We woke up early and decided that we needed to do something besides lay by a pool or a beach so we booked a tour to a nearby mud volcano called Volcan Tutomo. This "volcano" is a 200 meter high hill that is full of spa-grade mud. We were led up a slippery staircase and ushered into the top of the volcano. The mud is so thick you practically float on the surface. Trying to submerge yourself into the thick goo is very difficult. The mud bath held about 25 mud-covered tourists. We relaxed in the warm mud and tried not to bump into anyone, which was very difficult because the pool was not very large. We were also bombarded by a group of, also mud-covered, Colombian men who sort of forced massages on you weather you liked it or not. Saying no didn't seem to be an option. Our cameras were left with another guy who snapped pictures of the whole event. We met some fellow Americans who were teaching in an international school in Venezuela. After about 30 minutes of "relaxation" we climbed out and made our way to a nearby lake to wash off. There we were met by a group of Colombian women who insisted on helping us wash off. The entire group was led into the water as these women continuously rinsed us off and scrubbed the mud from our bodies. The women were very thorough, they ripped our bathing suits off and continued with the scrubbing. Luckily the water was so filthy with mud that nothing could be seen by our fellow "spa" attendees. After we were sufficiently clean we went back to the bus, "tipped" our "spa therapists" and headed to a small beach town to get lunch. On the bus we made plans with some Irish guys to get on a party bus, which would take us around town and promised all you can drink rum. On the party bus we saw the sights, listened to a live band, where forced to dance, and enjoyed some cheap Colombian rum. We ended at a night club with overpriced drinks and loud music, so we headed back to the hostel just in time to miss a down pour. This was the first hint of rain we had seen in Cartagena. We ordered some beers at the terrace bar and snuck up to the roof top to enjoy some lightning and a 360 degree view of the city.
We woke up early and decided that we needed to do something besides lay by a pool or a beach so we booked a tour to a nearby mud volcano called Volcan Tutomo. This "volcano" is a 200 meter high hill that is full of spa-grade mud. We were led up a slippery staircase and ushered into the top of the volcano. The mud is so thick you practically float on the surface. Trying to submerge yourself into the thick goo is very difficult. The mud bath held about 25 mud-covered tourists. We relaxed in the warm mud and tried not to bump into anyone, which was very difficult because the pool was not very large. We were also bombarded by a group of, also mud-covered, Colombian men who sort of forced massages on you weather you liked it or not. Saying no didn't seem to be an option. Our cameras were left with another guy who snapped pictures of the whole event. We met some fellow Americans who were teaching in an international school in Venezuela. After about 30 minutes of "relaxation" we climbed out and made our way to a nearby lake to wash off. There we were met by a group of Colombian women who insisted on helping us wash off. The entire group was led into the water as these women continuously rinsed us off and scrubbed the mud from our bodies. The women were very thorough, they ripped our bathing suits off and continued with the scrubbing. Luckily the water was so filthy with mud that nothing could be seen by our fellow "spa" attendees. After we were sufficiently clean we went back to the bus, "tipped" our "spa therapists" and headed to a small beach town to get lunch. On the bus we made plans with some Irish guys to get on a party bus, which would take us around town and promised all you can drink rum. On the party bus we saw the sights, listened to a live band, where forced to dance, and enjoyed some cheap Colombian rum. We ended at a night club with overpriced drinks and loud music, so we headed back to the hostel just in time to miss a down pour. This was the first hint of rain we had seen in Cartagena. We ordered some beers at the terrace bar and snuck up to the roof top to enjoy some lightning and a 360 degree view of the city.
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