The past two days have been pretty different from the rest of the trip so far, returning to the same room each night and not breaking out the maps to plan the next day. Taganga is nice but pretty touristy. Right next to the bigger beach town of Santa Marta on the other side of the mountain, which is where a lot of people go as well. It's kind of a small fishing town gone hippie. All the restaurants here have overpriced meals which in my opinion don't compare in taste or quantity of food to anywhere else I've been. The town has tons of hostels and dive companies and there are Colombians and Westerners alike sitting around everywhere trying to sell their hand made bracelets and jewelry. Over the mountain on the other side of Taganga is a smaller beach, a little nicer but equally crowded, and I ventured over there both days just for the sake of some exercise. As many of you know I eat anything but am just not into the real traditional fishing town stuff. For my first meal I ordered the special which came with local fried fish. Sounds pretty good eh? Well picture this...catch a fish in the sea, slice out it's guts, throw the whole thing into the deep fryer and put it on my plate. I was like oh wow thanks for not wasting the eyes or fins. I noticed later that everywhere here serves the fish like that. I still ate it but have ordered chicken since although even one of my chicken dishes came with what was basically fishbone soup so I guess you can't avoid the stuff regardless. I have had Spanish lessons for 2 days now at 3 hours per day and it is pretty difficult. I was given the impression that I was going to have a teacher who would be able to answer my questions in English, but my teacher Yolanda is definitely not fluent in English. So I do learn some, but when I have a question it is like trying to ask a 3 year old a math problem, just pure confusion. After today's lesson I am heading to Tayrona National Park which is supposed to have a great coast and good hiking. Please email, Mike.
