trip up north...way up there

i was so delighted to get the invitation to go up north to visit my best NA friend's aunt. it was a very beautiful city! it was much cooler too as the wind was a-blowin' the whole time. it took maybe six hours to get up here. actually we took a bus from here to a major bus terminal up north and then took a city bus to her aunt's place. well, on the way the bus broke down. we were sitting up front and were waiting see what would happen. we noticed many people getting into grand taxis (mercedes benzs) and we turned around to see who else was on the bus and everyone had gotten off! so, we did like everyone else and got a grand taxi to take us to the round point close to her aunt's house. we walked the rest of the way. see, i didn't realize that her aunt's city was so close to the coast as there are a couple of towns that have similiar names and i had the wrong one in mind before we went. i was absolutely delighted to be so close to the sea!! we arrived, had some lunch and went out on the town. this place is very close to import/export spots, so it had a great, great clothes market! i enjoyed it:) this picture shows a Spanish enclave (the hill in the distant). we didn't go, but it was cool to see it so close. there were lots of different foods i hadn't seen around much in our part of the country--i found Sunny Delight!

we took an afternoon and went to the beach. it was within walking distance of my friend's aunt's house! it was so cool. her little cousin was so happy that i was going swimming as it was just me and her from our group that got in the water. i enjoyed the calmer water to actually get to swim around in. the water was pretty stinkin' cold, but it was so refreshing!
my friend's fabulous little cousin is such a sweety. she got all dolled up in her tiksheta! this is waht you wear to weddings here. i loved hers. so beautiful!

and no visit to a home is complete until the foreigner does a fashion show in the local garb! i actually liked this tiksheta. i was blingy, but sweet. i am usually not a big fan of gold, but it seemed pretty here. i also tried on a caftan that her aunt had. it was fun and velvet:)

it was such a joy to be with my friend and her family. we definitely maxed out our time there walking all over and shopping.

one of the days we went to a neighnoring city that had a fishing port. i loved these plastic crates. i just loved all the colors. it was a really great trip to take with my friend. i ended up going back to my city solo. it was a pretty uneventful bus-ride. just got to take in all the sites.

i am so grateful for each and every place i get to explore here. it was a gift to spend this time away with my friend as she is now in the States for the next 8 months or so. i miss her.