I may have told you this before, but I distinctly remember an ex-boyfriend of mine, after some years together, turning to me and remarking: “The thing is with you, you’re not scared of anything,” to which I sat in stunned silence for a few moments before replying: “Are you joking? I am scared of EVERYTHING.”
My mother will never visit me in Colombia because she is claustrophobic, that means she’s scared of planes, trains, boats – even cars if someone else is driving. But she would never tell you that. Instead, she’d tell you: “My daughter is a writer and she takes nice photographs, so I don’t need to visit Colombia. Besides, who would look after the dog?”
My father and I discussed this once. “The trouble with your mother,” said the man who has been married to her for more than 40 years: “Is that she never admits to fear.” Thinking back to the time my mother fought cancer, chemotherapy and all, he’s probably right. She threw a party to celebrate the end of the treatment, something like: “Forget chemo, how do you fancy a fondant fancy instead?” It’s only as a proper adult I can fully appreciate how terrified she must have been.
A few years ago I went to see a fortune teller in a street market in Bolivia, you know, the kind of places where they have the unborn llamas ready for sacrifice and you have to crawl into a tent to get a few pearls of wisdom from an old man with cards and ‘mystic’ water.
He gave me the usual rubbish – you like to travel, you’ll meet your future husband this year etc. etc. – but just before I left he turned over a card and looked at me very seriously.
“You have a problem with alcohol,” he said.
I laughed. Boy, had he picked the wrong traveller. Most of my friends joke about how little I drink, beyond the odd lapse, but I can go months without touching alcohol and be completely unbothered. I like to dance and I loathe to be hungover. Easy.
“Maybe you don’t drink very often,” the old man continued.
“But you do when you’re worried. You need to be careful about that. You have a weakness, worse than other people. Be careful.”
Hilarious right? Everyone knows humans have the same fears, the same weaknesses. That turn-to-alcohol-when-you-have-a-problem line is as old as the hills. Next please.
And yet, I always think about that bloody old man. There were two clear periods in my life when I drank too much – when I split from my first long-term boyfriend at 22 and when I moved to Liverpool at 26, suddenly everything was different and out of my comfort zone and I – the ‘serious’ one who sips her beer and leaves glasses half-full – was a ‘party girl’ and ever so slightly out-of-control.
I mention all this, of course, because it’s happening again. I have drunk more in the last month in Bogotá than I have in the entire rest of this year – two nights have ended post-sunrise, with taxi drivers muttering their sarcastic: “Buenos Dias Señores,” as I’m left blinking and wondering where the night went.
Last Saturday was epic, even by my own fallen-off-pedestal standards. I went to a friend’s house to mark Thanksgiving. The wine began to flow at 4pm and the rest is un-writable. The next day I awoke without my cellphone and decided that, really, enough was enough.
(I’m not pretending there is anything exceptional about this behaviour – this is your average Saturday night for most people. It’s just exceptional for me. I’m the sensible one)
And so I decided to give my life some serious thought. Nope, not worried about work. Nope, not worried about relationships. In fact, I decided to use the lost cellphone as a ‘clean up’ – determined only to retype the names of people I actually like and see in this city, you know, the people I would invite to my birthday or my wedding. I got to 50 names before I thought, this is ridiculous, could I love Bogotá any more?
Then there was a knock on the door and my ex-boyfriend appeared, wrinkling his nose, because I was listening to Fonseca.
“What is it with you and Fonseca?” he demanded, before handing me some cash and asking if he could borrow my credit card. To book a flight to Cartagena. No return.
There was a silence.
“You’re going back to Cartagena?” I said, stunned. My ex-boyfriend turned close friend and general life support, who was supposed to be opening a restaurant here in Bogotá – he had the investors, the menu, he’d even managed to rent the perfect location.
“Yeah,” he said dismissively.
“You know nothing happens in Bogotá in December and January. We’ve decided to open it in Cartagena first instead. We’ll be back someday. But what about you? You seem to be going out a lot lately… are you actually writing anything? What about your book? Your blog? What about that stuff people are paying you to write?”
