Medellin - couchsurfing and uh... modelling?

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

Before leaving Salento, I learned some dramatic things about relationships in Salento. I also learned that in one month, 25 people had been murdered in the little pueblito called Circasia, fifteen minutes or so, from Salento. Only locals knew, and they could only speculate that someone was cleaning up the city for druginvolved badmen, because colombian law doesn`t really work, although police and military forces are present most of the time... the newspapers don`t write about it, and back home they today wrote about a sunnmoring who flashed in Karl Johan.

The busride to Medellin is beautiful... I met some other gringos on the bus that I travelled with, and went to the Pitstop hostel. I went out with the guys to dance, pretty late. I made some friends with a trailor, among them, a swedish girl I`m going shopping with perhaps tomorrow. I sent some of my stuff with them in the car down to Ecuador, because they had a lot of space. The next day, I did a nice sunday walk in the sun, and got to job offers: one, as a bartender, and the other, a bit more interesting:
Juan had spotted me while he came from a meeting, jumped in his car thinking: damn, this is going to seem suspicious without my female assistant. But I`ll do it anyhow. He gave me his card and shared information about the company. My first thought was: human trafficing! He`s been working a lot on ridding me of that thought. I called yesterday to schedule, and I went to the studio today with a friend. The studio was awesome! and the people were really nice. My friend knew one of the models, so that gave the final indication that this is legit. They don`t want me to pay anything, but they want 20 % of deals I may get.
We`re doing a photoshoot next week to make a "Referance book" with different clothes and looks.

I`ve been riding around on the back of my friend, Victor`s, motorcycle, Olga. We`ve done voluntary work at a psychiatric clinic; which was very interesting. Pleasant. Not always easy to understand the spanish of schizofrenic people on drugs, but yes. I decided try couchsurfing.org, and after five minutes of searching, I was just rediculously lucky! I`m living with a fantastic family of a doctor father(that will ask the hospital if they want a volunteer), a mother, a grandmother that does all of the cooking, a sister, a brother, and my host: Laura, a passionate girl that loves music and singing. This is fantastic for my spanish. I`ve spent a lot of time in two different universities now: first with Victor, doing his college survey, and today with Laura; for lunch and to watch a jazz-jam session. The house is in a nice area that even has a gate man, I get my own beautiful room, I have internet and they feed me :) How lucky could I get?



Friday, October 29th, 2010


I`ve been welcomed into this family that’s been joking about adoption, and I despite feeling bad that I`m accepting so much from them, I believe in their reassurances that they enjoy having me here. I really can`t thank them enough. I would have gone by, but with a lot of hardships with the little amount of money I have. There are couchsurfers that offers accommodation, but I`ve also been given food, transport, help with sorting out the bank, and a great deal of security. I`ve felt very much like being at home, in a different way than in Salento. The transfer to the account which they have given me, is still not complete, so I`ve been dealing without a refill of money for two weeks, but hardly spending anything at all. I`ve tried to help out with dishes , grocery shopping, keeping the parents company while they run a lot of errands, driving the others here and there. And I`ve quite enjoyed it, as well as it has been good for my Spanish. It`s great just being in a car again, even. Laura has taken me to multiple jam-sessions and concerts, as she is an active singer. The whole family has gone for Alejandra`s ballet performance(I then realized that it was my first one), we`ve all gone out salsadancing in a place called Son Havana, where we`re going out tonight to watch Laura`s band, despite being exhausted. It`s funny to see the parents dancing too. But I have a cold that`s just killed my energy today. The mom in the house is an odontologist that’s fixing my teeth; two holes and removing two visdomteeth, for more then ten times cheaper than back home! I`ve gotten to know some of the neighbours through rumbadancing(it`s the only exercise I`ve done since I came back and I`m dying from it). They`re taking me and a girl I met while volunteering with little kids(organization called Lazos), around the city tomorrow for the aquarium, science museum and some costume shopping for Halloween.

