Waterfall Hike

These are some pictures of the hike I went on last weekend. One of the local teachers from my school took a group of six of us on this hike. We were in the hills above Medellin. We hiked for several hours following a creek up the mountain to a waterfall. We crossed the creek several times. It was wet and slippery and very beautiful. The area on the top of the mountain was one of the many places that Pablo Escobar lived. The guy that took us on the hike has lived here all of his life. He had some interesting and sad stories about what it was like to live here in the 80's and 90's. Ask me if you want to hear more about of what I am learning of the recent history of this area. Anyway, the hike was wonderful!!!! I hope you are enjoying the pixs!

A Walk To The Mall

Is that really necessary??



The kiddie park at the mall


This mall is HUGE and there is a big tree in the middle of it


And a food court
And A lot of stores


SO sad, but true...


The Colombian flag


another mall


I'm not sure what this is, but there sure is a lot of them!!??

My Park

So, I live in a city with 3 million people but yet I can walk two blocks from my house and enjoy this very nice peaceful park. Es muy tranquilo.

The Compound (or my apartment complex)

This is where I play after school


Basketball in the jungle?


my driveway....a dangerous place to be (see previous blog about the dangers of walking)


A beautiful sidewalk. I LOVE the streets with sidewalks


This lives in the trees in my complex. I am not sure what it is, but I like it....


How cute is this???


Yes, I live in a gated community and we have a doorman, or a portero as they are called here.


This sculpture tells me what street to turn on when I am walking home....very nice landmark for the directionally challenged.


MMMM! A nice warm cerveza waiting for me on my morning walk


The front gate is a much steeper walk to get to, so I prefer the back entrance....it is also much closer to the corner store where I can buy wine. Muy importante. It is called Proximo. Me gusta Proximo.


Mary is watching over me.


I live on the 7th floor

The only dangerous thing Jen has experienced in Colombia-WALKING- and why she will NEVER drive

This is the street in front of my house. It is a one way street.....but only some of the time!!!! I get so very confused

















It is very important to look where you are walking! A lesson that I have yet to learn





This looks like a walkway, yes? Enter at your own risk. It really is target practice for the cars





Notice the direction of the cab driver and the arrow on the street.....Again I am so confused








Yaa for the busses that take me places. This is the city bus.









And the tiny one that takes me to school and home every day. Lots of fast turns makes for a not so fun ride.....I don't usually feel so good by the time Vicki gets me home

More pictures of the apartment

My roomies and I going out on the town


















Me in the dining room after shopping for flowers




the view from the hallway to our front door







































My bedroom
































The hallway view

















the beautiful stairs that I
never use