Navidad en Colombia Part 2 Christmas in Colombia part 2

I was ask to leave the Quinta where I was staying in Jerico, because Rosieta had guests coming from Spain and Bogota and all over. She asked me to find a hotel, so I looked for two days no room as I said previous, I felt like Mary and Joseph trying to find an Inn and no space in any Inn, or private home. I knocked on private home doors and asked if they would allow me to rent a room, I searched walked up and down hills exhausted finally I went to one that was near the Quinta called Hotel Porton, The owners where there, I spoke with the woman one of the owners, and told her my story. How I was pretty much alone, was asked to leave the Quinta because of previous guest coming and I have no place to go. She was booked felt very bad for me, but could not figure out how to rearrange her guests that were already booked up. There lunch came I sat on the sofa very tired and now feeling sad. I asked if I could just rest on the sofa for a while, to decide what to do next. She said fine, but our lunch is coming, I said just eat I will go when I am rested. They after there lunch and then came over to me both of them and there little girl. She said listen why not just come to our house on the farm for the holiday since we are booked. You can have a room till then, and we will come and get you to be with us for the holiday. I was shocked and honestly did not know what to say but of course accepted. I thought it would be completely different than it turned out but it was fun and a good experience, and great writing material for the book I am creating.  I stayed in there quaint hotel for 

five days, the bells of the cathedral next door rang every 15 minutes and the first two nights were horrible, there was no toilet seat on the toilet, and after the second day the shower broke and they never fixed it so two days with out a shower.                                                                               

       

The view from the second story of the finca

I was upset and asked them to give me tools to fix it I could have but they had no tools there, honestly was not happy no sleep and no shower makes a girl ugly! I manage to get one three people who work the hotel, to change my room and from then on things were great. On the 24th I did as I said took all the little gifts I bought for the children I met, and gave them to them then Yolima called and said for 

me to get my things and come to the finca. Finca is a farm,it was about 45 - 50 minutes away. I  thought she was sending a taxi, but what she sent was a motorcycle guy to carry me down the winding mountain roads to the finca. I was in shock! How in the world do I bring my suitcase on the back of a motorcycle?  Secondly I was scared to death, the hills here are steep and winding and some are not paved so well. Were in the Andes ok?? It was an old run down motorcycle and he had several bags of things he was carrying. Yolima called asked if I was ready I told her look I never ride on  motorcycles and why not sent a tuk tuk, a small three wheel taxi like you have seen in the Philippines, or in Latina America. She said if you want to pay for that your self go ahead!   

I then decided to only take a few things in a plastic bag and go for it. I walked up the Hill and the  

man had me get on. We drove slowly as I was very scared no lie! I was screaming and holding on tight, my helmet did not fit it was falling off and I was laughing out of fear.  As we rode I saw the most beautiful views, and lush mountain sides covered with coffee, and bananas, beautiful houses down in the Vallies and over head tall mountains towering over the road. I looked up and saw five parachuters jumping off the mountain side, floating over as we wound our way down the mountain to the valley. We rode up and down and around omg! Finally after some time we came to a dirt road with big rocks, not gravel but big rocks it rains so much that they use large rocks that way the road stays stable. It was bumpy and lumpy and scary I was crying laughing and happy and scared all in   one!  Little creeks passed thru this roadway in many areas, we would slow down cross and then fly again. Finally I could see the three story beautiful house and the finca in the distance, he pointed out beautiful trees and plants and mandarins, oranges, lemons bananas, plantains and cardemon. Finally approached the drive way up the house. I was in awe, there were lots of people there a man starting a  fire to cook over and ladies cooking in the kitchen, Yolima greeted me it was Christmas Eve. Cows in the background sheer plateaus, and mountains surrounding this serine location. I stayed for three days in this house with a number of people the rooms simple hard beds, they were drinking guaro, a local liquor everyone here drinks the taste of anise , and pure fire. I had one rum and coke, and watched the ladies make buneulos a round fried ball of corn and wheat with cheese inside, and this deserts they make called Natilla, its a sweet corn starch base, with panela a raw sugar, and coconut, kinda like a gummy bear texture,gelulous but good. You eat these two together, odd but good. Then we all sat around listen to loud Colombian music laughed talked and watched others get disgustingly drunk.  Then at 11:00 pm we all walked to the cousins finca a ways a way, we took lashlights and walked down the mountain to the beautiful finca. There were about 40 or so people all sitting in a circle waiting for the barbecued meat to get done,all were drinking laughing and picking at peanuts and other simple treats. We ate meat late and potatoes roasted on the fire, I danced a little and talked to lots of people , then at 2:00 am we walked back to the house. In the dark. The next day the same thing, I walked around enjoyed the beauty took moments alone and was in awe of the site but cursious on how they do what they do and not realize what a beautiful thing they had there! DRINKING IS A HUGE PART OF CHRISTMAS HERE , I personally did not partake only one or two drinks was enough for me.  Some very crazy things went on I just accepted it and laughed and thought wow Christmas is very different in Colombia, for more on this adventure please follow me on there, and be watching for the book with lots of details and lots of fun things to read and enjoy! Hopefully the series I am working on that. 

