Romancing the Stone - Part II

We split our time in Colombia between their city house and farm house. The farm house was made for relaxing. There is absolutely nothing around except for miles and miles of hills, plantain trees, and coffee plants. It is a green that is out of this world! One day we took a walk around the outlying land of their farm. This photo must have been taken early on because there were so many bugs just eating me alive that I had to put that jacket back on.

I think I have a better picture to describe this trek.... ah, here it is:
Get the picture? Haha!

The farm house is fun but it is a little low key for me. I can enjoy it for a while but then I need the excitement of the city life. We went during their city's annual festival.... which brings along with it bull fights. I wanted NO PART of the bull fights. Watching a man kill a bull did not sound like a fun - or humane - form of entertainment.

Let me just tell you, a couple drinks and a few 'OLE!'s later - I was the loudest fan there!


They drink out of these canteen things and try to hold it far away to drink. I was MUCH better than Lucas. I believe the drink above is Red Bull and Vodka. Wow! Hardcore.

Bull fights are really a lot of fun. There is a lot of tradition and ceremony involved in the process. All the citizens are very proud to be there and take part in this ceremony.

(Bull Fight on a rainy day)

Unfortunately we leave just before the festival begins this year so no bull fights for us this time. Sad day.

While we were in Colombia we went to a wedding of a friend of the family. It was held at this beautiful farm along a lake. They had a beautiful open air home, gourmet food, horses and a carriage, parrots, and much, much more..... too bad that marriage didn't last too long.

We also went to a pig farm. I'm a hug fan of pigs. Look at me - I'm like the 'Jane Goodall of pigs'. Haha! Not really. I thought we were going because I really loved pigs. Turns out - we were going to buy the next day's feast..... OOPs! I'd already named her..... Carolla! Poor, poor Carolla.
On New Years Eve we celebrated at the farm house with a big cookout - steak and potatoes. Then, we had to participate in the Colombian New Years tradition. Run around the house! This symbolizes good luck and travel throughout the new year.... or something. I did a couple of laps! Then we had to go around the table and say what we wished the new year to bring. I don't remember what I said but I do remember what Lucas's mom said. She wished that the new year would bring a ring.... for me! Score! (Little did she know I'd be visiting three years later as her eldest son's wife!)

Lucas did some 'romancing the stone' between then and now. Haha! ;)

Stay tuned for the final part of 'Romancing the Stone'. Trust me - it's good.

Romancing the Stone - Part I

(You know I have to use that title because I love that movie and it was filmed in Colombia)


In December of 2005, I went with my boyfriend Lucas to his home country of Colombia to 'meet the parents'. What an exciting trip for a young, Southern girl who's rarely made it out of her home state (although by this time I'd been back and forth to Miami a few times to visit with Lucas - a different story for a different day on how long distance relationships really do work).

Back to the story - after catching multiple flights we were in Bogota, the capitol city, and on our way to Manizales, Lucas's hometown. (See Map Below - Manizales is NW of Bogota)


We spent one night in Bogota and had dinner with some family friends.


....then off to the airport the next morning for the final leg of our travels.

At the ticket counter where we check in, the woman tells us that the flight is full and that we or our luggage may not make it on. I'm starting to get upset because: a) I don't want to be stranded in a foreign country, b) After so much travel I'm ready to get to our final destination and meet his parents, and c) Even if we do make it and our luggage doesn't - this is my first impression with his parents and I can't do it without MY clothes!!!

I'm such a diva - standing at the ticket counter with my pink suitcases, trying to play the American card and demanding that both us and our luggage be on that plane. Little Miss Avianca wasn't buying it from me but Lucas was able to talk some sense into her I suppose because we were on the plane. And when we got off our luggage was waiting! And so was his family!

They had bought me flowers and there were hugs all around and lots of tears from his mom!

Stay tuned for Part II of 'Romancing the Stone'.... a quick summary of our time in Colombia with a few more pictures.

Merry Christmas to Us!

Thanks mom and dad! Such an awesome present! I know our friends are really going to enjoy it, too! (Hey, boys, if you're reading this - look what we got!)

We are off to Colombia in just a few short hours! I have a three part series lined up covering our last trip to Colombia together in 2005. That should hold me over until I'm able to post photos and happenings of our current trip!

