Windsurfing into the Unknown

Windsurfing into the Unknown from camilo galeano on Vimeo.

An inspiring film by a great friend of mine in Colombia. Zowi followed his passion for windsurfing and helping to change the perception of this beautiful country by showing others how adventurous it is and the amazing windsurfing destinations.

Cartagena

Welcome to romancing the stone meets hot summer nights if you are moved by dancing salsa in the late hours of the night or finding a rocking band in one of the plazas you might have just entered Cartagena. A place filled with wild nights, mystic energy, and firery passion with a mix of Afican, Indian and Spanish culture to add to the excitiment. Do not forget your dancing shoes if you visit Cartagena. A town with rich history you might want to think back to a time when fortresses defended the area from piarates and invadors, drug loads vacationed in their mega wealthy casas and sailed in their lavish yahats, and romance filled the air as the horse drawn carriages click and clack through the copple storne streets.

I love getting lost in the walled city dreaming of a time where I might be trapped in while the bad guys are hiding out.

Cartagena was a major trading port for just about everything from precious metals to slaves. Cartagena and Veracurz (Mexico) were the only cities authorized to trade with black people.

Getsemaní neighborhood

This is one of the most representative neighborhoods in Cartagena. African people brought as slaves in the past lived in this neighborhood. The most prominent place is Parque Centenario (Centenary Park), built in 1911 to commemorate a century of independence. Inside there are interesting monuments and one dedicated to the military. Parque Centenario also serves as a local police station and perfect for mid-afternoon people watching. Over the years, the park has acquired, through various means, a sloth, two gila monsters and a few monkeys. Cartagena's Convention Center, Third Order Church and San Francisco Cloister are all located in the area. The Old City has the same architectural styles as the area surrounded by The Walls.

Bocagrande

Bocagrande (Big Mouth) is a much-sought-after area with many hotels, shops, restaurants, nightclubs and art galleries. It is located between Cartagena Bay to the east and the Caribbean Sea to the west, to include El Laguito (The Little Lake) and Castillogrande (Big Castle), two renowned neighborhoods. Its particular appeal is in the beaches and nightlife around Avenida San Martín (Saint Martin Avenue), the backbone of the area.

The beaches are pretty but be prepared to get asked to buy everything from the "beach vendors". I find it quite entertaining. You might want to get creative like I did and make them smile. Everyone is just trying to make a living.

Cartagena Top 10 list

1. A visit to the bizarre Plaza de Inquizition where you can just imagine being a bystander in a square where misrepresneted criminals such as witches, adultresses, and thieves where hung, guilteen, or burned at the stake. It is hard to beleive the torture items that were used to inflict pain on others.

2. A wonder through the streets allowing your nose to do the seeking to find a hidden gem of a restaurant or you might want to make a reservation at La Vicrolla (the hot spot of the who's who of Cartagena)

3. Dance salsa all night long. The places that I suggest Cafe Habana, Quiebra Canto, or Mister Babilla

4. A rooftop drink at either of the following locations Media Luna hostel or Cafe de Mar

5. Smile at all the beach vendors at Bocagrande - if you are not interested in the goods, be creative with your responces.

6. Rent an apartment and feel like a local or play it cheep and stay for $8 a night to meet people in Getsemani at Hotel Holiday or Media Luna

7. Stumble into live free music at Plaza Aduana or on any of the streets in old town

8. Start dancing with the locals in the middle of the day to some type of music and bond through music

9. Take a side trip to the mud volcano, an experience like no other, and hold a memory that will stick in your mind forever. You can take a bus and do it on your own, but it is much less hassle to take the tour.

10. Buy some fresh fruit from the street vendors around town. Ask to sample something you have never tried and be amazed by how wonderful everything tastes.

Beaches of Bocagrande

Bocagrande (Big Mouth) is a much-sought-after area with many hotels, shops, restaurants, nightclubs and art galleries. It is located between Cartagena Bay to the east and the Caribbean Sea to the west, to include El Laguito (The Little Lake) and Castillogrande (Big Castle), two renowned neighborhoods. Its particular appeal is in the beaches and nightlife around Avenida San Martín (Saint Martin Avenue), the backbone of the area.

