I have a number of things to update you all on, and I’m not entirely sure where to start. I’m suffering from sensory overload here in Cartagena, and as giddy as I am day-to-day, it’s making it difficult to piece together a narrative of the city or its people. I don’t presume to think that I will be an expert in coastal Colombian society in two months, but I work pretty hard to develop an understanding of the places I […]
Here in the walled city, dance is a way of life. It is a language of its own. There are more flavors and styles than I knew were possible (not that I can distinguish many of them, yet). It’s not unusual to see people dancing in the street in the evenings, or on a sidewalk by the bay, as was my case when I learned how to dance merengue this weekend. Colombians are born dancing. There’s no other way to […]
My new home is magical. It’s chaotic. It’s musical. It’s messy. It’s delicious. It’s noisy. It’s muy caliente. It pulses with a rhythm completely foreign to me, and I’m not just talking about salsa. Cartagena is unlike any place I’ve ever been, but I don’t feel alienated or uncomfortable. Quite the opposite: I feel like the city has welcomed me with open arms and un fuerte abrazo. It’s also highly likely that I’m going to gain forty pounds over the […]
It’s impossible to get through late December and early January without hearing talk of resolutions, weight loss, self-improvement, and budgets. Even though I find myself rolling my eyes at the fleeting once-a-year ambition, and most of it is forgotten by Groundhog Day anyway, it’s hard not to get hopeful and dreamy on January 1. The best part about resolutions is that there is so much room for creativity and personalization, beyond the usual “lose ten pounds” or “stop watching Jersey […]
Categories: Colombia, Thailand, Touchy Feelies, Travel, Volunteerism
“Poor Niagara.” – Eleanor Roosevelt, upon seeing Iguazu Falls for the first time There are few things in life worth a twenty hour bus ride. Despite the comedy of errors that accompanied me there, Iguazu Falls is definitely one of them. I decided to book my trip to Iguazu from the travel agency* desk within my hostel in Buenos Aires, which was probably my first big mistake. I should have taken a cue from the consistent apathy of the hostel […]
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