Today, my host grandma and Heidi’s host mom decided to take us to the beach. Barranquilla’s beach—Puerta Colombia, is an old port and the original reason Barranquilla is such a large city. So, around noon (only about two hours after our planned departure time, since everyone here operates on “coastal” time), we headed out. Taking the cheapest bus meant getting a taxi to a bus stop and then standing on a crowded bus for the next 45 minutes or so, until we reached the beach.
As far as beaches go, and especially Caribbean ones, it wasn’t hugely impressive-- it’s rather small and the water is full of giant seaweed plants that curtailed enjoyable swimming. However, the breeze was wonderful and the water warm, and Heidi and I strolled the small beach front while our host parents sat under our rented cabana.
We packed a picnic—as you can see, perhaps not the typical beach picnic! It included fried fish (as in, cut a whole fish, with scales and head still attached, in half and dunk it in a giant pot of bubbling oil), a few boiled potatoes and boiled pieces of yucca, an avocado to split, and some cooked bananas.
I’ve yet to see any other beaches in the area, but I hear they’re fairly amazing…can’t wait to see them…meanwhile, thinking about the fact that it’s actually November is pretty ridiculous!
Pretty much the entire beach
The small children enjoyed the seaweed
Lunching in the cabana
Colombian-style picnic
Wading time!
beach!!
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