Saturday we just did our own thing for most of the day and then Amy and I went to a Salon around the corner from where we were staying and got our hair done. Amy’s turned out really pretty and my was good to, but I just had her straighten it because it’s so hot and humid there, I don’t even try and straighten it on my own. We got our hair done because that night was the main party at one of the hotels (thankfully with air conditioning!) in Villavicencio.
There was a welcome party on Friday night.
Carlos’ brother Willy, cousin Fernando (Chacho) and Carlos
All of the cousins
There was a huge downpour which helped keep it cooler. The kids (and adults) loved to look out at it.
Dancing
Cumbia!
And Mauricio and me!
Just Hangin’ Out
Being silly with Abuelo (Grandpa)
We just spent Thursday hanging around close to the apartment and getting a pedicure and manicure for super cheap!
Friday we headed to another city, Villavicencio, which is about 2 1/2-3 hours away. We started in Bogota, nestled in the top of the Andes mountains and wound our way down through the mountains until coming out in Villavicencio which is at the base of the Andes and the beginning of vast tropical plains, or Llano, like a savanna. Google it for more info! Here’s a little picture recap of the journey:
The trip used to be several hours but is now a lot shorter because of several tunnels they built (one was already there.)
This is the first time I’ve really seen the inside of them because I’ve been pregnant the last two times we went and I’m extremely claustrophobic when pregnant. I panicked really bad the first time and so after that would just jack up the music in my headphones, close my eyes, open the window and breathe deeply. They were actually pretty neat!
This one takes a couple of minutes to drive through and is the first of the four. It’s shortly after Bogotá and when you come out, you have a beautiful view of the valleys below.
This is entering the old tunnel:
Lots of cool buildings. I love the balconies!
Awesome bridges:
Leaving the last tunnel which takes about 5 minutes to drive through:
As soon as you leave the tunnel, you are in Villavicencio!
This is Carlos’ Aunt’s and Uncle’s house where we stayed. Thanks again! ¡Gracias!
We got back last week but theboys got sick and then I got sick yesterday, so sorry it’s taken awhile to get pics up. I have a gazillion pictures and was just going to post ten from each day.. but I can’t narrow them down. So…. You’ll have to bear with me!
We had a great time and were sad that we could only stay one week. We went down to celebrate Carlos’ grandmother’s 80th birthday. Almost everyone from up here went down and they had a big three-day party. It was awesome. I’ve said it before, but Colómbia is a BEAUTIFUL country. And, if anyone is wondering…the correct spelling is Colombia, not Columbia…. just a side note…. :)
Amy went with us and was a great help with the kids. I think she had a good time and I was glad to have her company too! Thanks Amy!
We left on Wednesday, August 5th at WayTooEearly:30 in the morning and got to Bogotá at about 8:50 pm, their time (they are one hour ahead of us right now.)
The boys did really well on the trip, considering all the things that I know they are capable of doing. The only major incidents were Zach throwing up on himself and me between Atlanta and Bogotá and Austin having a really bad case of the runs hit right as we were almost finished going through immigration in Bogotá. Needless to say, neither his nor Carlos’ clothes were the same! By the time they got that cleaned up, it was 10:00 or 10:30 before we got out of the airport.
Carlos’ dad, brother and mom picked us up (his mom had flown in the day before) and it was the first time his dad and brother had see Austin and Zach. I was pregnant with Austin last time we went! It took Austin a couple of days to warm up to his abuelo but by then they got along great!
Who remembers these things?
Richard’s Gap
We always rode our bikes into this cement pad.
Sprinkler control box
Gulley by a dirt road (not pictured) from which I was always positive a headless horseman would come riding after me (while on my bike) in search of a head. His name escapes me but he’s supposedly buried up there. Oh, what is his name? Aahh, it was Pidgeon’s Grave (Bill?).
These were my bonsai trees.
Another gulley where we played a lot in the winter, sliding down the hills and making snow forts. If you follow it down there are some really cool places to play in the dirt.
Cactus
Indian Paintbrush
Road into the trailer park.
We rode our bikes a lot here -
and everywhere!
Stair-stepping grassy backyards.
The playground has been removed.
Booster
Beautiful view and another place we would ride our bikes-down that hill. That wood thing wasn’t there then but it was still a thrill!
These seem to be a new addition.
There were always lots of ants but not a thriving metropolis like this.
This was our life for five years. We had a great time. We were able to play outside all day long and explore and walk all over. We had so many different places to go and play. Sure it was in the middle of nowhere (I can’t believe how far away it was!) but we did a lot together as a family because we didn’t have any other choice. We read a lot and learned to entertain ourselves. We didn’t have TV, so we just watched movies and played Nintendo, but it wasn’t all day long. Sometimes I wish life were that simple again.
If you ever went to cousin week, you may remember some of these things!
