Change of plans

(Again, sorry for the lapse in time since my last post. Internet access has not been readily available, as Ive spent the better part of the past two days on a farm.)

After spending two nights at the house of Henry`s brother, we all went to Henry`s farm in the outskirts of Cali on Friday morning. The idea was that there was to be a family reunion of sorts--with lots of drinking and eating--and when we arrived, I was introduced to a whole bunch of family.

Then, after a few beers, things got interesting.

Im not sure of how much detail I should go into here, but let me put it this way:

1) Among the things that Henry has on his farm are a number of pigs.

2) We had pork for dinner.

3) The pork was fresh.

4) Real fresh.

Ill spare you the details--and the graphic pictures--but lets just say it was quite an experience, and it was an experience that I would never have had had I not been in touch with a Colombian family.

After two full days of non-stop drinking and eating, I was nearly as stuffed as the delightful pig intestines that we consumed, and it was time to move on. I mentioned in my previous post that my original plan was to head from Cali up to the coffee region to stay with Henry`s sister and brother-in-law for a few days. At the farm, however, I met Henry`s nephew, Javier, who lives in the outskirts of Medellin. Javier is 29 years old--he lives in an apartment by himself--and to make a long story short, we all decided that I would have a better time if I headed straight for Medellin with Javier when he returned.

I did want to see the coffee region, but I wasnt one to argue. Ive already begun to realize that Colombia is in fact home to some of the most beautiful women in the world, and both Henry and Javier agreed that Medellin is home to the most beautiful women in Colombia.

I guess that would make Medellin the beautiful woman capital of the world, now wouldnt it?

Last night, Javier and I caught a bus from Cali, leaving at 9:30 PM, and we arrived in Medellin at 5:30 this morning. After taking a brief nap we went out for some lunch, and since then Ive been hanging around the apartment, taking care of a few administrative details and resting up while Javier is at work.

In every Colombian home that Ive been in so far, Ive been pumped full of so much food that Ive nearly vomited. Henry`s wife explained that that`s the Colombian way of welcoming someone into their home.

I havent had the pleasure of enjoying Javier`s cooking just yet, but he did just call me from work to tell me that he`s arranged for the two of us to go out tonight--with a girlfriend of his, and a girlfriend of her`s.

So, while I`m still looking forward to a plate of Javier`s home cooking, I`m more than content for the time being knowing that Colombian hospitality comes in more than one form.