Catch up...

Ok so update: Salento and Medellin have been lovely. As we were leaving Salento we became more and more sad that we would never get to eat at our new favorite restaurant, The Brunch Diner. This guy Jeff came to Colombia in the 90's and made this delicious little diner only in Salento. Like I am not kidding it was the most delicious food we are in all of South America maybe in my entire life. 

We don't know what it was. The burgers, the eggs, the hash browns and the sandwiches were just absolutely amazing. It was cheap and amazing and they fit so much food on our plates. The owner even challenged us to go up and find his secret toy (cute little bus thing) at the top of the hill and return for a free dessert. Of course we found it and came back so happy and excited. Then after our lunch and free massive brownie ice cream sundae, he lets us chill in his restaurant cinema and watch a movie until our bus was leaving. 

It was so kind and just awesome that he was so generous not only to us but every customer he has ever had. It made Mike and I so happy that people like that exist in the world and are making it better with just how they treat others. 

here's me exhibiting my "bear like characteristics" as Mike says by being territorial and messy when it comes to food.

We went to the Exploratorium in Medellin which was awesome--us and our British boys had a great time. We ran around like little kids, got sweaty playing all the interactive games and got our pics taken by a cute colombian group of girls.

Here's one I took of the boys posing--like why is Mike so hilarious idk he looks like a little kid hahahaha

Here he is again--he thinks he is just hilarious. 

lol we're so happy

Oh and also my parents skyped us and succeeded in making me super homesick for the holidays back home in VA Beach. Like oh my goodness I miss my family so much.

Now we are in Santa Marta and it's blazing hot. Not as hot as Cabo, MX was when we honeymooned in August--that was literally the center of the sun kind of hot. This hot is more humid and just heavy. We're off to Tayrona Natl Park tomorrow and OMG I'M STOKED just LOOK at this place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're hoping it's really going to re-open tomorrow because it was closed for all of December.........so no promises yet....

Anyway last night we enjoyed dinner and yummy juices with friends we had met while in Medellin. We laughed, danced and talked all about how great it is to be in Colombia right now. Just 20 years ago it was the most dangerous city in the world and now it's the most innovative city! It's great that we are here visiting because we are helping to change the bad reputation that Colombia has been stuck with since the 80's. 

Valle de Cocora

We visited the Valle de Cocora here in Salento yesterday. This sanctuary is home to ---here I'll let wikipedia tell you:

The area was designated a protected park by the Colombian government in 1985 in response to the imminent threat of extinction of the Ceroxylon quindiuense, the Quindío wax palm. The palms were brought to the verge of extinction in part owing to their utility in making wax candles and building materials for farmers, but most of all because they were traditionally cut down annually for fronds on Palm Sunday. The park remains to this day pretty much the only place in the world that you can find these immense trees which, while quite rare, are no longer under imminent threat.

This place was soooooooo coooool! The wax palms were just massive and reminded me of how small I am in this beautiful world. Mike and I were talking about this last night with some Irish friends--how there is so much to see in this world, don't get caught up in yourself and your bubble. We talked about how when we were back in our jobs and schools, we had this ego that built up around our life like "I deserve that" or "I'm entitled to that" and sure there are things everyone is entitled to like: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and clean drinking water.

We all agreed that traveling the world and understanding different cultures breaks down our egos and molds us into better global citizens. Wow such a great conversation. We love meeting new people especially really intelligent people who converse with us for hours!

Our hike up to the Valle was so lush, green and just alive. Everything was SO green--everything. Our Irish friends remarked that it reminded them of home. We hiked up a mountain and over sketchy bridges that took us up into the valley. I read online that it was usually cloudy--sometimes too cloudy to see anything so I was keeping my expectations low.

But when the valley opened up to us we could see the palm trees just fine! And the mist added a mysterious feeling to the giant trees--kinda like in Machu Picchu. 

imitating nature..or trying to haha

This place was so amazing. It blew my mind that we got to just walk underneath these giants for free! It was a beautiful hike and wow it felt so good to sweat and work after traveling in buses for four days.

Time's going too fast......

this was us hiking up to the summit of Pasachoa in Ecuador, an extinct volcano opposite of Cotopaxi. 

We're halfway through our 2 month trip around South America! I'm so sad. But excited to come home. But still sad. Anyway, Mike and I were looking through my posts the other day and ended up re-reading my thoughts on appreciating God's creations by traveling the world. Since traveling around Peru, Ecuador and now Colombia for the last four weeks, Mike and I have seen some of God's greatest creations (I think).  The nature that we've been surrounded with is overwhelming! I've thought about the mountains, jungles, rivers and volcanoes we've traveled to and enjoyed. We've been able to walk, climb, boat and hike to such amazing places that are for the most part untouched by civilization. Basically, I've just fallen more and more in love with beautiful, rugged, raw nature.

I definitely have such a huge desire to travel to Europe and see all the gorgeous art, architecture, cities and history there but that's what man created. I do firmly believe that God inspired all these masterpieces to come into existence and I'm so very excited someday to see them in person. But right now on this specific trip, Mike and I are intent on seeing as many mountains, trees, waterfalls, volcanoes, beaches and rivers as we possible can. It's been so exciting and humbling to climb up waterfalls and volcanoes--I'm so excited for us to explore Colombia and all it's amazing nature!

Amazon Jungle, Ecuador

Paracas, Peru

Amazon Jungle, Ecuador

Colca Canyon, Peru

Banos, Ecuador

Cotopaxi volcano, Ecuador

Amazon Jungle, Ecuador

We've been to many naturally gorgeous places but I have to say, the ruins and cities that we've seen have also been breathtaking. 

