Here are some photos of the tour.
Above: memorial
Above: Government building.
Above: A famous artist in Medellin sculpted the bird on the left. In the 90s, that bird exploded after someone left a backpack with explosives during a fair. Around 20-30 people were killed, including several children. The city wanted to take the original bird down. The artist called furious, saying to take it down would be to forget the past. Instead, a new bird was built beside the old bird to represent the future.
Above: Plaza de la Luz (Plaza of the Light)
Above: View looking up to Plaza de la Luz.
I had way more fun facts to share, but I have forgotten the details of them. Why? Well, first let me tell you how to have a great time in Colombia. Try to go to the FedEx and mail clothes back to the US! Used clothes I might add! I wanted to ship all my warm weather things as I am going to colder climates and make room in my backpack. The fed ex form had me specify what percentage of each item it was. Ie: 1 skirt: 98% cotton, 2% nylon. This took about 40 minutes. Then, apparently you can't mail clothes back, so I had to classify all the items as "unsolicited gifts". Sorry Mom and Dad, what you thought was perhaps some nice Colombian handicrafts was instead my beach wear.
Anyway, I have been missing American food. One item in particular, Gyros (so not totally American). I saw what I thought was a nice Gyro place. I ordered myself a Kebab, enjoyed a nice meal (it was delicious), watched a movie on Netflix and had an early night. I woke up at around 3am with the worst stomach ache. I will spare the details. I spent all day Tuesday and Wednesday unable to move, missed my Bogota flight and am still in Medellin (today is Friday). The last three days I have spent eating crackers, drinking powerade, and enjoying the fact my Netflix subscription works here.
One thing I absolutely had to do here was get pants. I only brought a few pants (well, had a few left after sending several home) and needed some decent jeans. So today I absolutely had to force myself out of bed to go buy some. Never has shopping been so miserable. Tip: Zara is the one store you can go anywhere and no one will come talk to you. One thing I don't understand is when you say " no hablo espanol" people still talk to you in Spanish. I can get by with basics, but really I hate shopping when sick and really can't stand salespeople hovering over me. I finally got out of there with some jeans and leggings. Nice benefit of being sick: I finally fit into my skinny pant size again at Diesel after binging on caipirinhas in Brazil! Yay!
After that, I figured I would try to eat something beside crackers so I went to try to get some American comfort food. Comfort food for me is my dads Mac n cheese. My dad isn't here and after my experience with FedEx, I didn't want to go that route either. Colombia has KFC. That would have to do. They do not have Mac n cheese! What the heck. They also do not have green beans or mashed potatoes or potato wedges. You can have rice and beans with your chicken. Vomit. I left with nothing and later went to the grocery store and made macaroni with some pathetic excuse for cheese. Yes, I'm bitter when I'm sick.
Right now I am just chilling and trying to psych myself up for next week. A week from yesterday I will be trekking up Macchu Piccu! I am soo so excited, but honestly I did a few laps at the mall today and that almost killed me. Tomorrow it is off to Lima where I meet a friend from college I haven't seen in about 6 years (who I travel with for the next month) then Cuzco for a sun festival, then up the mountain I go. Apparently, you can rent a horse up the trek if you can't make it, but I do not want to be that girl!
Adios Amigos! Wish me luck!!
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