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.