Machu Picchu, Peru was a huge highlight because of the beautiful balance of nature and man's creation. 

Quito, Ecuador was such a pretty city. The houses on the hill were painted in pastels and bright colors. These hues contrasted with the gorgeous green that was everywhere--I liked it a lot.

Ollantaytambo, Ecuador was such a cute town. It had an environmental feel to it because it was built right into the mountains and had a river of clear water running throughout the cobblestone streets.

SALENTOOOOOO SALENTOOOOO WATCH ME WHIP

--sorry stupid title but I can't not sing that song every time I say "Salento" Colombia.

Lots has happened in the past couple days. Some bad things like getting on the WRONG bus for 7 hours and having to pay again or being super rushed in our bus station and Mike leaving his credit card in the ATM......................%$$#&$#*$&(*#!!!!@

But also lots of good things like finding our favorite South American fruit flavor, Mora, in yogurts for cheap and eating delicious McDonald's for lunch(why is it SOOOOO GOOD everywhere but the USA? kidding it's still good in America....)

Anyway, we just arrived in Salento this morning at 5AM dead tired. It's so gorgeous here. We walked from our bus to our eco hostel and farm and promptly had a photoshoot.

ENJOY!

Mike finna tryna ruin my shot 

10 THINGS I LEARNED FROM MARRYING MIKE

1. I've come to find that in Mike's eyes I am "so beautiful all the time" and I love it
2. Chocolate is a must on any bus ride whether it be 30 hours or 3 hours long.
3. I'm laughing 85% of the time at Mike's jokes, facial expressions and impersonations
4. You'll never need to listen to spice girls again because he knows every single verse to every single song
5. Fast food restaurants (like McDonald's) are so much more delicious outside the United States
6. Make sure he has ample room on his side of the bed or else he won't be able to sleep a wink
7. Coca cola in South America is so delicious because it's straight up sugar cane
8. His feet are always cold so he uses my body heat as his own personal heater instead of putting socks on. I don't know why I think that's cute
9. He now firmly trusts me and wants me to start cutting his hair but I don't know how long that will last...................
10. Again, always be sure your passport is up to date and ready to go because the entire world is waiting

as I was typing Mike decided to make a list of his own--

10 THINGS MIKE HAS LEARNED FROM MARRYING ME

1. Ishel's spirit animal is a bear because she is territorial around her food, can eat massive amounts of anything and hibernates in the winter

after listing one he got distracted and so we will have to finish the list another time hahahaha

Our weekend in the Amazon jungle

MONKEYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When Mike and I began planning this South America trip back in January we decided to save as much as we could so we would be able to do cool things and not be stressed about money. We've figured out our 'cost and worth' dynamic with food, living and activities and I'd say we've got it pretty good! Like example: we take buses everywhere instead of taxis and planes, we share every meal because it's cheaper and they also give us so much food haha oh and we stay in inexpensive hostels instead of fancy hotels. Ok ANYWAY back to doing really cool things with all the money we've saved up!

We decided to do an eco lodge experience in the jungle instead of a hotel or resort. It was awesome-we stayed in grass huts and rode the river everyday! We took a 7 hour bus to get on another 2 hour bus to take us to a 2 hour boat ride to finally get to our eco lodge. Our hut wasn't as bug infested as I expected so that was a welcoming bonus! 

We ate lunch at the main grass hut lodge and had a siesta (thank goodness after two hours of sleep) then we took a tour around the river to a massive lake. We witnessed a beautiful sunset as we jumped in the warm water. We swam around without thinking about the caimans (Ecuadorean alligators) that could be swimming near us haha just kidding our guide assured us many times that they don't swim that far out. It was such a beautiful night. 

The next day we set out for a morning hike through the bush. We saw so many ants, bugs, birds and more ants. We didn't even get bit a lot and that was the crazy part. 

Our guide was crazy. He would tell us to sniff something and then later tell us it would give us hallucinations. He would start running without warning and we would slip trying to keep up. He would rip open ant farms to show us then lick them up with his tongue!! 

The highlight of our walk was the invisible frog. We were walking around when our guide gasped. In the leaves there was this amazing toad that was camouflaged to perfected. It was so difficult to find it amongst the leaves Mike couldn't see it for a while!!

the photo won't go sideways so the frog is facing upwards haha can you see it????

WE SAW AN ANACONDA! it was a baby one but OH my gosh our boat guide took us WAY too close to that thing hahahahha ahhhhh

Right before we went back on the boat we swung on some vines like Tarzan. It was so rad! 

After lunch and another siesta we took off for another sunset swimming session. 

 It was so magical and peaceful. The sunset was a simple purple and pink but it reflected against the palm trees and made it seem as if we were on another planet. Then during our night hike, the world seemed even more alien. Since the river was so high it was fact that we were swimming amongst the tree tops. We drove in our boat in between the tree tops like we were in a flying boat. It was so unreal. I think my favorite moment was when the night clouds opened up and stars glittered across the WHOLE sky! That was just so incredible I was speechless.

Today was a massive day. We visited an indigenous community and a shaman. It took ALL day to get to each place--the amazon is BIG hahaha




We searched for monkeys and Tucans. We rode the boat for so long but it was still so nice to be on the river. On our way back from swimming at sunset, our boat "ran out of gas" none of us believed our guide but we paddled along for a bit anyway. It was still really funny and definitely a memory : all us in our swimsuits paddling along laughing. 

It was the perfect end to our jungle experience.