I was on a learning-Spanish forum earlier today and someone asked how do you say your breath stinks or you have bad breath in Spanish. And another person asked how you do you say you have B.O. (body odor), your underarms stink or your armpits smell in Spanish.

No one had answered the questions but I thought that I would share the answers with my readers in case

you ever have the need to tell someone this:

Tienes mal aliento.

You have bad breath.

Your breath stinks.

And if you ever need to tell someone “tienes mal aliento” (you have bad breath) the following

phrase may also be helpful:

Necesitas enjuagarte la boca con bicarbonato y Listerine para desinfectarla.

You need to rinse your mouth out with baking soda and Listerine in order to disinfect it.

Yes, both Listerine and Colgate toothpaste are sold in Spanish speaking countries. But what I find so interesting is that in Spanish speaking countries they pronounce both Listerine and Colgate EXACTLY the

same way you would pronounce the words if they were from the Spanish language.

Here’s another vocabulary word that may come in handy:

Enjuague bucal – mouth wash

And this is how to say have B.O. (body odor) or your underarms stink in Spanish:

Tienes mal sudor.

Your underarms/armpits stink.

(Literally, “you have bad sweat.”)

“Tener mal sudor” is probably the most universal way to say in Spanish that someone has smelly underarms or BO (body odor). But in Colombia, the term that I have also heard used is “tener grajo” for “your underarms stink.” For example…

Cuando yo era pequeño yo tenía un maestro que tenía grajo.

When I was little, I had a teacher who had smelly underarms, stinking armpits, BO, etc.

I was wondering if “tener grajo” might be a phrase that is only used in Colombia. So I looked the phrase up in one of my Spanish dictionaries and it says that the phrase is used in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

There is one more phrase that I have heard used in Colombia, to say that one has BO. And that’s

is “tener chucha.” “Chucha” literally means “opossum” as in the animal opossum.

Telling someone “Tienes chucha” (you have opossum) to say that one has BO makes perfect sense considering that opossums, like “zorrillos” (skunks) or “mofetas” (skunks), also have the ability to release a foul-smelling fluid when threatened.

By the way, here’s how you say armpit or underarm in Spanish.

Axila (underarm, armpit)

Lávate bien la axila para que no huelas mal.

Wash you underarms good so that you don’t stink.

Besides “axila” you may also hear Spanish speakers use the word “sobaco” for the English word underarm.

No te lavaste bien el sobaco. Por eso tienes mal sudor.

You didn’t wash your underarms well. That’s why you have BO (body odor).

Before I go and while we are on the topic of “olfato” (the sense of smell), I have a mistake that I want to share with you that I heard an American friend make here in Medellín, Colombia earlier tonight

when speaking Spanish.

My friend, his “novia” (girlfriend) and I were at a bar having drinks. And then his “novia” went outside the bar to smoke a cigarette. When she returned, I heard my American friend say to her:

Tú hueles como cigarrillos.

That is NOT the correct way to say “you smell like cigarettes” in Spanish.

In Spanish you must use the “oler a” construction to say that something or someone smells like something. You do NOT use “oler como.”

So he should have said to her:

Tú hueles a cigarrillo.

You smell like cigarettes.

The same rule applies when you want to say that something tastes like something. You must use the “saber a” construction. You do NOT use “saber como.”

Esta torta sabe a chocolate.

This cakes tastes like chocolate.

If you are looking for pet names in Spanish to use with your “novio” or “novia,” in this article you will find plenty of pet names or romantic names in the Spanish language that you can use to call your lover, boyfriend, girlfriend or significant other. Here’s a list that I have compiled of some of the most common names that I have heard Spanish speakers from Latin America use to express affection. For many of them, I have also added the diminutive.

1. corazón, mi corazoncito – heart, my heart

2. príncipe/princesa/mi princesita – prince, princess, mi princess

3. mi rey/reina/mi reinita – my king, queen, my queen

4. cariño, mi cariño – caress, my caress

5. mi príncipe azul – my prince charming but literally “my blue prince”

6. tesoro/mi tesorito – treasure, my little treasure

7. amor/mi amor/mi amorcito – love, my love, my little love

8. mi morenito/mi morenita – my dark complexion one

9. mi paisita – my paisa (“Paisa” is a person from Medellín, Colombia)

10. mi gringuito – my gringo

11. mi amiguito – my dear friend

12. mi vida – my life

13. osito – teddy bear

14. mami

15. cosita – lil thing

And diminutives are not reserved only for people. I have an “amiguita” here in Colombia who always refers to her dog as “mi animalito” or “my little animal.”

