El Dorado Part II

September 29, 2008


Okay I'm gonna try and load the rest of the photos. Wish me luck!

This is a photo of B. walking up the VERY STEEP steps. I'm not kidding you when I say it looked pretty but it was also pretty STEEP. The altitude made me feel like I was 100. I would have been embarrassed but a really young, buff, marine was huffin' and a puffin' too so I feel much better about it.

Totally worth this view though!

And this one...

And this one....

I MADE IT TO THE TOP!!!! Not sure what happened to Beth though...

Just kidding ;o)

Then we got lunch at one of the navy, I think, club. Check out this view from the patio seating!

The food was AMAZING!!! I also got to make some new friends but didn't take their picture. I don't want to seem too crazy - yet. I'll capture them later :o)

The Legend of El Dorado

September 28, 2008

Do you all know the legend of El Dorado? If not, read on, if you do then skip this part and and just look at the cool photos!

Basically it was among the Muisca that the legend of El Dorado was first heard by the Spaniards. They were told of a ritual ceremony that took place at Lake Guatavita, some distance to the North of Bogota. The lake appears mystical, mirror-calm, a perfect circle, surrounded by uniform, barren hills. The legend supplies the bottom of the lake with unimaginable treasures dumped there by the ancient Muisca to whom the lake was sacred. They believed that the spirit of a former chieftain’s wife lived in the lake, bound there by a terrible monster. A peculiar ritual on the lake was part of the acknowledgment of a new king. This account of the ceremony of El Dorado gave way to the persisting legend of the unimaginable wealth lying on the bottom Lake Guatavita. Attempts to drain the lake started almost immediately after the first rumor was passed on. Today the surrounding hills bare a curious notch carved by Antonio de Sepulveda, a Bogotan merchant, who, in the 1580’s, attempted to drain the lake to uncover the mythical wealth. The effort was abandoned when the hillsides caved in and covered and killed many of the workers, even though gold was discovered. The loot went to King Philip II of Spain.
It was not too long after these expeditions that the story of El Dorado was embellished with accounts of his golden city, the mythical Manoa where even the cooking utensils were made of gold. Explorers and adventurers took off on the hunch that the city was located somewhere in the unexplored forests of the Amazon valley, and vanished into the jungle, scores never returning.

Onto the photos! BTW - this was a trip organized by the Spanish Instructors at the Embassy.

Entrance to Guatavita Lagoon. This was REALLY beautiful but I had the settings all wrong on my camera and the photo washed out. Ah well!

Field of wild flowers. Just because I like them :o)

Again, random photo just because...

Here we are at the bottom but we will climb to the top. If you click the pic and enlarge it you might be able to see the group ahead of us near the top. Oh, and please do not forget that this is at about 9,000 ft. above sea level. Altitude sickness anyone?

The path, pretty isn't it.

Stupid, stupid, stupid explorer keeps interrupting me with "error reports"! I don't know what the deal is but apparently the rest of the photos will have to wait for another day because I really want to throw this computer OUT. THE. WINDOW!!!

Random Factoid

September 26, 2008

Curbs here can be 3 feet high. Really, I need to get a photo. Tonight on the way home from dinner the curb literally was up to Max's hip. I wasn't sure the kid was gonna make it!

The city

September 23, 2008

I know ya'll want to see photos of the house but it's still not quite ready. I made a huge dent today so I'm hoping tomorrow might get us there. In the meantime I did get a few pics outside. Liz was asking if Bogota looked like a big city. The answer is yes with an asterick :o) Bogota was built on a plateau at approximately 8700 feet. Can you say altitude sickness. Seriously, I had one heck of a headache when we got here. And breathing... forget about it! I would walk, yes that is walk, down the block and be winded. Only took about a week to recover though. Anyway, I was saying, Bogota is built on a plateau and you'll see in the photos that I live waaaay up north where the city was literally built right up to the mountain. Makes for cool views! And the city is a big city like NY or LA but with a very nice difference... green space and trees! I don't have the "city" shots today but I do have a few of the street and the view from my balcony and bedroom. Quite nice if I do say so myself. Without further ado... check it out!

