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"How I Spent My Winter Vacation"

Well, the suitcase is unpacked, the laundry done, and the vacation-shortened 3 day work week is over. The "Stuck Inside of St. Louis With The Barranquilla Blues Again" refrain is fading somewhat, so I thought I would post a review of my 15 days in La Curramba and the north coast of Colombia. Keep in mind that all of those days were spent in the company of Elmodofoque, who returns to the States next week. Some of our experiences simply have to be related in his Gonzo-style of writing, so I won't try to steal his thunder. I promise you some entertaining threads from his corroncho ass!

I am happy to report that I had absolutely no problems with either American or Avianca Airlines. All flights departed and arrived on time. The passage through MIA (Miami) and MIA (Malambo) went smooth; the only glitch was clearing the metal detector in Miami. I kept on tripping the alarm, and even the guy doing the inspecting could not figure out why; turns out I had a freaking paper clip in my back pocket! At the baggage claim in Malambo, a Colombiano who was on the flight approached me, and commented on how I did not have much of a gringo accent when speaking Spanish. He turned out to be rapi2000 from PBH, who was in B/Quilla on a surprise visit for his mom's birthday. He is a professor at a major US university, and a pleasant guy.

Elmodofoque and his 5'11" 280lb nephew, a.k.a Corroncho Jhon, the taxista, were waiting outside the terminal, with a cold Águila which I downed in a New York minute. For those of you who have driven out of that airport, you know what a shock it is seeing Malambo/Soledad for the first time. After four previous visits, I have learned to love it. So, with Modofoque's cam rolling, and "I'm Ready" by Muddy Waters blasting out of that cab, off we went.

We stayed, initially, at the Versalles Inn (good place, good location, about 43 usd a day)I checked in, changed clothes...then it was off to this joint Elmo was drooling about up north called "El Mundo de Cerveza", which is basically a yuppie bar. (Later, Corroncho Jhon and I decided to call it El Mundo de Los Aburridos) We stayed there an hour, and then it was off to the notoriously rowdy/dangerous LA TROJA. Who knows when the last time a gringo walked into that hell hole, but those people were there to enjoy themselves, and my presence was a non-event. Vallenato blasting, corronchos dancing and staggering drunk, and all of this at 7pm on a Sunday night.

Suddenly, this super-fast cumbia was played, and two very hammered corronchos started trying to dance around their table, and one guy lost his balance, and took out about three tables, and God knows how many bottles of beer and rum. In the States, such behavior would get you 86-ed at the least, but in Barranquilla, the solution was for the guy to give a sheepish smile to the crowd, as the waiter mopped up the spill and replaced the drinks. I was dancing a little salsa, cumbia, and vallenato, but when I danced a porro, I got applauded!!!

The musical highlight of the night was when the DJ played "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley and His Freaking Comets, and the whole bar danced and sang the lyrics in English. For a split second, I thought that last hit of acid I did over thirty years ago was still in my blood system. It was truly an out of body experience. The rest of the night, if I were to post about it, would be deleted.

That's the story of my first 8 hours in Barranquilla...to be continued.

P.S. For first time travelers to Barranquilla, or those who want to experience more than just the north, Corroncho Jhon is at your service ...30k from the airport to your hotel, and depending how much you need him while you are there, 20k-30k a day to cart your ass all over the place...

By Miguel on Mar 3, 2006, 14:19 in Friendly Talkzone.

Monpirri says on Mar 3, 2006, 16:36:

Miguel Cool story, I looks like you had a heck of corroncho time in "La Arenosa"
It was very funny your story about your out of body experience or "For a split second, I thought that last hit of acid I did over thirty years ago was still in my blood system. It was truly an out of body experience." when your heard "Rock Around the Clock" in Curramba.

I had the pleasure to meet rapi2000 here at PBH, he shared with us couple of fine restaurants that serve typical cousine in Cartagena.
I have not heard from him in a long while here.

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

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Miguel says on Mar 3, 2006, 16:56:

Typical Cuisine Como mojarra roja (bien tostado), arroz con coco, punto gordo(bien tostado), arepa llena con chicharon, aguacate, queso blanco de B/Quilla, pollo, sopa de guandul, y huevos de iguana...yo tengo hambre monpirri1.

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Monpirri says on Mar 3, 2006, 18:37:

Jajaajajajjajjajj Yo tambien tengo hambre hermano! Pero leyendo bien el menu, huevos de iguana, sabe vaina yo no la toco llavesita.

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

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Miguel says on Mar 3, 2006, 18:58:

~~~

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Monpirri says on Mar 3, 2006, 20:33:

Ya veo Jajajaja, me parece que disfrutastes mucho el menu costeño, pero lo menos alguien sabe pasarlo rico en este planeta.
Como me fuera gustado haber hido a Barranquilla y de ahi irme a esa playa famosa de Santa Marta.

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

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MacGringo says on Mar 4, 2006, 06:28:

Rock 'n' Roll Straight off the plane and straight into action, no messing about, nice!!!!!

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Miguel says on Mar 4, 2006, 08:28:

Claro, MacGringo A little different than going to the "welcoming cocktail party reception" at an all inclusive resort.

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Miguel says on Mar 4, 2006, 15:07:

No, Morphus More to it than that; daily trips to the gym or a run in Parque Sagrado Corazón, a little swimming, meeting half of Elmo's 500 primas and delivering gifts from Colombian friends in The States to their families in B/Quilla.

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Miguel says on Mar 5, 2006, 21:09:

I am sure you can Morphus Y digame ¿que tiene que ver de Colombia?

A mi me importa un jopo.

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elmodefoque says on Mar 6, 2006, 11:14:

Hey Miguel, those 3 drunken weeks in Barranquilla are all a big blur , shit happened that is best to erase from our memory. I do remember, hotel room, street hookers, soiled pants and a burrita but the rest is best to forget and hope it never happens again, until next carnaval!

I'll get there, when I get there!

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Miguel says on Mar 7, 2006, 00:43:

All I'm gonna say is... ¡Mondássssssssssssss!

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