Tirate en un charco!

While in Jardín, we asked some people where we could find a charco... or creek. They sent us to the perfect spot. Just outside of town, we wound our way around a dirt road, past men moving entire felled trees, and there it was. A beautiful flowing spring! We whole-heartedly fulfilled the Agudelo family vacation legacy by jumping of the rocks into the icy water below. We screamed, and swam around until we could take no more, and then we headed for lunch at a little mom-and-pop shop that is not only famous for its trout, but also for the panela that is made right on site!

sugar cane husks! it smelled sweet and damp, like forests in the fall

the mill used to squeeze the sugar cane

giant fire heated skillets to purify the sugar

I think more than one brother-in-law was jealous when I got served first!

only way to finish lunch is with a tinto!!

I recently told Pablo that we should move to Jardin.

I base that affirmation on the sheer cuteness of the town. Well preserved colonial villages in Colombia make my heart swoon, and from those I have visited, Jardin takes the cake. Even more so than Guatape or Retiro, Jardin is quaint without being overly touristy. I didn't see any gimmicks or tchotchkes for sale. Rather, cowboys and school children alike casually walked through the plaza which was littered with an array of colorful tables waiting to be inhabited on a lazy Sunday.

We enjoyed a refreshing drink in the city center and then headed off in search of a charco...

oh that gray-striped guy...

Last night we returned from five days of fun in the sun.

The plan had been for the family to all go to Rio Cedro together, but with rampant cases of Zika in the region, we opted for another destination. An uncle was nice enough to lend us his new finca near Bolombolo, and might I say, we were not disappointed with the accommodations. 

Finca San Felipe is located a few hours from Medellin in tierra caliente. As our road curved along at ever sharper angles, we marveled at the surrounding mountains that despite being dry due to El Nino seem to be beautifully carved from ancient volcanos. As we moved further and further from the city, the urban sprawl gave way to cattle and coffee farms. 

The majority of our time in San Felipe was spent cooling off in the pool just catching up on the lives of our family members. I am not sure if this is just a Latino attribute, or if this is a family specific phenomena that transcends cultural boundries, but it seems that ample time for conversation and interaction are all that is really needed to forge bonds. You don't need to ride every ride in Disney World, or climb the Eiffel Tower to better understand your brother in law. You don't need to go to a gourmet restaurant to catch up with your parents. You will not know your sister's boyfriend better in Alaska than you will in your own city. All you need is time together. Time to recount the last year, or memories of childhood. Time to joke, and time to laugh. Even time for long silences. 

every family has one that always makes the others laugh!

we drank pina coladas and danced in the rain!

We're back in Colombia.

It has been a year and a half since we have seen friends and family here. In fact, last time we were at the finca, we were getting married! And while the finca remains a stable enclave where we can slow down and appreciate life, so much also seems to have changed in eighteen months. 

Everyday, Medellín grows. The pace quickens, the traffic worsens, more apartments are built. Past generations of families of ten plus refugees from conflict torn regions have caused the city to explode. As El Poblado moves further and further up the mountain, it is only a matter of time before the city expands to the rural areas. Between this realization and so many changes in the personal lives of friends and families- from marriages, to births, graduations, and aging- it makes us wonder what we will meet the next time that we return. 

In the meantime, we will enjoy the present. For a short moment, we will insert ourselves into the lives of others. We will strive to appreciate the luxuries that only a big city can afford and we will most certainly savor days spent at the finca.

I share with you the final photos of Providencia!

We had such a wonderful time, hiking, diving, and just relaxing.  In the evenings, we would watch the local boys bring their racehorses down to the beach to stretch their legs and go for a swim.  Yes, Providence horses swim.  Apparently, swimming is the best excise for their training.  Unfortunately, we missed the weekend races as we had to leave on Friday.  I supposed we will just have to return one day!

One of three restaurants on the beach.

...and who can resist a few sunset photos?

Besides diving in Providencia, we also took a hike to the island´s highest peak!  

While the sight at the top was spectacular, even better were the stories told to us by our guide.  Mr. Hawkins picked us up from our hotel in his big truck and we listened to gospel music while we drove to the trailhead. During our two hour hike, this man taught us about the brightly colored lizards, how the males are bright blue and the females are green.  He shared stories about growing up on the island as a boy and coming to the peak with his boy scout group.  Back in those days the boys would search for mermaids in the mountain streams that have now mostly dried up due to over-consumption and lack of rain.  However, he said that this doesn't seem to affect Providence boys because nowadays children hardly visit the peak because they would rather play with their cell phones and ride motorcycles. This man came from a different generation.  He comes from the one that knows impressive ways to open coconuts or how to fetch mangoes for a snack.  He knows how to hunting lizards and says he has never tasted more delicious meat. His generation knows what flour shortages on the island meant, that the general store would only sell each family one cup.   While he had some unfortunate stories to tell, the man oozed knowledge and pride for his Providence homeland.  He shared the natural splendors of his island with us while also giving us a bit of insight into the local culture.