PEQUENO NINO

7/15/16

BY NEVIN

Today started out early, Andrew went to call a tour operator named Alfonso at 7:30 to schedule a boat to the Rosario Islands.  He couldn't find a phone to call on for an hour!! Finally he got through and Alfonso said 'meet me at the clock tower in 1 hour!' So we hustled to pack for the day and walk to the clock tower. We found out that the boat tour was a lot of time spent in the boat and decided to take a shorter ride to a close beach called Playa Blanca. Unfortunately Alfonso charged us full price for the shorter trip. 70,000 Colombian Pesos COP (25$) each except I got half price kid discount because I brought my lunch. Then as we are boarding the boat they asked for a 12,000 COP national parque tax. Wow this is getting expensive!!

We took a 45 minute boat ride to Playa Blanca, which was nice. The beach was packed w people and lots of vendor hawking stuff. We are constantly bombarded with offers of beer, massage, beads, braids, necklaces, body ointment etc.  Our 'amigo' Jose escorted us to a umbrella and chairs and said he would 'take care of us, no worry, no problem.'  

We enjoyed swimming in the crystal clear water of the Caribbean and had a great fried fish, coconut rice, plantains lunch but I didn't eat any of that, I brought a peanut butter sandwich.  Then the skies opened and it poured perros and gatos (cats and dogs). That didn't stop our fun we swam as the cool rain splashed around us. It was magical.

Jose our 'amigo' said 'excuse me but it's time to pay for the umbrella and beer.'  'UMBRELLA! We thought it was included.' 'No senor it's 70,000 COP ($25)' Andrew argued with him and asked other people sitting around us how much they paid and they said 20,000 for a Colombian couple and 40,000 for a Argentine couple. Andrew got the price to 40,000 COP and Jose 'our friend' walked off.  

Then we boarded to boat for the return trip, a little frustrated with the day but happy we got to swim in the Caribbean all day.  When we got back to the house and showered and relaxed on our electronics before going to get good pizza.

Overall it was an expensive but fun day.