Our crazy and beautiful spontaneous trip

Last Saturday on a whim we told the kids to pack a bag and we took off for a few days to a couple of cities we wanted to explore.  I'm a planner so the fact that we didn't know where we'd be spending the night was kind of exciting and kind of scary at the same time.  

We headed to Jerico first- a quaint beautiful little town about 2.5 hours from Medellin.  

 Jardine was another 2 hours from Jerico and although Jerico was quiet with hotels available we decided to head to Jardine so we could wake up there in the morning to explore.  When we arrived in Jardine it was dark and the streets and town center were packed with people and horses.  This quiet small village we soon found out was having one of its biggest festivals of the year.  So with 4 tired kids we walked the streets going into every hotel only to be told each time they were full.  A few owners of one the hotels saw our trouble and immediately began calling around for us.  Finally they told us there was a lady who said we could stay at her house.  Why not we thought-anything is better than the car!  She led us to this cute little door above a restaurant in the center of town.  We squeezed in one bedroom and although we heard the party going on allll night long it was clean, quaint, and Gloria was lovely to us.  Have I mentioned Colombian people are so so kind?

   
     The kids on Gloria's balcony

    The next morning we headed up to a charming finca with friends who we spotted at dinner the night before (lucky...again).   

 
They took us to a trout farm where they let you catch your own fish before cooking it.

 
 I have to say Jerico and Jardine have been my favorite places so far.  We will definitely be back.

Ending 2013

Ava turns 11! 

(celebrating with a friend)

and as a tradition she always goes on a special outing with Dad.  This year they flew over to the capital city Bogota for a few days of daddy daughter time including a night out to the Chinese circus.  

We headed to another finca high in the mountains with friends who had horses.  This might be the most exciting things the girls have done here they say and I think it's because we let them ride alone. They spent hours riding around the beautiful spot.

                                    Grateful for friends and fun fincas to enjoy!

 Oldest turned 11 and youngest about to turn 3 soon! Too soon for me

     He's pretty full of life this kid

Looking forward to 2014!