Colombia, not Columbia

This afternoon, we headed to a small town called Usiacuri, about 30km from Barranquilla to visit the home of Colombia’s most celebrated poet Julio Flórez and to get some nice crafted gifts made from local hands. But what surprised me more than anything was out here in the countryside there are many similarities with my father’s country of Sri Lanka. It’s not the colonial stuff but the bits in between. Maybe it’s the world over in the tropics. The common sights were the humble low rised developments, small cooperative plantations, the tuk-tuks, also upto four passengers on motorbikes in rush hour traffic even with very young babies, the malnourished cows accompanied by slender white cranes in the fields, lush vegetation everywhere. Many young and old folk selling snacks and drinks roadside eeking out a meagre existence. Some carrying machetes and preparing coconuts to punters in cars especially where the traffic was busiest. We also passed through a funeral with most of the town in procession and a wedding for a very young couple, the equally young congregation decked out in fine clothes.

It is important to see all sides of life here, it’s no paradise for those hanging on.

Some new slang sayings

¿Que diablo es eso?
What the hell is this?

¡Pailas!
Damn it!(Frying pan!)

¿Me regalas una mano?
Can you give me a hand? (normally regalar- is to gift something but in Colombia it means to give or to pass something)

Perdoname pero disculpame!
Excuuuse you!

Que camello!
What a bummer!

Que mamera!
That sucks’s, what a bummer

Tomar el pelo
Take the mickey

Te conozco patas de mosco
I know your game

Te compraste una chanda! Que malo!
You bought a piece of junk (a car)! That’s bad!

Tuqui tuqui Lulu
Bad luck

Uy! ¿Que quieres pan y pedazo debajo del braso?
Don’t push the envelope

Vale huevo
It’s worthless or not important

Voy a echar un motozo
I’m going to have a nap