Banged up abroad in Columbia due to being robbed at knife point with a friend (whom I had met at the taxi rank a few days prior at airport) which resulted in wallet and camera taken away. My friend had her phone and backpack taken from her. Spent majority of the night with my friend who was speaking broken Spanish to the guards and police to search for her phone to no avail (we believed corruption had something to do with not being able to find phone) Fortunately they didnt take my phone and for the latter part of the night, spent organising with banks for cards to be cancelled and emergency funds and cards to be sent to us. Friend makes me dinner comprising of pineapple, rock melon, blueberries and bananas as well as getting me bottled water (some people are just so nice these days). But not only that, because I had no money to get bus to my hotel (which was 30 mins away) and having to meet up with police the following morning, friend sneaks me into the hostel dorm which luckily for me, had a spare bed for me to sleep on. (Another great deed and thankfully didnt end up having to pay to crash the night) The following morning, friend again sneaks me food with a cup full of breakfast goodies in muesli, banana and rock melon (she just keeps giving and giving, absolute champion). We used the computer to fb people informing them of our chaotic night, as well as finalising our story for the police report (fingers crossed re: travel insurance). Afterwards my friend came back with 5000 columbian pesos (5000/1771= approx 3aud) after she successfully managed to ask one of the girls in her dorm for the money (blown away by her helpfulness and generosity) as I needed 1400 columbian pesos for the bus ride back. the police had not turned up after being told they would meet us at around 9am. Friend advises me that because of my 215pm flight, I needed to make a decision regarding exit plan in case the police dont turn up. Decision made and we end up hugging each other and saying our final goodbyes. As I got back to hotel and knocked on the door, I asked an old American man, why my hotel was closed and he advised that it was a columbian public holiday. As I was about to borrow his phone, the hotel lady comes and opens door. I exchanged further pleasantries with the man and told him of my chaotic night. The man lends me 24000 pesos which was enough for taxi ride to the airport. I hug him and say my many thanks to him for this. I then ended up spending 1 hr successfully negotiating to pay in euro dollars for hotel bill as I had hardly any columbian pesos on me. Knowing I was going to be late for my flight, I used my translator on my phone to tell the taxi driver that I had 215pm flight and to step on it and drive fast, and to that he did and managed to make it on time despite nearly boarding the wrong plane. Phew. (I say a little prayer to my friend who is still stuck in Columbia trying to get police report and emergency funds and I pray for her safe exit out of Columbia) The great columbian escape and glad to be in Ecuador.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 06:50:59 +0000
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