That Little Cheese Tour

Some of you may be aware that last year I embarked on a unique, cheese-filled tour throughout eight states and over 110 cities. Well, a few months being out on the road and I was approached to do a little tour blogging. If you are just dying to read my awesome take on the tour, follow the following links:




Loaf Love Tour Stories: Goodbye California!

Loaf Love Tour Stores: Washington

Loaf Love Tour Stories: Cheese & Potatoes in Idaho

Loaf Love Tour Stories: Peaches & Cheese in Utah

Loaf Love Tour Stories: Rad Coloradans & Amiable Arkansans

Loaf Love Tour Stories: Wrapping up the Tour in Texas

Colombia Part 10: Fun with Stereotypes

Whether we like to admit it or not, we all have our stereotypes right? In this trip, I have had the pleasure of conversing with people from all over the world and the topic of other people and cultures always comes up. Funny thing is, whether from France, Germany, Ireland, the USA, Colombia or wherever, we all tend to give the same stereotypes of our fellow friends around the world. I couldn't help but start to take some notes. However, before I begin....

**Disclaimer** For those who offend easily, or in my opinion take life too seriously, the following may piss you off.

• Germans are way too serious. It also must be noted that some of the men travelors where their pants a little too tight and a little to highwatered. Anyone ever hear the term mooseknuckle?
• Irish are all friggin nutso. Although, if you want to drink heavily, use an obsene amount of foul language and perhaps pass out in your own vomit, please endulge.
• Japanese are just plain smart. Yes, the image still stands that the Japanese are brilliant thinkers and make the best electronics. Lucky bastards.
• Mexicans are the crazies of the Americas. Put in your mind the image of a Mexican on a horse wearing a large sombrero with a knife in one hand and a bottle of tequila in the other, gallavanting through the streets yelling, ''Ay ay ay, arriba, arriba!!'' No joke, people think this.
• Canadians are lame. Sorry, my dear friends to the north but the word on the street is that ya'll just don't do much, and beyond the cities Quebec and Toronto, people just don't think you really exist.
• Argentinians are the Europeans of South America and act as such. This means they think they are at the top of the food chain and come with a snobery as such. Although they do make killer wines.
• United States. My fellow North Americans, how you be? Oh, you be acting like you the shiz. That's right, people think we act as though we can do no wrong and rule the world. Oh, I said it. We are also too loud and too obnoxious. I kinda agree. •French smell.
• Australians. Oh you clever folk from down under. What is said of you? Well, the females are kinda slutty, okay maybe the men too. But hey, just having a good time traveling right?

Only a little taste into the minds of many here but thought it funny. Needless to say, I still love them all and have many a friend among these groups.

Latinos: Top 10 Reasons I Love Them

I was the thinking the other day while I lay swinging in a hammock among singing birds, butterflies all about, lush green mountain views, the sound of music floating in the air from all directions...okay, you get the picture. Anyways, I was thinking, why do I seem to favor those hot-blooded Latino men? So, I came up with my top 10 reasons.

In no particular order of course:

1. They have incredible rythym. I'll stop with they are excellent on the dance floor and let your minds wonder a bit with the rest.
2. Sentimientos. Feelings. Oh, how open they are with their feelings. No topic goes untouched, unheard or is off limits. Me encanta.
3. They like to laugh. Muahaha all the time. Either everything south of the border is friggin hilarious or they just have good senses of humor. I don't know.
4. Aprovechan. Perhaps this ties into laughing a little but I needed another number. Go ahead, have a good time, we are Latino, why not?
5. I've always liked a little panela in my life. Gringo translation: A little brown sugar never hurt nobody!
6. Bottom line: they listen to their women. Okay, maybe not, but they sure as hell pretend well!
7. Alejandro Sanz, Enrique Iglesias, Mario Lopez, Alex Rodriguez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Javier Bardem,Chayanne, Ricky Martin (make fun if you want, but he is hot!), Gael Garcia Bernal, Mark Consuelos (damn you Kelly Ripa), Juanes...I think you get the picture.
8. La música. All day, every day. You may be thinking, um yeah, how special is this? Let me tell you. There is something alluring about guy not afraid to sing, dance and feel the music anywhere. Any place can be transformed into a dance floor.
9. Sus ojos. Just take a minute to look into their eyes. That's all.
10. Because even if it's for 1 night, 1 hour or 1 minute, they can make you feel like you are the only lady in the room. Awww :)

Colombia Part 9: Never too old to explore

I have once again ventured off and away to a small pueblo where the only thing here are the basic necessities. You know, one computer with internet, a number of cows, loud chickens, rice, beans, fruit and of course the obligatory soccer field.

