Saludos desde Colombia!

I´m in Cali, Colombia, with my husband and his wonderful family. I don't think I'll be able to add pictures now, but I'm taking many and will share them when I have more time. If you want to contact me, emails are welcome, or you can call Julian's house at 011-572-430-6932.

*Athens*

*Julian and Monica with Tom and Anne Walker*

Last weekend we made a whirlwind trip to visit Athens, Ohio, to visit some friends/family and to show Monica where Julian and I studied and where he lived for almost four years. Herber came with us, and we spent a very short weekend relaxing at the Walker's, hanging out with friends and walking around Ohio University. The long drive was exhausting (and on the way to Athens we got a bit lost in the back hills of West Virginia), but it was a really wonderful opportunity to show Monica a really special town, and it was refreshing for me to be back in Ohio. I loved seeing the farms and the country on the drive. It was really weird to be in Ohio and not see family, but there will be more trips in the future when we have more time!


OU:

*the linguistics building, my old home*


*where we'll have the wedding ceremony!*

*we ran into friends alberto and margarita by the library!*

*at night we met friends for a drink-- daniel, hiuyin, me and julian*

*married couples: maria, carlos, me and julian*

WALKERS:

*anne cooking delicious Colombia breads for our brunch*

*bartley was bothering the chickens*


*giant garden!*

*giant apples*


*mmm pears!*


*hiking in the woods*

*visitors and hosts*

Sightseeing around DC

Since I've been back we've been trying to do a lot of fun things in the DC area, since we only have about 2 weeks left with Monica. What's in two weeks? Well, in 2 weeks Julian and I are going to Colombia! I bought the tickets last night-- I'll fly to Colombia for about a month, then to Greece for a week and a half-- then no more traveling for awhile! While we're really excited to go to Colombia (I'll meet his parents for the first time and he hasn't been home in 4.5 years), it's bittersweet because Monica will be here until September, alone. So we're trying to make the most of our time together, and have been going to beaches, museums, going out dancing, and hanging out together.

We went out dancing at a local club called ECitie:



Later that week we went to a huge club called Ultrabar in downtown DC-- it had 4 floors and was like the clubs you see in movies-- a massive group outside waiting to get in, lots of lights, smoke and security guards. Luckily, we were on the guest list ;)




After the club we walked around the area and saw Chinatown.

*spy museum*

*national portrait gallery*

*chinatown!*

This past weekend we went back to the beach at Chesapeake Bay, at Breezy Point. The water was kind of dirty there, but there were nets to keep out the jelly fish. Sadly, the net didn't keep out a little jellyfish which stung Monica :( Luckily I knew that you should pee on the sting to ease the pain!


Then we went to Baltimore! It was a lovely city, until we got a parking ticket and realized that our car had been broken into. Monica's purse was stolen, as was Julian's GPS. The police said they must have known we had a GPS because they can see the ring of dirt left by the suction cup which holds it onto the windshield. Then they found Monica's purse hidden in the trunk. Although we had a really nice time in Baltimore, it was a bit ruined by the theft...

*after dinner we listened to a ragtime band at the harbor*

*then we rented a dragon paddleboat!*

This coming weekend our plan is to make a quick trip to Athens, Ohio so Monica can see where Julian and I studied and meet his host family, the Walkers. Our last weekend here, we are hoping to go to Ocean City. Plus we have to make more small trips around DC!! A lot to do, but a lot of fun!