Lima to Cali (via Bogota)
With our new flight booked with Avianca two days ago after a monumental stuff around with Viva Colombia airlines we’re back at the airport and finally embarking on our journey to Colombia.
Because of Viva Colombia’s faulty reservation system we’re for forfeiting our time in Bogota and heading to meet a friend we’ve known for years but never physically met in the city of Cali.
Our flight into Bogota is uneventful although confusing in trying to find the right departure gate in the domestic part of the terminal. A quick message to our friend and we’re on the connecting flight to Cali.
Maria’s place was in a richer part of town and even though we had corresponded for many years, I had no real idea of what her world was like. The eldest daughter of a very rich sugar cane producer, she was a product of the elitist society that we’ve never experienced. Her 2 story Penthouse looks out over Cali and I peer down 12 stories to see the poverty just across the roads and wonder how we as human beings can be so polar opposite when it comes to wealth.
In talking with Maria it soon become apparent that we really have very little in common. Her world is about consumption and ours is of the earth. But we are here for the next 3 days and we try to understand her logic. Part of the problem is her constant referral to a network marketing business she’s involved in. I’ve been in these kinds of businesses before and as far as I’m concerned my opinion of these businesses are they’re a good way to loose friends and alienate people.
Maria wanted to show us around her local suburb and we checked out this really cool little art, furniture and restaurant place not too far from her home and just around the the corner from her very own art workshop. Maria is an accomplished artist and DJ. This is the side of her we like, her passion for art is beautiful, but sadly she considered us more as prospects for her network marketing business more than friends who appreciated her creative side.
The following day, Simona (one of the many maids) had prepared breakfast for us and Maria wanted to take us to her Lake House not far from the city of Cali. Lake Calima is beautiful, but windy. It’s the place were you escape to from the city. There’s boat and wake boarding hire companies all around the lake. There’s even the odd camping ground. But that’s not where we were going. Maria’s father built the house just over 20 years ago and Maria’s mother, who shares the same passion in designing as Maria, had free reign over the decoration. I like this place, although it’s a little cluttered for my taste.
Going for a swim was to be a bad idea as few days later I developed a sore throat and got the flu, but what’s a pool if you don’t use it right? The day was long and conversation ran dry.
Maria’s erratic driving only made the day more stressing. Seriously, smoking pot and driving the way she does only showed us her apparent lack of respect for others on the road, us and her own life. We counted several near misses and were glad to be out of the car.
The following day Maria had to “Work”, I’m not sure at what, as she mentioned continually that she could ever be an employee. A comment that didn’t sit well with us. Constantly referring to her maids as “those types of people” you know,”workers”. We’re glad to have a moments reprieve, but Maria returns for lunch that the maids have prepared.
Once again during lunch there’s tension, Elena almost looses it as Maria tries to go down the road of network marketing again. Thank god she’s going back to work with a promise that we’ll get together with her dad (maybe) for Sushi later I the evening.
It doesn’t eventuate as a message comes through that she’s caught up at “work”.
As we are flying out at 7am I ask her to organise a taxi for 5am and she says she’ll meet us for breakfast. I’m just expecting a cup of coffee , but as I go downstairs there is Simona, she’s prepared our breakfast (4am). Simona is the only “real” person here. It’s just a shame we don’t speak Spanish, she’s a real gem and a sweetheart of a lady. It’s an awkward 1/2 hour with the formal “thanks for coming” speech before we are ushered out the door. In my world I’d see my friends to the car and wave goodbye, in Maria’s world you shut the door before the lift arrives.
Cali, we came, we saw how the rich live…… Sadly we missed the true essence of the city.