A number of people commented about Tierradentro being nothing more than a place with holes in the ground (tombs), but I am finding it to be so much more. After bidding farewell to Katie I hopped the bus for another bumpy ride up and over to this very small town. Of course, my luck, I arrived with vomit all over my bag thanks to a small little boy who couldn´t handle the fun ride. I met up with my friend Hector at an adorable family owned hostel where we bunkered down among birds, iguanas, chickens and roosters alike.

Thinking it a good idea to test the limits of my physical capabilities, we decided to hike up about 1800 t to the peaks of Al Aguacate (elevation about 6200 ft) and explore the first of many tombs. It´s a sight to see for sure! Not only were we up among the clouds but walking across a mountain ridge full of underground tombs that date back to thousands of years before Christ. You would think that climbing into hole after whole would be boring, but I tell ya, it was amazing to sit down in there, shining your light on ancient paintings and only imaging what people´s bones occupied this space so many years ago. Call me a creeper, but I think it´s kinda neat.

After about 16 miles we ended our adventure. I never thought the classic Colombian meal of lentils, rice, fried plantain, meat and cucumber-onion salad would be so amazing after our long trek but I could have killed the damn vaca (cow) myself! Did I mention we drank 3 different types of fresh juice in one day? Um yeah, after papaya with orange, rasberry and lulo I was rather regular if ya know what I mean.

Today we ventured into the small town of Inza, which besides the quiet minutes we spent in the church, really there is nothing much to see here. So after some silent praying, which I didn´t realize until after that I did it in Spanish, Hector and I began to talk. Now, one would think sitting in a cathedral surrounded by figures of Jesus, Mary and numerous saints we would be inspired to talk of spirituality, religion and such right? No people, we began to talk about Clint Eastwood as a fine director. Hey, to each their own right?

Tomorrow we are off to find a small pyramid that we forget to get off the bus and see today. Oh, yeah, forgot because we had to take the schoolbus back into town and it was packed full of kids from age 4 to 16. Talk about bringing me back. Well, except for my busses were orderly and this was, well, fun! Music, joking, teasing, running about the bus, singing, laughing.... Although, school is a fairly new thing in this pueblo. Not too many years ago these children would be working the farms, not studying math and experimenting with the latest nail polish color.

Venturing north towards Bogota soon!

Colombia Part 8: I am in Love

So, how many of you thought that subject line referred to a male? Oh, how I love to tease. Of course I am referring to this incredible country of Colombia that gets better with every bumpy bus ride, meat and beans lunch, horse ride and of course the daily interactions with everyone I have the experience of meeting. I can't say enough....but I will say more anyways!

With our travels taking us from city to country often, we left the quant, white-washed walls of Popayan for one of Colombia's adventure capitols of San Agustin. Since we tend to be social gals, we picked a few friends up along the way and thus entered our Peruvian amigo Hector and our Israeli friend Matan.

Based on a recommendation we arrived at our eco-refuge hostel at the top of the hill, Casa del Sol. The grounds are amazing and while we have to carry our own trash down to town and compost everything we dont eat, the views and the beauty are worth the "hassle." Again, I find myself trying new things on this trip, so welcoming the much needed rain here in front of a fire pit, dancing, singing and drinking aguardiente seems rather normal you think? My fellow Oregonians may find this crazy to dance for rain, but they have been dry in this part of Colombia and need rain to replenish their many varieties of plant life.

It's amazing the views I continue to see each day! I honestly have moments where I smile to myself and think, chica you are one lucky lady! I only wish I could package up a piece of Colombia and send it to each and every one of you. I have spoken often of the incredible people here and their passion of renewing their country after years of conflict, but it's hard not to mention it again. I am inspired daily here with the kindness, generosity and fabulous attitudes the Colombians have.

Someone told me the other day that to enjoy life with music, friends and family is so important in life, even when you are faced with death, loss of money, loss of pride and such, you must take time to enjoy yourself. I find this simple, yet powerful. How often in the USA, we fight depression, we complain of our circumstance, we hide away and get angry with what life is throwing our way and stop the fun. Why? I do not know, but I can only imagine what it would be like if we lost our jobs and decided, what the hell? Let's throw a party!

I could continue on for hours discussing my changed attitude, but I need to log-off and go enjoy this good energy, because today, my horse was a bitch and it turned my mood. I know, what a complaint eh?

