Oct 5, 2009
Cartagena, Colombia
At sea level
I arrived in Cartagena, Colombia today and as I was waiting in line at immigration, I make friends with these 2 girls who were traveling alone as well. Victoria, who will be on the road for 4 months through South America and Lesile who will be traveling for 6 months but first she is doing a 3 week language school in Cartagena.
Victoria and I shared a taxi into town and are staying at the same hostel. She wanted to get her yellow fever vaccination taken care of and somehow I ended up on this errand with her. We go over to Casa Viena where the owner Hans is a wealth of information. He tells us where to go to get the vaccination and we head in that direction. While I am standing at the vaccination office and listening to Victoria asking the nurses what area she cannot go to without the vaccination, I decided that I should get mine as well. Hey, I am here already.
I have not had any vaccinations since I was a child and the last time I got a shot of any sort was 15 years ago for rabies and tetanus after our dog had taken a bit out of me. I know that some might think I am foolish for traveling the world as I do without any vaccinations, but in my defense, I have always planned on getting them when I head out to the likes of Africa and India.
$27 dollars and a very spontaneous decision later, I now have my yellow fever vaccination. My left arms hurts so much that I can't quiet left it over my head nor can I sleep on my left side. However, I am now yellow fever proof. Now let's just hope that all the other diseases that I am not vaccinated against does not find me.
Charlie Grosso
310-592-0895
