"At 12:15 pm, Russian time, we summited. It was eight hours of climbing, We started walking at 4:15 a.m, even though the forecast was not favorable. When they woke us up they told us, ‘it's still not snowing, but it's not too bad. There is a chance we face an avalanche, though'. Nobody had any sort of hope. But we still had to try.

We took a lift from 4.050 metres to 4.500 metres. After that, the tough part began. We had to walk through three different free-falls, which were covered with ice, so if any of them broke, we'd fall 80 to 100 metres, and this was all during a snow storm. We couldn't see anything. Aside from all my layers of clothing, I had a flash light over my head that helped me se where I was going.

After ‘the saddle' (5.200 metres), we encountered 25 and 45-degree pendants, with ice-covered surfaces. And, the more you climb, the stronger the winds. We reached -40 degrees Celsius, with winds as fast as 40 kilometres per hour. And then, even though I had crampons (those rigid metal structures you strap on your boots and enable you to walk), I would take two steps forward and one step back. It was like walking through a slanted swamp, with snow up to my knees.

All this without counting the physical effort that the axe and stick demanded. I had my axe on one hand and the harpoon on the other. So I had to bend over to stick the axe, which is 50 cms. long, and walk with the harpoon, which is 1.20 metres long.

For the final 300 mts. I thought I wasn't going to make it. My legs were burning, I was getting height-sick and a headache was making its way through my head. Thankfully, I grew up in a region with very high altitude, so my ‘cundiboyacense' genes came forth and the headache went away as quickly as it came.

Some of my teammates, however, were affected by the height. Three of them got it pretty bad. One of the Norwegians kept falling, she felt light-headed all the time, and she ended up vomiting. A fourth one had to turn back because he wasn't wearing the proper kind of boots and his feet were literally freezing. This, as you may imagine, is extremely dangerous, because he could even lose his feet. Those four went back, and five of us kept forward.

Also, once we reached ‘the saddle', which was our turning point, our guides debated for about ten minutes whether or not we should move forward. They were speaking in Russian, but I knew that was what they were saying. And then they decided it was possible.

The truth is, I was doubtful of my ability to reach the top. As I said, I was very tired, my legs felt like burning, I was sick of the height and the snow. You couldn't see anything, only snow falling left and right. But once I saw I could move forward, that's what I did. All I could think of was ‘I'm OK. I'm doing this for my wife, my son, and 157 single mothers.'

But then we reached the summit and it was an incredible rush. I got down on my knees and cried. And then asked to have my picture taken with my huge Colombian flag. It was the first time I ever accomplished such an amazing physical feat.

And yet, the worst was still to come. The climb down from the summit back to ‘the saddle' almost got the best of me. Going down that wall of ice was much worse than climbing it, because you have to do it upside down and you have to go inside the mountain face down so that the axe can support the whole body.

I made a big mistake when I didn't strap my backpack properly. I didn't tie it around my waist, and I was carrying all the weight on my shoulders. My neck and shoulder-plates were killing me, my neck was completely stiff. Every step I took the pain was seven times stronger than the previous one. At some point I felt like I wasn't going to make it. I fell to the ground and had no idea how I was going to get back down.

I've never felt so tired. Every step I took, I sunk further into the snow, which was already knee-high.

And we kept going on foot until we reached 3000 metres. This was much more than we had expected. We were unable to take the lift because there was a power shortage. During that walk I had a misstep and I felt a punch on my knee. Today, it's swollen.

The first thing we did once we got back to the hotel was take a shower. When you're in the mountain, you forget about showers and water. The weather makes water very unappealing.

Afterwards, we went to the lamb and chicken kebab place. They really are exquisite. We celebrated and now we're going to sit down and have dinner and rejoice in the fact that more than half our group reached the summit.

About this, I have some mixed feelings. At some point I felt like happiness wasn't complete because not all of us had made it. But the truth is, the ones who didn't make it have had a very nice attitude. When we reached our base camp, they were cheering and clapping.

It's been an amazing example of how tight our group has become in the past ten days. One of the people who was feeling sick could have carried on and then ruin the summit for everyone else. As I said in an earlier post, there was only one chance of turning back. After that, if anyone had felt sick, we all would have had to go back. There's no way you can summit with only one guide. That's why I'm so grateful to the ones who decided to go back. And that's why they too are responsible for our triumph.

