Gimmesanity

Our last week in Colombia, our cousin, Carolina, convinced us to visit Nirvana, a protected park near Palmira (where my family lives.) Not knowing what to expect, we ended up totally unprepared for the trip. First, we were all wearing flip-flops. We thought it was going to be a lovely stroll through palm trees and banana plants. Ha! We were very, very wrong. Also, we brought the kids. Kids + short legs + steep hills = tired adults.

Even through the exhaustion (and, um, slight hangovers…*ahem*), it was impossible to not be awed by the beauty of the place. As we walked, Mother Nature obnoxiously screamed in our faces, letting us know that there is so much more out there than brick and cement buildings. We felt tiny and vulnerable as we walked past impossibly tall trees, brushed by prickly plants, and spotted freakishly colorful bugs. Speaking of colors, I never knew there were so many shades of green out there, and reds, and yellows, and blues…Ahh, we need to go back.

There was also a bird sanctuary at the top of one of the many hills. We walked through, marveled at the size of these amazing birds. They sang and squawked, some of them seemed to tease us and dare us to poke a finger through, C’mon, just one little finger.

Due to our lack of proper footwear (and having to carry around a drooly, cute, but very, very heavy Bean and her delicate, but just as heavy, big sister), we stopped the hike early and went to eat. It was the best meal ever. Fresh seafood, rice, salad, sancocho, plantains, and all of it washed down with freshly-squeezed lemonade. The food in this country is, somehow, more than back in the States. The vegetables taste fresher, the seafood like the sea, the poultry tastes like real chicken. No wonder we came back fluffier.

An invigorating hike, a satisfying meal, and a cuppa cafe to round out a perfect day. The park is such an aptly-named place.

Our second week in Colombia, my cousin, Claudia, planned a trip to Calima, a huge man-made lake in the Valle region of Colombia.

Let me preface this by saying that my cousin - she kicks ass. Seriously. In one day, she found us an amazing mansion overlooking the lake, with a jacuzzi tub, pool, steam room, pool table, outdoor patio, HUGE dining room and kitchen…my gosh, I was in heaven. Since it was the beginning of the off-season, we got a ridiculous price for three days and two nights.

I spent many hours sitting here:

Alan spent his afternoons doing this:

And my nights were spent doing this:

Close your eyes, pretend you’re in that warm jacuzzi with me, a shot of aguardiente on a chord around your neck, cuz you’re classy like that.

See how fun it was?

heh.

On our second day, Alan and I headed out to town with the home’s caretaker and purchased a wee piggy.

Ohai! We are cute and delicious.

I won’t point out which one we picked out. I also won’t post the pictures of the dinner-in-the-making process cuz’ Alan made me promise that I wouldn’t. Harumph.

However, I will tell you that he was damn good roasted with a side of some yucca, hot sauce, and an ice cold beer. ‘Nuff said.

Monkey and I also went horseback riding. It was Monkey’s first ‘real’ horsie ride and she loved it so much that she went a second time with Alan. The horse that we were given was having a bit of lazy day and insisted on lagging behind the rest of the group. I didn’t mind since it gave Monkey a chance to get more comfortable on the horse.

We played pool to amazing views of the valley.

Oh, and we had a trampoline, too. And, no, I did not go on it under the influence. Hopping on it sober was more than difficult enough for me, thanks.

Three weeks flew by, and now we’re back in the States.
We got in early Saturday morning….like OMFG-why-are-we-awake-this-early morning. But, we made it safe and sound and, although both the girls had a screaming episode on the plane (making us those parents for a few minutes while we tried to quiet an exhausted baby and a fed-up toddler), they were actually pretty great travelers and have both earned themselves a new pony.

Being in Colombia this time around with the whole family was amazing. The last time I went home, Alan was unable to fly to Palmira to meet my family. This time, though, he had the pleasure of enduring three weeks with some of the craziest, funniest, most party-loving folks around.

We were even able to get away several nights spawn-free and enjoy time as adults, without any bottoms to wipe or tantrums to calm. It was great.

Our livers still hurt.

There was lots of drinking, dancing, laughing, eating…oooh, so much food was consumed. Too much. We’ve come back with a few souvenir pounds wrapped around our middles. But, it was worth it.

Please remind me of that when I’m out freezing my ass off on early-morning winter runs around the park.

I have stories to tell and pictures to show. For now, I just wanted to pop in and say hello. I’m back. I’ve missed you all. And, please, somebody make the ice go away so I can run off these pounds and get back into my jeans.