www.theblisspages.com - travel: Colombia
www.theblisspages.com - travel: ColombiaI thoroughly enjoyed my visits to Colombia. This was partly because I enjoyed the company of my colleagues in Bogotá so much. The British members of staff were very welcoming and friendly, and the local staff were also great - sometimes it was more like visiting old friends than work-mates.
I remember one drunken evening when we all went to a night-club. At the time, the only forms of dancing I'd really been exposed to were ballroom and disco, so found the Lambada a bit intimidating, and spent most of the time watching. I am a lot more confident now, partly due to age and partly due to having enjoyed a year or so of Salsa lessons and practice (see my Salsa page), so would have been a bit more up for it.
I vaguely remember dancing on the table, but can't remember if that was me or a colleague!
The next morning was the time of repentance, and I recall that we had ferocious hangovers. The staff of the hotel were always up for a laugh, and I remember us hamming it up, crawling round the reception area, clutching our heads and piteously requesting coffee and toast.
Jenny came to collect us from the hotel to take us to a jewellery emporium, and as soon as we arrived and they saw our ashen faces, they insisted on plying us with strong black coffees. Feeling a little better, I bought a beautiful emerald necklace - subsequently stolen from its new owner in Brighton, a few years later.
We then went on to lunch, where she insisted we tried the hair of the dog. After Bloody Mary's all round, we did start to feel human again. We then had a fantastic Spaghetti Carbonara - certainly the best I have ever had. Cooked at the table, it was an almost theatrical production, from the assembly of the cast - the ingredients - to the flamboyant tossing of the spaghetti, the frenzied chopping of the mushrooms and bacon, and the final dénouement of flambéed hot brandy.
I remembered going back to the director's home, and he was building some mirrored cupboards to shelve his hi-fi system. It probably says a lot for our sobriety that we all thought it hysterically funny when I remarked that John was so embarrassed by his behaviour at the nightclub that he was hiding in the cupboard. In the cold light of day, it seems very prosaic, but at the time, we were nearly wetting ourselves.
One strange feature in the office when I visited was the obligatory machismo, bordering on chauvinism. At home, I'd be very wary of complimenting a woman in the office unless I knew her well, but in Bogotá, it was very different. If I said nothing or just that they were wearing a nice outfit, it was taken almost as an insult. To give a mild compliment, one had to exclaim dramatically, "Please, somebody hold me back! You look so ravishing, I'm not sure I'll be able to control myself". Mind you, it wasn't difficult to compliment the women as some were absolutely stunning.
But beware - this was over fifteen years ago, and attitudes may have changed. I don't want anyone arrested or sacked on my account.
I haven't ridden much, and jumped at the chance for a ride in the Andes over one weekend. My horse seemed huge, and although everyone else's seemed reasonably docile, mine wanted to be in charge.
At one stage, it walked backwards into a bar - no, not a wooden bar, but one filled with drinkers (in some one-horse town), who were highly amused as I tried to persuade it to leave again. I did have a cerveza to calm my nerves afterwards, but ensured it was at a different bar. We did eventually come to an understanding, and my mount was then a pleasure to ride.
Prior to this occasion, I had never been faster than a trot, but after being persuaded to try a canter, we then went into a gallop - and it was great! I never realised that galloping is actually much easier than trotting or cantering - though of course, the faster you go, the more it hurts if you fall off.
We also visited a country club, which was the height of luxury, with a pool, spacious grounds and great food.
As I write this, memories resurface, and I can smell the burritos cooking, feel the warm sun on my face and feel the chlorine from the pool drying on my skin.
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: © Mike Bliss 2008