Monday, June 27, 2022
I got up pretty early to take the shuttle to Santa Marta. In hindsight, I’m not sure why I did this. I should have just taken the public bus because it was expensive, but I just wish I didn’t have to do it alone. Cartagena doesn’t feel very safe outside the walls.
I only wanted to stay in Santa Marta for one or two nights initially because I’ve heard bad things about it, but I hurt my back when I was going to the bus this morning so now I’m going to have to take it easy until that heals. Hopefully it does so on it’s own.
At least Hostel Masaya is pretty nice. I’m in a dorm with very private beds and three showers which have hot water and amazing water pressure. They also have a nice rooftop with some shaded areas and a restaurant. The street it’s on is a couple of blocks from the main street with restaurants and shops, so going there at night alone seems a bit dangerous.
I headed to the main street to get breakfast at Ikaro cafe. I got porridge, which was a bit too fancy for me, especially since I’m not feeling well. Then I went back to the hostel and just napped on the couches on the rooftop because my back hurt so badly I really couldn’t move.
For dinner I went to Entre Cuates which was a really tasty Mexican restaurant. I got tacos cochinita, but I’l have to go back for the al pastor. Then I went for gelato at Gnam Gelato followed by a hot shower and more rest.
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
My back is not better today and I can barely walk. The worst is going from sitting to standing. I looked around and it seems like there is a chiropractor around the block. I try to go to the office but don’t see an entrance so I call. It turns out he moved his practice to a nearby hospital. I hail a taxi and then take it there since the chiropractor says he will help me if I come right away.
I can barely get into the taxi, but I make it to the chiropractor. He works in a little office in the back of a natural pharmacy next to the hospital. I already hate going to the chiropractor, but I really have no choice so I have to trust this guy. I try to explain what is wrong but I think he understands immediately when he touches my back. He does some adjustments, mostly the ones I am used to from my previous chiropractors. That’s promising. He shows me a syringe with what I think is a pain reliever, but I refuse. I can handle the pain, but the lack of mobility is something that needs to be fixed. He explains to me that his adjustments have removed pressure on the nerves but they are still going to be painful. I tell him I will rest and come back tomorrow.
I take a taxi back to the center and go to Ouzo for lunch. I got a margherita pizza because I need comfort food. I got a smoothie from Lulo on the way home. I went back to the hostel to rest and only make it back out for dinner. I go to Entre Cuates again because it’s closer than other options and it’s raining. I get tacos al pastor this time which are also great and then ask them to order me a taxi, even though I’m a 10 minute walk from home. They say they can’t. I don’t understand why, but what am I to do. I speed walk home quickly in the dark, being careful not to tweak my back.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
I went to the chiropractor again and I’m actually feeling better now. I’m tired of being in town because it’s mostly just a dirty and dangerous city (although I actually like it here more than Cartagena, I just resent it because I’m hurt and can’t go out of the city on adventures). I think I can handle going to one of the places nearby that I wanted to go to originally, so tomorrow I’ll go to Minca. It’s the closest of the options, and I’m a bit worried because I think I’ll have to take a mototaxi, but if I can just get to my hostel I can relax in the mountains for a bit.
After the chiropractor I went to Lulo for lunch and got the lunch special which was really good. For dinner I got pasta at La Muzzeria which was just alright. The streets in Santa Marta are lively in the evening, which I really enjoy. I wish my time spent here wasn’t so uncomfortable!
Check Out My Guide to Santa Marta ⧉
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