I'm fairly certain I'll be able to blog every few days there but, just in case, I don't want to miss out on the opportunity of telling you all

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Now I'm off to travel for 16 hours. Wish us luck! Trust me - we need it...... just keep reading those posts and you'll know what I mean!

Roll, Roll, Roll Your Clothes

I am so proud of myself. I have to brag a little.

I AM TAKING ONE SUITCASE! That's it!!

Let me tell you the secret - in case you don't already know this - ROLL your clothes, people! It's amazing! And you know what - my one suitcase isn't even full (or at least not yet - now that I have room I may bring more - haha)!

I left my camera with my parents after the marathon and so I didn't have it to get a picture of this amazing feat. But trust me - One Suitcase? This is a major revelation for me!! MAJOR!

We're taking one big suitcase full of gifts and you know what that means. Plenty of space to bring back things we buy! Sweet!!

I've really been nervous / anxious about this trip and missing Christmas with my family but as it approaches I'm getting really excited. I'm very excited to go to Colombia as part of the Linares family. I'm very excited to see his family again and celebrate Christmas in a new way. I'm very excited that when we come back into the United States, Lucas will get to come with me in the line for U.S. Citizens and Residents. Yay! (Last time we were separated for a few hours as they interviewed each and every person crossing through the Alien line. Needless to say, I was a little freaked out.)

Our Christmas cards are finally making it out

I bought these cards from Hallmark in July..... yes, July. I went in to buy my friend a birthday card and sitting right there by the counter were these beauties.
The most beautiful part.....
Yes - $1.00 - for 18 Christmas cards. So I bought 3 boxes!


Now I'm wishing I hadn't bought them so I could've sent out a cute photo card with little Rafa on it. I almost just threw these out so I could do that anyway (it's only $3 - even I'm not too cheap for that). But Lucas and my mom both said I should just send these out since I have them.

At least it's for a good cause - $3 for Christmas cards AND I'm helping eliminate AIDS in Africa. Pretty sweet deal. :)

Happy Birthday

to my best friend. I love you, mom!

P.S. I enjoyed our lunch today :)

A Marathon of Marathon Photos.....

more marathon photos for your enjoyment.

This photo was taken right past the 2 mile marker. It was my first time to see my family and friends since the start line. Rafa was so excited to see me and chased me down the road! Haha! Such a cute puppy!
I saw them next around mile 6. They were lined up along the road waving their signs to all the runners and apparently an older man (60 or 70) who was running looked at Lucas and said: 'Yes they do'!!!
My dad working all the cameras! The Beer @ the Finish Line sign got the most comments. At one stop they left the sign in the car and several of the runners who had seen them at all the previous stops were asking where the beer sign was. Apparently that was the best motivating factor of the race!!!
Look at little Rafa riding shotgun in the chase vehicle!
Here - just before mile 10 - my friends Chris and Aida joined in. It was great to see 'Team Ashley' growing! :)
Here I am at halfway - still feeling great!! After I passed through the team was packing up to leave and apparently a woman ran through halfway and was shaking and couldn't run anymore. Chris and Aida took her in their car to meet up with her sister nearby. That would be really upsetting to run so far and not finish. Hopefully she is feeling better.
This stop was just before the 18th mile marker (which I thought was the 19th). I stopped to take off my pants but couldn't bend my knees. Ouch! So mom had to help by pulling the pants off around my shoes. Thank goodness Brandon was there to capture this moment. Ha!
A few quick sips of Gatorade and a couple of bites of banana and I was on my way.
I guess he was worried after the whole not-being-able-to-bend-my-knees thing and Lucas joined me here just after mile marker 20.And here we approach mile 22. I'm just slowly putting one foot in front of the other....
Thankfully, Lucas was there to help!
And now... I could finally see the light. I was so excited to cross this point and know that the next time I saw Team Ashley I'd be crossing the finish line.
As you'll remember from my last post, Beth and Linda joined Lucas and I at mile 25 to run the last mile. Here we are at the break off point. They broke right and I broke left to run the final distance to the finish line!
I round the corner and the announcer calls my name: "And now approaching the finish line is Ashley Linares from Huntsville, Alabama. This is Ashley's FIRST marathon! Way to go, Ashley!" See... it pays to finish by yourself and not in a big group. Yea!
I'm so excited here! I don't even have the words to tell you!

(my favorite marathon photo)

Thanks to Brandon for today's marathon photos!