Alive in thunderstorms and dripping sweat...

Hello all!
I know it has been a whole week since I have been able to post but the internet in the hotel and apartment we are in are pretty much non existant... I just happen to upload some pics to my computer and noticed that my laptop wa picking up one bar of some internet from someone.. so I thought.. What the heck.. Ill give it a try..

We are leaving Santa Marta today and heading back to Bogota so I will have internet for the rest of my trip.. sorry no pics today cause the internet is running SUPER slow since I am using someone elses.. hehehehe

Will be posting soon have TONS of pics!

Miss you all!
Nettie!

Spending the day in Chia, Colombia...

Hello All!

Today was such a beautiful/rain/sun/windy day…. How can I have had all three in one day… well here it is very possible to be walking down the street and its sunny and warm and the next moment its raining. So most people don’t even bother with umbrellas and just go through life as if nothing is falling from the sky.. no joke!

So Tio Nestro had the day off today from taking us around so we ventured out on the public transportation system.. that was FUN! Packed in there like sardines and water is leaking from the top of the bus so you are getting a mild shower while you ride.. lol but it was so much fun! Gio and Craig were hanging out from the doors checking out the scenery cause the bus was so packed.. I wish I could have taken a picture of that.

We arrived in Chia and walked a few blocks to Johana’s parents house and met her mom, dad, sister, and brother.. they are some of the sweetest people I have ever met! Johana looks just like her momma and they sound exactly the same and have the same laugh, smile, and sayings.. (CHANGOS) hahahahaha

So once we arrived at the house and said our hellos.. they took us to this amazing asada place and treated us to an amazing lunch/dinner. Next thing I know they are bringing out giant plates of ribs, meat, potato, platano (this is fried banana), and different types of traditional sausages. Can I say that I ate like a prized piglet.. hahaha . The food was sooo good we couldn’t stop eating and at the end we had to walk it off.

Here is a pic of us chowing down:

This the bomb soda!

This is how the meat is cooked... YUMMO

Franci and I just being us..

After the amazing food… we walked over to the plaza and all I can say is this place is so beautiful! The vibrant colors of the trees to the smell of the fresh air.. the scenery is just beyond this world because beautiful mountains surround you and the sky is so clear the clouds look like they have been ironed.

Here is a pic of all of us enjoying the beautiful scenery Chia has to offer in the plaza:

The Boys: 

The Girls:

With Johana's brother and sister:

We sat down and decided to have some ice cream and some coffee… the ice cream was un-believably beautiful I almost didn’t want to eat it but my tummy was saying.. EAT! Hahahaha…. We people watched and talked with her family and her sister is the cutest thing ever, he name is also Jennifer so every time they called her I turned around.. my neck started to hurt after awhile .

The adorable ice cream place in the plaza

Freakin delish!!

Picture of the plaza:

Another pic of the plaza.. so beautiful

The beautiful church...

Tia Martha, me, and Gio enjoying our ice cream

After we enjoyed chit chatting they were so gracious enough to rent us a bust to get home… our very own bus that said CHIA is giant letters on the side.. so Jose, Franci, and I couldn’t resist. So of course…. We had to take some silly pictures.

Jose and Franci

Me making the C in Chia and Jose just standing there..hahaha

Jefferson, Gio, and Me just getting on the bus back home

Everyone passed out on the way back to Mosquera and when we arrived home we decided to venture out to the bakery around the corner for some coffee and pastries. (MORE EATING) hahahaha… luckily the food here is not greasy.. but my body isn’t quite used to it yet so I woke up with a really bad tummy ache this morning … but after some special tea they made a few trips and me to the Little Ladies Room I was A-OK!

Overall.. it was such a fun and beautiful day… we are all relaxing and Gio is downstairs watching TV… my grandma and I are packing and Jose and Jefferson are on the laptops in the room (oh Craig too)… Vanessa, Juanita, Franci are getting the things ready for tomorrows flight at 5AM! Ohhh vey!

Well friends.. the next time I post, I will be on the beautiful beaches of Cartagena! Wooohooooo… I am already dreaming about the beautiful beaches and warm water … ahhhhhh

Till tomorrow peeps!!