Joe Cool on the balcony.

Yes we need patio furniture - we have 3 balconies and the weather is AWESOME!

View from the balcony.

Center of the street. This is the part about how it's nice and green unlike most cities. There are 2 lanes on either side of this walkway that runs down the middle. It is much nicer to walk here and let the kids run and smell the flowers etc.

Ooops, thought I had a photo from the bedroom too but apparently NOT. Next time. This is another from the balcony. Pretty huh.

Mike going out the front gate.

Happy Birthday Mamaw!

September 19, 2008

My kids were soooo excited it was their Mamaw's birthday they insisted we make a cake. Which sounded like a good idea except then confusion ensued... Where is Mamaw? When is she coming over? We need to give her the cake, presents etc, etc, etc. So, in an effort to decrease confusion a bit we did this video, which seemed to work. (Note the cupcake appearance? I forgot to adjust for altitude!)

Happy birthday to THE best mom ever! We miss you!!!

As for the face paint, that was done at school. Oh, btw, today is Valentines Day. Well here it is called "El dia de amor y amistad". I'm guessing that is why the face paint but I'm not sure. Max also came home with a heart lollipop for me and an orange jellybean for Mike (orange is his favorite color and he was REALLY excited about giving us surprises).

Max the tiger.

Maggie the butterfly.

In other events for the day Max and I played "crocodile dentist". It's a game I used to play with the kids during therapy sessions. The video is kinda funny. After a few rounds he became more and more anxious until he made me push all the teeth!

Been a while

September 18, 2008

Sorry I've been AOL but I had a few things to get done by TODAY and I did it! To summarize briefly I ordered a course on DVD's for continuing education credits for my SLP license. Well, it was a GREAT course but 23 hours of videos! Then a test. I passed, thank you very much, with a 95% but I contend some of the questions could NOT be answered T/F. But I digress... Also have been taking Spanish classes and today my HHG arrives!!!!!!! Oh, once again military lingo, HHG means house hold goods, aka ALL MY STUFF! Yes, it took a while. And I have a coffee and the #2 in charge this a.m. about 2 hours before my stuff gets here. Tonight I have a meeting at the kid's school to discuss "colegio" or elementary school for Max next year. Need to get started NOW because I, of course, picked a non-DOD approved school and therefore have to jump through a few hoops if I want him to attend. Whew - I've barley started the day and I'm tired just writing about it.

On to the fun stuff - COSTUMES!!!

My mom sent these for the kids and so I must preview them here for everyone.

Beware of the darkside!

Could she BE any cuter?

I asked my Mom to find the costumes because I was told they don't do halloween here. I was thinking costumes for the big embassy party might be hard to find. Then we met Laurenz...

He is five and Max's new best friend. His mom is really great and she told me where to go to get halloween and christmas stuff CHEAP, including costumes. She also clued me in to tofu, restaurants, ballet etc... So glad to meet someone who a. is very fun to hang with b. has a kid my sons age c. knows where to find EVERYTHING!

And last, I was told about this fruit

Not sure if you can tell but it's HUGE. Like a watermelon. It's called guanabana "gwa na ba na". The pronunciation kicked Mike's butt for a while but we've got it now. The flesh is REALLY sweet. Tooo sweet for me really but Maria said kids like it a lot. Also it was chewy, like really chewy, like a peice of gum kinda chewy. The good news is you blend it with a little water or milk and it is THE YUMMIEST juice! I will really miss this juice when we leave - sigh - but heck I just got here so now is not the time to talk about missing things!

Catholic Guilt

September 10, 2008

Is it weird that I'm intimidated by my maid? Okay maybe intimidated isn't the right word/emotion since the woman is all of 100 pounds and maybe 5 feet tall! But it's weird that she is in my house ALL THE TIME and knows everything that goes on. Then I heard her telling Max to turn the t.v. off and go play. She's right, he watches waaaay too much t.v. Made me feel like a bad mom. Then when I am busy cooking she plays with my kids, which is nice and something I asked her to do, I feel guilty. I know, I've lost it. But really I think I should be playing with them. I know she is not judging me just helping out but my conscience is telling me otherwise. The woes of a wanna be perfectionist house wife, who has a maid that she doesn't pay for. Life is rough I know... guess I'll shut-up now!