I'VE REACHED THE TOOOOOOOOPPPPP!!!!
The truth is that I did it as a personal challenge, because I wantes my son to know that his dad had reached the highest peak in Europe. But also for those 157 women, who at some point in their lives felt like there was nowhere else to go and searched for alternatives against all odds.

And now, when I look back on everything that happened, I've realized so many things. First, our guides were amazing. Sacha, the leader, told me this was one of the hardest climbs he had ever done. But he was determined to do it since the beginning, he said,
Because he'd never climbed with a Colombian, and he wanted to see a Colombian summit".

"Today I realised how much respect one owes to the mountain. We hiked up to 4.700 metres in the middle of a huge snow storm (by the way, the gighest I've ever climbed). We were at minus 3 °C , and the wind was going 20 kilometres per hour. I was freezing because we were walking so slowly, and I had to stop three times to put things on to protect myself from the cold: My snow pants, a scarf, ear muffs, hood and gloves.

We walked for six hours. We got back to our camp site (3.750 metres) by 2 pm, and had dinner at 7. I haven't said much about our cook, but she's been key to our journey. She's 25, and today she cooked peppers stuffed with beef, zucchini salad and another salad made out of beets, which I normally dislike deeply but today I thought was exquisite. Right now (9:30 pm, Russian time) I have a bit of a height-related headache. But physically, I'm fine. Everyone on the journey is doing alright.

Today was quite revealing. I noticed how hazardous summiting can be. A group of 12 people left the camp site today on their way up and none of them made it. They had to go back once they reached 5.200 metres (the summit is at 5.642 metres) because up there, it's -35 °C and the wind alone will lift you off the ground.

We plan to summit in two days and, sadly, if the weather is against us, we will not be able to do it. God and the weather will decide if we summit or not. No matter how much you train, no one will take the risk of climbing in bad weather.

The funny thing is, the weather up here is always changing. Today it's pretty cloudy, but it's likely that tomorrow the sky will be completely clear.

We will try to reach 'Priut 11', a camp site located at 4.000 metres. There, we will eat lunch, train with our harpoons and such, and rest, save our energies for the big day.
On Sunday we will begin our journey at 3:00 am (Russian time). We will do it that early because it's twhen the weather is nicest and there's almost no wind at all. We hope to be at 5.200 metres by 7 am."

Andrés Cruz is climbing Mt. Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, in support of 157 single mothers and teenagers who live in Cartagena. Follow his blog, and remember to make a donation.

"What an interesting day. We took a trolley up to 3.500 metres and then we walked up to 3.750.

Tonight we will stay at a camp site for climbers and skiers. It's called 'The Barrels', and it looks like the barrel that goes in a petrol truck but 3 or 4 times its size, with several rooms. It's all very quaint and typical. The Russian army used these barrels in the arctic zones, and therefore they're all decorated with the Russian flag. Thus, one third of the barrel is white, another one blue and the third one is red. Half our team is in one barrel and the other half in a different barrel. Each barrel houses six people, and there are eleven of these all over.

Up here there's all the other teams trying to reach the summit. We really heven't been able to speak mucho with other people, but I do know there's a Canadian team. Oh, and yesterday I found out something really nice: the two Norwegian women on my team are a couple. They're getting married by the end of the year and this was a birthday present from one of them to the other.

Yesterday we had a bit of a problem with our tour guides because we split into two groups. One of them stayed behind helping the slowest member of our team, which is not the right thing to do. The slowest one is supposed to set the rhythm, not trail behind! But now we know that's not gonna happen again.

Back to where we're staying, there's only one kitchen and each team has been given a time slot to eat. We eat at 7 pm. Ever since we reached 3000 metres we've had a cook who fixes our meals.

And, as a matter of fact, we've eaten quite well. Granted, Russian food is filled with carbohidrates. Breakfast is always one or two cups of porridge, loads of bread, salami, cheese, and some fruit. Lunch always comes with soup. Yesterday, for instance, it was a broth with potatoes, chard, cream and egg. I know it sounds nasty but it was delicious. It's the closest thing to an ajiaco I've eaten since I left Colombia. Normally at lunch they serve us a tray with cheeses and ham with bread, tomatoes, cucumbers and some fruit. And at night we get some soup and some protein. Yesterday, it was chicken. But we normally eat these delicious lamb shish-kebabs they make at a barbecue.

