Wednesday I woke up around 9am. I talked to Kevin and we decided to go to El Centro and do some shopping. Kevin is leaving for The United States early friday morning (as a legal resident, w00t!) and he wanted to do some souvenir shopping. We headed out at about 12:45pm. we walked to the intersection where I knew we could get a bus to El Centro, and caught one almost immediately. about 5 minutes into our ride, the bus driver turned on the overhead flourescent lights in the bus, because it had become so dark. Dark? at 1PM?yes. you see, these clouds blow in out of nowhere and block out the sun to the point that you forget what shadows look like. it began pouring down rain, which meant tha by the time we made it to Centro, the street vendors would have packed it in, wrapping their carts in plastic tarps and twine, and wheeling them off the street. El Centro is a commercial district, teeming with street vendors selling everything: shoes, films of illicit content and origin, immitation high fashion accessories, hand-made goods, fresh fruit and vegitables and hot food.
Sure enough, when we arrived, the vendors had all begun huddling under the eaves of the buildings, having already shut down shop. We hopped off the bus in the middle of the intersection to avoid having to backtrack too much in the rain, should we decide to look in the outlet stores. we huddled with the others as the rain came down in front of us, and on our fronts, in sheets. Vendors with good locations on the sidewalks were still open for business, so we decided to forget any notion of staying dry, and just shop in the rain.
that resolve didn't last long. In Colombia, when it rains, it Pours. in Barranquilla, when it rains, it floods. they have no drainage or gutter system in the streets. We made it to an indoor clothing outlet mall. we did Not need clothes. although the did have some pretty nice clothes for very very cheap. :/ we walked around to the little knick-knack stands scattered throughout, but the best deals are to be had in the streets. Kevin had a pill to take, which was now getting soggy in his pocket, so we decided to eat. we found an underground restaurant, and decided to go check it out. however, upon arriving at the bottom of the steps, we realized that the floor was beginning to flood, and after another moment of thought, I realized that it must be backed up sewage. Kevin got a couple empanadas in the little bitty food court, I stepped outside and got some empanadas cooked in the street which were twice as big and half the price. I got full on 1400COP, or about $.70USD.
We watched store keepers fend off the climbing water level with a concerted effort of about 30-40 shop owners weilding brooms before we eventually found a practically empty dining area on the top floor, where we waited out the storm.
when it looked like the "Arroyos" had subsided sufficiently, we went down to the streets and got some good shopping done. Kevin convinced me that I needed a Junior fútbol jersey: Barranquilla's team. the ride back took twice as long because traffic was still backed up from the arroyos (people don't drive in the flooded streets), so by the time we got back to my street, it was nearly 5pm. We decided to stay on and ride all the way to UniNorte and see if we could find Juliana and Wendy, our Madrinas during the Spanish course.
We hung out with Juli while the current group of Spanish students—a group from Japan— got a tour of the University radio facilities. they even did a little recording session in the sound booth, complete with a cry of 'Kare oke!' No joke.
After a bit, we decided to go eat at Dónde Oscar one last time. We left Juli to care for los japoneses and crossed the street to board a bus.
These last two weeks are going by so fast. I have kind of beat myself up for not being as relentless in learning the language as I planned in the beginning. I feel like I've taken the opportunity for granted. Also, it occured to me about a month ago, while shopping with my aunt, that I am recognized around town. The cab drivers at Éxito (supermarket) have recognized my aunt a couple of times. I have been recognized by the vendors in the neighborhood when buying water. The store owners even tell the delivery boys my address without ever speaking to me (they always just gesture, and indicate price by holding up fingers, or punching it into a calculator and holding it up for me to read).
Since we were going to Dónde Oscar, we needed to take a bus besides the one I normally ride from Uninorte. Tonight was the night. As the "Cootransnorte" bus —the one I normally ride— stopped for us, I waved it on. But it didn't move on. presently, the man in the front passenger seat relayed a message from the driver: 'Vamos a Villa Santos!'.
I was in disbelief. I had been recognized and singled out by the bus driver. Awesome. It made my whole week.
After a heaping plate of Salchipapas, we called it a night. A good ending to a very productive day.
A Marimonda - iconic caricature of the Carnaval de Barranquilla.
I was pretty proud to get this picture with my phone; no tweaking.
On the left, an average-sized hass avacado; on the right, a ripe aguacate. 
