When we arrived in Cartageña we had a leaving dinner as we had reached the end of this part of the Colombia tour. We were losing 4 members of the group, but gaining 4 Aussie girls for the next stage of Colombia.
As is customary, Ronnie wrote a poem for the group, and recited it at the dinner…
Colombia
A Purple poem by Ronnie
After a man on a ship from Spain, Colombia got her name
In Bogotá we did meet, and our G family we did greet
Freddie warned us we must take care, not to give Papaya anywhere
The city with no river but lots of water courses
Hard to reach even on some horses
The city transport did innovate, so the people weren’t always late
Decorated with lots of art, La Candelaria looking very smart
In Armenia we picked the coffee bean
In the region lush and green
Arabica the only one that is allowed
To grow up in the mountain cloud
In traditional clothes we did dance
The caffeine put us in a trance
In Cocora valley on a Jeep called Willy
It’s the designers name – don’t be silly
The wax palms they grow up very high
Any other species they would die
In Salento the party lasts 12 days, the stamina it does amaze
Tejo the game with powder for a gun
To make an explosion is lots of fun
In Medellin around the Zona Rosa, where the ladies want men to get closer
Metro, Gondola, Taxi and a Bus
Going back in the coach was much less fuss
In Communa 13 we bought food and drink, for a family living on the brink
People used to live in fear until the army the guerrillas did clear
They no longer need a fence to keep out the violence
El Peñol a monolith very high
We climbed over 600 steps to the sky
Guatapé’s walls do tell a story
Shapes and colours in all their glory
Freddie the CEO has a catch-phrase, “it’s like that” he always says
Rob’s drinking in touch with his feminine side, Aperol Spritz down his throat does glide
Tim a glider he does fly to race Rob’s ‘copter in the sky
Although Milly is quite small, her pile of food is very tall
Laura in a restaurant thinks they make her fast, as she always is served last
Michelle is frightened on an airplane, Ronnie’s arm must take the pain
Ronnie likes an easy life, he always agrees with his wife
Julian likes to drink a lot, Tequila is his favourite shot
Evan by Julian was led astray, his hangover lasting all the next day
Yvonne a hat from Panama does wear, but does she know that she’s not there
Bretton wants to learn the moves, to get in the Salsa groove
Matthew thinks Colombian food is OK, but Pizza Hut in Medellin made his day
Lisa likes a club with lots of din, where she can sit and drink her gin
David keeps Lisa company, so too far she does not stray
Joanie early she does drop, after so much time spent in a shop
Rick on his t-shirt can be seen, all the places he has been
Rita always seems to shiver, is it the cold or the cocktails in her liver
In Cartageña on the Caribbean sea, a place we are all happy to be
The trip has really been La Puteria, but now it’s time for some to say See Ya
Salut
Ronnie