But right. That`s probably not amazingly interesting.. what`s more interesting , at least to me, is how the modeling has turned out. The register photoshoot went okay. They gave me “homework”: to read fashion magazines and look at myself in the mirror. Just like medschool! I arrived an hour late for the real fashion shoot because a stupid bus driver and several people on the bus said yes, when I asked if the bus was going there. Afterwards, the bus driver said: “oh, I didn`t hear what you said!” Ask again, you tard. I`ve now learned, very late, to ask the driver, let the bus go. And then ask either one or the two next buses as well. Today I did that, and it saved me a trip to the other side of town. But the people in the agency were really nice about it.
They didn`t want to put hardly any make up on me for the shoot. I was kind of hoping to be superstyled. The stylist actually loved my hair. What can I say? I cut and cheaply dye my own hair, and haven`t touched it in almost three months. - There you have the recipe for success. I took some close ups after being styled the first time. They would fiddle a lot with my hair and what to put on me, but for every round of photographing with new looks, they were all sounding super enthusiastic. I would just mix up emotions, try new things. The photographer would tell me some things to do and not. They all made me feel very good and professional. They sent photos around to contacts, and in a moment, I had several meetings scheduled. I`ve been to Chevignon, and the head wants to meet me. No one from the bureau has ever been requested by her, so that`s… cool. Surprising! Don`t know how much I`m able to believe it when they they say brag too much. I`m not letting them put too much helium in my balloon, so don`t worry. It's weird for someone that has never known how to look in the camera, and always thought of herself as normal looking, just with red hair. I`m even glad I never realized what a foul little kid I was, once. Now it`s just a hallway-entrance amusement in my house.
But here, I`m different, and all human. I guess that`s part of why the people I meet say they love my "ettitud"(said in the norwegian way the top model judges do)
We`re looking into the best way of getting me a working visa, so that I can fly in whenever I have a photoshoot, without having to give up on my travels, which I wouldn`t. Monday I`ve got the meeting with the head, after a meeting with a make up company called Avon. I`m optimisticly crossing my fingers for a photoshoot for them next week, and one for Exito, the biggest supermarket brand in South America, who asked for my sizes and is going to see whether they have work for me next week or not. Originally they were busy with one model. But I`m supposed to be heading south next weekend, so there`s a bit of time pressure. I extended my visa(had to go to the das three times), to have enough time to cross the border. Two of the three times, I met friends, so that was lucky, because waiting in line takes for-ever.

As for the family, again, it`s amazing to get to know them and get the inside view of a family living on the other side of the world. Both the differences and the similarities, troubles and love. The grandmother is especially culture shocked, and already a big fan of drama. I`ve taught them what a brownie is, made fajita, and learned how to make tortillas. Can`t believe they don`t eat a lot of taco here, so close to Mexico! I`m definatly visiting them on my trips back here, and I`m hoping to meet the last sister that`s studying in Italy. The job for Chevignon is in January, if I get that one, but there should be other gigs before that time. It`s an interesting twist that I can`t help but investigate. I don`t pass these things up. The one time I did that, when declining a job offer as a singer/coproducer in Melbourne, too early, it cost me a free trip to Singapore. Stupid, stupid girl!



Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010

Last days in Medellin

These days have been efficient, which I love. I`ve volunteered with the kids, been to the dentist, spent almost a day in and outside the science museum, where a big radio channel concert was playing next to it. I`ve celebrated Halloween, where the family lent me a devil costume. I`ve studied a lot of chemistry, been around the town doing and accompanying others in chore-doing, been to the uni researching and thinking about the future: It looks like I might just study for one year in Oslo and then 5 in Martin, Slovakia, instead of 6 years in Riga. Martin is not a big city, it`s closer to nature and there`s a bigger Norwegian society with more references than Riga, as well. It´s further south, close to everywhere for travel, right by the Alpes, and it`s a very cheap place to pay for your leisure time, stay and food. It`s good that I`ve got to thinking about these things. I`ve been to the cinema with my friend, Nicole. We saw The road, a really great movie that`s also really old. Colombia is so far behind for some reason! Inception is still in the cinemas too. Yesterday I was finally well enough to go to the EAFIT gym for two hours, and it was divine. I have to stop forgetting how much I love exercising. Your first day there is free, and it’s a big gym with zumba, rumba, sauna, spa, rooftop, everything. It`s been a weekend and a vacation-day, so any news from the agency has been… slow, because the assistant has been trying to multitask by doing both Avon and Chevignon on the same day, but I only have today and tomorrow to meet them, cuz on Friday, me and Victor are hopefully off to Ecuador! Entonces, I told her to arrange the meeting with Chevignon, that actually answers her phonecall. I`m not exactly going to be offended. I`d be more offended if they had said no After meeting me!


Some reflection about volunteering..