And then there's the water issue. We're drinking boiled snow. Every night we give our canteen to the cook, the boils the snow and hands us the canteens filled with boiling water which will be ready to drink the next day.

That's whi there's a different etiquette over here. Since we drink the snow, men are not allowed to pee wherever we may well please. And there's no toilets anymore. There's letrines. So if anyone is caught peeing in the wrong place, they get kicked out of the camp site.

Right now I'm at 3.750 metres and the view is incredible. I'm surrounded with snowy mountains. At this height, every mountain is snowy. Behind me are the two peaks at Mt. Elbrus. One is 5.621 metres and the other one, whic I will be reaching, is 5.642 metres.

Tomorrow we plan to reach the following station, which stands at 4.200 metres. The higher yo climb the less you feel the distance. From that station we will be able to see the summit, and it will look pretty close, even though it's a 13 to 14 hour walk. We will be using harpoons and ice axes as climbing tools, and harnesses and ropes tied to each other in case there's any rick of falling.

I'd like to take a moment and express my gratefulness for the translation of this journal. Because of this, my British friends' families, mother and wife are following my blog and my campaign, which has reached 14% already. Still, we need a big 86% in order to be able to help the 157 single mothers who are the reason for my climbing this mountain in the first place."

Andrés Cruz is climbing Mt. Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, in support of 157 single mothers and teenagers who live in Cartagena. Follow his blog, and remember to make a donation.  

Andrés Cruz is still on his way to conquer the highest mountain in Europe. This his his journal.

"We've begun the climb. Today we reached 3,750 metres. We'll go back down to sleep at 3000 metres and then we won't come back down again until we summit.

One thing I didn't know was that Mt. Elbrus is an inactive volcano. That makes the climb more difficult, because the paths are covered in rocks. So one part was covered in rocks, surrounded by melting snow which reated tiny waterfalls, and the other part was completely covered in snow. Oh, and it's very foggy. Most of the time you can't see beyond your nose.

The geography here is amazing. The sonw appears red due to a sand storm that took place 2 or 3 months ago in Arabia, and it looks amazing. There's red and pink snow on each side of the path, with wite patches and volcanic rocks.

It's already very cold. Even so, while I was all bundled up, the Brits were still in their trusers and t-shirts. Right now, I'm wearing: Two pairs of socks on my feet, one wool, and one silk, which I wear under the woollen pair to avoit blisters; black, puffy booties between my socks and my boots, which are made of plastic, not leather. To cover my legs I wear thermal shorts and water-proof trousers. Above my boots and my trousers, I wear a pair of woollen boots which tie up at the knee in order to water-proof the foot and shin area.

Above the waist I have a first layer of merino (a special wool from New Zealand which absorbs all sweat), a fleece jumper and an orange windbreaker from a Juan Valdez shop. And a pair of sunglasses, which I dare not remove because the reflection of the sun in the snow might leave me blind. Also, my backpack, where I carry a bunch of other windbreakers, two litres of water, beef jerky and dried fruit to eat, a thicker fleece jumper, a first-aid kit, gloves, an extra pair of sunglasses, a camera and couple of ski poles to help me walk.

My equipment has been checked already, and since once we summit we'll be between -25 and -35 degrees, I'm going to be wearing 4 layers on my legs, 4 above the waist, a hat, sunglasses and a hood when we climb. That, aside from the boots and all those things I've already numbered.

If there's good weather, we will be summiting in 4 days, next saturday at 11 pm Colombian time. It will be 8 am Russian time. And on Sunday, between 6 and 7 am (Colombian time) I will be climbing down".

Andrés Cruz is climbing Mt. Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, in support of 157 single mothers and teenagers who live in Cartagena. Follow his blog, and remember to make a donation.  

"We went to an astronomy observatory located 3.200 metres above sea level. It was an extremely hard climb because we walked on the edge of the mountain as our guides wanted to see how we worked as a group. So we hiked, arrived at the station and sat in a snow-free area where we ate our lunch. That's all we did today, and yet I am very, very tired.