      

   

Navidad en Colombia Christmas in Cololmbia Part 1

 Its been a whirlwind of adventures this past couple of months, I have not been blogging because I am writing a book of my crazy adventures here, the happenings the angels that entered my life the good the bad and the wonderful. For my readers, if you are interested please send me a note of encouragement or a thumbs up or comments. I am working daily on the details, the cast of characters, and have talked to someone about producing it in episodes to view, so not only the book but hopefully a series of Where is Marianna? This particular story today is about the time spent during the holidays here in Colombia, its so different than any where else in the world.

     

I experience serveral things during the holiday, first in Rionegro San Antonio in the small pueblo 

where Rosieta, and Dona Marta and don Josue live. You will know all about them when you read the     book or hopefully watch the stories I ve been busy writing. Then later in Jerico Colombia a small  pueblo that is a cow farm town in the Andes. In San Antonio the feeling of Christmas is not the same  as I felt in USA or Europe or other parts of Latin America. The planning and decorating of townships and homes begin after the 24th of November, Its commercial,but still has the flavor  of the old world 

Christmas, the base of Navidad is story of Baby Jesus, and of course papa Santa Claus is also a big part of the holiday season.  

The people  in all the street corners selling ribbons and candles because they a tradition of lighting the candles on that certain night. I had gone with Dona Marta one afternoon on her day off after she  went to her exercise class of swimming in an Olympic pool.  We went  shopping in Rionegro.           

 It was so congested and filled with people shopping, farm people,the people of the "Campo"they say.  

 Many Venezuelan's that has fled the country and are accepted into Colombia. They are clearly different, poor in there looks and hustling in the streets to make any sort of money they can. The . country of Colombia has welcome them with open arms, so there are so many of them all over.

 Marta could tell the differences in Piasa's ( the name they called Colombians) from Venzulanos.She pointed many out to me and soon I could tell the differences as well. We shopped,I bought strings of pearls to sew on a blouse I created, she bought ribbons for me to make her a garland our of fresh 

materials and candles for the saints night of Navidad. We walked all over and shopped then I treated  her to ice cream in the plaza, we sat and watched all the people shopping for Christmas.   

           

The following day I asked Don Josue the major domo of the Casa Grande of Rosieta where I was   staying,  if he could pick me branches of pine, Euculyptis, and Cypress, I saw it growing on the property so he did and I created for them by hand a garland for there tiny apartment, and a wreath for the door. They never in there 26 years of living on that finca had anyone make or create anything for them for Christmas, I constructed it in less than an hour an mounted it on there window of there apartment which is in the back of the grand house.  

    

      

     

        

 

                 

I then decorated there tiny tree with the left over eucalyptus and pine and ribbon and stuck some in the wreath so it all matched, this gift of my talent to them was such a blessing, they were  overwhelmed with the look, even though to me it was not that great. I have done some incredible things, but it was perfect for them, simple yet pretty, and they never have had anything such as this ever. The next day I made a banana cream pie for them and myself!    

Understand Pie is not known much in Colombia in fact when I have show others the photos of a pie they have no idea what it is. I had shopped for the pudding but there was none, so I created it by hand with eggs and corn starch,vanilla milk and panela,  like an English pudding of sorts, adding  the banana at the end to give it that flavor my crust was perfect and the whipping cream that was a joke to find!! They call it batta Creama its in a bag, you have to add the milk. So it was good but different, they were delighted that I would go to this level of giving, but for me if any of you know me this was not much.   Considering I make really good food and create for many years beautiful  decorations! I was humbled to do this for them. Marta actually hugged and kissed me and Josue was overwhelmed that I could even do this! Later I made a large arrangement with the leftover over Eucaplytus, and cut some Helconias that were growing in the garden to put on a table when Rosieta returned.   

