Saturday, July 25th

 In Palomino!  Getting ready for our unbelievable hike!!!  We hiked up for about 2 hours to reach the Kogi Tribe's indigenous school!  You'll see in the pics and I'll try to add some details!  It was incredibly hot and humid...up many hills...but I made it!  Then we went to our beautiful beach hotel...and had a wonderful evening and today we all got massages in the morning and had beach time!  We're now in Barranquilla!  We will be in schools all this week!

Marianna (our tour leader) and Lucas (Anthropologist that has been living with the Kogi for 5 years!

Kogi Home

Palomino River

On the hike!!!

Stop for lunch by the river

Valerie is cooling off in the river!

Huge centipede!!!

 Kogi Village and School

Teacher at the Kogi school who teach tradition and culture to the students.  Most of the students at the school are boys.  There are about 80 students in total.  This school started 5 years ago and serves up to grade 5.  Many of the students will have to walk from 3-12 hours to reach the school.  They have boarding facilities for the students during the week if they live too far away.  If a student should want to continue to secondary school they would need to go 2 valleys away and would have to board for 3 months.  Most students do not go on.  They remain within their culture and continue the wisdom and traditions that have been passed down for generations!

school building

Council of Elders area - The elders in the community sit on the rock chairs and give lectures or work with others to solve problems within the community.

Shaman's hut

Coca Plant

The beach at our hotel!

Katie hanging out on a branch!

fishing anyone?

Incredible man!  This man actually chose to live amongst the Kogi 4 years ago.  He had finished his master's degree, was working and felt as if something was missing in his life.  So...he went searching throughout South America, visiting many indigenous tribes to find the answers to his questions.  When he found the Kogi he felt as if he had found his home.  He and his wife raised their children on the mountain and began home-schooling  them in reading and writing.  He offered the teach all of the Kogi children...and some actually accepted.  There were problems with people coming onto the mountain and cheating the Kogi by charging them ridiculous prices for products.  So...some of the parents felt it would be wise to have them learn basic reading and math so that they would not be subjected to such swindling!  This homeschooling eventually grew into the school that exists today.  We were able to spend the whole evening with him...he is an amazing individual!  To have the courage to venture out to feed his spiritual soul....I am in awe!