Cartegena here we come!

Medellin is a crazy town. To picture it in your mind you need to think of the sprawling slums of those picturesque Mexican cities. With rolling hills of people living on top of one another. House made of aluminum, clay, brick, and tarp as far as the eye can see. Then finding incredible backdrops of modern skyscrapers and apartment buildings. The people say that the "gente" or the general public, are divided into zones of poor (the majority), middle class, and ultra wealthy.  But surrounding the whole city are green mountains frosted with fluffy white clouds. The shear size of this city is mind boggling. We found ourselves waking up to the chirps of exotic birds and our dorm mates idly milling around. 8 am, still can't get enough of this sleeping in business! Today we set out to do the famous Medellin MetroCable.
After asking some directions and receiving the stereotypical, "por alla, alla, alla y alla" followed by some manic gesturing, we again blindly ventured into the bustling city.  After wondering for about an hour we came across the Metro, for how decrepit the city appear in some parts their metro was extravagant.  With its cleanliness, open spaces, clear intercoms, and efficiency this was one of the best metros I have been on. Emily laughed when I gave up my seat to an elderly gentleman who politely said, "gracias gringo." When we arrived at the head of the tram/cable cars again I was stunned. The cable car system here is like a ski lift setup with cabs for 6 people, though it is part of their mass transportation and elevated us nearly 1500ft in the air for a total length of ~1 mile OVER the city towards the surrounding mountain peak where we would explore Parqué Natcional de Arví (pronounced like arby, and no the trees did not sport slices on roast beef as I'd hoped...).  

The views were simply stunning, clashes of wealth and extreme poverty. People living quite literally on top of one another, smashed together like sardines. Then the tram gracefully weaved through tall whimsical apartment buildings. Then as we rose higher the shacks thinned out as the cliffs intensified. Though these were still poor shacks, what a spectacular view and command of the valley below. As we ride up I was able to practice my Spanish and provide entertainment for the other passengers, first by comparing women to cows in an attempt to learn the word "female", then by confusing my hots and colds. We all left that tram car with smiles on our faces. The park was pretty. Granted less than those of Washington and Alaska but a breath of fresh air nonetheless. 

We hiked around for a while then made our way back to the hostel and headed out the the airport amidst a torrential down pour. In the airport the rain pounded so loudly we couldn't hear each other and had to shout.  
The flight was quick and we landed in the "lava pit", as it was so aptly described to us Cartegena. Yes, it was hot but we arrived after the sun set so it became that quintessential muggy-romantic-Hispanic-exploration-temperature. Our hostel at El Viajero is sweet.
Emily wanted a nice dinner and offered to treat. We walked around this enchanted city around sunset, it was muggy but not terrible. We are staying in Antigua so all of the buildings are ancient but revived and colorful, blues, yellow, and reds dominate the street. Horse drawn carriages populate the narrow streets and cute balconies overlook the whole scene. Emily and I found this picturesque street restaurant called Cevicheria, where we were again met with gustatory decadence. I must describe the setting; candle lit curbside table with a Spanish guitarist strumming for whoever will listen over the gentle hum of both young and old laughing and sharing together. Vibrant colors all around with carriages occasionally trotting by under short balconies littered with onlookers.

We had ordered a bottle of chilled white wine and had a chilled ice bucket next to our table sweating in the heat of the night. We started with stuffed crab claws in dill/lemon/olive oil base...scrumptious. Then moved on to our main course after much laughing and smiling with our 1st bottle of wine down. Next we had shrimp, crab, and Peruvian white fish ceviche which, with every bite was met with a flood of freshness and a memory of small Oceanside towns accented by lemon, fresh onions, and cilantro. But the dish of the night was peanut sauce octopus tower. Lower side: coconut rice and upper side avocado salad with roasted red peppers. The simplistic way to describe this would be a gustatory orgasm because a dish with such tantalizing flavors, seductive smells, sensual textures, and exotic appealing to the eye should be illegal. THIS was the best dish we've had of 2016! In to our second bottle and laughing with the staff (or they may have been laughing at our Spanish by then) they brought out a special dessert for us with warm guava with melted mozzarella cheese, mint, mandarin juice, and a touch of rum. 

Speechless. We tipped heavily and sauntered happily away.
Emily allowed me my annual vice which was a pure Cuban cigar purchased from a very friendly Cuban. The rest of the night was spent laughing and talking by the moonlit Caribbean ocean.