Bus from Taganga to Bogota, 2 September 2007
We left Cartagena bound for Taganga, 4 hours bus journey east along the coast. We needed to take a taxi to the bus station, the 1st one we stopped wanted 20,000 Pesos - the next 8,000. What is is with f#cken taxi drivers?!The image we had in our minds of Taganga (small, picturesque fishing village with white sandy beaches) was quickly dashed after we walked along the water front. While the bay itself is beautiful, the village really is a bit of a dump but our accommodation Casa Del Felipe was set away from the village in a secluded area with nice views over the bay.
The reason we were here was because Taganga has the best & cheapest SCUBA Diving courses in Latin America. Everyone in the "know" recommended Poseidon so that´s where we went. Claire opted to spend her days lounging in the hammocks, with a novel, at Casa del Felipe but I got started straight away watching a 3 hour PADI video on all the basics. There were 4 of us doing the open water course: 2 Dutch, an English guy Ollie & myself. Our instructor, Gerd, was a German who´d bagged himself a Colombian wife & decided to stick around. If he had possessed any germanic eccentricities his time in Colombia had cleansed him of them. A more relaxed, laid back individual you could not have met. That said, he was excellent in his instruction & during the course we met other experienced divers, who rated him very highly.
After the 1st day in the 4m pool we were out exploring the coral in Tyrona National Park, 18m under the water!! It was stunning & beautiful swimming amongst stingrays & a myriad of fish while zig zagging around the colourful & fascinating coral. After 3 days in the water completing all the necessary exercises there was a quick written exam & hey presto I am a fully qualified, open water diver. I might have chosen to go & do the advanced course (another 3 days) but I don´t think Claire could have stomached any longer in Taganga. Maybe when we hit Thailand...
Each evening I got back to the hostel, Claire would be introducing me to people she had gotten talking to that day. We should also give "Baguettes De Maria" a mention - the only good eatery we found in Taganga. The owners were sooo nice & the gourmet sandwiches & fruit salads were to die for.
1 comment:
It's been a while since I've checked out your blog - what an adventure you're having!! Thank you for sharing your fun! Keep the comentaries coming - it's the best travel journal I've ever read. (Ok, truth be told, I've probably read only 2 or 3....but still the best out of 2 or 3 is still the best!!)
Kris Bacon
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