Sanctuary (AH 17) - Naval Cruise Book

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Cali itself provided the ideal place to spend a relaxed weekend, especially after a hectic week of Handclasp activities on the ship. Headquarters for most of the crew in Cali was the lntercontinental Hotel, where all the luxuries of home were provided at a reasonable price. It provided swimming, fine cuisine, a nightclub overlooking the city and it was located for easy access to the downtown area of Cali. lf you were lucky enough to strike up a friendship in Colombia-you were probably treated to the hospitality Colombians give so generously. They took you home to meet the family and have dinner, and probably invited you back whenever you could make it. One final word on liesure in Colombia. lf you can't remember the name of that stuff you drank in Cali or Buenaventura, it's aguardiente. To this day I don't think anyone really knows exactly what's in it-but considering the effects it has on the human body, perhaps it's best that you won't find much of it in the United States. Nix

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SANCTUARY CREW AT LEISURE IN COLOMBIA Relaxation came easy in Colombia, whether it was on a shopping spree, an organized tour, an evening at the Bambou or International Clubs, a beer or aguardiente at a local tavern, a weekend trip to Cali or a surrounding village, or a home-cooked meal at the home of a new-found Colombian friend. lf souvenier hunting or Christmas shopping was your main interest, you didn't have to go far for a bargain, or what you thought was a bargain. Colombian merchants are probably the world's second best traders lsecond only to the Haitiansl. Roughly, the bartering rules there go something like this: if the American sailor offers 31.00 for an item, the Colombian merchant will ask for 95100.00 lf, in the next half hour of discussion, the merchant drops his price to 35.00, you have probably gotten a good deal. If, on the other hand, you paid any more than Sl0.00, you paid too much. Bartering is a way of life in Colombia, and the strategy involved in trading is often as much fun as actually receiving the item you worked so hard to get at a good price. If you trusted your trading skills enough to go off the pier to barter the selection of Colombian crafted goods was almost endless, from wood carvings and fine jewelry to Colombian rugs, clothing and art work. A weekend visit to Cali, Colombia was a must if your nerves were up to the taxi cab or bus drive through the mountains to get there. Colombian drivers don't seem to know the meaning of the word fear. If their car will go 50 IVIPH, they'll go 50, if it'll go 80, they'll go 80, and if it'll go faster than that they probably won't live long. One last word on the automobile situation in Colombia, if someone you don't particularly like is going to Colombia in the near future, send him with one piece of advice-tell him that the pedestrian has the right-of-way there. You can guarantee he won't last a day. gs , .I- . ... K. fi QS' ' ,ef- .,x.- .. Q 4.1 .1 .L X I .xr . C :ff . I i '..i.' 1-IEHLQI I 'f9'e?. 4 ssQ'fi?l Ii 'X i 5 Q E X fx... . Q 'Y wwf- ' N ..,. Z 5 - .. ,. ...-s b I A .V g mfg , by V X 4 jg

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Sights in Pali