Hola! We are having a brilliant time. So much to report back already. Blimey oh rimey...
Medellin, Colombia
The flight from London to Medellin was long as sin, but went relatively smoohtly. We were flying with Iberia and shocked to discover that they have no entertainment system on board. Que??! So, Amy made Hannah complete Spanish tests throughout the journey, which she may not have enjoyed, but was good for her overall character development. We got some great new stamps in our passport. This is very important.
We arrived at the Finca (Farm for those of you who unlike us, do not speak fluent Spanish) at 9pm which was 2am UK/bodyclock time, having travelled for 22 hours. Although we looked like a couple of hobos, Pietro collected us from the Aiport and we drove home to be greeted by Gabriella, Maria Pas and Rosie (and Terry the Terrier). The drive up to the house was amazing, with huge leaves illuminated by the headlights of the truck. It looked like we were entering a film set.
Rosie fed us a lovely Arepa de Chocolo and a fresh Guava juice, and we fell asleep.
Morning has broken. Sunshine... yessssss. We were given a tour of the Finca which was amazing, picked some coffee beans and ate a Guava straight off the tree. Sweet sweetness.
Mid morning we went for a horse ride which was stunning. The horses will great to ride and everyone was so friendly when we passed. Views = Phoenom. Our bums are sore.
We had lunch on the way to the airport with the family, trying some local delicacies. Including rum. NOTE- Rum in Colombia is nice, unlike rubbish UK rum. We cannot yet be sure of this, however and shall endevour to carry out more research on this matter.
Thank you to all the family for making our little stop over in Colimbia such a joy. Looking forward to our return!!
Cardinal, Dimante and Caramello. Our trusty steeds.
View on our horse ride.
The finca!
Quito, Ecuador
Arrived no problem, checked into a lovely hostel in which we seem to have wangled the pent house suite, with amazing views over the city and to nearby Cotopaxi (Which one is Cotopaxi?!! Someone tell us!)
Atitude? No altitude effects. No problemo para us.
Guess what? We are going into the Amazon in a few days. Spent the morning booking our trip. We cannot wait to see monkeys. We told this fact to the tour operator who advised us not to feed the monkeys or they will be "knocking on your door all night". Did she think that would stop us? That is what we want from the monkeys. We are going to buy bananas and rub ourselves with their skins in order to attract the little beasts.
Been to the Compañia church today which was glittery and gorge. We discussed religion, philosophy and mispronunciation of words. Then we had a beer.
Eating amazing food everywhere and everyone is SO friendly. They laugh at us and with us. An ideal combination (combinacion).
Tomorrow we are travelling by Bus to Baños for hot spring fun and danger in the shape of white water rafting and/or tubing. Please note - Danger in the loosest sense of the word, Mums.
Report back soon.
Hasta Luego.
With Love,
H & A xxxx
p.s. Happy Birthday Olivia!
p.p.s. Louise and Henry... Glad you are feeling better, such good news.
p.p.p.s Gypsies are mean, but BMW´s are good.
Compañia, Quito.
Sounds and looks fabulous. Glad you had a successful and educational journey if a bit tiring. Great to hear that it has given you the opportunity to just polish up the language and become fluent in Spanish though.
ReplyDeleteInterested to know how you will be able to keep up the blog. But I suppose that the signal is good and they have internet access from boats on the Amazon or perhaps the monkeys are fitted with internet aerials.
White water rafts and wild monkeys sound interesting and adventurous. Exciting and cuddly would have been a better words than dangerous perhaps!
Car a bit sorry for itself when seen yesterday. BMW some compensation at £540 per day but free to us!
Love the photos. You will have to maintain the standard for your readers though. The wonders of modern technology. Hope your phone is working better than mine.
Love to both
Dad (E)X
You did not mention the VOLCANO!
ReplyDeleteBrag away, Girls. It all sounds fabulous.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed reading your jolly report, and seeing those delightful pics.
What a brill-looking “Finca"...and gorgeous horses.
Glad to learn that the attitude to altitude is no problemo, so far-o.
Hope that the Spanish lessons are going well, and that you are both now well-versed enough in the local lingo to enjoy a good old chinwag with those cheeky monkeys, but don’t take it personally if they chuckle a bit at your accent.
Let us know how the Rum Research goes, anon; assuming you can still write after testing it. No doubt, you have swiftly honed your rum-ordering technique into full fluency. But remember: you should always stop drinking when you can no longer spell your name backwards...well, according to Uncle Bob, anyway.
Enjoy the Hot Spring Fun, but be careful when courageously kayaking, or resolutely rafting, or whatever shudderingly energetic thing one does with white water.
Well, it’s 7.30 a.m., your time (although Gawd knows upon what time-frame this blog is working: operating from Mars, mesuspecteth), so I must leave you to totter down to the nearest watering-hole to enjoy your beaker of breakfast rum, followed by a plateful of vino-tinto sandwiches. Keep consuming at this rate, Girls, and you’re into Nectar points.
Look forward to hearing from you when you have a spare mo in your busy schedule to write on your blog, again; always remembering the four golden rules of a good diarist: be immediate, indiscreet, intimate...and (post-rum-consumption)...indecipherable.
Adiós, Blown Kisses, Air-Hugs and Lots of Love
xxxx
Que demonios!
ReplyDeleteVolcano...? WHAT volcano...?
Nobody told ME about a volcano!
Hola guapas!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're having a bueno time! I should have offered you both Spanish lessons Prior-style before you left.... I am excellent at food, drinks and car parks. All are integral parts of life, natch. I am also good at the odd random word - e.g. ardilla: squirrel.
Anyway..... sounds like you're having a wonderful time, and I am unfeasibly jealous as I sit here in my souless office writing corporate hype.
Take care lovelies and update us all regular like. We need to hear ALL!
Muchos love
Lou-Ondy
xxxx
Amazing stuff already to say I'm a bit jealous would be the understatement of the century.
ReplyDeleteWhite water rafting will be quality cant wait to here all about that one.
Mucho amor
Dan xxx
p.s. loving the hats and sunnies :D
Loving the pics! The views look incredible. Sounds totally amazing and the monkey antics that await are very exciting. Please do send more updates and pics (especially of your monkey encounters) when you can as it is great to see how you are getting on. I miss you!
ReplyDeleteI am now officially huge you will be pleased to know. 5 weeks to go and counting, with lots of nesting activities going on. Bring on the Dot, I'm bored now!
Lots of love and hugs to you both on your Very Special Travels.
Louise xxxx