April 2019

Two days ago, I saw in facebook that we celebrated 5 years since we got SalSolcito…5 years! It feels like ages when we were travelling through Europe and on the other hand it feels like we had always being living like this. Very difficult to explain. As Hecti keeps saying “this is our life, not a holiday, just life”. And I am reflecting on this, sitting on a lower chair, a deserted park, in any town really near Medellin after a nice cold shower from the back of our car.

Our life is now 3-5 months at a time. If it was unexpected and unplanned before, it is not totally unexpected and unplanned. Archie (and other potential grandchildren) has meant we can only go a few months at a time.The logistics of how and where to leave our SalSolcito, airports to fly to Aus, potential work to go back to, parents getting more needy in Baires… well… as I said, only a few months at a time!

Going back to Aus, working 10 hours a day every single day and enjoying Archie any moment has been tough… in the body and in the mind. As much as I love (and I love it a lot) working, the stress of projects plus city living does take a toll on us, and in me in particular. But, and it is a big big but, there is no complain, just enjoying the opportunity to be back often to be with our kids. And the goodbyes are not that dramatic anymore, as we have made a commitment to see them every 5 months 😊.

So, we reunited with SalSolcito in Quito, she was in perfect condition. Great! It is funny how the smallest routines become part of our everyday going. We always wash the curtains of our home before going anywhere and then there is something magical about putting them up when we start going again. Like actors who rehearse before the grand-opening, knowing that there is going to be a function every day after. It is a routine that sooth the mind and helps to bring us down after the often long long fly back.

Museo del Carnaval - Pasto

We crossed to Colombia as soon as we were ready, with the hope of going to Pasto to fulfil a promise that I gave to this family the past November. And so, after only 2 days in Colombia I found myself in front of 400 middle school girls participating in workshops about violence during courtships (and of course intra-family)… how can I describe this experience? Powerful, impactful, full. To open up discussions about this area, that I have worked on for so many years back in Aus, to be able to share the knowledge, and to essentially bring words of hope that there are choices, there is another way, there is an opportunity for them to be free, to be what they want to be… Oh! It was very special. The funny thing was how we were treated by this beautiful family, with so much care and love. An experience to remember.


Back to Cali, and back to our friend for another round of love before moving again to the "Eje cafetero"; this time for a fun day…

It has been raining tons every single day around 2pm. Still, we wanted to do the San Cipriano “way”. This can only happen when needs and lack of resources gives birth to innovation! Picture this: a motorbike on a platform on a rail tracks. Train that it doesn’t work anymore and leave the communities in an isolated way. Not anymore! These funny mods of transport means that locals can go to school and to the markets for food and on top of that money make by tourists interested in trying it! It was crazy, fast, scary and exciting all at once…and we loved it!


Filandia

This cute little town, similar to Salento, is where we got together with other 5 motorhomes/vans for a chat, a mate (all Argentinians) and a bit of chit-chat. It is difficult for me to socialise and even worse to attempt to plan something with other people. Even though there is so much in common with other travellers I feel worlds apart. It could be the age, the different cycle in life, different needs or ways to travel, or what I like to do. I found myself wanting to be with others and then not at all. I must say that similar stuff happened to me in Aus; this time around I did not meet with many people; only 2. I feel very disconnected emotionally from others. I wonder if things will change when we back for good….

Medellin

This huge city did connect with us with its story of suffering and rejuvenation. It is true that there is so much still to do and that in several parts the government has all but given up in the fight for control with regards to drugs. The “Museo de la Memoria” reminded us of a past of just around the corner. The decades of the 60 throughout the 70, 80, 90 and 00 is still very fresh. I still remembered seeing clips of the violence here, doubted at one point “the most dangerous city in the world”. We visited “Comuna 13” infamous because it was the most dangerous place where at any given point there were 5 different militias fighting against each other. 80.000 people living in precarious conditions, a 2002 attack from the government bombing from helicopters and a massacre that resulted… this on top of the thousand of kidnappings, car bombs, homicides and the lot that was part of every day life for the people in Medellin. La comuna today is flourishing thanks to the artistic movement, to the incredible graffiti plastering the walls telling of the dark stories on top of that the breakdance and hip hop, the music and the poetry. It is a new beginning, still so much to do.

Santa Fe de Antioquia

Loved walking thought the streets of this little colonial town. The cobble stones on the streets and the street tiles on the pathway give a perfect frame for the white walls of the houses. But it was so hot (36 degrees?) that we could feel the heat (more like fire!) so we escaped after a delicious tamarind with fresh lemon juice.

Looking at fincas to stay the night and go for a swim, we were totally welcomed by a new place of “food track - containers” surrounded by gorgeous garden, tall tress and a delicious (still hot!) swimming pool!