We had a funny thing happen while relaxing on the Bocagrande Beach on Wednesday. We had been politely and successfully refusing goods and services from the countless vendors when two older women approached us. They asked us if we would like a massage, we responded that we would not.
The older of the two women took my hand and the other took Keith's. As we protested they started to rub green lotion on our hands kneading our fingers and palms. Soon they are moving up the arm, we are still insisting that we don't want or need a massage. By the time they hit our shoulders and a third woman started removing Keith's shoes, we were done for. It felt great! Soon Keith's shirt was off and he was moaning with pleasure. These three women had magic fingers!
When they just happened to drop the cost of these massages in our conversation, $10,000. Colombian pesos ($50.00 US) I immediately told them to stop. We had not brought but $15.00 US or so with us to the beach, nor any credit cards. We gave them about 13.50 US, which was really fair for the time spent. They proceeded to fight among themselves when arguing with us was getting them nowhere.
The tension they worked out of us returned for a moment, but when they moved on we had a nice chat with the woman sitting on the log under the tree beside us. As we gazed out over the sea she told us about her immigration to Quebec twelve years ago after her husband was killed in the drug wars here and son also died in an accident in a well. She was visiting family in Colombia and gave us her family's phone # to call for a possible family stay in Santa Marta where we are now.
We took a four hour bus ride here yesterday, Thursday. It's a much smaller town than Cartagena, it has a tourist presence but is not a tourist trap like Cartagena. This is a good spot to stay as you take day trips to different beautiful beaches, a farming community in the high mountains to the east and also a nearby national park, Tayrona. We plan to do all of the above. Today we traveled with a Canadian couple, Mark & Lori to Taganga, a small fishing village only 15 minutes to the north.
This young man with his floating ice cream 'barge' was working hard for his day's wages OR maybe just keeping the ice cream frozen in the heat of the afternoon?
We took a boat ride around to another bay and sat in the shade of palm trees all afternoon talking with these world travelers. Mark started touring the world for months at a time in the mid 70s so he had many tales to share when probed. They have just been in Panama so he sat down with me when we returned to the Hotel Aluna to give specific recommendations.
There is a third floor open kitchen here which we have used for meals tonight and last night as well as breakfast. We shared our beef fajitas last night with a german and eggs mexican style this morning with a woman from North Carolina who teaches other senior citizens how to backpack around the world. Interesting people all! Last night as we cooked and Keith chopped veggies for a big batch of Pico de Gallo, we enjoyed conversation with a young couple from London. They were working via internet this morning when Keith snapped this cute picture.
Tomorrow and Sunday we will take other day trips. We tentatively plan to move on this next Monday, but we'll see how the wind blows. And blow it does, with force each night here in Santa Marta.
Enjoy this video of 'dancing in the streets' Cartagena style.
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