"When I was in the middle of nowhere I received a phone call from Colombia. It was RCN Radio. They wanted to interview me about this campaign on the air. It was very exciting, plus I liked the focus they gave it: I'm doing this, not only because I like it, but because I wish to be an inspiration to others who might want to help people in need.

"Once I'm in the mountains I take time to think. And this trip has been both inspiring and revealing in more ways than one. Our guide, 'Sacha', has been joined by Yvgeny, another guide. He's 45 year-old surgeon. He was 25 when the USSR collapsed and has been an expedition guide for 10. I've had long talks with him, and I'm impressed. he said "things are not the same since the fall of the largest empire known to mankind". His statement coincides with those of other Russians I've spoken with.

"There's where the contrast lies. From what I've seen, the empire was a dream that could be defined by the minimum common denominatior. This 'ski resort' is not at all related to others that I've visited in other countries. People here has no interest in comfort, there is no iniciative, no one smiles, there's no attitude of service, and there's not much to say about the ifrastructure. Apparently, things worked during communist times. They had everything, in theory.

"All the cars are white Ladas, the ald square-shaped ones. Those are the only cars one sees over there nowadays. There's an excesive conformity. It's like they've taken the idea that 'the Government will provide' or 'as God wishes'to its maximum expression. They're angry because of what they don't have anymore, and yet they show no intention of going for it. No one ever taught them that they have to fight for what they want.

"I'm not sure if it's best to have a system where few have too much while lots have too little -and the possibility of gaining more- as is the case in capitalism. Or if it's best here, where everyone has a little and no hopes for anything else. Above all, I believe it's best when one can hope to improve one's own life.

"This is more clear when I think about the 157 single mothers in Cartagena that I hope to help with this project. When they became pregnant thet could have just sat down to wait for something to happen. But no, they decided to move forward, to look for a place where they would help them, and to build something for themselves and their families. These are 13 and 14 year-old girls who would not be beaten by laziness or despair; they made an effort. And that's why I love this cause, because we're helping people who own their destiny. They're tough, intelligent, driven women.

Andrés Cruz is climbing Mt. Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, in support of 157 single mothers and teenagers who live in Cartagena. Follow his blog, and remember to make a donation.

Andrés Cruz is already in Russia. Read his testimony on the first two days on the way to the summit.
Also, remember to make a donation to support his cause.

At this very moment, Andrés Cruz is four hours away from Moscow, in a valley surrounded by mountains. He spoke with Conexión Colombia at 5:30 pm Russian time. The following is his testimony, right from his descent on the second day of his adventure.

"The most interesting part is the arrival in MOscow from London. We had to drive for four hours before we arrived in the valley where we are currently camping. What struck me the most was the fact that the road went to the middle of nowhere. All the houses are made of concrete, everything is grey. You don't see any colors aside from the scenery, and we're 25 degrees. You can see the poverty these people live in. This isn't Europe any more, it's a different worls. We are in Russia, but this is not the Europe I'm accustomed to seeing.

"We arrived in the most interesting village. One of those build by the communists, all buildings are grey, 20 stories high, broken windows. I asked one of our guides about the place and he said that these buildings are mostly populated by squatters who used to be workers at a now-closed factory. Since the demise of the USSR, these people have nothing to do and nowhere to go. It's like watching the failure of the Soviet experiment right before my eyes.

"At the end of out 4-hour drive we arrived at Nakra, a ski resort town. The place we arrived in is called Cheget, and it's one of the most luxurious places to ski in Russia. Still, you can see the peculiarity of the place. There is a well-built hotel on one side and another hotel being built on the other side. There are seven pairs of hotels like that, one properly built and the other still in construction, which I find very odd. You can also see very clearly the contrast between the rich and the poor. This is a valley surrounded by huge mountains, and we are 2000 meters above sea level. You can see Mt. Elbrus in the horizon.

"At about 3pm (Russian time), we arrived at the site. No one was in the mood for sleeping, so we went to a bar and played a round of dice. Vladimir, a Russian guy who was obviously drunk, came and offered us several roungs of 'Gorbachev' cognac, which is the popular brand of cognac in the region. Thanks to Vladimir, I got a little tipsy. Afterwards, we went for dinner.