Although the “textbooks” will tell you that diminutives are only added to nouns, I have heard Spanish speakers add them to words that are not nouns in order to sound more affectionate. Por ejemplo (for example), “solo” becomes “solito”

Mi vida, me dejaste solito.

(My life, you left me all alone.)

And diminutives are not just reserved for “persons.” I have heard Spanish speakers throw them in any time that they want to sound more affectionate. Here are some examples:

“Mañana” becomes “mañanita”

Mi princesita, quiero verte esta mañanita.

My princess, I want to see you this morning.

“Carta” becomes “cartita”

Mi amor, te fuiste sin dejarme una cartita.

My love, you left without leaving me a letter.

“Beso” becomes “besito”

Mi corazoncito, dame un besito.

My heart, give me a little kiss.

My “x-novia” or “x-girlfirend” has an “apodo” (nickname) that people call her. Her “apodo” or nickname that they call her is “Barbie.” Can you guess what I call her when I am trying to sound affectionate?

I call her “mi barbicita”

And can you guess what she calls me? She calls me “mi negrito.”

Obviously, “mi negrito” is not considered offensive here in Colombia. But I would imagine that if I were to ask my dark-complexion Dominican friends in Nueva York, they’d probably all agree that “mi morenito” sounds better than “mi negrito.”

This end’s today’s Spanish lesson on pet names or romantic names in the Spanish language.

Today we will learn how to say freckles, pimples, dimples, cold sores, birth mark, mole, blackhead, and warts in Spanish. I will begin by telling about an experience that I had here in Medellin, Colombia that made me realize that it is important to know how to say these words in Spanish. This story will also help you learn these Spanish words.

Yesterday, I was supposed to start “terapia” (therapy) for my “hombro” (shoulder). I injured my shoulder here in Medellin, Colombia doing a sport called Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (or in Spanish “Jiu-Jitsu brasileño”). If you are not familiar with BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) you can think of it as a combination of “lucha libre” (wrestling) and judo.

When I arrived ready to begin my therapy session the receptionist told me in Spanish that she had no record of my appointment. I told her that I had walked-in a few days ago when I was in the area and made my appointment in person with a completely different receptionist. But she insisted that there was no record of my appointment to begin my therapy session and that it would be necessary for me to make another appointment to begin my therapy and come back another day.

That’s when I asked her was there anything that I could do considering that she was unable to locate any record of my appointment and that I had traveled quite a distance to begin my therapy sessions.

And she then asked me about the other receptionist, the one who made the appointment for me. ¿Cómo es? ¿Cómo se ve? (What does she look like?)

That’s when I told her in Spanish that the receptionist who made the appointment for me had freckles, dimples, and a mole. Actually, I thought the mole was kind of cute so I told her in Spanish

that the other receptionist had a beauty mark on her face. She also had an awful cold sore on her mouth but I didn’t bother to mention that in any language.

With that description the receptionist was able to locate the other receptionist (who was on a different floor at the time),and finally confirmed my appointment so that I could begin my therapy immediately and not have to return another day to begin.

That’s when I realized how important it can be to know how to say freckles, dimples, pimples, cold sore, etc., in Spanish. So I want to share these words with you so that you will know them in case you ever need to use them.

1. Dimple – Hoyuelo

Cuando Claudia se ríe se le forman unos hoyuelos en las mejillas.

When Claudia laughs dimples form in her cheeks.

By the way, the word that people use for dimples in Colombia is “huequitos” instead of “hoyuelos.” “Huequitos” literally means “little holes.” Here in Colombia, they also tend to use the word “cachetes” instead of “mejilla” for the English word cheeks.

2. Pimples – Granos

Ese adolescente tiene muchos granos en la cara.

That adolescent has a lot of pimples on his face.

Depending on how a pimple looks and where it is located on the body, Spanish speakers may also use the words “barro” and “barrito.”

3. Birth mark – marca de nacimiento

No puedo ver tu marca de nacimiento.

I cannot see your birth mark.

Instead of “marca de nacimiento” you may also hear Spanish speakers say “mancha de nacimiento.”

