Okay... back at work, and the wonderful US food is giving me a dose of the two-step... maybe I spent too much time in Colombia this year, I can't handle cheeseburgers and fries any more!
SO: I flew to Manizales del Alma for my wedding the week before thanksgiving. Flew on American airlines, my third trip this year, but first since Sept 11. I think in the future I'll fly ACES or Avianca... the changes by American are severe. There are fewer flights, more delays, and less service than before.
So, I flew out of Atlanta on Thursday at 2 pm, landed in Miami at about 4, but my flight to Bogota was late-- we finally left at about 9:45 or later. Arrived in Bogota at 2AM, and stayed at a hotel near the consulate, hotel Casa americana. Although pricey for Colombia (my relatives usually book me into a hotel that's about 20.000 pesos cheaper), it wasn't a bad place to stay. However, I saw very little of this hotel, since I had to hop an ACES flight ot Manizales. The hotel did provide an american-style breakfast, and all the coffee I could drink for that price, about $43 USD (I know, what am I complaining about, right?)
ACES flight was late also-- we taxi'd to the runway, turned around, and returned to the terminal, because the air conditioner wasn't working. MY thought was, " hey, it's 30 minutes-- so we're hot, then cold, then hot again, but at least we're there!" but for all I know, all sorts of lights were going off in the cockpit...
after about 2 hours, another plane took us to Manizales. I stepped out at Aeropuerto La Nubia, looking for my lovely prometida, and found-- a lot of cab drivers! I had called her mpther to report the delay ( I didn't know the celular code to call Luisa from Bogota), and her mother had called Luisa home for lunch. Since I arrived at 2 pm, lunch was still happening at her house.
But when she drove up, my stomach did the flip-flops, and my spirit soared! Not trying to sound melodromatic, but we have only taled on the phone since August. Cara a cara es mejor!
SO... we drove to her parents' house, unloaded my bags, and then drove to the notario's office in Chinchina. myt opinion/advice: If you have questions or concerns about a good notario, and have time to travel, look up the primero notario in Manizales. Jairo took the time to examine COlombian laws, explain the details, and took the time to be helpful... something we did not find in MAnizales, at any of the five notarios we solicited. Idon' know about marriage outside of districts... chinchina and Manizales are in Caldas-- but a helpful notario is hard to find!
So... drank tintos, talked, drove back to Manizales. I almost forgot to mention: it's springtime in Colombia, according to mi esposa. TO me it looked the same, felt the same and was as beautiful as ever. For newbies who have never been, Colombia is one of the most strikingly beautiful countries I've seen, and I've been to every country in South AMerica except Suriname, Guyana, or French Guiana. The mountains, the clouds, the greenery and the ever-present flowers are a constant amazement to me.
At her parents' house, after the drive, Luisa wanted to open wedding gifts immediately, but her mother prevailed on her to wait. Abuela and Tia came over, we spoke for hours, and I was becoming tired and cranky ( I had slept about 4 hours in 2 days), but managed not to offend anyone terribly.
So...Saturday, before the wedding, Mama wanted me and Luisa out of the house fo rher Boda preparations. Back to Chinchina and Pereira for about 6-7 hours.
I don't know if you've been to Chinchina, but if you've seen movies about Colombia, with narrow streets, jeeps, chivas, and people, you've seen a poor representation of Chinchina. It's the heart of the cafatera, more or less, and has at least one huge coffe processing plant.
Pereira is a largeish city, with a few coffee farms in the mountains surrounding it, but it's more a horticultural center: pineapples, platanos, and many other fruits. Also, in Pereira, are outlet-type stores for clothing.
This is getting long, so I'll split the message.
