Today, my first (sort of) published-outside-of-a-college-journal flash fiction piece went up online. Since it's inspired by a conversation with one of my wonderful advanced students here, I've decided it's relevant to my blog as well :)
http://www.cactusheartpress.com/the-blog/
Friday, July 20, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Villa de Leyva--glorying in Colombia's interior
The last post I wrote, I was really excited about being in the luxury of a Marriott. The executive suite. Free food. Ridiculous amounts of pillows.
This, I will not deny, definitely still falls under the awesomeness category. However, leaving the city behind and heading to Villa de Leyva, a colonial Spanish town that's kept its ambiance for tourists and peacefulness in general, alike, was...better. Mostly because...it was glorious, glorious nature. Of the cool, mountainous sort. We're talking waterfalls, mountain hikes, long sleeve shirts and swinging tea-drunk in hammocks, cool mountain breezes, clouds that hover over and among the mountain tops, so when you climb said mountains you're literally among the clouds. And the most comfortable beds in the world. Better than the Marriott. Thin mattresses and pillows and all, they were somehow incredibly satisfying, with wool blankets that trapped that perfect amount of body temperature, so that you awake in the most wonderful warm bubble.
After 9 months of Barranquilla, I almost cried the first morning I came out of the hostel, looked down into the valley of terracotta-roofed buildings, up into the cloud-cloaked mountain tops and realized I'd have all day (and the next two following) exist in that setting. Literally, put my feet down one after another on that dirt road, absolutely speechless.
Rather than repeat myself, here's an account of my trip as posted on GoGirl:
http://www.travelgogirl.com/2012/07/villa-de-leyva-charm-nature-and-long-sleeves-oh-my/
I was going to share some of the reflections made on the trip. Details about how I realized, in the clear, easy air of the Andes, some of the bad habits I've let myself fall into here in the city; realizing I've let negativity take hold on so many of my outlooks, how I haven't yet let myself feel grounded and call my room, my school, this country--any of it--truly my home. But my reflections, as reflections are wont to do, got more than a bit cliche. So ultimately I'll just say that, my resolution back on site is to look more on the bright side of...everything.
And for happiness, here are some pictures of the lovely Villa de Leyva...I'm running short on bandwidth so they're annoyingly not facing the right way...I'll fix at some point in the near future, promise :)
This, I will not deny, definitely still falls under the awesomeness category. However, leaving the city behind and heading to Villa de Leyva, a colonial Spanish town that's kept its ambiance for tourists and peacefulness in general, alike, was...better. Mostly because...it was glorious, glorious nature. Of the cool, mountainous sort. We're talking waterfalls, mountain hikes, long sleeve shirts and swinging tea-drunk in hammocks, cool mountain breezes, clouds that hover over and among the mountain tops, so when you climb said mountains you're literally among the clouds. And the most comfortable beds in the world. Better than the Marriott. Thin mattresses and pillows and all, they were somehow incredibly satisfying, with wool blankets that trapped that perfect amount of body temperature, so that you awake in the most wonderful warm bubble.
After 9 months of Barranquilla, I almost cried the first morning I came out of the hostel, looked down into the valley of terracotta-roofed buildings, up into the cloud-cloaked mountain tops and realized I'd have all day (and the next two following) exist in that setting. Literally, put my feet down one after another on that dirt road, absolutely speechless.
Rather than repeat myself, here's an account of my trip as posted on GoGirl:
http://www.travelgogirl.com/2012/07/villa-de-leyva-charm-nature-and-long-sleeves-oh-my/
I was going to share some of the reflections made on the trip. Details about how I realized, in the clear, easy air of the Andes, some of the bad habits I've let myself fall into here in the city; realizing I've let negativity take hold on so many of my outlooks, how I haven't yet let myself feel grounded and call my room, my school, this country--any of it--truly my home. But my reflections, as reflections are wont to do, got more than a bit cliche. So ultimately I'll just say that, my resolution back on site is to look more on the bright side of...everything.
And for happiness, here are some pictures of the lovely Villa de Leyva...I'm running short on bandwidth so they're annoyingly not facing the right way...I'll fix at some point in the near future, promise :)
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| Flea market! |
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| Jessica, looking out over the Andes on our walk to "El Fosil" |
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| beautiful yellow flower in the middle of gray |
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| more beautiful cold-climate flowers |
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| The sign describing the legend of Lake Aguaque, where mankind is supposed to have been born |
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| From the mountain top. |
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| birthplace of mankind.. |
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| Like a sunflower, but furry! And kind of like a cactus. |
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| El Fosil! |
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