4. Freckles – Pecas

La mesera tiene pecas en la cara.

The waitress has freckles on her face.

5. Mole – Lunar

El lunar de ella es una marca de belleza.

Her mole is a beauty mark.

6. Fever blisters or cold sores – Llagas

Ella no quería besarlo porque tenía llagas en la boca.

She did not want to kiss him because he had cold sores on his mouth.

Besides “llagas” a very formal phrase that you may hear, especially in Spain, is “herpes labial” (literally, “herpes of the lips”). I never use the term “herpes labial” for obvious reasons…

That’s because if I had a cold sore on my mouth I’d prefer for someone to tell me that I had a “llaga en la boca” instead of “herpes labial.”

Now let me give you a very informal word for cold sore that you may hear not only in Colombia but in other parts of Latin America:

Fuegos en la boca (literally, “fire on the mouth”) or just “fuegos” for short.

By the way, I have heard that Mexicans use the word “afta” for fever blister but you may want to confirm this with someone from Mexico because my Spanish dictionary says that an “afta” is “an ulcer of the mouth.”

7. Mark – mancha

Ella tiene una mancha pequeña en la frente.

She has a small mark on her forehead.

8. Blackhead – Espinillas

Me salió una espinilla en la espalda.

A blackhead came out of my back.

Another word for blackheads that is commonly used in Latin America is “punto negros,” literally “black spots.”

9. Wart – Verruga

Yo tenía una verruga en la mano.

I had a wart on my hand.

If your goal is to visit Colombia soon, you have lots of planning to do before you arrive. One of the most pressing matters on most people’s minds is how to pay for items in this country. You will find that it is generally cheaper to live and travel in Colombia than most countries, so being able to afford items in this country should not be a problem. However, the best method of payment to use could be confusing, so you should find out more about how to send money to Colombia before you even arrive, as well as other payment methods.

The currency in this country is the Colombian peso, but you should not necessarily come here expecting to exchange all your U.S. dollars for pesos due to a large counterfeiting problem in this nation. You can exchange some cash at banks just so that you always have some on hand, but never exchange it in the streets. It is quite easy to be fooled by money changers, especially if you do not know what a real Colombian peso looks like, or the exchange rate at the time.

Another option that will get you cash safely is to send money to Colombia on a prepaid debit card before you arrive. You can add funds from your bank account for $5 USD, and then withdraw the money when you get to Colombia. Just look for one of the many ATMs here, and you can remove cash in the form of Colombian pesos without having to bother with money changers. You can also take traveler’s checks, but not every business takes them, so do not rely completely on this form of money.

One of the most popular destinations in this country is also free: Caribbean beaches, which can be found in Cartagena. You should also check out parts of the rainforest, eat the tasty food this country is known for, and of course drink the Colombian coffee. If you want to scuba dive or snorkel, San Andres is an island that is great for such a hobby, while Leticia looks great from a boat. The main city that most people strive to visit is Bogota, which is full of chic restaurants, fun bars, and lots of shopping. Of course, to enjoy all this fun, you should ensure that you first know how to either send money to Colombia on a card before you arrive, or acquire cash safely in the form of the peso. Knowing the best form of money to take with you can be the first step to relaxing in this country when you arrive.

Cali, Colombia is known by most of the Latin America as the world’s “Capital of Salsa”, not simply for the dancing but also for its richness in music. The “Feria de Cali” is the largest Salsa festival in the world and is held every December, with the world’s top dancers and salsa groups performing.

Cali, is also home of some of the largest collections of Salsa Music in the world, including associated rhythms such as Son, Mambo, Bolero, Guaracha, Vallenato, Fox, Tango, Cumbia, Pachanga and Boogaloo as well as a further 145 folkloric Colombian dance rhythm’s and other dances from Cuba/Latin America. It is unique in that many Salseros in Cali are able to dance all the major styles of salsa: Cuban, Los Angeles/New York, Puerto Rican, Miami and of course Cali Salsa.

The lack of popularity of Colombian Salsa in the UK and other countries used to be due to the fact that that there were so few teachers outside of Cali that were able to teach this style (many were not able to leave Colombia due to visa restrictions). Luckily this has changed due to many of the Salsa Championships being won by Cali Style champions Swing Latino.