On the bay side of the peninsula of Boca Grande is a spectacular seawalk. In the centre of the bay is a statue of the Virgin Mary.
Originally constructed for foreign oil workers, Bocagrande consists mostly the land acquired through land reclamation. Bocagrande is now considered the city's most popular area for tourists, I am surprised by this statement because the beaches are pretty but nothing I would write home about. I had more fun capturing all the people constantly trying to sell you something. It really was out of control. Word of advise - watch out for the massage ladies, they are ruthless.

Another side of Cartagena

Welcome to the most beautiful colonial citiy in America: Cartagena de Indias, Colombia!

Spending a day, playing tourist and wondering the streets of the poor section of town, proved to be amazing. Fort San Felipe, located near the old part of Cartagena, gives you a perspective of how massive and strong this fort was to defend off English pirates and marauders. As I wondered my way through the small coridours, I imaged the dismale life if you were a prisoner shakeled to the walls.




The Islas Rosarios Archipelago is located just 40 minutes by speedboat from Cartagena: 32 islands, turquoise water, white beaches, coral reefs. A small paradise, not yet discovered by mass tourism.

Activities are plentiful in Cartagena. You might want to take a daytrips to the Volcano del Totumo or to the nearby fishing village La Boquilla - where you can windsurf in the winter months or take a City Tour in an traditional wooden"Chiva" bus or get wild on the Chiva party bus which takes you to Cartagena's finest nightlife locations.

Getsemaní neighborhood
This is one of the most representative neighborhoods in Cartagena. African people brought as slaves used to live in this neighborhood, the most prominent place of which is Parque Centenario (Centenary Park), built in 1911 to commemorate a century of independence. Inside are found some interesting monuments, including one dedicated to the military. Parque Centenario also serves as a local police station and a mid-afternoon pulpit for aspiring evangelists. Over the years the park has acquired, through various means, a sloth, two gila monsters and a few monkeys. Cartagena's Convention Center, Third Order Church and San Francisco Cloister are all located in the area. The Old City has the same architectural styles as the area surrounded by The Walls.

Parque Tayrona

Paradise. A beautiful place to visit in Colombia. It is not exactly the Ritz Carlton, but you get to experience the joys of hammock sleeping. For me I have to admit that I still prefer a bed, but you are so tired after exploring all day long, that it does not matter where you lay your head. Anyone who has visited this park, might just say they fell in love. Perhaps it is the jungle treks or the bright blue waters and white sandy beaches. What is incredible about this place is that you meet people so quickly because it is a close community with limited places to stay.





The top ten for Parque Tayrona:

1. Practice your extreme wave running on one of the beaches past Cabo de San Juan. I decided to stay in Arrefices, but either place is amazing. The differences is that Arrefices is a bit quieter with less people but with a short walk to a swimming beach. Cabo de San Juan has a beautiful beach with a place to stay in hammocks that overlook the ocean.

2. Hike up to El Pueblito and admire the animals along the way

3. Go for a swim at night

4. Share in a few stories over the only bar / restaurant in the area

5. Go do a handstand at the top of the rock

6. Reflect on how amazing your life is

7. If you have money, take the boat ride back to Taganga from Cabo de San Juan

8. Finish off that book you have been meaning to get done

9. Learn the art of hammock sleeping

10. Practice your spanish with the parrot at the restaurant in Arrefices

Mahalo - Extreme Park

King of Mahalo opened in 2009 and gave kids a place where they could practice extreme sports and seek adventure in a natural setting it is important for Envigado and for the many young Colombians looking to break into extreme competition. Mahalo extreme park is an important part of Envigado, and gives kids a place to excel, allows a competition with a high level of motivation and performance in various disciplines.



Walking into this beautiful place, you feel the energy, the chill out room, rock climbing area, pool area, combine it all with the extreme, the natural, vertigo, music, art and adrenaline, a different space with the main goal to persuade more spectators, athletes and fans to be a part of the extreme sports scene. Mahalo is covered in art of several local painters and graffiti artists, marking its style unique and adding to it a must visit while visiting Medellin or Envigado.

