I'd rather live my whole life knowing that I'm not perfect, than spending my life pretending to be. — Marilyn Monroe

Waking up at 8am, this cold weather is a welcomed change from the consistent heat of San Juan and the first time in months that I am not covered in sheets drenched in sweat. Dreading a bone-chilling cold shower I am pleasantly surprised with the luxurious hot shower at Croc’s hostel. Since this is my first spa-like moment in months I enjoy every minute of water temperatures that are above 50 degrees. It’s funny how the simple things in life, regardless of travel, can make your day. Returning to the top floor of our dorm room and excited to hit the road it is a bit of a struggle to drag Char out of her top bunk and begin the arduous task of repacking our backpacks for the long 12-hour bus ride to Cali. Since we have a bit of time before our 2:15pm departure, we decide to grab some brekkie at a local bakery and take a short work through the winding cobblestone streets of both a country and a city that has a reputation of drug cartels and danger. We find neither, but quite the opposite. Smiles from local merchants and passerby’s on the narrow sidewalks, I’ve quickly come to find that Colombians are some of the friendliest people I have yet to experience.