I wanted to volunteer as an English teacher for kids in poor Bolivia, thinking that it was important for them to learn, and something that I could do. But I´ve come to realize how the most important thing for Those people is not a well paid job, money or speaking to tourists, but happiness in the way they live. Because frankly, the odds of that changing any time soon are pretty slim. Bolivia will not rise from voluntary work alone, giving education to a few that might leave the country for greener pastures.(speaking very harshly now, so here`s a teaspoon) Things are going to need time and a lot of pull force. South America is like Asia and Africa; on the move. Especially Brazil, from what I hear.
What I believe we can contribute more with, without taking jobs that other locals could do for less than we sometimes are offered, is information and education that can diminish cultural disputes and give them the courage to stand up for themselves if they have been wronged. They need someone to trust. Politically, they also need a functioning law system and police, which one can`t fix alone. Even in modern Colombia, that has military and police everywhere(!), they have little true power, which is what as I wrote, probably led to the Circasia-clean up, where 25 people got murdered in one month. I don`t have time to be that person to trust, but I can start up something, and help get the wheels going. Direct volunteers, scanning online for work they believe in, that they don`t have to pay to do.. I´ve started collecting info that I will post with time.

Goodbye, Salento.

Friday, October 8th, 2010

A demanding farewell. I´ve spent the last time here saying goodbye to this place I´ve come to think of as my second home. I took one day off work to do chores and try a delicious chicken almuerzo at Sosi´s. I met some local guys I´ve got to know, and a stranger just guessed that I was from Scandinavia, which is quite strange since we´re not many. Colombians know way more about Norway than Spanish people do, besides up in the mountain where one of the guys asked me if I drove to Colombia. Later that day I met up with the american guy that knows the sailor. After mailing the guy, I went with him to his hostal: Tralala, to see how it was. The owner had a birthday party, so there was lots of charming music and good food, even for me who crashed the party. I stayed there for a while, as there were many interesting people(and a delicious cake). - Especially old experienced travelers with amazing stories to tell. The owner of La Serrana is now taking over that hostal. Apparently there´s a dispute between that owner, and Tim, the owner of the Plantation house. They inform that they do not give out information about the other hostal... I feel there´s a tension that´s making my hair all electrical and airborn.
I left the party to hang out by the fireplace here, again, and there I got to know a girl who turned out to be from Brattvaagen! She´s a hardcore traveller by my opinion. She joined another girl who was travelling without money in Europe, for three weeks. The other girl was however travelling like that, longterm. Fascinating...

I´ve said my goodbyes to my colombian colleagues, have had lots of blackberries and fruit, and now I´m waiting for the internet to be fixed. I´m going back to Medellin in the morning, and I´m a bit worried for my back that the beds in the Los Nevados screwed up.- I had to lie in foster position on a hard bed to(try to) warm my feet. Not great for a 7 hour busride. Been considering trying out a new hostal in Medellin, even though I have several friends at the Pitstop. My bartending job is taken, and the manager said: "Sorry, but yay! Now we can get drunk together!" I think I must have been the only sober bartender they´ve had working there.
But yeah... My last night... People might ask me what I´ve done here for a that amount of time. I´ve done quite a few things, but there is no better or more simple answer I can give but: "finding peace and being happy". One shouldn´t leave a place when it makes you happy, but there does come a time when it´s time to move on to savour the magic of a place before it gets boring. So my greatest recommendations to you, little town. Just don´t think you´ve got it if you´re staying at a normal hostal for two days.

Writing this comment a few months later: My american friend from Bogota and Taganga; Taylor, went back to South America and followed my recommendations to Salento. He greeted them from me, and they still remember who I am. Those things are strange to hear after a a long time. Life goes on as before in Salento. Only without me...

Four days trekking in the Los Nevados

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

After a few nice days, where two of my friends reappeared in Salento and we all went dancing salsa in the evening, me and the british couple went trekking.
You start out in the Valle de Cocora, go past Acaime and up to the valley of the lost, where had arranged for a guide to take us to the finca: Primavera. We walked through different landscapes and weather. It took us about 5-6 hours to get up there, and half of the walk was through rain and mud. We were pretty demoralized and exhausted in the end, and had no energy left to avoid the muddiest parts or wet branches in our way. Reaching the finca was a happy bliss, but it was freezing at 3500m, as we tried to dry our clothes on the kitchen stove; the only warm place in the house, where an unfriendly woman would be cooking all day long. I know that, because I spent the whole next day in that kitchen, with my book and a blanket, reading with the nice kids and teaching them a bit of english. She did let me have a piece of cheese she made right in front of me, but when we returned, she wouldnt even smile or wave. There was no electricity in the finca(farm), so there was no point of staying up after dark. The woman was an amazing cook, and us being tired, hungry and cold, worshiped the food she gave us, however simple it was. It was cooked Perfectly!

