a bit of a complaint. also: GOOOOOLLLL!

Mayra and I went to the beach this past weekend, thus fulfilling weekend getaway plans that Mireille and I made back in January. We headed toward the sea-accessible port of nearby Turbo and bought some tickets on the “panga” or speedboat that acts as a water taxi. It took us about an hour and a half to travel north towards Panama and eventually get to the beach community of Trigana. This spot was recommended to us as an ideal non-touristy spot. And we were easily the only internationals amongst many Colombians out to enjoy the “Puente”, or three day weekend – apparently in the world of cities and 9-5 jobs , Colombia enjoys a “Puente” seemingly every other weekend. This is something I’d like the US Congress to consider, more government sponsored three-day weekends. After of course it considers, perhaps – just a humble suggestion - impeaching the President.

I was talking with my folks a couple of nights ago and they told me that Bush commuted the “too severe” sentence of Scooter Libby last week. Well, Happy Birthday America. Honestly, even Paris Hilton spent a few days in the celebrity clink for her shenanigans. This kind of cronyism, among other impeachable moves by the current administration like: “no we swear, you are all about to die because there are definitely weapons of mass destruction” or the illegal Orwellian spying on the American people or just the down right reprehensible treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo makes it so hard for the US to legitimately criticize a place just as obviously steeped in corruption like Colombia. I’m very glad that less US money will be directed towards militarized outlets here in the next year, but as I close in on my last four months here I continue to be reminded that there is much to do back home.

But wasn’t I writing about the relaxing weekend at the beach?

It was so great to stretch out in the hot sun and float in perfect temperature of Caribbean ocean. Of course, working as an accompanier in a community that non-violently rejects all armed groups and aggressions, it was a bit jarring to share the peaceful coast with members of the very same 17th Brigade that has jurisdiction over the Peace Community and surrounding area. Young men in camouflage and with automatic weapons at the ready stalk up and down the beach and the nearby lodgings all day and night. I really think the Colombian army should reconsider the type of camouflage they are using in beach areas as the green doesn’t really blend in with the sand and surf. A fellow beach-goer told me that the last combat in the area had happened about an hour further north in 2002 between the army and the FARC. Apparently no combat has occurred since then but the entire region remains heavily militarized, as all ports located in the area are prime drug trafficking spots. Also, for all vegetarians considering a trip to Trigana – bring your own food – or be prepared to enjoy a not-at-all nutritious three meals a day consisting of rice and patacon (plaintain fried and mushed into big flat disc and fried and mushed again). All in all it was a lovely and absolutely needed break from the FOR Tshirts and life up here on the mountain.

There are some other important things to report:
Last week news broke that 11 FARC hostages, all local government officials from Cali kidnapped five years ago, had been killed in what the FARC is claiming was crossfire initiated when an unidentified unarmed group attempted a rescue effort. This is a huge blow to hopes of a humanitarian exchange of FARC kidnap victims. The FARC has been maintaining its stance that it will not negotiate with the government until its demands for a demilitarized zone of 785 square kilometers. But the recent prisoner release by Uribe seemed to indicate that the government was perhaps beginning to explore other (if surprising and ineffective as the FARC release) avenues toward negotiation. European countries have also offered to help broker negotiations, but if the FARC were actually responsible for the death of the 11 deputies, negotiation seems to be an incredibly hard point to arrive at. This news has been dominating the media in the past week.

Sharing the news spotlight has been less serious and sad news: Copa America 2007, played in neighboring Venezuela – the oldest tournament in South America in which Colombia found glory back in 2001. Adding to the excitement, Mexico and the USA were invited to participate. The gringos were coming off the very recent Copa de Oro victory, having won the final against Mexico. Colombia and the US were put in the same group and both ended up being eliminated from further tourney play even before their third game, against each other, took place last night. Colombia lost to Paraguay 5-0 (ouch) in its first outing and to Argentina 4-2 in its second. The young US team didn’t fare much better loosing to Argentina 4-1 and then Paraguay 3-1. It has been great to hear the announcements of “GOOOOOLLLLL” from radios and TVs here in the community. I’ve caught bits and pieces of the games at our next-door neighbor’s house but mostly am able to extract the results of the game from the announcer’s dramatic cries and proclamations.

We did some errands in town yesterday and set out a bit later than I had hoped, meaning that we wouldn’t arrive in time for the start of the game. Our late start ended up not mattering at all though, as a crazy storm blew in about fifteen minutes into our walk, drenching us the rest of the hike up and taking away the power here in La Unión. As I type this our wallets and notebooks and just about everything else (all had been tucked away in plastic bags to no end) is strung out in the hot afternoon sun. I, myself, should really be hung out to dry too as I fear that I have permanently taken on a faint smell of mold.

Anyway Colombia won 1-0. And the quarter finals continue this weekend. Go, Mexico.