Day 9

Today I awoke in Aminme with a host of new bug bites, but we headed directly to Fernando's in Palmira so I could shower (by bus). After a quick shower we headed out to watch Enelio play ball at one of his old gyms in Palmira...beleve it or not I got in on a little bit of the action. Many people (everyone in the gym) took picturs with Enelio (he's quite the celeb down here)! Not sure what is in store for tonight but I am ready for it! My bags are packed and with safe travels I will be back in the KY by tomorrow night...until then everyone have a safe and happy NYE!!!!



Enelio balling on the all tile "indoor" court



Me and Enelio on the court together..as you can tell they are guarding me tight...btw I went 1-3...all from the three point line, and we won :)



Enelio with the local coach, and one of his former teamates



Enelio with all the guys..they actually stopped the game to take this one...



Outside of Palmira Indoor Courts



Our Favorite Snack...



If I die tonight...this is what got me :)

Teaching Santi to be polite

Day 8

I had another lazy day (dont forget I am on vacation), Enelio and I ended up going to the Palmira Mall so I could get some gifts for people and we ended up eating there. I stayed the night in Anime and woke up with even more mosquito bites than I already had...I think they ran out of space on my legs and have begun attacking my arms! It looks as if Malachi has become a chick magnet as well (see below pics)...also you can see Chucho trying to take care of the mosquitos with an "electric mosquito racket"..I also made it out to the local salsa club...lets just say it was a little more upscale in Cali...please enjoy!



Inflatables at the Mall!



Malachi and his new neighbor girlfriend



Chucho Killing Bugs



Malachi going to bed!

Day 7

While I dont have many pics of day 7 (most it was spent sleeping) I did make it out to exchange some money and to eat some pizza with the boys (Santi, Michael, and Malachi). The money exchange was 1870 Colombian Pesos to every dollar last Thursday but I only got 1700 pesos this time because (alot of americans were in colombia and the the US dollar was worth less)..kind of a weak excuse if u ask me! Here are a few pics from Wednesday Night!



Malachi and Santi



Michael, Malachi, and Santi

Day 6/7 Pictures

I went out with the guys to a few salsa clubs....I have a general dislike for them...but I figured that for one night I could put up with it...here are some of the "wonderful" sights and sounds of the night...btw while having a late night snack we saw some famous Puerto Rican singers...



The 3 Amigos



Enelio and his friends from Cali



The 3 Amigos



Enelio and Fernando acting a fool



Famous Singers

Day 6 More Pics...

We borrowed Fernando's Car and drove (Enelio) to Cerrito to meet up with some of Enelio's Friends. We ended up having dinner there and taking a walk through the town, here are some pics of the afternoon!



Picture of the Mountians and Sugar Cane Fields



Malachi and neighbor boy "FeFe"



Michael and Uncle Chucho



Rainbow on the way to Cerrito



Dinner in Cerrito



Enelio and Sarah with the couple that took us to dinner...it was their 7th Wedding Anniversary so Enelio ended up paying! Over dinner the lady told me the teachers were going on strike because they hadn't been paid...

Day 6 Random Pictures

Malachi and Santa



Malachi, Maria Jose, and Rocio



I am a mosquito magnet in Colombia...



Ummmm Hanging Meat :)



Enelio's Clown Feet/Steet Toes



The Steps to ?



Downtown Palmira



Santi and Malachi



Enelio Grubbing



This is a picture of my favorite horse at the parade of horses in Cali!

Day 6 The Paper Bag Factory

Today we went Rocio(Fernando's Wife) workplace, she works in human resources for a company that makes paper bags...I would have never thought of the complexity of the process of making a paper bag until I toured this place. The raw product arrives (a big roll of special paper) and her company prints a design on it and constructs the paper with either glueing it together or sewing it...here are some pictures from our visit!



Headed in



Raw Product coming in



Printing on the bags



Halfway Done



Making the bag a double bag (for cement)



Glueing the Edges



Folding the bags



Final Process



Hardworkers...



Ready to be shipped...we saw all kinds of different paper bags including some for the Levi's Company..it was a very interesting visit!

Day 6...We saved the neighborhood

When leaving your house it is not a good idea to leave a candle burning in a nativity scene that is sitting on top of the electic and gas register of your house...expecially when you live in a townhouse connected in front and back to other people (us)...Enelio and I saved the day...we are now offical Colombian Firefighters...and no worries folks..little baby jesus was not harmed!


The Scene



Baby Jesus Unharmed



The safety guard that showed up only to leave mad because when we opened to the gate to throw water on the fire the family dog got loose....

Day 5

A day of rest...with a quick visit to the doctor (for Fernando's daughter) and a little shopping in downtown Palmira... Tomorrow we are set to visit the paper factory where Fernando's wife works and I think a trip to Cali is in store for the fellas...should be another interesting day...I promise to take more pictures...just not on my day of rest :)

Day 4 Parade of Horses

Today we went to the Annual Parade of Horses in Cali with Fernando and his wife...its a little bit larger and less kid friendly than the Festival of the Horse in Georgetown. This festival is complete with over 6000 horses, the parade is a couple of miles long and we watched the festival towards the end of the route..the only problem is by the end of the route the people on the horses have had a bit too much to drink... below are some pictures and videos of our day! On the way back we actually saw a kid get stabbed in the street...the police were close by and began chasing the "stabber"...he took of running and didnt look both ways and got ran over by a bus...while the event was rather scary it was also quite interesting. On the way home we stopped for some expensive pizza and then dropped Sarah back off @ Enelio's House. I was also able to move all of my stuff into Fernando's today so I will have hot showers and a fan for my last week here!! :)

Day 3

Today I awoke to another great meal an then we took off to Enelio's House...Armando then took me along with his family to a town called Cerreto in the Mountians. After Cerrito we went to the top of the mountain to a "kings Island" ...but my fear of heights prevented me from doing any of the stuff! After the mountain we went to Fernando's for a cook out in which me and Felix won the Sappo Tournament! After Fernando's we went back to Enelio's to say our goodbyes to his brother Edison that went back to his home via bus tonight (8 hours away)..it was a sad time. Starting tomorrow I will be staying with Fernando's family for the rest of the trip and we are supposed to travel to Cali for some type of horse festival...I assume it will have nothing on the Festival of the Horse :)



My breakfast..better than the US :)



In Cerrito with the Martinez Family



View from Cerrito



Where we had lunch!



Traditional Colombia Lunch



Enelio and his family!



Moreno Brothers :)



The Moreno "belly" Brothers...



Me and Santi



One of the many annoying toys that I am handing out here in Colombia!