P.s/ I know some of you had trouble posting comments so I went and fixed it … it should be ok now but I will try it one more time before I sign off today!

Connection Lost... Salt Mines and a Wedding... What a combo!

Hello Everyone!

I do apologize for not posting yesterday but we did not have any WiFi connection.. or shall I say that we couldn’t get into the neighbors internet ;)... lol

LOADS has happened and we visited the Salt Mines close to a town called "Chia" and oh my god.. this place is amazing and beautiful! It was a 2-hour walk underground and we were in these large salt tunnels taking crazy pictures....

But first.. Im sure most of us have had a Tamale... either Salvadorian or Mexican.. but I was able to have  Colombian tamale and Ohh.. wow.. its different and HUBANGO! They wrap it in banana leaf and there is of course chicken and veggies with potato. Here is a pic..

So after we scar fed all that down we piled into Tio Nestor's van and off we went to the salt mines.. here are  some pics...

Here is the entrance to the salt mine cave..

The group..

Turned on my ISO High Quality on my camera and got some amazing pictures...

Just silly.. lol

A View from the hilltop

Just couldn’t help ourselves... he just looked too fun.. lol

and of course.. I had to get in on the fun...

There are more pics I will post if I can get the internet tomorrow... but we did go to a wedding today and wow.. is it something else.. the traditions are almost backwards but the dancing is very much alive and going till about 6am! We left early drenched in sweat to try and get an early start to go explore the central of Bogotá tomorrow.. but we will see if everyone wakes up.. hahahaha... there actually might be a chance since there are no World Cup games on! Hahaha

Until then peeps.. I am exhausted and its 3:30 am here...

Miss all my peeps at KBB! Hold down that fort guys! MMMMAUH!

CHIOW!.. hahahah

Airport Madness!!!

Can you imagine having to check in almost 20 people in at one time while keeping track of one another and making sure everyone gets to the same gate!!

Well… neither could I until today, this was a new experience for me and although it was fun having to run around with 10 bags and shuffle them here and there… I am SUPER exhausted!

We finally boarded the plane and took our seats, settled in and normally I am the one that is scared of flying… I don’t know if any of you remember my other blog when I went to England, but I was terrified. This time around I was cool as a cucumber because poor Gio was super nervous.

When I say nervous, I mean he was almost to the point of hyperventilation and the blood from my hand was almost gone.. lol.. poor guy.. he felt like he was going to throw up but I talked him through the entire thing and not until 5 minutes after we were in the air did he finally take a deep breathe and relax.

As we speak, EVERYONE is passed out while Gio and I play on our laptops.. well obviously I am writing this but I am also listening to music while he plays bejewled on his moms laptop.

Something funny and sad that did happen during all this madness was the fact that my suitcase didn’t make it on the plane.. LOL.. (this is the funny part) BUT… will I will have it tomorrow night. The sad news was that Gio’s cousin Franci had an expired passort and was unable to board the plane in time to make the flight… and when they checked in the bags.. her bags went under my name and since my bags were last… they were put under her name because we were all going in a giant group.. so it didn’t really matter, but because her passport was expired.. and my bag was the last one to be checked and weighed… it was left behind with her (2 bags to check in). So the funny part is me and my missing bag.. and the sad part is that Franci will be taking the next flight out which is tomorrow morning at the same time… 11:30am.

I am excited to be reunited with my luggage.. and thank goodness for my carryon because at least I have some thing.. but no change of undies.. L… LOL!

1:49 pm:

We just finished having “lunch” “dinner”… it was either the choice of pasta or carne “meat”… so naturally I chose the meat and I am so glad that I chose the meat… SOOOO GOOD! It was asada with mashed potatos in spinach with a salad, French roll and a delish desert that was a cross between cheesecake and carmel.. DROOOOOL.

As we speak, they just put on the movie in the plane.. and guess what movie we are watching…. Valentines Day!!!! That was such a funny movie and I am super excited and cant wait to start watching the movie J

So far.. no  really bad turbulence but it hasn’t be that long in the flight… Keeping my fingers crossed.

Postya Later !