And now, Colombian style is back in the picture and Colombian Salsa Dance Schools like Swing Latino, and SalsaRhythm, with their current five world titles (Cali, Miami & Las Vegas etc) are the main reason why the Salsa world is taking cali style salsa so seriously. Swing Latino group members learned their trade in the popular quarters of Cali where Salsa is a way of life, and are responsible for the new Colombian style called CALI LA Style, where Colombian salsa has been influenced by the LA Cross Body style. 

Colombian Salsa is generally not danced to the Clave rhythm, or to the count 1,2,3 – 5,6,7 etc. This style is danced to the instrumental rhythms, the beat and to the sound of the instruments themselves, with steps that vary in speed and timing in accordance with the main instrument being played. The advent of Cali LA style has made Cali style more accessible to the LA and NY salsa dancers.

The development of Colombian style Salsa (and salsa in general) owes its roots to Pachanga and Boogaloo which were its forerunners.

Pachanga is a rhythm that was developed by mixing Cha Cha Cha with Mambo in the early 1960’s. It comprises of 7 original steps (in the pre Salsa era) and literally hundreds of new steps (in the post Salsa era). Pachanga started to decline in the mid 1960’s being overtaken by The Beatles and Rock’n’roll.

By fusing Latin music (Mambo, Pachanga, Cha Cha Cha), The twist, rhythm’n’blues and Rock’n’Roll a new dance called Boogaloo was born. This new music had a mix of English and Spanish lyrics and was created to appeal to both the Black and Latin races in North America who led a hard life in the 1960’s. This original Boogaloo rhythm was fairly slow paced with only twelve dance steps. One of the most famous Boogaloo songs of the era was “I like it like that” by Pete Rodriguez, who was known at the time as the ” King of Boogaloo “.

‘Modern’ Boogaloo was developed by speeded up many of the original Boogaloo tracks from 33rpm to 45rpm (or faster) and adding more percussion, instrumentals and a harder beat. (This is why many of the older Boogaloo tracks have distorted high-pitched voices!). Two of the most renowned musicians for Pachanga and Boogaloo were Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz; almost all of their songs were hits. This new faster music traveled to Cali, where Boogaloo dance as we know it today thrived and grew into 30 new steps that were faster and more complex, as well as the original 12 steps.

Boogaloo reigned supreme until the 1970’s before being overtaken by Salsa, which was developed by mixing a number of rhythms including Boogaloo. Many of the Boogaloo and Pachanga steps are used in Colombian style salsa (adapted for the change in rhythm). In fact without these steps the salsa cannot be considered to be Colombian Salsa.

In addition many of the New York Style Shines are taken directly from Colombian style. The main difference being: In NY style, shines are part of a choreographed routine of steps, generally danced individually (and normally to a count); In Colombian salsa the steps are danced in unison with a partner, incorporating spins dips and turns to the instrumental beats, speeding up and slowing down as the music dictates.

Is the Spanish lesson you will learn how to say the word hat in Spanish. I will also want to tell you about a common mistake that English speakers make when speaking Spanish. But first I will begin with how you really say the English word “hat” in Spanish.

One thing that used to really confuse me is what do you call a garment that covers the head in Spanish. The Spanish books would have one to believe that any garment that is used to cover the head is called a “sombrero.” But depending on the type of garment that is used to cover the head, I have heard Spanish speakers use 3 different words:

1. Sombrero – hat with a brim but without a visor.

By the way, “sombrero” can also refer to the type of big that is worn by the “vaqueros” (cowboys) from Mexico, who are better known as “los charros” (the Mexican cowboys).

2. Gorra – A brimless head covering with a visor or what most English speakers would call a “cap.” Such as a New York Yankees cap.

3. Gorro – A small, brimless close-fitting cap, often worn to protect one from the cold. Many English speakers would refer to this as a skull cap (but not the type worn for religious purposes).

Make that four (4) words. I have heard Colombians use either “gorro” or “pasamontaña” in order to describe a small, brimless close-fitting cap, often worn to protect one from the cold.

Before I go, I want to tell you about a common mistake that English speakers make when speaking Spanish. I had an American friend visit me this weekend here in Medellín. His name is Gary. Gary has taken some Spanish classes and even attended an immersion Spanish course while visiting the Amazon jungle and the Amazon rainforest, which by the way, visiting the Amazon jungle and the Amazon rainforest is something that I have dreamed of doing since living in Colombia.