The next day, after a horrible night of longing for sleep or a warm, comfy bed, it was sunny and beautiful. We decided to move to another farm, closer to the nearest mountain that we were going to climb. They told us it was 4500m, but a map said 4200. The other finca, a bit further down the valley, was much much better! They even had electricity to have light in the kitchen. The young daughter wasn't an experienced cook yet, but they were so much more friendly and generous. She took us with her to milk the cows, so I did that for the first time. Dont know why people say its hard!
The finca also had smaller bedrooms and a smaller kitchen, so it was warmer. We had a great trip that day! We stopped by another little farm, where we were greeted by the friendliest man on earth, giving us lots of fresh cow milk with panela, and coffee tinto when we came back down. Colombians really adore their sugar(panela is made of sugercane) and crappy cheese!
It was heavy to walk those steep grassy hills, and we even decided to make it a bit more difficult by doing some climbing. It was absolutely magnificent to reach the top and have lunch that high. You could really feel the altitude in your breathing, but it was warm enough to sit in your sweater! On the way down, I rode on the back of the nice mans horse and had a nice little chat. He was going over to our place for phone signal. The locals speak rediculously fast up there, but he wasnt too bad. After a late dinner with the family, and some of the dads friends that had come over to eat and sleepover, I suffered myself through another cold night. The problem would always be the feet, no matter how hot the upper body was. I found myself feeling homesick for the first time, then. After breakfast the next morning, we watched a goat get slaughtered in Halal fashion, and "processed". Then we began our long, muddy journey back home. It took us about 7 hours to get down, because the others didnt have Wellington boots, following the route to finca El Bosque and on. Do NOT go up that way. You will surely die. The finca does also not excist anymore. Muddy and exhausted, we reached the Valle de Cocora. It was strange to return to civilization. The only tourists we met up there was a travel writer, and a man working with www.ecoandes.org.

Its really nice to be back in Salento, and the dog Kira was ecstatic to see me again. My colombian colleagues too. All of the other people in the hostel are however new, but very nice. Today I've got a spanish lesson. Im trying to not do too much today. All I want to do in Salento is just to be here. If youre doing things, then time passes. Thats something I really don't want to happen. I hope to feel this way about a place again.

Salento - a dreamworld

Friday, September 24th, 2010

As for my last time in Medellin, I had a great one. I served as a brilliant wingwoman on valentines, and relaxed on sunday. I didn`t like saying goodbye to my friends, but we´d meet again. I felt good about travelling alone again, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. I didn`t expect(although I should have) to find six people I knew from Medellin.
I moved down to the farm the next day, and Man I adore living there with the beautiful and quiet scenery of green hills, coffe plants and fruit trees where you can help yourself to as much as you like. Entonces, were making a lot of juice and luxury Bourbon coffee! Since I`m working on the farm, selecting beans, collecting oranges, picking coffee beans, clearing the hills with macheti(!), I get a huge lunch that with the other fruits and food I get, makes my costs of living equal zero. I don`t work a lot, and there is no pressure. The colombian guys I work with are brilliant, and I love living with the amazing animals. There are three Lassie dogs, three cats, a whole bunch of chickens(one is cuddly and awesome), and two cute kids. There is no stress, just pleasure of being in such a beautiful place. I wish I brought warmer clothes, as the weather has not been perfect. I`m waiting for sunny days to go to Valle de Cocora, whith all the wax palms. There are a great deal of great treks around that I`ll do next week.

Today I booked a motorcycle lesson tomorrow. Tonight we`ll be spending time by the fire place, collecting the chocolates we won, playing cards the other night. On sunday we`ll be playing football with the locals, which should be grand. I just watched some girls´ volleyball match. It makes me a bit nostalgic. Trying to not think much about my past and home, but it does make me happy to think I have something great that I can return to. I love you guys, and I hope you`re having a great time too :)

