The morning walks

We’re slowly exploring Neiva bit by bit.

Previous adoptive parents can attest, you spend a good amount of time figuring out how to spend time. We’ve been taking long walks in the mornings. Turn left out of the hotel and you eventually hit the main square. Turn right and you hit the river. Today we went right, then left, then left, then left and eventually ended up just slightly confused behind the main square! There was a flock of pigeons. Monica danced through them. It was very funny.

The walks are always interesting because of how the girls react. For example, Kelly LOVES policemen. She’s yell “Hola” and “Tchau” at everyone she sees. They love her too -waving (one even blew a kiss). Homeless people, on the other hand, freak her out. She’s also slightly mesmerized by them – always pointing them out to Mami and Papi and studying them. Monica doesn’t like mosquitoes. A mosquito can buzz by her and she starts itching her skin.

They both are constantly asking to be held by us. It’s not so much that they get tired. Rather, they just really love being in our arms. This is such a wonderful thing. When we come in from the pool they always want to Papi to just hug them close to keep warm (while Mami cleans up the other…I definitely get the better end of the deal).

The city reminds of most Latin American cities. Although here in Colombia there are way more motorcycles (the probably outnumber cars). Everyone rides them with bright orange vests. They also pile 3 to a bike with usually a little kid (and I mean little) sitting in the front. When Kelly was younger she got burns on her knees from a motorcycle. At first Renee and I thought “who in their right mind puts a little kid on a motorcycle!?” Apparently quite a few Colombians!

We took some good video of the city. I’m going to string them together and post them later tonight. Might help get an idea of our life here!