Mud Volcano

It was certainly the easiest volcano I have climbed thus far on my trip, but it certainly didn't make it any less fun. Only about 50 feet tall, and with stairs leading to the Crater at the top I summited in about 3 minutes. A long cry from previous 10 hours climbs. Once at the Summit, you strip down to your shorts, and with the help of someone already inside, carefully dip and slide your body into the luke warm mud that fills the volcano.

It was the strangest feeling, you are incredible buoyant in the mud, which was really really thick, almost like melted chocolate, and it made it very difficult to move.You just kind of bob there, and with the slightest touch from someone glide off in any given direction. You can´t touch the bottom, as I imagine the mud goes down to the center of the earth, but you can´t quite push youself down into the mud either. The best option was too just lay down on your back, laugh, soak up the curative minerals said to be in the mud, and relax.

New Best Friend

There was no canyon explored, mountain climbed, beach explored, or coral reef seen. But, there was an Ian with half of his beverage spilled on his shirt, some still dripping from his chin (if you look closely you can see it) and best of all a Sloth in my arms. Substance enough for a post I do believe.

Scuba Diving the Colombian Coast

While previous adventures have taken me to personally unprecedented heights above sea level, this next adventure would be just the opposite, as I would push the boundaries of depth under the sea.

Within minutes of walking into the scuba diving office I was setup watching the 3 hour instructional video and shortly after I was in the pool to begin mastering the skills that would be tested for my scuba diving certification. An avid snorkeler in San Diego, and with a previous dive that I remember well under my belt, I breezed through the pool course and was ready to hit the ocean the next day at 8am.

From the minute you back flip off the boat into the ocean, you are transformed into a different world. You don´t see, hear, move, or even breath the same. (Water reflects the light so everything appears bigger and closer, and sound travels faster and sounds louder under water.) Over the next 3 days and six dives I perfected the skills that would allow me to receive my certification, scuba dive on my own in the future, and in the process witness a completely new world.

The coral reefs here are covered in brain coral, which just as it sounds, looks like giant brains covering the rocks. All different colors and sizes they were amazing. The coral is home to hundreds of different kinds of fish and I swam along side eels, turtles, and barracuda's as well. Swimming with a 100 feet of water above you and not being able to see the surface is an amazing feeling. Gliding along the water examining, watching, and exploring, enjoying the ability to swim up, down, forward or backwards, it is as I imagine flying must feel. I can´t wait to get back in!

Cartagena and the Caribbean

Cartagena. Colombia with a Caribbean flavor. I stepped off the bus into the most intense heat and humidity I have experienced thus far in my travels. It´s generally accepted that you will be sweating the whole time you are in Cartagena, so the sooner you accept it, the better off you will be. Fine with me, just accept the fact I will not be wearing a shirt. And spending a lot of time at the beach cooling off in the Caribiean Ocean.

Located at the northern tip of the country, Cartagena was once a very important harbor for the Spanish, as they shipped off all their pillaged goods from all over South America back to Spain. The city quickly became very wealthy and very large target for pirate attacks. As the number of attacks and sieges on the city increased, the construction of the Walled City began.

Stunted by numerous pirate attacks and attempted invasions, the entire wall took many years to complete and is now known simply as the "old town", a huge section of modern day Cartagena still rests behind 11 kilometers of cement walls, forts and auxiliary doors. After completion in 1756, the city was simply impossible to take cover.

Century old cannons still line the outer walls facing the ocean, and the majority of the architecture and churches within the walls are preserved from the 1700s.

Cartagena is a big city though, and holding true to my pattern of travel it was time to get away for a few days. I took a boat to Playa Blanca, a small Caribbean island off the coast for my own personal version of “Cast Away”. I took my essentials, tent, food and water, sunscreen, and books for entertainment, as there are not hotels, permanent structures, or electricity on the island. The water was the most incredible turquoise blue I have ever seen, and I spent my days reading on the beach, swimming, trying to touch sunsets, and trying not to drink all my fresh water before the boat came back 3 days later to pick me up.