Dear Obiwan,

The next two days were peaceful…and full of tummy aches.

Day 1 at El Rio Elemento Hostel
Tuesday, October 9th

So it happened Obi. In a moment of desperation in Santa Marta I took 1 sip of water from the sink tap.

And, I know I know Obi!…but it messed me up pretty damn good. But not as bad as the Central America stomach ache me and Lani got 5 years ago, (and Lani had WAY WORSE) but still. It just takes so much out of you.

But finally we left Santa Marta, me and Kiki and the German sisters all had the same stomach ache while Herme felt fine! She went off to dinner in town and I had dinner at this new hostel.

Before I ate dinner I had to shower and the shower wasn’t at full speed and currently was one line coming out of the shower head. And this one line was the speed of a bullet and it stung your skin when it touched you. Oh! AND- it was freezing.

Here is the shower:

Besides the shower I loved this place!!!

I met Jay, the current chef as of this week due to their normal 5 star or something chef who broke his shoulder. Jay is from Fiji and is warm and funny and outgoing. The kind of person I could talk to endlessly! He has amazing stories and also actually listens and cares about your stories! (Some people who like to tell stories don’t like to listen, ya know?)

Any who, he made this amazing pasta carbonara and as we were chatting this other guy from Toronto joined us who also was super interesting and kind and amazing to talk to. We all chatted for a long time, and I randomly would cringe in pain but they 110% understood. I called it a night pretty early got some rest!

Day 2 at El Rio Elemento Hostel
Wednesday, October 10th

Obi look at this map El Rio had of Minca! It shows all the trails!

Me and the German sisters were staying stomach sick the next day. I thought I was going to hike around Minca to a waterfall but my stomach kept me at the hostel.

But man, I love this hostel! It’s so beautiful, look!

I had breakfast in town at this lovely place that also was a store that sold herb and local soaps and stuff.

The walk from the hostel to town

Minca is this small mountain town full of warm people. It was everything I wanted and more after Cartegena and Santa Marta. Slow pace, relaxed, welcoming, COLDER, and beautiful.

Hermela headed to Casa Elemento and me and the Germans stayed hugging our tummies.

The 3 of us headed to dinner and a new woman from our hostel, Sally, from Englad joined us. She was also traveling alone, for almost a year at this point! She wanted to share a lot of advice.

And she told me the BEST NEWS.

I DON’T HAVE TO SPEND $750 FOR MACHU PICCHU!!! I was legit having to move around so much of my trip to maybe get this $750 Inca trail trek in November. But she told me about The Jungle Trek! It’s only about $160 USD!!! And it doesn’t get booked!

AND THE BEST PART (YES, it gets better)
You don’t have to hike for 4 days and poop on poop mountains (as Jay was telling me when he went- there are these toilets but the ground changes mud color…and he asked why is the mud a different color and the tour guide told him it’s because it isn’t mud…🤮🤮🤮)
Any who- this trek is shorter, you stay in hostels or homes and instead of only hiking there is a ZIP LINE, WHITE WATER RAFTING, and biking!!!! So much more fun and more for me! Yay can’t wait!- you don’t see ALL of the Inca stuff but you still see Machu Picchu!

After dinner I chatted with Jay and a few others then we watched Pulp Fiction! It was on some random channel. Then I went to bed early again :).

Goodnight my love, hope you are getting all the snuggles from your Grand-cat-parents!

Love,

Carly