For “almuerzo” (lunch), I took Gary to a fish restaraunt because he likes “mariscos” (seafood) or “comida del mar” (seafood). “Mariscos” or “comida del mar” aren’t very popular in Medellín because Medellín is so far from the coast of Colombia. But in this particular restaurant, the owners and workers are from Chocó. Chocó is a department of Colombia known for its large Black-Colombian population. And it is the only Colombian department to have coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. Chocó borders Panamá.

A lot of Colombians from Chocó have come to Medellín after being displaced from their homes because of fighting between FARC guerrillas, paramilitaries, the Colombian army and drug traffickers.

Back to the Spanish mistakes Gary made…

When the waiter came to our table to take our orders, Gary asked him “Qué clase de pez tiene?” (What kind of fish do you have?).

Did you notice Gary’s mistake?

“Pez” refers to a live fish as a fish in the ocean. If you are talking about fish as in the food dish, the you must say “pescado.”

I was waiting for the “muchacho” to come back with a live, wet fish flapping in a bucket of water, but he didn’t.

By the way, referring to a young waiter as a “muchacho” instead of “mesero” is not considered offensive or derogatory in Latin America.

Before bringing us the main course, the “muchacho” brought us two “tazones” (bowls) of “sancocho de pescado” — a fish stew or soup with large pieces of plantain, potato, yuca and other vegetables.

Gary and I both ordered the same main course:

Tilapia (a type of fish), “arroz de coco” (coconut rice), and “ensalada” (salad). And for the “bebidas” (drinks) we had “aguapanela” — a non-alcoholic drink made by dissolving “panela” (a block of sugarcane) into water and adding lime juice. “Aguapanela” is a common refreshment in Colombia and Ecuador.

Just before our main dishes arrived, the “muchucho” started to pick-up Gary’s empty “tazón” (bowl) of “sancocho de pescado.”

But Gary stopped him and said “Necesito esto para los huesos.” (I need this for the bones.)

Did you notice Gary’s mistake?

“Huesos” certainly means bones. But when you are talking about the bones of a fish you don’t call them “huesos.” The bones of a fish are called “espinas.” By the way, “espinas” also means “thorns” as in the thorns of a rose.

So those are two mistakes that my friend Gary made that I don’t want you to make:

1. “Pez” refers to a live fish such as a fish in the ocean. And “pescado” refers to a fish that is intended to be used as food.

2. “Huesos” does mean bones. But when you are talking about the bones of a fish, then you must say “espinas.”

If you are wondering how much did this “almuerzo” (lunch) for two cost — that consisted of soup, fish, rice, salad and a beverage – the total price was 16,000 Colombian pesos. That is the equivalent to about $8 U.S. or about $4 per person.

There is a big sign in the restaurant that says “La propina es voluntaria.” (The tip is voluntary). But I still left a tip of 2,000 Colombian pesos (about $1 U.S.)

Juan Valdez is a fictional character and advertising coffee icon born in Madison Avenue in 1960. Juan Valdez is known worldwide for representing Colombia’s message of the richest and best tasting coffee beans.

Together with Conchita, the mule, the image of Juan Valdez is recognized by people from all cultures, languages, and ages literally anywhere on the planet. It is truly remarkable how the symbol of a small coffee farmer and his loyal mule have crossed borders and become permanent trans-generational symbols of Colombia.

When Juan Valdez turned 50 years old in August 2010, a birthday celebration for 100% Colombian coffee started that does not seem to have an end in sight. You can say Colombians know how to party or people love drinking coffee!

The birthday celebration started in the city of Pereira, the capital of Risaralda state (departamento) in the Eje Cafetero or the axis of Colombian Coffee Growers.Pereira is located in the western Andean mountain region of Colombia with mineral rich volcanic soil where coffee and many other agricultural products grow abundantly. The Colombian National Federation of Coffee Growers was founded in this municipality so it is fitting that the 50th birthday coffee party began here.

The celebration includes a video showcasing the most significant moments in the icon’s 50 year history. A very touching one is the moment when the former Juan Valdez, Carlos Sanchez, who had the iconic role from 1969 to 2006, handed the reins of Conchita to his successor, Carlos Castañeda.

Choosing a new Juan Valdez is a unique national reality TV contest like no other.