Monday, September 27th, 2010

I wrote this on saturday: Friday was truly great. After a great day, we went for food at Lucy´s, where everyone eats, and played Tejo, a south american game where you throw shaped stones into clay. If you hit bullseye, there´s an explosion, and you have to drink beer to play the game. Nice combo?
Afterwards we cuddled up by the fireplace with brownies, fruits and wine. A guy named Mike is just hilariously funny, and I can´t remember the last time I laughed that much. Most of the guys I´ve been hanging out with were a group travelling together, meeting up here and there. It was great to be a part of that for a bit, but unfortunatly most of them have left now. Today, me and colombian Freddy(my bossman) gathered lots of guava and other fruits and made a smoothie for everyone, before my first motorcycle lesson. It was Amazing! The instructor was awesome, and invited me to his house tomorrow after football, since it´s right by the court. We drove to Valle de Cocora, crossing bumpy, rocky roads with lots of mud and rivers. He let me stand while driving the bike and practice a lot of "stop and start in uphill", which was my only challenge, according to him. He said I was an excellent driver, so the month driving a scooter in Bali must have paid off! For two hours it cost me 60 000 pesos. Expensive but well worth it. The scenery was amazing as well. Now I´ve been cooking and talking to Tim, the owner, who´s working hard to catch some thieves that have stolen from the hostal twice now.

Writing on monday evening: Sunday, me and a friend named Laura went on a day trip in the valley with two of my colombian colleagues. It was a beautiful walk and good practice for my spanish. No lunchpack was neccessary: so much guavas and blackberries! After the long walk, I fell asleep in the sun, thinking Finally! We had another marshmallow night by the fireplace with some new people. Three amongst them are doctors, and have a lot of experience to share. Today was not as sunny. Me and an aussie girl were volunteering in soaking rain, picking oranges and blackberries. I´ve been a pc nerd since it´s so wet.. It´s such a shame! It´s not even rainy season, but it´s raining all over Colombia.

Friday, October 1st, 2010

Ahhh

I hate it when the internet makes you write things twice, even though you´ve copied your writing!

Well, the last days have been divine; sunny, beautiful, with cozy reading by the fireplace at night with baked sweets. We went to Valle de Cocora yesterday; to the hummingbirdfarm Acaime, and the outlook La Montaña. We tried the local combination of hot chocolate and cheese. The hot chocolate was good but the cheese was tasteless and Squeeky! Colombians Love their crappy cheese, and they definatly love sugar. Back in Salento, it had been pouring like it has been for two hours now. Earlier was good, though. Me and a british couple I´ve been hanging out with, cleaned trees in the sun for three hours as work. Working on the farm is just mediative, nice and varied. Definatly worth doing. And the finca is definatly worth staying in! The dogs really know me now, and wait for me even though there are others walking up the road to the plantation house.

The main reason I´m here is to read about and see some photos of Ecuador. There were a lot of people travelling south to cross the border, but yesterday we heard that that was´nt possible because of a coup attempt on the president, where he was locked in a hospital for 12 hours, before escaping, pissed off, saying he won´t forgive what they did The neighbouring borders were shut off in solidarity to the Ecuadorian president.

It would´ve been quite interesting to be in the country, although one would have no idea when you´d be able to leave again. I´m glad I´m not there, especially not in scetchy Quito. I have friends there that call it exciting, and others say they don´t notice it that much. Backpackers have been discussing and researching how to travel south, but luckily the borders are reopened, as they are no longer sure that it was a coup after all. We can all say phew, but we don´t know how safe it´s going to be in the time to come to travel certain areas.

Bartending in Medellin: work, exercise, Drama!

Friday, September 10th, 2010

I`ve seen more of the city, as the architectural playground it is. I´ve been on a daytrip to beautiful Guatape, in the countryside, where the locals retreat in the weekends. It´s 1hour and 45minutes outside of Medellin, and it´s just so green and quiet! The town is full of colour and figures on the walls; everything from sheep to daysies. There`s a lake that`s shapes the terrain quite picturesque because they flooded the area on purpouse to have a water reserve. You can also walk up a huge, black rock, called El Penol. It was tough to climb those stairs in the heat, but the view was definatly worth it!

I´ve taken a job as a bartender here at the hostel, and I start tomorrow night. It`s not a busy bar and only three nights a week, so I think it shall be fun. I`ve always wanted to try to work in a bar, and it saves me some money. They gave me a room to myself, so I could actually unpack, and they`ve told me about a great fitness center right by, that I`m going to today. The people here are great! I also went for a run yesterday and stopped by a primary school, where I asked if they would like some help. I`m going back down there now to have a chat.

Sunday, September 12th, 2010

The gym was brilliant: fun rumba, spinning, kickboxing, etc - classes, steam shower, weights and a fingerprint entrance card. I´ve made a friend that has a jeep, which is pretty sweet. We drove around and talked about life, while he showed me more of the city. There amongst the massive shopping centers, that are a few minutes from where I´m staying. It was without a doubt the best Nike shop I have ever been to, f.instance. I start volunteering at the school on monday. I can work as much as I like. There was a birthday party here on friday, where I was the subject to analysis. Working as a bartender was pretty alright, but I feel darn tired at this point. So good night! I´m closing up.

