Dipping under a waterfall at Playa Blanca 12/27

Up at 6:30 due to going to bed at 9. This hostel was much more quiet, Azul Hotel. Our roommvates were French and out the door early in the am so they were easy. We got our the door and left our big packs behind. Made it to the bus stop for Tayrona by 8. Only an hour drive through town and to our stop. It wasn't the park entrance, the map from the hotel showed it stopping at Calabazo so that's what we did. I thought the bus guy took advantage of me and only gave me $6 back when I gave him $20. $7 for two I asked. Yes he said. Maybe he meant each. By the time I wanted to ask, I had already put the money in my wallet so I'll just assume he meant $7 each. 

We started our hike up and up. It was overcast and a lovely wind was blowing. This is going to be a great hike if it's like this all day. It wasn't. The sun came out and it got hotttt. I guess that's what you get for the jungle. We hiked past huts in the jungle after we paid our entrance fee and got our wrist bands. Boys, wearing white garments (but talking on cell phones) were walking their donkeys down the mountain. 

We had a view of the mountainous jungle as we walked up. We saw beautiful colored butterflies, a huge moth, a large millipede the diameter of a nickel (6-8 inches long), and lizards that ran when we approached. We had a choice, the popular Cabo beach or the more quiet Blanco beach. I thought the snorkeling was supposed to be good at both so we went for the latter. Hey we can always walk up and over to the other.

The sign said 1Km left when we were close to the top. That sign lied! The path turned pretty gnarly. It was all clay, with a ditch where the water runs down the middle so it was hard to walk. Then scree by the time we could see the beach. We were hot and hungry and just wanted in the ocean! 

It took us a total of 3 hours for the hike and that was not 1Km. Maybe that 1Km in Colombia. Whatever, it was a good hike and we made it. Time for a swim! Nope. No swimming, the ocean is too dangerous here. The waves were gnar, and there are rocks on the side. Due to our lack of Spanish we trusted the sign and the guy. No swimming everyday? Yes then on to words I didn't understand. Something about the rocks. Maybe a rip tide? But there's a waterfall. 

It was noon, it could take another 3 to get to Cabo, so we called it a day. Got us some cervezas so we could relax and enjoy the lovely beach. It was beautiful, white sand w huge jungle mountains all around. We'll make due. 

We went for the waterfall. Across the ground at camp are bagillion ants carrying leaves. They even made themselves a path. We also watched the cutter ants cut some leaves. Cool. Anyways, we found little Negrito the black kitty. He's a big lover. Meows and meows. Even did a roll so I could rub his belly. We drove don't want us to leave so he kept rubbing his head against our legs and walking in our path. 

We ran into the dude who works here while he was cutting open coconuts. He tried to explain the path to the waterfall to us and I couldn't comprehend so he gave up and showed us the way. Sorry dude. We would have found it but he was very nice and showed us jaguar tracks in the sand, birds, and a wasp hive. We made it to the perfect size waterfall. I didn't have my bathing suit on and no one was there besides us so I jumped in natural style. It was cool but nice. The water pounded our shoulders (and mine are kinda burnt). It was the perfect shower for the day w trees towering all around. 

We hung out at the beach some more. Andy tried to find a coconut he could open w his knife but all the good ones were already taken. We watched the ants working, and petted Negrito some more. It gets dark here at 6 which sucks. I miss the 11 darkness in Patagonia. 

Dinner at 7 of fried fish, some kind of surf fish. There was a big old fried beetle on mine. I'll pretend I didn't see that. We had fried plantain and rice w a little salad. It was all very good. Little Negrito came for a visit and kept getting shooed away. She came back and we gave her some fish. Andy gave her the head. Apparently it was safe for cats- chewy enough. 

No one was here when we arrived but now there are several other couples and a big family that came down my donkey. Poor donkeys. 

We walked back from dinner and the woman asked if we had our lights because there are snakes. Oh great. At least that's what we think she said. We saw beetles that light up and blink light lightning bugs, only briefly but you can see them from far away. We looked up at the stars, Andy gave me another astronomy, science, and world politics lesson and we called it a night at 9 due to bugs. Time to sleep in the hammocks w mosquito nets! Should be interesting.