I couldn’t answer. I felt like Carrie when Big announced he was moving to California. My ex-boyfriend might be my ex, but he’s one of those people who’s not allowed to leave.
“Oh what happened to you?” he laughed, shaking his head and then as he leaned over to give me a kiss goodbye on the cheek he said:
“Come on, you know me. This is your home. I don’t even like Bogotá. But if there’s a problem you call me. I know what you’re like, okay? Don’t be proud. Just call me.”
And with that he was gone and I kicked Fonseca, because no-one can sing the words no, te and vayas like Fonseca and suddenly I wasn’t in the mood. But that bombshell still didn’t explain what I was hiding from, whatever fear I had been trying to drown.
That realisation arrived slowly, of course. Sneakily.
I’m flying to Cuba in 13 days but that’s not the problem. I’ll be meeting a friend there and we’ll have three weeks of sunshine and beaches; mojitos, trilbies and Che, taking our pictures and writing our stories and salsa dancing with every handsome Cuban we find.
No, the problem is that I, in my infinite wisdom some time last May, decided I wouldn’t want to return to Colombia in early January – oh no, I thought, I’d much rather spend six weeks travelling alone through central America… Except I don’t now. Of course I don’t. I’m bloody terrified.
Even worse my Colombian visa will expire a month after I return and as much as I dance around and tell anyone who’ll listen that if they refuse to renew it, I don’t care. I’ll just move to Rio or Buenos Aires baby. I know I won’t. I’m married to Bogotá.
You see, Bogotá is the husband who brings you flowers or chocolate for no reason, who you call when you’ve done something stupid because you know he’ll lie convincingly and say it’s all okay – then he’ll just sort it all out for you as soon as you hang up. Rio and Buenos Aires are the handsome movie-star husbands, the professional footballers. You don’t call them and say: “Honey, I know you’re watching Real Madrid, but will you please come and remove a giant Amazonian moth from my bathroom because I’m too scared to shower? Thanks muchly.” You just wouldn’t dare.
And so, if you see me out, with a glass of wine in one hand and my eyes glittering with mischief, if I’m grinning and dancing and telling you I know a club that’s open until the early hours, just stop me. Just stop me right there. Take away the wine and tell me that it’s going to be alright. That Bogotá is still going to be here when I get back. Because if you don’t, I’m not going. That’s it. I’m just not going. I completely and utterly refuse.
Like this? You’ll love Colombia a comedy of errors.
Banana Skin Flip Flops 
This was written so well. I found myself being there in your story, feeling some of this fear.
This article was very entertaining. I miss Bogotá. I hope you never have to miss it. Happy trails!
For a minute there I was almost experiencing slight concern but then I realised you had just forgotten to look on the “bright side of life”
good post.
Hi! I really liked this post and it brought me back to why I never want to see a psychic or fortune teller. Even if they’re all full of it (most probably are), you can never unhear what they told you. And then there’s the whole issue of “is this happening because it was meant to be or because i maybe subconsciously made choices to make this happen based on what a psychic told me?” You start to second guess yourself and your choices. In any case, great post. keep on living live…
No worries, you will bring Bogota with you everywhere you go. It is something that you will never ever hide it. Don’t be afraid.
And like all faithful husbands madly in love, Bogota will be waiting for you. Enjoy Cuba and easy on the alcohol 😉
I just have read your entry, maybe the first one I read in your blog, but, I hope my words can give you some relief and hope. In 2000 I left Bogotá and Colombia, my homeland, planning to live in my other homeland, Spain. I have the 2 citizenships cause my mother is from Spain and my dad was from Colombia. I was there for 5 years and I was refusing to go back to Colombia. I travelled just for holidays and that’s it. But… everytime I was in the airport ready to board the plane to Europe, I felt something in my heart. Like a huge hole. Like something cracking. Then, I moved to New York and it helped me a lot. I met some old friends who moved there and found some similar experiences that reminded me Colombia. And in that moment I was still refusing to go back. Then, many things happened and my life became a mess. A horrible mess… depressions, a divorce, hospitalised twice because of stress… and I thought “Ok, I need warmth in my heart and my soul”. Well, I had the chance to go back to Spain, all my belongings were there. But no. I decided to move back to Bogota after 10 years of not accepting I was missing this place. Now, 2 and a half years later I found this city has been all these years really deep in my heart. Even its traffic jams, the fear on not being in a safe place like Madrid or NYC. But I don’t care, cause, good human being live here too. People that give me an understanding smile everytime I need it. And foreign people who took the risk of live here. Well, my conclusion is… Bogotá will be here and will be much better every time you come back. Because after missing it for a time, your love for it will grow a lot more. Bogota will be for the persons who love it. And will open its arms everytime you come here.