Parque Photos

September 9, 2008

Here are some photos of the "infantil juegos" otherwise known as a playground, at Parque Nacional.

The kids anxiously awaiting to run down into the park!

View of the park from above. Did I mention Bogota is on a plain about 8700 feet above sea level. They have built all kinds of stuff into the side of a mountain as the city expands. It's a WORKOUT! Between the altitude and the steep hills my heart is constantly racing. Good news is our apt. is almost at the bottom of the hill so not too much work to go to and from our house. But I digress... back to photos.

Max after he ran faster than his legs could carry him down the hill. So cute in the grass :o)

Another photo of the playground(s). They are big into kids so there are always lot's of cool play structures.

Now, we live in what is equivalent to La Joya in San Diego or Georgetown in DC. You know, the VERY wealthy area. But still big, HUGE, holes in sidewalks and streets are not uncommon.

My handsome boy riding a dino!

My kids LOVE to play in the sand. There wasn't a lot in DC but plenty parks here have sand.

Maggie's new favorite passtime. BTW - parents aren't allowed to swing. My neighbor and I both got into trouble for that move, on separate occasions mind you so it wasn't a fluke.

This photo didn't come out well but it was really cool. It is a map of Colombia complete with textured mountain ranges. I took this from the look-out area but I wasn't high enough to do it any justice.

This park also has tennis courts, basketball, a rollerskate hockey area, theater, monuments and fountains... It is HUGE! We only saw a small portion which is good I suppose because we can spend another day there later ;o)

Another beautiful day

September 7, 2008

Today we went to Parque National. The weather was sunny and 60's again. I don't know why people think it's cold here, I think the weather is perfect. We had a GREAT time and I'll post some photos tomorrow but do click on the link. I know it's all in Spanish but look at the photos because I was so busy playing I didn't take nearly enough, I know shame on me. Then we went for a drive and found all kinds of stuff that I was wondering where it was located. I can see more fun trips in our future now... a little familiarization drive in the new car and we are ready to roll! Too bad my husband actually has to work or we would be going everyday!

Adapting

September 6, 2008

Maggie seems to have assimilated. This morning she woke me at 5 a.m. - ugh, to tell me she had wet the bed. First time in 2-3 weeks of being dry so I didn't put a pull-up on her. I swear she is a test from God. Anyway, she wakes me and tells me her bed is wet but not to worry because "Maria will clean it up" (that's our maid). Yeah, she's adapting just fine!

One more thing

September 4, 2008

My boy is such a gringo. I bought some grapes at the store and he was REALLY excited. We haven't seen grapes since we got here. Not because they don't have them here but because I didn't know where to shop. I digress... I asked him if he knew how to say grapes in Spanish. He confidently replied, "yes Mommy, los grapos". LOL I was impressed he figured out you need an article before all words in Spanish. Oh, in case you are wondering, they are really "las uvas".

My baby boy is growing up - FINALLY!

September 4, 2008

I took the kids to the doc today for their school physicals. Max is now in the 85% for height! I thought he was gonna be a runt because he was always in the 50-60th. Guess it's true boys grow slower. Maggie is still hanging in at the 95%. Good thing Max had that growth spurt or I'm sure she would have passed him by now. She has succeeded in kicking his bum foodwise. Shocker I know. She is 85% for weight and he is a lowly 50%. My boy is really lean now. Hmmm, is he really MY kid? Lord knows Mike and I are not now, nor have we ever, been that skinny! Ah well, both my kids are perfect, according to the doc. I must concur :o)

In other random news, I had dinner with all the attache wives tonight and a few other women from groups like the DEA. It was great fun. I now have the wisdom to go shopping in "El Centro" for cheaper clothes, shoes, jewelry etc... I have the name and address of a woman who will make leather shoes, boots, bags to MY EXACT specifications for cheap, cheap, cheap. I mean we are talking high leather boots made to fit MY foot and in the style, color etc that I choose for less than $100. I am ALL over that! Also met a few more women who either have little ones for playdates or who don't work and thus can go shopping with me. Oh and also a woman from Puerto Rico that speaks English AND Spanish fluently. I think I need to hang with her for a bit.