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

Bartending improved a bit after the first night. My patience has been challenged by some, but I´ve had good company, good music(chosen by myself and others), I´ve played pool and the bar has been chilled. I´ve been getting up early to go to rumba classes, and I´ve been down at the school, twice. They haven´t had time to arrange anything yet, and they won´t be ready before next week, so I´m just there talking spanish and english to whoever wants to, while studying spanish. Some kids taught me slang I doubt I´ll use in a class room. The weather has been beautiful, and I appreciate my hammock-napping before work. Now most of the people I know have checked out, so it should be interesting to meet the next group of people to check in. Tomorrow, after four nights in the bar, I have time off till the weekend!!

Aand if anyone is interested in getting fit and an interesting job, you can go to Bolivia and become a panther trainer. Basically you´re chained to it while it runs and climbs, two or three times a day.

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Wednesday, I killed myself physically at the gym with two sessions of rumba and thai boxing, and a steam bath. I actually bought some make up and an mp3 player, plus a fruit salad on the street that made me throw up when I came back. Very nice.. Very weird! Just watched tv, practiced my pool and then we went downtown to Medellin. Being in the center finally made me feel like I was in Colombia again. We ate dinner and went to the cinema, but the movie turned out to be swedish with spanish subs! So we couldn´t watch it, and with some belgian waffles w ice cream and berries, we snuk in to watch another movie, which showed "letters to Juliet", the biggest romantic soup of a movie we had ever seen. Horrible.

Today I spent a long time at the gym. After pool and basketball, I was going to have the night off and go on a pub crawl, but I was apparently supposed to work! The hostel is so quiet right now, that I´m Sitting and using the computer in the bar. Quite nice! I met my second norwegian today, who´s just next to me, having his birthday after 12. And

 tomorrow I´m going with my israeli buddy, Zohar(d), and two more israeli guys on a roadtrip to Santa Fe. There are so many israelis travelling after military service, so they grow fond of the concept. Travelling is addictive for a reason. The problem occurs when they stick together and only talk hebrew. A lot of backpackers don´t really travel. They just go from hostel to hostel, doing the most obvious tour things or just drinking the days away.. but I can see how it can be hard to do anything else if you don´t know spanish. I´d recommend putting in an effort to learn!

Saturday, September 18th, 2010

A dramatic night and a useless police:

Last night there was a murder attempt in the reception.

Murder attempt in the hostel

I woke up in the middle of the night. My good friend Zohar, was shouting. I heard the voice of the annoying chilean guy that ha

d been bothering me constantly. After fifteen minutes, it was clear that the police was there. In the morning, Zohar woke me up to go to the gym for pilates and rumba. He told me what had happened;

Gonzales and another guy called David had accused the receptionist for stealing David´s computer(which was on his bed), and Gonzales had broken a bottle. The breaking of the bottle woke Zohar up, and he was just in time to stop the high chilean guy from his third attempt of slitting the receptionist, Leo`s, throat. 

He had missed the first time, but he made a 8 stitch cut to his throat the second time, which would have been lethal just 2mm further. Zohar is an ex israeli solider, thus he was able to disarm him easily enough, and to keep him on 

the ground for fifteen minutes. There were several witnesses, and it was all caught on video, which the police saw as well as Leo`s cut. Leo was sent to the hospital, Gonzales was brought to the station, uncuffed. The others confiscated his passport and id, so he couldn`t flee the country. When we came back from the gym,

 Gonzales was sitting outside the hostel to apologize and get his passport back. The police let him go! We thought things would be okay, but on our way back from our roadtrip to beautiful Santa Fe, Zohar got a phone call saying that Gonzales couldn`t be stopped because L

eo or someone else didn`t press charges at the police station immediatly, but waited four hours, since he was in the hospital! They tried calling lawyers to file a lawsuit and everything, but if Gonzales has a brain, he`s a

lready flown to whatever country he can get a flight to.

So people are a bit upset... but we`re still going, trying to enjoy the colombian valentines day. Hopefully Gonzales is an idiot, and stay in the country long enough to get caught and be forced to pay Leo what he deserves. As for those who says Colombia is dangerous and full of drugs.. Once again, it was the tourists on drugs making trouble, and 90% of the country`s cocain is after all exported, to the US, especially.