A very honest and well-written piece; as someone who has been here for two and a half years I read this and felt a real surge of emotion; I board a plane back to England for the first time since 2010 and must confess to a similar feeling of trepidation. I am looking forward to seeing family and old friends very much, as well as “enjoying” the colder weather and the English Christmas, but I KNOW I’ll be as happy to be on the return flight in January…
Aw V! We’ll look after Bogotá for you, and hide you from the police if you don’t get your visa. If you need someone to not drink with just let me know (see you on Mon!)
xXxXx
You make me homesick! I moved to the US almost 13 years ago (from Cali) and I still miss it. Good luck!
Hi all,
I’m a single American planning to spend some time solo in Colombia (Bogotá) included and could use some pointers. I’m pretty close to buying a one way flight and am starting to get scared
Hi Sarah, Bogota is an amazing city in so many ways. Check out our website: http://www.bogotabrilliance.co for all the information you might need to get started. It is easy to get scared, but don’t buckle under the fear. Drop us an email a”: contact@bogotabrilliance.co if you need more info. Once you get plugged into a community here – which isn’t that hard to do – you will start to feel at home.
Tigre Hall
Bogota Brilliance
Sarah,
I am also a single female getting ready for a trip to Bogota and I’ve been reading Bogota blogs to pump me up and get rid of the anxiety (this blog is particularly excellent and helpful, btw). I’ll be getting there January 30, 2013 (ticket bought!) Just thought I’d say “I feel ya!” Buy the ticket and feel free to email me (jenny.a.lusk@gmail.com)
Sorry for the delay in posting your comment, I was in Cuba so no Internet! Good luck to both of you, Bogota is amazing, you will love it.
I started mourning and fretting over my Bogota departure weeks ago…but it will always be here for the return 🙂
Good post. Hope to see you in Istanbul some day..
Vicki you amaze me 🙂
Dearest Vicki, you cut to my core with this post even though Toby and I won’t be leaving Bogota anytime soon. As you know, we are more than married to the city! But, reading your incisive words really struck home and reflected how much we love it here, in great part because we have met so many amazing people like you. Not only will you miss Bogota, Bogota will miss you. You have brought such an amazing energy and openness that has touched everything and everyone you have come in contact with. Ahhh – Thanksgiving – that was a lovely aftrernoon, night, morning, and from what I can remember (ah-hem) a wonderful time was had by all!
Yes Bogota will be waiting impatiently, imperfectly, improbably and impeccably for your return -as shall we.
Love y abrazos,
Tigre
Great post! I’m currently in Barranquilla where my husband is from but the year I spent in Bogota made such an impact on me! I can’t really describe it but you came very close, I wish you the best!
That was Beautiful, Vicki. 🙂
Wow, I had no idea you were leaving for a while. (Or have left by now.) As the others have said, Bogota will always be there for your return. If it’s in your blood, you’ll be back.
Another great post. I envy your comfort with honesty about the things most personal. I’m still working on that in my writing. Perhaps that’s my fear…
Hahaha, the trick is to assume no-one except close family and friends will ever bother to read what you write. I just block out the statistics that tell me any different 🙂
Bogotá… I was born in Bogotá. If you ask me, Bogotá is like a beautiful hore, that you can’t help falling in love with. Bogotá is a chaos, a disaster… An earthquake. It is like a scar that you cannot deny, that you can’t escape… That becomes part of you.