Wolfgang Maehr

So it is time for a brief update – I have not spent too much time online as the Columbians are so social that I hardly have time to get online… which is great to be honest (no offense dear online friends). ;)

So let’s have a short (?) list:

• First, I want to point to the blue short notices at the right hand side which I do update every now and then – even if the posts here are few.
• Then I want to thank Yenny for all the effort for organising me a place to stay and apprendir español – thanks. Even if the peole I stay with never have heard anything of a Yenny in Norway. ;)

Mexico City, MX

• So I left Mexico City a while ago. I really liked the place. A big city that keeps like 3 times Austria’s (or Sweden’s or 6 times Norway’s) population. Still very calm, I relly loved it. Great people.
• Most impressive about it all: The use of the floor in the Metro stations… being ganite (was it called like that in EN?) they are hard but gfazillions of people each day walking use off the softer parts. Not much but a bit so you get a nice texture… Also the metro system in general was relly nice.
• Visited the Antropological Museum, which is huge… more than 2 hours of names like Tcethcxaptl made at least my mind dizzy. I recommend more, small specific visits. Biggest question remaining in my head: Why did so many people (students?) run around writing text off the descriptions… uni homework?
• Also visited the big pyramides (sun and moon) in the North of the city. Too big to be impressive to me. However the nice Mexican offering me a lift back into town and the group I meat when going out was impressive. So nice and friendly even if I hardly speak any ES.
• Final verdict: wanna go back if it was not so polluted (well, it was not SO polluted, but still).
• And last to answer questions about it: I don’t know about the sunday morning drink – but here in Bogota it’s chocolate with cheese. Weird to me, but at least Norwegians are used to creamy cheese. And the skirts are not so short as in Cuba but the persons wearing them are in my opinion more beautiful – a lot of indigenous roots, just like the culture.

San Jose, CR

• Arriving here was a shock… all the cars, the shops, evereything… too Yankee… :(
• The impression got better after being a few days there, but still, compared to MExico with this long history and own tradition it did not have any. And expensive. :(
• Went to Cahuita a Rastafari village at the Carib with a friend, really nice and relaxed. A few european pot-heads and hich prices there as well. But also met nice Tico’s (Costa Ricans) sitting in at the beach at night playing the guitar. Also gor to walk a bit through the “jungle” and see monkeys, crabs and butterflies.
• Great juices and great music… tons of salsa, merengue but also caribbean music. This and the relaxed life style was defo the highlight here.

Bogota, CO

• Far more safe than it’s reputation – you don’t get shot right after stepping off the plane. Still, don’t push it – be at home by night or take a taxi. Nothing special.
• “Alpina” a company for milk products created by a Swiss guy from Lucerne – now part of Nestle. Their Gruyere tastes strong, but by far not like the real Gruyere. Must be the different cows, grass and therefore milk.
• “Juan Valdez Cafe” a chain of coffee shops that strongly reminds of Starbucks. I’m still not sure about it – I hear rumours that it’s a joint venture. Most interesting is that despite the different colours, fonts, products etc. the experience is still pretty much the same. An oasis of tranquil in the hustle and bustle.
• When arriving here I heard that Fidel officially transferred all ruling to his brother Raul. While I – with my less educated opinion than many of my friends – think that that is a good step because Raul seems to do a good job in fixing the things that are wrong. I also hope – in contrast to the Western mainstream – that he will continue in the socialistic development of the country (hopefully without the person-cult about Che) into a well-sustained level. Anybody with an educated opinion willing to comment, please? :)
• What else? Well, walked up to Montserrate and finally got a bit of tan. Didn’t go to the museums yet but got tons of people tell me how great Buenos Aires is… Spanish is getting better too, still slowly tho.

Yes, I think that’s all so far, I hope that all questions got answered, if you have more, please write in teh comments or mail me. :)

Have a good time y’all. Will go to dance in the next days. Yay!

PS: Still not married. :(