Final Pick: Villa Calendaria Hostal

Hey socias,

Found a place to stay...thanks to the on the ground help of MXL.  At first, we were torn in different directions due to endless internet searches and all that jazz.

Kind of settled on a place that Lunabee and Gomex stayed at...the cranky crock
or the Platypus Hotel a spot that Rat stayed at once. 


Both are an online hotel finder staple but since MXL is in Bogota for Ladyfest, she found a spot, still in La Calendaria called Villa Calendaria Hostal.  Cheaper than the above and in her opinion, mas lindo.

With that task out of the way, what is left to do?

1. Pick up Passport with visa, sin problemas
2. Pack underwear
3. Pack recorders
4. Deposit money into my travel credit card account aka if i get robbed, I don't have to worry about my savings being jacked account
5. Pack my green card in my travel pouch
6. Take my travel pouch
7. Pack 4 shirts
8. Pack a change of clothes
9. Pack umbrella (maybe)
10. Pack a dress
11. Straighten out my room so that my girlfriend can be left with a state of peace and not my chaos
12. Pack journal
13. Pack book en espaNol

THE END!!

Denied Entry?

Less than 4 months back in the U.S. and I'm planning a border crossing.  This time to Colombia.  Birth of good friends, good music, good food, and undiscovered personal adventures.  I will spend all of my time in Bogota, another spot that so much of the tourist discourse discourages stepping foot in.

I'm flying spirit meaning that the tickets were cheap but if i want to bring a carryon, it will cost me. And I'm on a mad internet wading craze to find the hostel of my dreams to stay at, not because I care where I ultimately lay my head once I get there but because I can't get my freakin' visa unless I have a hotel/hostel reservation or a notarized note from a friend saying I'm going to stay with them but you know that was not on consulate's website. Usually I just put an address, and I'm good to go. So judgement day is Wednesday.  My flight is Thursday.  Decisions must be made and I'm not in the right state of mind to sludge out of the quicksand of indecision.  But socias I'm getting to Bogota no matter what. 

 It sucks that I'm in this position so late in the game because I actually tried to find out information about the visa application process. i went on-line...not helpful.  I called the consulate...the phones haven't been working for the past couple of weeks.  So yeah I'm a bit frustrated.  My only consolations are that the visa for Kenyan citizens is less than most visas (not sure why but I must ask) and the intake guy at the consulate was soo damn nice...and ended up chatting me up about the second book in the Stieg Larsson series of the girl who played with the dragon tatoo (which I carried and set it in front of him).

wish me good luck folks because i have to meet czarina, mxl,, and mafe in town that is churning music that makes my booty bounce bounce.