Colombia Part 7: Mountains to the Ocean and Back

So much seems to have happened since my last e-mail! Earthquakes, mice, face swelling...Let me just tell you all about it.

Backing up a few days, we left the beauty of Solento to experience the salsa dancing capitol of the world, Cali. I have to be honest here, Cali has little to offer during the daytime hours - it's muggy, kinda dirty, and reminiscent of most large scale urban sprawl cities I have had the pleasure to experience in my life. However, nightfall creates a vibrant scene of salsa dancing that wouldn't have Baby sitting in a corner if you know what I mean. If you don't know what I mean, get up on your pop culture people and rent Dirty Dancing.

A couple days of a hot city and we popped off to see a small village by the name of San Cipriano. Now the people of this little place are ingenious because there is only one way in an out of this crazy place, and that's by railway. You may be wondering how that is ingenious since we have been using rail for years right? Well, there is no train. These dark chocolate colored people (oh, I said that) have rigged up motorcyles to plank boards and toat you throught the jungle down the tracks at amazing speeds. An experience for sure.

Safe and sound, and for sure the only gringos in the town of just 700, we settled into our little hotel (El David) for some good R&R, hahaha. Soooo....first night I wake up to a rustling sound, turn on my flashlight and discover I have a little mouse friend in my room - yay! After befriending a cat, waking up Katie and trying to convince two little Colombian girls to check my room for said mouse, I just go back to bed.
The reaction of the hotel guy was the best, he thought me crazy to care about a harmless mouse and explained it like this, "it's just like Mickey!" I should have told him I am more the Donald Duck type.

Night two arrives after lazy swims in waterfalls and long UNO competitions with local kids who just love Katie and I for some reason. I just close my book an drift into sleep when all of a sudden the earth starts moving. Am I in L.A?! Nope, but yes, it's a rather nice sized earthquake we are having. Local reaction the next day with breakfast lady? "No big deal, everyone is fine, it happens. Did you want milk in your coffee?" and conversation done. Great attitude! However, my North American self was kinda hoping for Newschannel 8 to cover the story endlessly for weeks. No such luck.

After a few days of mice, an earthquake and my repeatedly telling people I don't have nor want a boyfriend, we take the track out of town and head towards the grand ol' Pacific Ocean. However, we have no info on where to go or stay because tourism is still nothing much in this area. I find that just following the flow and listening to locals advice works well so that's how we end up in Juanchoco. Still not sure if this is an island or a jetty as it doesn't appear on my map, we took an hour boatride to our little oasis for a few days.

We splurged on a two night ''all-inclusive'' (soooo not Sandals) hotel with ocean views, a pool, air-conditioning and a T.V. (Ahhh!) so we could relax in comfort a few days, and that's what we did. Nothing. Pure relaxation while I waited for the swelling in my face to ease; thanks to some lovely mosquitos that feasted on my eyelides, nose, forehead and cheek all night. I mean, thanks mosquitoes, my goal was to look like I had elephantitis while at the beach.

Thankfully by the time night fell on our final day I was back to normal, whatever that is. Back to reality of sorts, we made it to Popayan! Looking forward to exploring this Spanish Colonial city, taking in some nightlife, doing some bike rides, maybe mount another horse and perhaps enjoy a volcano or two before trudging forward in our little adventure. Colombia, you just get better and better.

Colombia Part 5: Smells of Cow

Let me start by saying that I spent a good hour in a cow pasture today, just chillin. After the city life in Medellin, we moved further south to check out the good life and apparantly relacing on lush green pastures is one of the things you do. We spent 2 nights in the mountainous city of Manizales (pop 300,000), just enough time to take a voyage to the 5th tallest volcano in the Colombian Andes, El Nevado del Ruiz. We made our way up to just shy of 5000 meters (roughly 15k feet for you Yankees lol) with stops along the way to learn about the land, the plants and the history of this glacier.

I am so taken by this country. For those of you who think Colombia is all about cocaine and the FARC, you are so wrong. As we delve deeper into the country we are seeing beautiful, lush lands filled to the brim with cows and horses, nature reserves, crystal clear rivers, snow-capped mountains and muchas Palmas de Cera (the national tree of Colombia at 60 meters high). The people here love their land and take care of it, it's a treasure they grew up respectimg and now...low and behold here people....have found a way to utilize the idea of sustainable growth that benefits their pocketbooks and the environment. What a concept! Stepping down from my soapbox now...and...okay down.

