I am on the back of a Motorbike with my big back at the Motorcycle steering when we are driven up the mountain on a small gravel road. The road is narrow when we are driving up the mountain from Minca. The drive is only taking 35 minutes and cost 20.000 COP (5,6 Euro) which I first found a bit expensive compared to the Jeep trip from Santa Marta to Minca, which was 45 minutes with a cost of 7.000 COP (2 Euro), but when we are on the road with the view of the Caribbean Sea and Santa Marta in the background do I understand the price difference. – The road up here is in very bad conditions.
I am on my way to the hostal, Casa Elemento, 1.200 meters above sea level. Today (monday, 1st of February) is it exactly two weeks since I arrived to Colombia and it is a country that keeps surprising me.
After spending a few days in Cartagena I am now arriving to Casa Elemento. A place which was one of the reasons for me to go to Colombia. The first time I heard about it were when my friend Alexandra, who is half Colombian and half Norwegian but is living in Copenhagen, who gave me tips about Colombia back in Denmark for months ago. Since i saw a picture of her in a big hammock laying with the scenery of the maintains in the background did I knew that this was a place I needed to go!
When I am jumping of the Motorbike do I know that I have just arrived to the perfect place to relax and enjoy the scenery for a few days and getting a less humid climate than in Cabo San Juan, Santa Marta and Cartagena where I have been the last days and to have the possibility to lay in a hammock with the view over the maintains, Santa Marta and the Caribbean Sea is just fantastic.
By sleeping in hammocks in the nature makes me relax, when the sounds from birds monkeys and other animals can be heard from the silence only interned by the other people staying at the Hostel and a soft sound of the music from the bar. Since the Casa Elemento is very isolated is all the meals and drinks going to be here, or at lease it is the easiest way. By dinner at 7.30 when everybody at Casa Elemento are sitting and eating together does it for a short time fill like a small big family here in the mountains 1.200 above sea level.
The oldest city in Colombia
Cartagena is famous for its small streets and Spanish architecture since this city was the first city build in Colombia in 1533. It is a part of UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is a famous place for tourist to go. Doing the few days I am spending in Cartagena do I fill to be a bit smashed, up at the walls, because of the huge amount of tourist, which not only are foreigners but also Colombians. It is easy to see that Cartagena is on the top-list for tourist to visit here in Colombia.
For me does Cartagena has two faces. Doing the day does is there a colorful Spanish-Colombian traditional “wibe”, but when it turns dark and the night slowly starts, is it changing into a colorful music dance city.
The temperature is around 28 degrees, and the salsa music is playing loud from the bar close to the Clock Tower. As in every other Latin American country does the Colombian girls learn how to dance and use their hips like a part of learning to walk. Tonight is the mentoring dance starting again, and I can say it is impressive to watch. I am getting a beer with Lucero, who is from Peru. I meet her at my hostel in Cali who consequentially was going with the same plane as me to Cartagena – the world is small!
After the first sip of my beer is a Swedish man, Thorbjörn, who is sitting at the table next to us asking me where I am from. After a small-talk is he inviting Lucero and I over to join him and his Girlfriends at their table. They have been together for 5 years. This is the 11 time Thorbjörn is in Colombia. A country he really loves, and I understandwhy. We are hearing their stories and getting good advise about where to go. They are a very friendly couple. When the bar is closing at 1 am. is Thorbjörn insisting that we need to visit a place that he really loves.
The Oasis behind the door
We are turning right on the first street from the bar and after walking a few minutes is Thorbjörn knocking on a big door made of wood. The door is opening. By this are we entering a Hotel Boutique, which is a small hotel. By entering the door to Alfiz Hotel Boutique does it fill like entering into a new universe. It is a hiding oasis. We are slowly and with silence looking around since everybody at the Hotel Boutique are sleeping. The hotel is in two floors with a small restaurant in the middle and a pool at the terrace. Thorbjörn is explaining the history about the hotel with enthusiasm. It is his favorite place to stay in Cartagena. The style has been kept in the style as for hundreds yeas ago. (It is possible to get a virtual 360 degree view of the Hotel Boutique here, http://www.alfizhotel.com)
It is interesting to experience how a normal door from the outside can hide one of many oasis. At the same time is it interesting to explore how different everyday is since Lucero and I did see the sunset the evening before from the castle Mall Plaza El Castillo with a view over Cartagena and the Caribbean Sea.
The waves in the dark
It is dark I am laying in a hammock with the view over the dark Caribbean Sea at the beach, Cabo San Juan del Guia in the Nacional Park “Parque Nacional Tayrona”.
After walking nearly two hours from the entrance did I arrive to this small oasis at the Sea. The sand is white and the sea is blue/green as the Caribbean Sea is formers for being. After standing in a line for 30-40 minutes did I get the best hammock in my opinion on the top of a ruck around 40 meters above sea-level.
The night is Dark and the wind is cold, but the silence with only the sound of the waves is all worth it.
I am waking early the next morning a bit cold, but when I am looking over the sea with the sun slowly rising behind a mountain to my right side does it fill like time is standing still! – Colombia keeps surprising me!
Toke Bull 