Quick notes…

I’m back in the hostel getting ready for an early sleep. I have to catch a bus to Medellin in the morning. I just wanted to run through a few quick notes.

I’m really enjoying having access to wifi like this in the hostels. I was talking to a couple of other people who have been traveling South America over the last 3 months and said it’s pretty standard now. It makes staying connected and sharing travels really easy.

I love arepos. Arepos are these small pancake like snacks that you can get just about anywhere. With cheese or ham or just plain. I have been doing a lot of snacking and not so much eating big meals.

I ate meat on a stick tonight. It was delicious.

I have only seen one western fast food restaurant and that was a McDonalds in downtown Bogota.

I’m leaving Bogota tomorrow but I feel like I was just about to get settled in and comfortable here. It has been nothing special though.

I realize that it takes me a few days to adjust to traveling alone. I am never comfortable until the 3rd or 4th day. I even thought to myself in bed last night, why do I do this to myself, what am I gaining? And then eventually a day comes along and you get smacked in the face with a reminder… I haven’t quite had that night yet but I’m gradually getting there.

This hostel is ridiculous with the noise at night. However, it is what it is and I learned tonight that I need to let it happen. I can’t complain. People are just having a good time, even if those people are the employees.

Colombia LOVES Guns ‘n Roses. I have heard more GnR in the last 3 days than I have heard in a long time. Use Your Illusion 1&2 are practically on repeat in the hostel and street performers and easy listening stations love to play “Patience.”

I am surprised at the music choice of Colombians in Bogota. I expected to hear a lot more hip-hop and reggaeton. Instead, I find that rock music is far more widespread.

Christmas is huge here.

I’m tempted to sit down to some video poker at a casino if I can work up the nerve to walk in.

I accidentally ordered a hot dog as my first meal. I asked for empanadas and they didn’t have any so I panicked and pointed to “perro caliente,” After taking a second to read what I just ordered I realized it was just a hot dog. It was interesting though, it had salsa and cheese on it with fried plantain chips underneath it. At least it was something different.

Tinto and aromatica are good. I’ll have to talk more about that again.

Colombians are incredibly diverse. Everywhere I look I see someone that doesn’t look like the next person. It’s crazy.

I think because it is so diverse I haven’t really felt out of place yet.

And yes, the women are beautiful.

Buenos noches!