This trip is sort of coming together

I keep forgetting I'm going to Colombia in less than two months.  I do a bit of thinking on it, maybe a bit of research and then say, later.  

My flight from Canada to Colombia is carry on only.  And my smaller backpack is unsalvageable.  It has been too many places and been abused by its owner's overpurchasing/overpacking too many times.  I think the 6 cutting boards from Costa Rica might have been when it should have been declared dead but the 5 alpaca blankets from Peru was when the plug finally got pulled.  I think I may have 'Weekend at Bernie's' it one more time but now it is literally ripped open at the top, duct taped on the bottom.  Just not usable at all.  Even I have my limits. 

I bought a wheelie/duffle/backpack thing that I took to Madagascar and it worked well.  But it is too big for carry on.  So, a new small backpack is required.  I spent way more time researching what bag I wanted that I did researching all aspects of this trip combined (which isn't hard since I gave it 30 seconds thought before buying my flight).  

Conveniently, this trip is on the heels of Black Friday. Say what you will about the Americanization of Canada, I can't say no to a good Black Friday sale.  Sorry Boxing Day, you were doomed to be pushed aside due to your post-Christmas date.  

Anyway, I made my friend Andrea come downtown with me and try out various backpacks.  I settled on the Cotopaxi 35 litre backpack, colour: Del Dia.  25% off for Black Friday, thank you very much. 

Del Dia bags are made out of ends of rolls so they are a mish-mash of colours.  I won't lose it on the carousel, that's for sure. 

It is small (although possibly not small enough, TBD), has lots of pockets and compartments, the waist strap turns into a shoulder strap so it can become a duffle.  

This is my bag:  business in the front, party in the back, just like a good 80s mullet! 

Next task.  What does one do in Colombia.  Actually, I still don't know.  

Next task.  Where does one go in Colombia.  

Bogota, not so much.  Google, tell me where is the best place to go in Colombia for a boring tourist who doesn't want to climb a mountain?  Mostly a tie between Cartagena and Medellin.   I have two weeks.  I think I can do all three.  

Next research:  Intra-Colombia flights.  There are four airlines in the area.  Two I've flown with in the past: Avianca and Latam.  And two I've never heard of:  Wingo and Clic.   So, three flights with two potential routes (Bogota to Cartagena or Medillin, Medillin to Cartegena or vice versa, Medilla or Cartegena to Bogota) X four airlines.  That took a bit of time.  Of course it was immediately apparent that Aviance and Latam were way more expensive than Clic and Wingo.  Probably better service but these are short hops so do I care?  Feel free to ask me when my flight is cancelled and I am booking a last minute, million peso flight back to Bogota.

My research, good old paper and a calculator!  

Anyway, Wingo is cheaper than Clic and has routes that I need at reasonable times.  I even calculated the difference in cost between B->M->C->B vs B->C->M->B.  By the way, this required I also look up the conversion of Canadian dollars (CAD) to Colombian pesos (COP).  Approximately $10 000 COP is $3.50 CAD.  

My initial research showed I could do all three flights for under $200 CAD ($170 actually).  But wait, Black Friday is coming, plus my procrastination/apathy made me hold on until today.  

Good decision.  All told, I got all three for @ $120 CAN, with priority boarding and selected seats!  Bonus.  And I can change each flight once if needed.  

But I still only have carry one.  And really small carry on.  Technically smaller than my new Cotopaxi bag.  So, TBD.  

For those that like to fret and/or judge my idiocy.  The bag I am allowed is 40cm x 35cm x 25cm.  The listed size of my bag is 51cm x 30cm x 20cm.  So, it is a little bit tall but a equal part less narrow/wide.  Wingo says I have to put it under my seat.  I can put my feet on whatever part doesn't fit under hopefully.  

Next task, find somewhere to stay in three cities. That is for another day.  

Please enjoy my very bad photo editing: 

I'm not even sure I want to do this, am I becoming jaded?

I was at a concert with some friends and one of them innocently said 'YVR Deals just sent an email about seats sales to Colombia'.  You'd think my friends would know me better than to say such a thing. 

Anyway, that percolated in my noggin overnight (no I did not buy a ticket while at a concert, I do have some self-control).  You all know you can just ignore that bracket about self-control right?  Cause I bought a ticket on my lunch break the next day, with zero research, no booked vacation and no idea what one does in Colombia except cocaine and kidnapping, neither of which particularly appeals to me. 

I am flying to Bogotá round trip January 17 to Feb 1 (I should check that date to make sure).  I then read Bogotá is not great for two weeks, more like two days.  So, now I am deciding between Medellin or Cartagena or both.  Internal flights are cheap.   There are three airlines to choose from, with varying prices.  Wingo is the cheapest.  Wingo sounds like a real airline, doesn't it?  It has wings and it goes. In theory.  TBD (again, not really, you all know I am going to go with the cheap option).  

More later.