1. The selection process involved more than 30 finalists from thousands of Colombian applicants. The finalists were subjected to situations challenging their mental, intellectual and physical skills.

2. In addition, they were also closely monitored regarding their ethics, morals, and loyalty for upholding the highest image of Colombia as the country’s coffee ambassador.

3. The last part of the contest, for the handful of finalists who qualified, included black tie and high society events. This was very important: how would an ordinary farmer behave in social events, a regular requirement of the Juan Valdez job? In the end, Castañeda won hands down.

4. The current Juan Valdez, Carlos Castañeda, is a youthful and attractive 42 years old coffee farmer who has been very well received internationally.

Juan Valdez’ 50th birthday celebration is without end because it is on an ongoing tour around several cities in Colombia. In addition, the 50th birthday has become a reason for celebration in many international locations. Everyone likes to party! This is the case, particularly, when Juan Valdez and Conchita travel outside of Colombia which is quite often. As an icon representing more than 560,000 coffee farming families and a whole country, there is every reason to celebrate everyday by drinking great Colombian coffee!

The birthday celebration also serves another purpose. Colombia’s coffee growing axis consists of the states Caldas, Quindío and Risaralda. This region produces about half of the country’s annual coffee crop but accounts for only 1% of Colombia’s total land mass. Some of the finest coffee beans in the world come from this region. The terrain is beautiful, green valleys, snow-capped Andean peaks, temperatures that are ideal and very hospitable people.

Yes, Colombia has had a negative reputation in the past. Like any other country it has its share of problems. However, the economic development and recovery nationwide is impressive. The agricultural, textile, industrial, mining, and services industries are very strong economic performers. For example, the city of Medellín, once synonymous with the drug trade, is now one of the safest cities in the country and in Latin America. The transformation of this city and surrounding states is short of phenomenal. You really need to erase the old image about Colombia in your mind. Rediscover a democratic country that is stable and offers leadership in industry, hospitality, and economic business development.

So, why not join in the never ending birthday celebration by sipping a cup of great Colombian Supremo coffee? Prepare it as a typical Colombian tinto or a larger American size cup according to your liking. Inhale the fresh aroma and say with me, Feliz Cumpleaños, Juan Valdez!

Bogotá is the capital and most populous city of Colombia, a major country in Latin America. As the 30th largest city in the world, Bogotá features many green parks, famous landmarks and amusement parks. The city is a major tourist destination and is one of the major industrial centers in Latin America. There are many good hospitals and eminent doctors in Bogotá. Some of the leading hospitals offer health care that is compatible with global standards. These centers have a much greater nurse to patient ratio than most and provide warm accommodation in a friendly environment.

The Hospital Universitario San Ignacio (HUSI) situated at Carrera 7 No. 40-62, Bogota is a premier health care facility with wide in country recognition. The Ministry of Social Protection and the National University recently announced that this hospital is among the top three Colombian hospitals. This 304 bedded four level hospital has a 22 bed pediatrics ward, ten operating rooms and two delivery rooms. The HUSI offers the best medical and surgical service for a variety of specialties and subspecialties. The departments of radiology, nuclear medicine, ultrasound and plastic are fully equipped. The hospital has sophisticated CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging. The emergency department and intensive care units are adequately furnished for intensive care patients, children and infants. The internationally reputed center for oncology treatment and research: The Javeriana Oncology Center is a part of the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio. HUSI is a major teaching school in the country and more than 80% of the staff doctors are bilingual. It has special section for international patients with English speaking staff and offers comfortable accommodation in 17 suite rooms. Contact: +57 316-466-0399

Hospital Fundacion Santa Fe de Bogota located at Calle 119 No. 7 – 75. Bogotá is an important hospital with state-of-the-art facilities. This service-oriented hospital was established in 1983 by the famous non-profit health care organization, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá. It is a private University Hospital with 13 departments, 6 advisory committees and 2 institutes. The hospital employs 1,500 staff and imparts health care to about 150,000 clients every year. The hospital employs outstanding doctors and has full-fledged departments in all branches of medicine. The surgery department has units in cardiovascular surgery, hepatobiliary and neurosurgery. The operating rooms all have facilities for laparoscopy, microsurgery, laser surgery, argon coagulation, auto transfusion, extracorporeal circulation and laminar flow systems. This hospital exhibits the lowest surgical site infection rates in Colombia. The hospital possesses all newest technological devices including Philips IE 33 scanner to display 2D, 3D and 4D images, the SPECT-CT Gamma Chamber for sophisticated tests, the Clinac iX with modular radiotherapy for cancer therapy, and the PET/CT and holmium laser for minimally invasive treatments. The hospital has modern ICUs, emergency department and various laboratories. Phone: (571) 6030303

