Hop On Hop Off

Today, Jacinthe, Lisa and I decided to go do the Hop on Hop off bus. We headed to the Main Plaza where it departs from for 9AM. We were the only 3 on the bus and they waited until 9:20 to leave. We people watched which was ok, This bus is open air but has a canvas top. There are 2 routes that you can take. We are on the one that does the more residential area. Lots to take pictures of, Stores, Houses, People, Parks, etc... The tour lasted about 1 hour. The cost was around $10 Canadian for an all day pass. We were the only 3 on the bus when we departed the main square. This was great as I could change sides of the bus when there was something interesting to see. We sat at the back of the bus. Unfortunately it was in Spanish. The ticket lady did come up at one point and told us stuff in English

Hat vendor at the main plaza

Busy corner on the main square

Postal Delivery 

 I love the buildings that have painted information on them

Mango tree with lots of them

I see a pink elephant

One of many small park/squares we saw today.

Finally something besides Pepsi or Cole

Going to work.

We were offed to get off the bus at this stop but since we already been here a few time, we did not.

Popsicle, Cigarettes, Gum, Halls or Candies, I have it all

Old train station, I think it is a college now.

We decided to do the second route but it was not leaving for another 25 minutes, so of course we went for an ice cream break. This place has been in business since 1907 and is on the main square. It is also a bakery which Lisa had to test a cookie to see if it was good or not.

The second bus was late leaving as they were waiting to get at least 2 more paid customers. This one is an open air double decker. Finally a family joins us and we can leave around 11:15. We sit on the top deck but there is no cover there. The seats must be 150 degrees and they were in full sun and it was now something like 35 degrees. I sit on my camera bag in the front row and Jacinthe and Lisa sits in the back row to get more of a breeze. This route takes us on the Paseo Montejo which Wendy and I had biked last Sunday and some of the area on both side of it. At one point 3 people from Columbia get on the bus. The ticket lady brings them cushions. I guess you had to ask for them but sure could have used them as it would have been nice to switch sides of the bus at times like on the first bus. But with the seats being that hot, once you sat down and got the seat to cool of a bit, you did not change seats. I think you might have been able to fry an egg on them. This route lasted about 1 hour and 15.

Paseo Monego

Here is the house that the owner of the house we are staying at built when he moved out of ours. He divided his old house in 3 for his sons. The house we are staying at was just as big but not as grandiose.

Baby pigeon????

Our next stop was the Modern art museum. A very interesting place to visit and the cost was perfect. Free. Nothing permanent and they change every 3 months as far as I understood from reading in Spanish. Some of the stuff I liked and some I did not care for but that is to be expected. Will return with Wendy.

Home I made chicken enchiladas for lunch with a green salsa on the stove top as Wendy will still not let me turn on the oven.

Spent the afternoon either in the pool or at poolside while enjoying cold beverages. I now understand why people in hot countries take siestas.

Jacinthe and Lisa invited us to supper since it is their last night here. We decided to go to Santa Lucia square. The square has about 5 or 6 restaurants with patios. Nobody could decide on which one to choose, so we headed up one street where I knew there were a few Mexican restaurants. One had a patio but no one was there. We skipped that one. 2 restaurants that had potential but had no patios and looked more like chain restaurants. Skipped those 2 as well. Back to Santa Lucia where Jacinthe decided that we were going to La Recova. We were offered free margaritas. The food was delicious. I had a pork (?) shank, Wendy stuffed peppers, Lisa Shrimp Fettuccine and Jacinthe Stuffed Chicken Breast. The food was delicious and one of the best meals we had here. My shank was so big that I could not finish it and took some leftovers home. The sauce that it was braised in was out of this world. Jacinthe and Lisa had Tiramisu which was fantastic and we shared a cheesecake which was good but not as good as the Tiramisu. The also had creme brule which I may have to return to try.