Final exams are over and less than two weeks of our time in South America remain, so my roommate Tyra and I decided to accomplish one of our last goals of studying abroad: exploring a country outside of Peru! We are in Colombia!
Colombia is sunny year-round, with a very strong Caribbean influence. The warm temperatures and sunshine are incredibly refreshing, since our last few month of Lima have been more cold than warm. We arrived into Cartagena yesterday, spent the afternoon at the beach, then journeyed to Taganga. In Taganga, we had dinner with our two French friends before they go on a four-day hike to the famous "Ciudad Perdida." The next 6 days are loosely planed; but, we prefer to live spontaneously, so plans are only tentative. The ocean is just moments away from our hostal, so the opportunity for outdoor adventures is virtually endless.
Colombia is vastly different from Peru, so I look forward to seeing more of this culture!
Monday, July 8, 2013
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Oxapampa Adventures!
I explored the sunny, German-influenced city of Oxapampa this past weekend during the music and arts festival Selvamonos. The long, 15-hour bus ride from Lima to Oxapampa was worth every minute, as we were greeted with a vibrant and warm scenery that greatly contrasted Lima's wintery weather. Our campsite was surrounded by vast mountains and vivid blue skies. Between listening to music and meeting people from around the world, we also looked at the hand-crafted goods of numerous vendors. These people proudly showcased their work. On Saturday, we hiked to a waterfall and waded in the refreshingly cold water. Seeing and hearing the rich Peruvian culture (as well as being able to explore outside of Lima after several months without traveling) was invigorating!
Being abroad is almost surreal at times. From a very young age, I would read books about people who traveled far from their homes for one reason or another. Before I went to bed each night, Daddy would also read to me these books, my favorite being about Olympian Eric Liddell who traveled and served in China. While hearing and reading about foreign adventures was so common, I never dreamed that my own life would be filled with opportunities to see, explore, and serve in other countries. Until I traveled to Costa Rica during my senior year of high school for a week of service, I never imagined myself actually boarding a flight to another country. While I was very reluctant to commit to my first trip abroad, it ignited an unsuspected passion for these beautiful countries and their inspiring people. From these people, much is to learn.
Being abroad is almost surreal at times. From a very young age, I would read books about people who traveled far from their homes for one reason or another. Before I went to bed each night, Daddy would also read to me these books, my favorite being about Olympian Eric Liddell who traveled and served in China. While hearing and reading about foreign adventures was so common, I never dreamed that my own life would be filled with opportunities to see, explore, and serve in other countries. Until I traveled to Costa Rica during my senior year of high school for a week of service, I never imagined myself actually boarding a flight to another country. While I was very reluctant to commit to my first trip abroad, it ignited an unsuspected passion for these beautiful countries and their inspiring people. From these people, much is to learn.
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