothing to do there during the day except sunbath, snorkel or explore the surrounding area but its like paradise. The beaches were the most beautiful Ive ever seen and getting there is like something out of the movie `The Beach´. Definitely one of the most special things Ive done in South America.

I had to wear the cast the whole time and my face was still fairly bruised and swollen which was a good talking piece. Its lucky Im not shy about the surgery. I had to hightail it back to Bogota to get the cast off a few days ago which was a shock. My nose looks completely different. Its hard to get used to staring back at a different reflection. The swelling takes three months to go down so I still look a little strange and its hard to tell the final result but overall Im pleased and I think I made the right decision. Time will tell. The final final result wont be seen for a whole year though!

The poor girls Im travelling with have been sick in bed for a few days. Luckily a wicked Ozzie bloke Ive met a few times along the way arrived at the hostel so weve been hanging out together for our last few days in South America. He also flys home on Monday. At the moment Im in a colonial town with him 4 hours outside Bogota called Villa de Leyba. In Ireland I probably woudn´t travel 4 hours for 1 night away but travelling here has completely changed my perspective on time and distance.

Real Colombian Experience

I was walking back to my hostel one night and two Colombian guys attacked me...................................................................No, thats not true. Its all self inflicted. I opted for a real Colombian experience and got a nose job while I was here. Ive been recouperating in a clinic for the past few days. My next appointment isn´t for a few days so Im off to the Carribean coast for the next few days in an attempt to see a bit more of Colombia while Im here.

More Bogota

Spent yesterday just walking around the north town which isn´t very exciting as its just full of airline offices and expensive hotels. I did negotiate the tram though which is actually quite a feet. My experience, contrary to many stories Ive heard, is that Colombians are NOT helpful.

Today treated myself to a massage. The masseuse wore surgical gloves the whole time. Weird! and she wondered why I couldn´t relax. Went shopping..again. Im a brat. And then went to the cinema. Don´t bother seeing Paranoia. Its rubbish. It didn´t help either that I was surrounded by young couples with nowhere else to go. Felt guilty about not doing anything cultural so went to the Gold Museum and then to an artisans market. After 5 months here, all the markets are the same , selling the same hippy shit, which I have no interest in. I must be the only backpacker travlling that has resisted the urge to adorn my arms with rubbishy friendship braclets you used to give your freinds when you were 12.

Bogota

Im in Bogota at the mo. The bus journey was quite hard. Its really expensive to go direct so I choose to get a bus to the Ecuadorian border, taxi across to the Colombian border and then a bus to Bogota. It took about 26 hours in total. Id done similar bus journeys in Argentina but its been months since Ive had to do one that long so it has taken its toll. Im absolutely knackered today. Quiet one tonight I think. I was finally (after 3 weeks of calling Iberia every day), able to book my flight home today. I´ll be home Oct 15th for those that want to meet up and get all the stories I couldn´t write on the blog........

More Quito

Ive been having a great laugh the last few days. I met up with the gang Ive been traveling with for ages after a short break apart. They have headed off to Colombia but I should meet up with them again along the way. Quito has loads of backpackers which makes a nice change from a lot of the places Ive been in Ecuador. Im spending most of my time with a funny Ozzie bloke that I met originally in Banos. I feel like Ive known him for years so we are having great craic together.

Ive been to loads of museums and churches, the best was an art museum showing an Andy Worhol exhibition which was really interesting. Also climbed the church tower which gives a great view of the old city.

We went to the Equator which was really underwhelming. Basically just a line and a monument. Definitely missable. And then we went to the real equator which was just down the road. Apparantly they didn´t have GPS when they drew the first line. So we paid again into the real line which was quite funny as you can balance an egg on a nail head and you can watch the water fall straight through a plug hole without it swirling.

Went to a Turkish baths today which wasn´t great cause the sauna and the steam rooms weren´t very hot which kind of defeats the purpose.

The best thing Ive done since I got here was go to visit the womens prison. We went to visit an Irish girl but it turns out she had already been released so we just chatted to the other foreigners who were all in for drug trafficking. It was very surreal but an incredible experience. We got to mingle with all the prisoners in the yard and their common room and we even got a tour of their bedrooms. The conditions were awful. The prison is doubly oversubscribed and overrun with children who are allowed live with their criminal mothers. Can you imagine growing up in a prison? The food looked terrible and the place was awash with inmates wandering around like zombies on drugs. Most of the foreigners are in there for 8 years minimum. They were all in fairly good spirits as we brought a load of chocolate, cigarettes, fresh veg etc and we all gave them money as well.

Apart from that Ive just been going out. The bars and clubs are amazing here. So are the shops. Ive bought a load of clothes which Ive no space for in my bag but Im just so sick of all the stuff Ive been wearing non-stop for the last 5 is it? months.

Im prob going to head to Colombia myself tomorrow if I can get my act together.