So Katie and I decided that la vida buena (the good life) was going to be in a town of just 7,000 further south down the Gringo Trail - welcome to Salento! A quant, colorful little city set among the hills and further surrounding mountains. It looks like a scene from a Hollywood movie; men and women saunter about in Colombian cowboy hats, jeans, boots and panchos while tourists and locals alike hang out of their bright balconies onto the plaza, enjoying the fresh air both day and night. Horses share the streets with pedestrians, few cars and lots of motobikes.

Our hostel (Estrellas sin Fronteras) is like a cleaner version of camping. You open the window from our room and you view the horse stables, upon approach you walk down a good 20 stairs made of old tires past chickens and cows, but the water is hot (yay!) and the kitchen has gas, works for me. We feel quite at home already and spent the day trekking all the way to the neighboring town of Cocora, where we hit some trails, bought some goods, layed in the cow pasture and enjoyed the over-the-top views that had you wanted to run through the hills like a scene from The Sound of Music. I didn't FYI, I can't get too dorky too often :)

That said, we will probably be here a bit longer. Tomorrow we are taking a good saunter over to a small coffee farm to get some samples and see how they do it here. I am in coffee heaven right now - missing Starbucks is so not an option here. Sorry Darla!

Colombia Part 4: Medellin...Medellin...Oh Medellin

Wow. Medellin. A beautiful city in so many ways. I am amazed each time we leave our hostel at how gorgeous this city can be when just less than 10 years ago the street were filled with death and the fiasco that was Pablo Escobar. I am enjoying talking to locals about the progress and were they see taking this city into the future.

The streets are clean because they have started recycle programs, put trash cans on every corner and created jobs in the garbage industry to have more boots on the ground so to speak. They are the first and only Colombian city to have a Metro line that takes you across town and out to certain barrios (neighborhoods). They have enforced street parking, people follow traffic signals and walk signs - I even saw bike lanes during one of our long walks. Amazing.

It really shows the resolve of these great people here; to be able to transform their government, eliminate loads of poverty (still lots, don't get me wrong) and clean up a city in virtual ruins is inspiring. Power to the people :) We found a great hostel in a middle class neighborhood full of tiendas, cafes, small business, hostels and a hop, skip and a stumble to the bar strip where the blend of various music types blends into the air.

I am so enjoying the views of tall, green, lush mountains (most full of beautiful cattle farms), brink buildings winding up the hillsides, colorful graffiti on the walls and art, art, art... For an even better view today we took to the skies in a paragliding little adventure. After heaving myself out of a plane this past year at 15,000 feet, running and jumping off the side of a hill was a walk in the park. While not the same thrill, natural high and pure rush I got from skydiving, the views were incredible and it was a highly relaxing ride. It's always nice to be up with the birds, although it has me craving more action.

Tomorrow we plan on exploring more of this grand city of nearly 2.3 million to see the botanical gardens, university districts and some great statues, murals and colorful parks Medellin has for us. While I think I could buy flat here and call it a day...the adventure must continue, so stayed tuned because I think it's gonna get even better!

Colombia Part 3: Geeks and such

What to share...what to share... Well, we arrived in Cartagena, got our accomodations settled and headed out for Indian food, because we like to live on the edge. We were the first into the restaurant located on a narrow, crowded street in the Cartagena hood of Getsemani, however our gringa scents must have attracted all the whities because it was soon crowded with many others. Wiffs of shit flowing in made the experience that much better. Mmmm....

En route to Cartagena from Santa Marta I gave my Facebook info to a 12 year old Cost Rican boy. Looking forward to seeing how that goes. Perhaps I can adopt hahaha

Pissed off the cab driving upon arriving something fierce. He really seemed put off by my insisting on the ride being 3 thousand pesos less than his origional price offered. Um, he didn't have to let us into his crap cab ya know! Funny though, I laughed when I told him the exact street and he gave me a sideways staredown for a good 10 seconds. What a turd.

Staying at the Hotel Holiday where I have been before and sharing a room with Katie and a lady from Australia named Mandi. She cracks us up with her wild stories and Aussie lingo. She looks like the typical seasoned travelor with her short gray hair, flowing dress over pants and assortments of great ethnic jewelry.

By the way, in case you didn't all know, it is totally socially acceptable as a travelor to rock the loungpaints and jogging shorts with your flip flops and fanny packs. You can in fact maintain your sexiness. It's true, I have found many a hot guy to be wearing this dork outfit and yet it doesn't phase me. In the U.S this nerd wouldn't get the time of day of course, but the foreign accents pops them from a 3 to a solid 7 on the scale, if you know what I mean - and I bet you do!

