The overlanding adventure begins!

After breakfast this morning, we packed up and then spent a few hours in the cool of the hotel reception taking advantage of the free WiFi and catching up with some posts. 

We got WhatsApp messages from Leanne at Madventure HQ in Oxford and then from Nikki, our tour leader here in Colombia.  From the people added to the WhatsApp group, it looks like there will be about 22 of us, mostly Brits, with 3 Australians, 2 Germans, 2 Dutch, 1 French, and 1 American.  If this is right, it is a welcome number as there could have been as many as 36!  We've never travelled with mainly Brits before - it will be interesting to see how it pans out.  Nikki gave us details about the pre-departure meeting later, and plans for some street food and a few drinks afterwards.  Exciting times ahead!

We left Casa Lorenza at about 1.30pm for the short walk round the corner to Viajero Hostel.  We were too early to check in, so we waited in reception until 3pm when we were allocated our beds in a dorm room.  I think the receptionist took our 'advancing years' into consideration and gave us both bottom bunks! 😂🤣

We left our big cases in reception and stowed our backpacks in the lockers in the room.  While we were doing this, we met two of our fellow travellers.  Later, in the bar (where else?? 😂), we met most of the others.  We are mostly an older group, and mainly Brits, as we suspected, which is something new for us.  First impressions are all good.  They seem like a friendly group.  We will leave Cartagena tomorrow with 23 passengers and two crew.  Our numbers will increase to 26 in Buenos Aires and to a high of 33 in Santiago.  So, not a full truck - but almost!!

After chatting for a while, we excused ourselves and went for something to eat.  We went to Amasa - quelle surprise!! 😀  Today, we shared a burrata plate and some cheese pastries.  Everything was delicious!!

Back at the hostel, we met with Nikki, our tour leader, and Ritchie, our driver, for the welcome meeting.  They kept it brief as it was pretty noisy and several people were tired as they had just arrived.  At least, we have an idea of how the first few days will shape up. We also found out that we will not be camping until we reach Peru!

After the meeting, some of the group went to Getsemani with Nikki and Ritchie to get some street food.  Others (including us) stayed at the hostel for a chilled evening. 

The tour proper starts tomorrow, and we're feeling a tad excited 😊.Read more