         

       

         

 I remained in San Antonio until Rosieta returned she was off in Cali doing something with friends and checking on one of her farms. After she sent me to Jerico to her Quinta, Now I am being brief on  this because I am seriously writing a book of everything that has happened here ,incredible places and literally miracles. I am blessed to have come here even though the beginning was horrible, you have  to read the book or watch the series to know what has happened to me. Back to CHRISTMAS!! Ha ha. So I left from Medelllin on a three and half hour bus ride over the Andes to beautiful Jerico. I am  literally in Love with Jerico. The climate is hot in the day and cold at night, perfect for sleeping. I spent several weeks in Jerico, meeting locals and talking to people in the small lovely inviting town.  The lights of christmas everywhere, decorating like mad men, mostly the same style with old cinemea, ribbon and fake greens that I used years and years ago. I was invited but some of the girls of a tiny hole in the wall restuarant called Candelijas, they are darling lady's they invited me to go on ad  adventure in an old land cruiser across the mountains on a one lane road to see the lights of other smaller pueblos, That in itself was a crazy experience. 11 of us in an old lands cruiser, them singing drinking and laughing. I myself did not drink,I get car sick very easily so I remained sober and sat next to the driver that was flirting with me the whole time. WHAT A TRIP THIS WAS! You will have   to read the book to hear it all but it was fun, crazy and some wild things happened. 

     

 

 

 

 

We traveled for more than hour across roads that were not paved, and found another little pueblo called Pueblo Rico, meaning rich town, but it was far from rich, beautiful interesting and fun! Days have past as Christmas Arrived, I got booted from the beautiful Quinta Dona Rosietas Quinta in Jerico because he had other guests so I searched for two days to find a room, only three hotels, and private homes I seached and walked everywhere you an imagine hours in the roads hills an mountains knocking on doors to find a place to sleep for several if not weeks! Non one had rooms. I felt like Mary and Josheph searching for a room and no room at the Inns! Finally I went to Hotel Porton, and talk to Yolima the owner, she happened to be there told her my story how I was alone and had no where to stay because of the problem of the Quinta being full with other guests, her and I worked it out, THAT STORY IS A GOOD ONE THIS ONE SHOULD MAKE MY BOOK OR SERIES A HIT!! LOL anyway she took me in and then invited me to her personal Finca some 45 minutes away, here is the photo of Rosietas QUINTA in JERICO 

I have so much to tell you about Christmas in Colombia, that honestly this blog wont hold it all its all in the book already but soon! I have been a literal pied piper to children, I guess that one night i taught Zumba in the Plazoletta exposed me to people, Now the children come to me like Magnets and I have a few I have fallen in love with as well, there all so cute and so charming. I needed up buying about 8 gifts for children I do not know but see on a daily basis in the central, although one is my favorite, shes the daughter of the owner of Candelijas restuarant, EMILY, actually the two. Families tha run this place have taken my heart and I bought gifts for them all, On the 24th I brought all of them the gifts to the restuarant. 

Dish ware of Colombia

I was spending time with a new friend one Sunday, she asked me if I would like to go see various pueblos in the area to see what they offer so we took ride about 25 miles north or San Antiono,to La
Cejas. This sits at the base of the Andes, small old town very congested but full of shops and stores, we had a traditional Colombia coffee called Tinto, sorta a shot of espresso more or less.Then continued to another little darling hillside town called CARMEN DE V. I found this town very
charming,  lots of windy hillside roads, farms, and beautiful flower growers surrounding the   mountain Pueblo. This is where some of the most beautiful Dishware and plates are made from the      clay in the surrounding areas, all made by hand and painted by hand as well. Pricing seems so
 reasonable. Years back I fell in love with a line of dishes called MAMA ROE, it is from Italy, same idea, made from the clay of a small town in Italy all made by hand and hand painted but Mama Roe is simple, elegant and wonderful bright colors. These in Carmen DE V were all well made,but mostly patterns and some brightly colored. I loved them If could I would by them and shipped them back! So beautiful! Here are some examples of what they made.

       

 

       

            

 For some reason I. Was atraced to the black and white, dramatic and very Beautiful! I asked how long they have been making these dishes the woman pretty much explained its been a tradition for over a hundred years. The shop was just immaculate, they had many people to attend to you, and they sell in sets, although they create many pieces separately that match what you are intersested in and they custom make to your designs whatever you desire.

 Fluted fruit  or  pasta dsh

Large jar 

Most all the butter dishes  are in this form.

