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Archive for January, 2007

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Travel Colombia

Thursday, January 18th, 2007

I was told that you could just see the drug money in Bogota because of its great avenues, buildings and high-end boutiques.  We´re all afraid of Colombia travel and there is obviously some validity to that since it has heavily armed rebels and paramilitary forces as well as drug gangs.  We have all read about the kidnappings of visitors.  I am hear to say that Colombia is changing quickly and I believe it is mostly a very safe country to visit.  I understand there are some remote areas where drugs are grown/processed which are still not safe, but the majority of this beautiful country is safe.  I met a lot of experienced visitors and I did not hear any terrifying incidences of late.

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Don´t Stand, Sit or Camp Under the Coconut Tree

Thursday, January 18th, 2007

Over Christmas week I did a kayak trip with Explorer´s Corner of Berkeley to the San Blas Archipelago in Panama. It seems like a lifetime ago (Bacu and modern Panama City and Colombia have made it more dreamlike than real) that I visited paradise. The archipelago is part of Kuna Yala – an autonomous district of Panama´s Caribbean coast populated soley with the Kuna indigenous people. Kuna Yala contains 350+ small, coconut-covered sand islands as well as a swath of the mainland. About 50,000 Kunas live there.

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Bogota

Monday, January 15th, 2007
Yesterday I met with Denisee who I met on the plane from Panama to Bacu.  Denisee is Bacuan living in Bogota.  I don't think I mentioned our plane encounter before.  She was sitting next to me and for half the ... [Continue reading this entry]

Anniversary and Great Expectations

Sunday, January 14th, 2007
Today marks three years since Chris' passing.  I'm sad, but I am also grateful that the last year went so much better than the previous and I expect the same patterm to continue.  I went to the top of Montserrate ... [Continue reading this entry]

Bacu Notes

Saturday, January 13th, 2007
I thought I would follow up the best of Bacu with the worst of Bacu, but that would be depressing.  Here is some random notes that I made while visiting... How to Control the Masses With Freedoms First, you pay ... [Continue reading this entry]

The Best of Bacu

Saturday, January 13th, 2007
Below is the best that I have found in this challenged country. I´m sure there is more that I have not seen although just about everything in my guidebook has turned out to be major hyperbole. I now understand that ... [Continue reading this entry]

Off the Rock

Thursday, January 11th, 2007
One of the best moments of my travels was arriving in Panama this evening.  I escaped the prison I call Bacu.  For those struggling what country is Bacu... too bad, you´ll have to think harder (and play with the name)!  ... [Continue reading this entry]

Escape from Alcatraz – Foiled!

Sunday, January 7th, 2007
Right after my last post, I decided to get out.  Bought a bus ticket for El Capitolio.  Planned to catch a taxi immediately to the airport from the bus station and see if I could catch the same flight I am ... [Continue reading this entry]

A Day on the Train

Saturday, January 6th, 2007
Quickly...  Took a train to a UNESCO site today called Valle de los Ingenios.  Suppose to be an old sugar processing valley where dozens of sugar mills from the 1800s once operated.  I saw little sign of these mills.  I ... [Continue reading this entry]

Bankrupt Society? I Need Help!

Saturday, January 6th, 2007
I think I have discovered my first bankrupt society here in Bacu.  The place is driving me nuts.  I know a few of you absolutely love this place and if you have the time, please let me know what I ... [Continue reading this entry]