Um, what do you mean my children ARE NOT HERE!

September 3, 2008

I dropped the kids off at school this morning by our usual routine of a cab. We have no car yet, I believe it's "in country" but waiting on customs along with the rest of our stuff. Maybe next month... but I digress. I take them to school via cab because it is too far to walk and the Embassy has to do a security check on the transportation company before our children can use it. Which is good. The cab is a bit cheaper and only about a half hour out of my morning. So anyway, I dropped them off and went about a pretty good morning. Got in a workout, some Spanish exercises, a few phone calls, yada, yada, yada. Take a cab to back to the school to retrieve them and... THEY ARE NOT THERE!!!! This is where having a better command of the Spanish language would come in handy. The woman at the door tells me she put them on the bus. Now, why would you do that without notifying the parents? To me that is just basic common sense. From what I can understand the tranportation company told the school they sent the Embassy the required info so they could ride the bus. Now sending over information about your company and receiving clearance, to me, are 2 entirely different things. And again, what about notifying the parents bus service is starting. Oh, and by the way, I haven't paid for said service either. So before I can get a clear understanding of WHY my children are not where I left them someone calls the bus and tells them to bring the kids back. Wait a minute, I am standing in the rain, with a cab waiting AND the meter running, because they screwed up and now that my kids are like a block from home I should wait a half hour for them to return. WHAT? Finally I tell them to just send the kids home because 1. coming back makes no sense and 2. the meter is running on my g.d. cab. HELLLOOO. So back in the cab I go and call Maria, my empleada, to let her know the kids should show up before I do. I get home - NO KIDS. Now I'm really irritated. Apparently the school was a little freaked by their screw-up so they wouldn't let the kids be released to anyone but me. After the bus drops off all the kids they FINALLY show-up at the apartment. I am quite sure they are clear now on NOT releasing my children to ANYONE for ANY REASON without written consent. Is it me or was that whole screw-up totally avoidable by a simple phone call to the parents?

Useless information

September 2, 2008


Not sure if they have these in the US but I found them in the grocery yesterday. They are a cross between socks and pantyhose but just for the toes with a peice of clear elastic that goes around the heel.


Why? is the question I got from my hubby. I like 'em because it's relatively warm here so I don't need socks/hose but my shoes rub a little without the material there as a go between.

And they don't show at all with my shoes...

I bought one pair as a trial but I think I'm gonna go back for more. Cheap and comfy!

Oh, and how do you like my new shoes? Got them here at 9 West. I know, go figure.

Our first day of school

September 1, 2008

Maggie was VERY excited to go to school this morning... Max was NOT. The interesting thing is the teacher said Max was great and did very well interacting with the other kids and Maggie fussed a bit for me. Just when you think you know your kids!

Here is the front of the school.

Max excited to see his Mama at the end of the day.

Not sure why they both are making this funny face, a cross between angry and sly, hmmm.

Maggie was just as excited but Mike was a little slow on the shot. She was peeking through the mesh in the door yelling about all the fun stuff she did.

Then they just couldn't leave 'til they showed us the pet turtle.

And Max wanted a photo of his playground.

This one is of their classroom off the play area. What I need a shot of is inside. REALLY nice. A big gym with mats and balls and stuff hanging from the ceiling to climb on. One wall is mirrored I suppose for added feedback. And if you read the last post Max is ALL about looking at himself in the mirror! LOL They also have a music class and then 3 seperate classrooms for their "work" - a language room, fine motor and science room, and a sensory room. I was also impressed with the 3 teachers for 25 kids.

Since today is a holiday, the embassy is observing a combo of American and Colombian holidays, we went to lunch after school. We tried a new place "Oma". The food was great and the atmosphere really nice too. Not sure if you can see in the photos but it was kinda coffee shop comfortable with living room style chairs. Very modern and clean with lot's of space. I hate it when I'm crowded in a restaurant!

Self-portrait oops... Max looks like Ziggy!

Now that's better!