I found some in pastels but the dark blue with yellow seems to be a predominate pattern and most liked in Colombia, the Colombian flag is Yellow, Red and Blue. So lots of items here are based on that color scheme.

  

 

 

 

Napkin holders soup touring, salads, dessert and dinner plates,milk pitchers water pitchers and chocolate pitchers,  THEY DRINK LOTS OF CHOCOLATE HERE! It was fun to explore this town, I would recommend you take a trip to this area if you are a plate collector, and the prices are extremely reasonable! 

Shoes of Colombia

  I brought these 

It all started because I had so many blisters on my feet from walking in Proflora, from the shoes I brought with me, they were not appropriate for the amount of walking I have been doing, so I set out to find the best pair of tennis that would be good with some of the clothes I have. I took a bus to Rionegro about 5 miles from San Antonio de Perrera Antioquia Rionegro, the rate about 75 cents in    

American money. I asked the bus driver to please help me as I was looking for an area where they sell shoes, in Latin Countries they have sections of all the same thing, so you hunt down what you want in

   that area. I got off of the bus in front of a plaza, and saw a beautifully dressed young lady tall,       gorgeous noticed she had cool shoes on, and said where is the area for shoes, she directed me to this   

little alley way where there was tons and tons of shoes and after that you cross a park and on the other said it continued.   

Beginning the hunt for the ones I liked and felt I could afford, with out any idea of how much the shoes cost here, I just browsed and asked if I could take photos, at first the photos were so I could  look back and see which ones I liked but then it became a game to see who had the best, and thought wow this is a good story! How many of us Woman love shoes?? I use to be a real shoe horse,it started at a young age, my mom would let me go shoppping on my own at the age of 12, sent me away to visit my sister and shop and buy as many as my money could spend.  Now I am very conservative,I live simple, very little money,  and just try to buy what I need, sadly enough it does not satisfy my 

desire to have the most beautiful and comfortable shoes. I wandered and found the crazy, and strange styles but looked all the while at what people were wearing and discovered it seem to be a trend here to wear platform tennis, actually they are very comfortable and some are really cute.  

      

       

   

  

     

   

I do like these and yes they are considered tennis here, although I did not buy these but they are!

I continued on and saw so many diffferent styles that I got confused and just thought oh well take photos then look back and remember where you saw the ones you want and buy them, the first one at the top of the page with the flowers were only 28 mil which equals to about 9 dollars. I found some where not as good as others of course but the prices were really good. I continued on my search and found a shop of just nail polish and bought two and some removed all for a  $1.00, then I found a blouse I loved for less than. $10.00, Continuing on I began to love the trend of the green army green so I went back and exchanged me polish for an army green an found many shoes in this color. 

        

      

Then I found a store that I absolutely was in love with, named COSMOS! OMG the shoe's and the bags in this la Tienda was amazing, the prices of course the most of all the stores, but I could not leave that place I was searching and looking and trying on shoes I had so much fun! I love all the shoes the bags and back packs wow! I honestly never have seen hand made shoes in the same country that were so good as these and very comfortable. I found one pair of Green Heels that I want to get as soon as I can! In person they are really beautiful the iridescent leather and the pattern on the leather the style the comfort wow! 

         

        

 These on the  left   and     look  at 

that bag, its all leather made here in Colombia the shoes ran about 50 dollars American, the purse about $55, Gawd I. Want them all!!  I found the so many in Cosmos that I wanted! Its aweful to be addicted to shoes! But I guess I could be addicted to other worst things, the thing is how do I bring these with me on to the next adventure? Buy another suitcase! Yep! Here are just a few more shoes from Cosmos. Please just click on the photos and they will enlarge and you can see all the details its amazing.

       

     

 All are hand   

  made and real leather , the boots the rain boots O Por DIOS!! 

 Slip ons

Metallics are 

hot and so is pink 

 

So I chose some white ones with silver very comfortable very well made for 30 mil pesos equals $10.00 I been wearing now for two weeks and they look brand new and are so comfortable my god. 

 Here are just a few more walking shoes and one pair of sandals I loved plus the ones I bought in Jerico! I m back now in Jerico and going to go talk to the sandal maker so if any of my readers are interested I am going to try to buy a bunch with your sizes and send them to USA and they will be made just for you! Comment if you like or message me but I am serious about this, this man has been making hand made shoes in this  tiny town for 50 years he made mine in less than a day! And. They are so cute, looking for the bag this week to match! SHOES LOVE THEM!