Im awake… after a cat nap, it is 5:41 your time and im sitting here with cramps in my legs from just sitting so darn much… I have mamanged to lift my legs and walk around a bit but there is only so far you can go in a plane when other people are also trying to walk around.

We are about an hour and a half from landing and have just been given our packets to fill out claiming what we are bringining in or out of the country…. I always get confused with these things but we managed to get it right after the 4^th time filling it out… Hahahah!

WE are ALMOST there!! I cant wait to arrive at our destination and start the party… from my understanding the family is waiting for all of us and had made a huge dinner/party to celebrate our arrival.. I am sooo excited and cant wait!

Here is the pic that I took when they announced that we were now in Bogota J My baby has finally made it back home after 24 years!

The family picked us up and our luggage was insane! lol

His family even got me flowers!! They are soo sweet!

(BTW- I look exhausted)

This is Gio's uncle that he has been waiting to meet him since he was little :)

Thats it for now guys... its 2:04 am Friday morning so I need to get some sleep :)

So the Packing Begins...

Just getting back from a crazy weekend in Sin City (Las Vegas) it is now time to start packing for the big trip!

I cant even tell you the list of things that need to be done in 2 days!
I have already started a check list to make sure that I don't forget anything because I am one of the most forgetful of all.. and I always forget something that is very important.
Having to pack for really warm weather.. then cold weather and at the same time only taking one big suitcase and my carry-on.. yeah.. we shall see how that works out cause we all know how us "girls" pack the entire room.. LOL

As I mentioned before I was on the "Hunt" for those travel toilet seat covers.. and guesss what! I found them at my local Rite Aide.. who would have thunk it... and it was the last place I checked. I also picked up some hand sanitizer and all the little fun travel nic naks.


I sat at work today and made my packing list of all the things that need to be on that plane with me, of course the list was made on a GIANT pink Post It.. and looks quite long but really isn't when you are packing for two complete different climates.

In the next two days I have to do a new set of "Shellac" on my nails.. I'm thinking of white tips to make it easy and simple.. and the normal red sparkly on my toes with white polka dots to add my flair to it. Then I have to clean.. clean.. and clean.. do laundry (praying that we get our washer fixed today because I don't have money to go to the laundry mat again). LOL

Soo.. now I am just counting down the hours and trying to remember NOT to forget anything but we all know when you do that.. you always forget something.

Well all, Its almost time..  countin down the hours.. minutes.. and seconds!

Seven Days and Counting.....

First off I would like to thank everyone who is following my blog, I think this is the best way to let all my friends and family see everything that is happening in real time and not having to upload an enormous amount of pictures and video to send to a grip load of people, so this makes it very easy to see what is happening when it happens!

Seven days... seven days... can you believe it! Not to mention that I will be in Vegas this weekend celebrating Craig's 21st B-day (Gio's little brother)... so packing and cleaning and everything else that needs to be done needs to happen NOW!

I am still on the hunt for those travel "seat protectors", yes I am one of those that likes to have a kit that includes: hand sanitizer, wipes for face and body, band aides, toilet paper, seat protectors and lotion in my purse. I think when traveling it is very important to be prepared and I am guilty of having most of these items in my purse now (They call my bag the Merry Poppins Bag cause I have almost everything you could possibly need)

There is just sooooo much going on right now and to think of all the things that I need pack gives me a headache.. lol. We are all super excited for our trip and I cant wait till I am on the beach with a bucket of ice cold beer by my side, relaxing and letting the ocean breeze take me in and out of siestas. From what I have been told, the weather in Cartagena is much like Hawaii and boy did I love Hawaii. I am excited for all the sight seeing we will do.. lots have been planned from what I am hearing... whoooohooo for GOOD walking shoes! Anyone have any good recommendations?

This is a long awaited vacation and LONG awaited Journey back home for Giovanny... after almost 24 or 25 years in this country.. he will finally be able to go back and see where he comes from! Wooooooohoooo...

Ohhhh.. and I hear the Empanadas from the lady around the corner are to DIE for.. so that's a GIANT plussss too.. lol (thanks Craig for the inside tip)

Till the next post friends!
Toodlez!

Im ready.. bring on the beaches and warm weather...

Nettie