Clínica El Bosque located at Calle 134 No. 12 – 55; northern Bogota DC is another popular hospital in the city. A group of eminent doctors established this hospital in 1977. The hospital currently offers complete and cost effective medical service in all major medical specialties. Its well known surgery department features eight operating rooms and specialized units in general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, and microsurgery. Clínica El Bosque has a pharmacy and laboratories all of which are accredited by international agencies. The intensive care unit has 14 beds and the emergency department as a whole is equipped with modern devices to offer the excellent services of specialized doctors and nurses. The hospital has established a nonprofit teaching institution named the Forest Colombian School of Medicine. Phone: 1-2740577

I’ll never forget the look on the face of that Colombian campesino man. My wife just explained to him in Spanish that what I am holding under my arm is indeed a surfboard, despite the fact that we were standing in a Colombian village that was located somewhere in the middle of the Andes Mountains, hundreds of miles away from any ocean. After hearing this news the man made a joke about us getting bad directions. He then flashed a smile that revealed a mouth full of rotten teeth. Soon after that he shook his head, tucked his hands into the front pockets of his hand-woven Inca style poncho, turned, and moved on down the only street in his town. When the man reached the center of town a gust of wind swept down the street and blew the black fedora hat off his head. As I was watching him chase after it through a cloud of dust, I thought to myself; “I gotta’ get to the ocean.”

I was beginning to feel like a fish out of water. Surfers cannot stay away from the ocean for too long, or they start to “dry out”. As I was standing on that dirt street in that dusty little town, I realized that I had not seen the ocean in over a month. More importantly, I had not surfed in it. Halfway through a two month excursion across the country of Colombia, in South America, we were on our way to a small Caribbean beach resort on the northeastern edge of the country for a much needed break from the madness we had experienced so far on that trip. We had spent the holidays traveling from Bogotá to Medellín, and then back to Bogotá again to meet and visit with various different members of my wife’s family. There had been some mishaps along the way involving pick-pockets and miscreants. Up to that point it was not fun, and we will leave it at that.

Traveling on a tight budget in a foreign country is the best way to experience the true culture of that country, but it can be quite taxing on your soul. We could not afford plane tickets to fly all over the country, so we had to take busses and taxis instead. Some of those bus rides took over two days to reach our destination. We traveled through some of the most remote areas of Colombia, changing busses and hailing taxis the whole way. Along the way we saw some of the most beautiful scenery on earth, and experienced some very interesting, intense, and strange things. Black magic and evil curses are practiced in many areas of Colombia, and I cannot say any more on that subject, for fear that you would think of me as crazy. There are things that cannot be explained in this world, and a lot of them happen in Colombia.

There were other things that happened to us that were even more terrifying than black magic. Let’s just say it’s never a good thing to have your bus stopped in the middle of the night by rough looking men with machine guns on a winding, dark, mountainous road. That is whole other story for another time.

Back to our main story; we were about four hours North of Bucaramanga, and waiting to board yet another one of those colorful busses. All I could think about at that moment was surfing and relaxing at this place called Tayrona. I was told you can sit in your own thatched-hut “choza” and watch the waves from your front porch. For those who are not familiar with the sport of surfing, that sounds about as good as it gets for a surfer.

It had not been easy carrying that surfboard all over Colombia. We landed in Bogotá in the middle of the country a month before, and I had been schlepping it around with our other luggage from one bus or taxi to the other ever since. It was like I was living my own little version of the movie

Fitzcaraldo, and my surfboard was the ship that was being carried for many miles across dry land. I was determined to make the effort pay off.

