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.