Morning,
Me & Stivalis are running on boardwalk, leaping over the missing planks & holes to get back on the boat, that's taking us back to Tumaco. DAAYYUUM, this boat is even smaller than the one we came in on. Stivalis wasted no time jumping into the boat. Away we go! Howard, I'm ready to go home. Whoa...what did you say honey? I'm ready to return to civilization! Understand that I love my family here in Tumaco. I'm just tired of EVERYTHING ELSE. No problem baby, when we get back, get on the phone with Satena airlines & see how soon we can leave. I can see why Stivalis hasn't been here in 4 years. My lady is a City woman, no doubt about it. Life in Tumaco/Boca-Grande is just a weee bit too much for her and for me. As we pull into the err...port, we see Auntie & a few cousins. I really didn't look forward to returning to Hotel La Red, but it was 5 star compared to the hotel on B.G. Stivalis didn't look forward to returning to the La Red either. Auntie mentioned another hotel near the beach. Stivalis said, why not? If it's better than the La Red, we can stay there. Auntie offered us one of the bedrooms at her house. Stivalis's eyes popped out of her head & I just stared out the window, like I wasn't paying attention...lol! Stivalis politely turned down her offer. We're bouncing along the road until we pull up to the "Casa del Sol"....
Stivalis & Auntie jump out first to meet the manager. I get out to stretch my legs. I'm waiting by the cab, when I hear some loud laughter coming from the dining area. I focus in on the voices...these guys are AMERICANS!! At that same moment, Stivalis with a smile on her face, returns with Auntie. She gives me the breakdown on the condition & cost of the cabana. I said, if you're happy, I'm happy. I pay the cabbie & grab the suitcase. As we're walking, out the corner of my eye I see two soldiers with M-16...LOADED!! Buenas Noches said the soldiers (of course we returned their greeting). They even tipped their hats as they passed us. WHY are these guys walking through the hotel grounds? Stivalis & Auntie shrug their shoulders & continue walking. We get to our cabana, nice paint job & gardening. Minimal security on the front door. With armed soldiers on site, whose gonna attempt a robbery...lol. The unit had 2 bedrooms, one had a queen size bed, the other had two bunk beds. Reasonable reception for the from the TV. No AC, but plenty of fans. The frig was battered, but it worked. The bathroom was kinda tight in size, but the toilet & shower worked & had external plumbing...don't laugh!!! The cost was only $25 a nite with a free breakfast. Overall, if/when we return to Tumaco, I would stay here. You'll have to add an additional 300 yards to get to the main beach area. We settle in & decide to check out the dining area before going back to Aunties..,
The laughter is getting louder as we're closer to the dining area. I tell Stivalis, that these men are Americans. As we enter, the men turn and offer greetings, which we return of course. Looking at these guys in their camoflage pants w/boots & flight jumpsuits, I'm wondering what are they doing here. I didn't see any women and/or children with them. I've spent enough on the beach to become familiar with whose vacationing in Tumaco. What's going on? DING DING DING!!!! HELICOPTERS, ARMS FIRE, GRINGOS, ARMED COLOMBIAN MILITARY WALKING AROUND....OH MY GAWD!!!! I'M STAYING AT HOTEL PLAN COLOMBIA!!!!! DAYYUUM!!!
Stay frosty Hoda, stay frosty! Stivalis is whispering, please tell me you're joking Howard, tell me you're joking. Naw baby, we are smack in the middle of it. I feel safe Stivalis, but if you wanna go some place else, let's bounce now. I'm fine Howard, it's just that I've read about these "training" camps" w/American instructors, I just never thought I would be sleeping in the same location. Honey, it wasn't something I PLANNED ON EITHER...LOL!!! There were a few other guest in the dining hall, some of whom had children with them. Listening to the Americans talk, I could tell that they were from the South and/or Southwest U.S. None of the Americans carried guns, but all of the Colombians did. Stivalis said, I'm not in the mood for this, let's go to Aunties to eat & have a Cuba Libre. DAAYYUUM...Stivalis isn't much of a drinker by any stretch of the imagination. If she felt & asked for a Cuba Libre, then I know somethings up....lol.
More on the stay at Camp Plan Colombia later....
Peace....Howard