While we were waiting for our bus in that little mountain village we were inundated by the usual local people trying to sell us stuff. My wife, being a Colombian native did most of the talking for those negotiations. These little villages along the main roads of Colombia survive on money from people who are just passing through, or waiting for a bus. The local indigenous people sell everything from bags of purified water, to homemade “empanadas” (a meat and potato filled turnover made with corn-meal dough). My wife and I had been surviving on food and water provided by those people for most of our trip. Amazingly, neither of us had been sick yet. Albeit, most of this food had been delicious, you have to wonder about the cooking and cleaning practices in a town that has no running water. Something tells me that if the cook had a choice between using their last bucket of water to wash their hands before cooking, or having water to drink the next day, they’d forego the cleanliness. I tried not to think about stuff like that on that trip. I only thought about how much flavor those homemade items had with their homegrown ingredients.

People sure know how to cook in Colombia. Wow! The food in that country just seemed to have a lot more flavor than the food I was used to in the United States. We really experienced the authentic food of Colombia; “buñuelos, “pandebonos”, “arepas”, you name it and we tried it along

the way. We were on a budget, yet eating very good food. The people who made this food were as poor as one could be, but they could make food like no-one else on earth. The freshness, lack of pesticides, and the nutrient-rich soils also have a lot to do with why the food tastes so good in Colombia.

After we ate our share of “empanadas” that we purchased from a little old village woman carrying a hand-woven basket, we were ready for a freshly blended fruit smoothie. There were always several of these little smoothie stands in every town that we stopped at along the way, and we always made sure that we sampled at least one. No matter how small of a stand, the vender always had electricity to run their blender, ice box, and boom-box. I immediately ordered a couple of “tomate de árbol “smoothies at a nearby stand, and then we sat down on an old wooden bench provided by the smoothie vendor.

We were told by the driver of the last bus that our next bus should be along in “no time at all”. It had been my experience up to that point that this bus driver may, or may not be right. Sometimes the bus came right away and the transfer went smoothly. Other times we ended up waiting long periods of time between transfers. Those ones did not go so smoothly.

The mountain roads and leftist guerrilla laden areas that these busses travel through can cause long delays, to say the least. Hanging out in that small town in the middle of nowhere in the foothills of the Andes Mountains waiting for a bus was quite nerve-racking. The local people of those types of towns were always very suspicious of anyone that stayed behind after a bus came through. Most people just passed right through. They were especially suspicious of a Gringo with a surfboard and a Colombian wife. There was a war going on in that country. Everywhere we went everyone wanted to know whose side we were on. As we were sitting in that dusty, one-horse town in a remote area of Colombia, I knew we were in for a long, harrowing wait.

If there is such thing as heaven on Earth then Parque Tayrona would qualify. Playa de Cabo San Juan in Parque Tayrona, Colombia sings and dances its beauty; with big boulder bluffs that loom over seas of playful turquoise waves. There are no cars, roads or hotels. Accommodations include camping, land hammocks, and hammocks in a hut overlooking the sea.

Travelers from all over the world can be found lounging on the shores of Cabo San Juan. The far shore is designated for swimming in the nude. You can get to Tayrona by paying $ 3.50 for a taxi from Santa Marta, but be prepared for a 2-hour hike down the mountain to the sea. You can also take a boat from Taganga for $ 22. The boat is manned by adventurous Colombianos who love to push it just a bit too far. After about a half-hour of getting some huge air on ginormous ocean swells, the boat motor seized and we had to take a little break from our way-faring fun. We, of course, eventually made it to our destination.

After securing ourselves some hammocks on hammock hut rock, Lulu and I practiced "hot" yoga and body-surfing over on the far beach. The waves are spectacular on that beach and it is least visited of them all. If you like the surf of the SoCal beaches, then you will love this shore – it has similar waves, but the water temperature is probably 10 degrees warmer. Later, we joined some French friends for dinner and an early snooze in our hammocks overlooking the sea. If you sleep at Playa San Juan, be sure to bring sweaters because the breeze is cold at night.

For a sunrise that will make you thank God that you are alive, open your eyes around 5 am Other hammock dwellers will be up and rousing around at that time as well, so it won't be very hard to wake up this early. In fact, the excitement of this spectacular site is so contagious that I am not sure how one could slumber through it. This is a definite #worthit moment.

As far as eating at Playa San Juan, I saved a lot of money by sticking with the handmade ham and cheese sandwiches. They can be purchased from the lady selling out of her cooler in front of the locker room. They're one-of-a-kind yummy and only cost $ 1.50 a piece. The meals that are sold at the beach restaurant will run you upward of $ 10 a piece, and are meals of plain chicken or steak.