Merry Christmas From Mexico

Christmas 2013

The beauty of Christmas and the love that goes into preparing for the day that we come together to celebrate.

A day of giving and receiving. 

The joy of the season and what it means to each one of us.

A Very Merry Christmas 

And

Happy New Year

Hugs

Joel

Holy Week in San Miguel de Allende Mexico

Processions

As far back as 1712  processions have taken place here. The smells of chamomile and mastranzo (an herb)  is in the air. Chamomile represents the painful passion of Jesus but also health because of its medicinal use

There are alters in different locations through out the city. They are decorated with oranges, lemon grass, purple cloth, and white flowers

 The colors  all have religious meaning.

White=Purity

Yellow= Hope

Orange=Courage

Green= Freedom from bondage

Red= The Holy Spirit

Black=Death

Brown=Humility

Blue= Heavenly Grace

Angles clean the path by throwing chamomile and mastranzo 

They can be trampled as Christ was and emit their healing perfumes that brings peace and tranquility

They carry large sculptures mounted on platforms decorated with flowers. Their is metal lanterns to light the way and are carried in possessions during the day.

Inside the churches they have paid special attention to details and do a beautiful job of making Easter special.

Church goers come in all different  types and sizes 

Happy Easter
Joel

Colombia

No this is not what the Colombian's look like.This is on a billboard for a cafe/bar in Medellin Colombia

Colombia a country that has changed so much since the mid 1990. This trip starts in the second largest city in the country with about 3 million people. With Bogota being the largest city in the country. The drug cartel was headquartered in this city and now is not visible at least to me. Seems like a country on the go and building lots of new apartments in Medellin 

Medellin Colombia

Medellin the city of eternal spring.  A city that is very modern and progressive.  The elevation is about 4800 feet above sea level.

They have a very modern transportation system that uses a above ground rail system and connects with the buses. It also has many cable car routes that connect with the rail system.

The mall's in the area I am staying are amazing and the price's are at least what we pay or more in the USA. 
The fuel is around $4.50 a gallon. This city is now a huge banking center. 
It used to be the drug capital of the world not long ago but now that has all changed 

My friend Fernando and me at his apartment in Medellin

My new friends in Medellin 

Here we are at Fernando and his wife Berta Lucio cabin in the mountains close to Medellin.
Good food,good company, and fun times


Cartagena Colombia

I traveled to the north of the country close to Panama on the Caribbean coast where there is a mix of the present and the past. Here is one of the local moving companies at work.

 

There is an old walled part of the city that was built during the slave trade. 

This lady is selling fruit on the streets of Cartagena 

Someone must have had a lot of balconies to use up because they have a ton of them in this city

The modern part of the city looks like Miami Beach to me and it is very expensive here

One of these apartments would run you a few million  US dollars. The exchange rate is 1777 peso's to one dollar at this time so in their money one could be a millionaire for about $600 US dollars 

Santa Marta Colombia

A port city on the Mar Carbe not far from Venezuela  

Once a year there is a big Carnival in this area and the street vendors are busy selling items for that event.

Water front in Santa Marta and sunset

Tayrona National Park

A short bus ride to Tayrona Park where there is hiking, camping and beautiful beaches. 

Also you can arrange a 5 day hike to the lost city and the people consider this lost city as sacred 

The people are very resourceful in using what is available for starting a business

Local shopping

More shopping

Here are some of the tourist taking in Colombia

Time to relax and have a game of pool and drink a few beers

The problem is there is only one good tree around

The only way to travel