Envigado, fifteen minutes from Medellin, is interested in promoting tourism focused on the "Eco-adventure". The goal is to combine nature and excitement with the aim of integrating the main attractions and natural sites such as rivers, mountains, caves, roads and parks where athletes can practice extreme sports. Mahalo extreme park plays its role by offering an extreme recreational experience in a healthy natural environment.
Mahalo offers the following for visitors and extreme athletes:

• Restaurant offering international food
• Convenient facilities to enjoy the view of the city
• Televisions to watch extreme sports
• Ecological walks
• Downhill Mountain Biking
• Skateboard
• Dirt Jump
• Climbing
• Paintball
• Pool
• Table games

Mahalo park and Luong restaurant are located in the town of Envigado, in Loma del Escobero, approximately two hundred meters from the traditional restaurant Farolito. I found this place by bus, just ask the driver to drop you off at the entrance. Check them out on facebook.
If you are interested in learning more about the amazing mind behind the idea, it will be up on the people along the way blog title.

Colombia - WHY?

A few tidbits on the beautiful country of Colombia. I arrived on Wednesday from St. Pete Beach, FL on a one way ticket to Medellin (pronounced med a geen). On the airplane I shared travel stories with a new found friend named Ryan. He shared pertinent information about the area as we shared a taxi into the Barrio Poblado. I received the keys to an apartment near Zona Rosa from a woman named Catalina. The apartment is owned by a guy named Michael in which we share a mutual friend, but have yet to meet.

Wednesday I origined myself with my new home for the moment. Even though I had no expectations for Colombia, I am shocked to see really nice mountain and road bikes, a really clean city, and friendly people (they still all stare especially when I go running in the mornings).

I woke early Thursday morning to venture to the top of a surrounding mountain. Medellin is surrounded on either side with large mountains. The metro runs throughout the city, easy to use and much nicer than other public transportation systems. I heard about this Park Santa Ellana and to get there you take gondolas or metrocable to the top of the mountain. When I reached the top, I began talking with a group of high school kids fascinated by this gringa. They kindly invited me to join their tour and it was a day filled with laughs. Upon reaching this pond in the woods, all the girls participated in a soccer game and I think I laughed for an hour straight. Later we ventured to find this swimming hole, but instead got lost and had to hitchhike in the back of a dump truck (20 kids 2 teachers and my self in the back of a dump truck driving fast down this road.

On Friday I decided to communicate with the family to ensure them I had not been kidnapped by some FARC group. On the metro ride over to the library, I met up with a few travelers. It is not hard to find them since we do look very different. I parted ways with them only to see them 7 hours later in the metro. What are the odds. After a day at the ultra modern library, I went to a cafe / pub that played old time spanish songs. A nice older man bought me a tea and we talked about life in Colombia. I shared a few of my favorite music on my ipod.

My mind began to hurt from dusting off the Spanish filing cabinet and trying to remember what I once knew. Instead of visiting with locals, I called my new found friends from the metro and we traveled an 1 1/2 to Santa Fe antioquia. A beautiful colonial town nestled in the mountains. The ultra rich locals from Medellin all have fincas along this road. During the weekends, the city folks travel to the countryside to relax and unwind. The town is surrounded by montains and I talked with a bike shop owner, who told me that their are many mountain bike trails. Our next stop was the Puente where we walked 4 miles to this large river with a funky bridge over it.

Saturday night I met up with a few foreigners at a near by hostel and went with them to explore the nightlife. Medellin is known for dancing, drinking and parties. Zona Rosa is party central and the people come out looking hot. The rumor is that Colombian woman are the most beautiful in the world. I guess that statement can be debated, but people do look nice. The party started with a beer in this garden sitting on tree stumps. It later moved to Casa Kiwi with a DJ and dancing. I left around 2pm but the party certainly went to at least 4 or 5.

Sunday I paid $10 to get a pedicure and manicure, went to the grocery store to stock up on exotic fruits of this area, and later met up with my friend Ryan from the airplane. He explained a business idea and how I might be making money and having an apartment. After dinner, we met up with a girlfriend of his and walked into this high-end night club. I began videoing, but was made clear that the clientele might not want to be public. After an all night of dancing, we made it back to his house at around 4am. Slept for a few hours.

After 3 months in this beautiful country, I feel like a local. I speak better Spanish, have met a great friends and have experienced some really cool things.