Off to soak in mudbaths of a volcano tomorrow before taking the night bus to Medellin - cannot wait to see the former drug capitol-turned artsy city! You will here more about this I guarantee.

Colombia Part 2: Lazy Tagangan Days

Life here on the Caribbean Coast is simply amazing, 'simply' being the operative word here. There's no rushing, people saunter about happy to be away from the hustle and bustle of big city life - or they are all stoned - but either way, it's amazingly relaxing. No pressure, no schedule, no time.

In fact, the other night a bunch of us were hanging out in the communal rooftop bar/lounge area here at the Oso Perezoso, playing games, listening to music, talking, drinking....you know...when Katie and I were asked if we were going out with them to the disco down the street. First thing I did, the damn American I am, was to look at my watch. 1am. Katie and I exchange glances like, well, it is late perhaps we should go to bed....when the token Aussie of the group (a commonplace thing in travel to have) asks us, "Why not? You have big plans tomorrow or something?" Hmmm....do I?

I laugh and say, "I have to go to the ATM...." While a trek to the ATM does mean a bus ride to the next town over and the often unneeded worry of getting robbed because you just pulled out a wad of cash equal to a months pay or more for some locals, it's not an excuse to not go dance to local beats while on holiday. We all got a kick out of this for some nerdy reason because all of us starting laughing about what a lame excuse that is. I mean, back home if a friend invited me out I would say, "Sounds like fun, but I have to go to the ATM today." However, with travel in off the beaten path locations this can be a bit of an adventure. Anyways, this was just a good reminder to let go, relax, go with the flow [man] and just enjoy this. Oh, we did go out by the way and danced our asses off until about three in the morning, in case you were wondering.

So while some of you might think it sounds like we are doing a whole lot of nothing here in Taganga, let me ensure you that we are. That's what people come here to do! Museums? Nah, I'll wait until the city for historical learning. Do my hair? Be productive in some way? Why?! It's the beach people. Hikes to seasonal waterfalls, lazy strolls along the beach walk, people watching (which is awesome here what with the mix of city vacationers, Argentinian clowns, local fisherman, daytime drunk gringos and street dogs) and reading a book in the hammock is productive enough for me right now. It's no wonder people come here to visit, come back often or just never leave.

This is all about to semi-end as we leave for Cartagena on Wednesday to explore one of the most beautiful big Caribbean cities I have ever scene. I cannot wait for Katie to fall in love with it as I did before. Until then, we will enjoy the lazy days of nothing but good conversation and meeting new friends.

Colombia Part 1: The Arrival

We arrived after a loooong flight into Cartagena around 2:35pm, walked a block to hop a van to Barranquilla, which of course meant total confusion on price and destination. Why? I don't know, it's just always that way here. Commence the crazy, death defying, go-kart race of a van ride. Here, tailgaiting, break slamming and illegal passing that misses creating human road kill is the norm. Also a bit fun....in a sick way.

Van 2 proves better, as in plush seats and warm darkness that provokes sleep. So sleep I did, and not just due to exhaustion bit because I had to pee, bad. Sleep just helped me forget that fact. Taxi ride after van took us up the hill and over to Taganga. Greeted by cool winds we finally had arrived at our first destination.

After quick hellos to Brit and Nathan we trudged down to the main strip along the Caribbean Sea for some eats. Settled on my fav pizza lady. Pizza? In Colombia? Oh yes, all handmade freshness that makes your tastebuds go crazy. Since this isn't a food review I'll stop there.

Tired and kinda grimmy from a near 24 hour travel we crawled into bed - I called the top bunk - and slept a solid 9 hours. Well, the 6am sunrise and massive amount of birds did have us briefly up, but nonetheless we slept great. Breakfast of fresh fruit, granola, juice and Colombian coffee provided fuel for our little hike to see a great view of Playa Grande, Fisherman's Beach and the Tagangan Bay before we took a nice dip in the sea, stared at bare-assed Colombian women in bikinis and Colombian families taking in the sun on their January breaks at the beach.

Lunch of homemade soup filled with delicious local veggies and chicken and then a little siesta. Sundown shopping trip for necessities: Coke, lime, rum and arrepas. Oh - we also indulged in a deep fried egg covered in deep fried breading, followed by deep fried potato with, oh yes, hot dog and hard boiled egg. Won't be repeating that one!

We will be hanging here in Taganga enjoying the relaxed pace of life before jetting off to Cartagena and then....you'll have to wait and see!! Okay, off to enjoy the Tagangan night with friends - new and old!