On the subject of killer coconuts and killer bus rides.

This is a coconut warning sign. If you weren't aware that such things existed, it's ok--we didn't know either. Apparently coconuts can fall with such force that they can kill you with a sound knock on the head. As such, signs like this are prevalent in tropical paradises like Hawaii. We were not in Hawaii. We are too poor.

But Playa Costena is every bit as awesome as Hawaii. It all started yet again in the confines of a tiny hotel room, where we had to repack everything we were carrying after our big hike. Needless to say, it was a joyous moment. 

We then walked twelve blocks through the city to get to the bus terminal, where we would leave Santa Marta and head an hour to the east towards the beach where we'd be staying. By some crazy coincidence we were reunited with three members of our lost city tour (please ignore my rabid look)!

Haley and I had made the decision to go to Playa Costena in an attempt to rest and recuperate from our long, arduous hike while enjoying some peace and quiet. This meant that we would forgo Tayrona National Park, a beautiful park full of natural beaches, palms, and lush mountains--but also thousands of tourists. It was a sacrifice, but one that we felt might pay off.

The bus dropped us off at the edge of a farm, from which we needed to hike a half hour to get to our lodging. By the time we arrived, sweating profusely, we were questioning our decision. 

And then, just like that, we knew that we had struck gold. Just like Tayrona we had beautiful beaches, palm trees, and lush mountains, but we had way fewer tourists. In fact, other than the pair of old ladies and the surfing camp a few minutes to our west, we had the entire beach to ourselves. Miles and miles of it all to ourselves. 

It was fantastic. We played in the surf, walked in the sand, and chilled out in the hammocks. We enjoyed the complimentary meals, watched the sunset, and retired to our clean, tiny cabin. There was a slight catch--being so isolated meant that the camp relied on solar power and river water. That meant that the power was shut off at midnight and we had to buy bottled water whenever we got thirsty, but those were things we could live with. 

While we certainly wished that we could have stayed for a while, we had places to go and things to see. So after only a single night in paradise we had to pack up yet again and head back to Santa Marta, where we would catch a bus down to Bucaramanga, one of the areas that I served in during my LDS mission (www.mormon.org). 

Bus terminals are always interesting places, especially in Colombia. We arrived two hours before our bus left, so we had plenty of time to get some snacks and watch the packs of wild dogs that roamed the halls. Note the sheer look of terror on Haley's face, caused either by the dogs, the food I was shoving into her arms, or the prospect of a 12 hour bus ride ahead of us. 

Fortunately for us, buses are one of the most reliable things in Colombia. Ours arrived right on time, and it even had individual entertainment stations on the back of each headrest.

The ride was long, winding, and freezing cold (seriously, ALL Colombian bus drivers set the AC to about 33 degrees Fahrenheit), but after twelve long hours we arrived in Bucaramanga safe and sound. Now it's on to visit some of the good people I got to know and love during my time here. We'll be posting again soon about our adventures in the city tomorrow night, so stay tuned!

Konner & Haley