Start Here

 

Johanna and Zach Concert

We are Zach and Johanna Tamer. There is nothing remarkable about us, nothing that makes us much different than your average married couple. We met, dated, got married, bought a house, worked, came home, binged on Netflix, went out with friends, saved money, spent money and, overall, we were very responsible adults (in case I ever run for president, “responsible adult” in no way represents my high school years and most of my college years). Then, on February 23rd, we threw caution to the wind and watched it disappear through the window of a plane headed for Bogota, Colombia. We sipped our mixed drinks on our flight with Avianca; I must say it is one of the best airlines I have ever flown (more on that later). We were filled with excitement and trepidation for the adventure that lie ahead.

Johanna and I have very different thoughts on travel and accommodations. I have no problem sleeping just about anywhere, which has been well documented by “friends” through the years.

Much to my dismay, it seems I have fallen asleep in random places with more guys than girls. This might be something Johanna wants to look into when this is all said and done. There is a video packed in a box somewhere, far from the grasp of my “friends”, that captures me sleeping 5 feet from the fire in my sleeping bag. I like to think I was making sure the fire was never unattended.

Johanna grew up in Bogota, Colombia and moved to the United States when she was about 11 years old. In Colombia, Johanna slept in one of two bunk beds in a 6.5′  X  11.5′ room with her mom, her uncle and her cousin.

Johanna's room
This+2 bunk beds+4 people=claustrophobia.

When Johanna and her mom moved to the United States, they moved in with her aunt, uncle and three kids in a two-bedroom apartment where they slept on an air mattress on the living room floor. After about 5-6 months they were able to rent a room, where they shared a bed until Johanna was between 14 and 15 years old. I write this not to garner sympathy, but to explain that it has affected the way Johanna likes to travel. Since we have been married, I have never stayed anywhere less than the best, unless I booked the place myself. I have not been allowed to book accommodations since the “Wedding Motel Debacle of 2013”. I won’t go in depth, but the room looked like something you see on the ID channel, the motel even provided its very own meth-head who introduced his cats to everyone. Needless to say, Johanna didn’t sleep and she even screamed when I almost let the comforter touch my bare skin. I digress.

For the sake of brevity, which I fear I left behind 200 words back, this blog will be a guide for anyone who wants to have a travel experience somewhere between sleeping in the dirt and sleeping in a suite. Most of all, this will be a window into the amazing cultural experience South America offers to all who wish to wander.

 

36 thoughts on “Start Here”

  8. Reply
    vellissima says:

    We need a little home-base on WordPress for South American travelers to exchange info and share experiences. I’m kind of in the middle of you two, by the way, and prefer a single room in a quiet hostel. In Bogota quiet hostel is an oxymoron, so I’m in an Airbnb which I’ve shared with an older French couple. But my budget is $10-25 a night unless that is not possible.

    Like

      1. vellissima says:

        I’ve been spending about 12 days each in the places I like; Bogota, Villa de Leyvas, even Medellin, which I didn’t like as much. Most places haven’t been quiet enough. It should be a feature emphasized on listings. “Very quiet” to me trumps a lot of other features that are emphasized.

        Like

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