2017-02-23

Still on Isla Grande, Colombia

Hotel La Cocotera

This morning after our breakfast and swim and laying in the sun, Kim decided that she wanted to stay home and work on her…. well herself! So I took off on a walking/photography tour of the island. It was already hot, but many of the pathways were partially shaded so that helped. 

I passed the only town and walked through a few small neighborhoods. I tried to hug the coast as best as I could. Then I came upon and abandoned resort. To me, this was the finest that I had seen, so it was very strange to have the whole place to myself. It was also a treat to be able to see what some very creative person had constructed. I wondered just what had happened to make someone abandon it?

Afterward I headed back to our hotel where Kim was waiting for me with a very tasty lunch. 

2017-02-22

Isla Grande, Colombia

Hotel La Cocotera

Finally our days are starting to take on a nice and easy routine. I arise at about 6 am. Make coffee using our electric plug-in water heater. Sit on the porch enjoying the morning coolness while sipping coffee and reading the headlines on my iPhone. The news has become ever so much more partisan that I am glad that I am away from it. At least for a while, as I know that when we return the fight will be huge to take back our country from the open hatred and bigotry and misogyny that seems to have consumed it. Breathe deeply I tell myself. You are still on vacation. 

Breakfast in the open air restaurant followed by a exercise swim in the ocean. Afterwards it’s not too hard to lay in the tropical sun to dry off. Back to our cabana we talk about what we want to do with the rest of our day. Usually it’s not too much, and that is a good thing. 

2017-02-22
Isla Grande, Colombia

Hotel La Cocotera

We upscaled and moved into some new digs. We have decided to stop traveling. I know that it sounds like a big decision, but it really wasn’t for us. Look I had my week in the Amazon. We spent time in Bogota and Cartagena. Now it’s just time to sit and relax and stare out to sea. 

So we will be here on Isla Grande for the next 6 days. 

We have moved over to Hotel La Cocotera which is right on the beach. It’s not the rich people’s beach , but it’s not the poor people’s beach either. It’s just right. 

Here are a couple of random photographs from our stay on Isla Grande. 

2017-02-21
Isla Grande, Colombia

Hotel La Cocotera

It’s amazing just how much we have all come to rely on our smart phones. Were we are staying there is no electricity. There is a light in the middle of the group hut, but it is run by a 12 volt car battery and only from 6 to 10 pm. 

There is a small tienda where they will charge your electronics for 1500 pecos (about 50 cents). I left my phone there for 3 hours and only got up to 21%. I also have an external battery pack which charged my phone up to 53%. 

Yesterday we went to where the rich people stay, and found on outlet and tried to charge our phone, but we had limited success. I think something has happened to our batteries so that they will not hold a charge. Bummer!

On this trip we decided to leave all paper books and magazines behind as well our iPads. It took some getting used to, but now with limited use we find ourselves just mostly staring off to the horizon as all of our books are also on on iPhones. 

On our walks I am so used to using GPS to find our location and direction that without it and without paper maps we are like children wandering in the desert. Fortunately the island is only 3 miles long so we can’t get too lost. Ok I’m staring to panic so I think I’ll have another rum punch.