"I went to bed around 6 pm. I got up at 4 in the morning and by 8 we were all having breakfast. Then we had our meet and greet: Seven Brits, two Norwegians, and me. Two of the Brits are friends of mine who also work in real estate. The others are two people from Liverpool and a specialist in female fertilization. The two Norwegians are female police officers.

"Our guide's name is Alexander, but everybody calles him 'Sacha'. He was an olympic rowing champion and he has written several books on the flora and fauna on the Elbrus and Mongolian regions. He's 55, and he climbs Mt. Elbrus eight times a year.

"We started our first hike of the trip, from Cheget to a ski station which is 3.000 meters high. So we climed 1000 meters and then climbed back down. It's going to be three days of training, goping up and down, acclimatize and see how well prepared we all are. Today, the two norwegian women were always ahead of us men. My toe has not hurt yet.

"When we returned, dinner consisted of potato salad, lamb kebabs and beer. They shove alcohol down your throat over here.

"This place is extremely kitsch and full of contrasts. On one side, the place is very poolry biult, you can see the pipes everywhere. But on the other side, there are two gigantic bronze tigers at the entrance! It's very strange, because it could be very beautiful, but because of how poorly biult it is, it just looks awful. Our guide tells me the place is apparently subsidized by the State, but due to corruption it looks like this. Just like the Puente de Boyacá in Colombia, but in Russia.

"Culturally, it's also quite exotic. They play very cheap Russian dance music at the hotel. One of the women at the check-in counter really called my attention. She's Russian, with very long black hair and was wearing a leopard-print track suit on the first day we arrived. She seems to have some sort of turkish ancestor. Everyone speaks Russian and no one ever smiles.

"Generally, though, it's a positive experience. I was extremely worried because I had knee surgery a year ago, but I've been pain-free. The same with my toe. I feel great, not tired or anything. We're going to a Russian observatory, which is 3.400 meters high. Next Sunday, I'll be reaching the summit.

Andrés Cruz is climbing Mt. Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, in support of 157 single mothers and teenagers who live in Cartagena. Follow his blog, and remember to make a donation.

Time has really flown and I leave for Russia tomorrow! The last ten days have been all about doing harder training sessions and working to get the message out so we can have the donations come in. I think the training aspect has gone better than the communications aspect, but then again everyone tells me that the donations will start coming in once I summit and the days immediately after. Here is to hoping!!

In the meantime and if you would like to make a donation please click:

One thing that has been amazing over the last ten days is the weather here in London. I know it may seem sad to some of the lucky ones that live in eternally sunny weather but for us to have 7 days of uninterrupted sun and temperatures bordering 30C is close to miraculous! Mateo has been loving going to the outdoor kid´s pool and playing in the sandpit.

 Given that it has been almost 6 years since I went trekking on mountains I am amazed at the new gadgets that are out there to make the trek more comfortable and accessible. The one I HAD to get is the solar panel charger! This will enable me to have my mobile phone and camera batteries fully charged whilst I am in high altitude. It only weighs half a kilo and will ensure that I can communicate with the outside world. That is specially important as I have been in conversations with La W radio station in Colombia and they are keen to follow my progress. So there is a very big chance that Colombians waking up and turning on their radio will hear me huffing and puffing whilst I am on the ascent! I still find it amazing that I will be able to communicate with any part of the world from the mountain thanks to my mobile phone.

Here is a picture of the solar gadget:

People have been asking me if I feel nervous about going to a dangerous place and trekking at high altitude. To me the answer is always the same: "not really". Before booking the trip we did some solid research on the area and the guide companies that had the most experience. We made sure that this part of the Caucasus is not involved in any of the neighbouring conflicts (Chechnya or South Osetia) and the company we are going with, Adventure Alternatives  has more than 20 years experience in ascending to Mount Elbrus. That and the fact that our guide is a former Soviet rowing champion from the area assures me that we are in the best hands possible.

As for schedule whilst we are in Russia here it is:

Saturday June 7: Depart UK or Ireland - 2230 Aeroflot to Moscow. Night flight.

Sunday June 8: Arrive in Moscow at 0510. Depart to Mineralnye Vody 0910 hrs (Aeroflot). Arrive 2pm.
Coach transfer to Terskol and Cheget (4 hours). Dinner & Rest

Monday June 9: Trekking to Cheget Peak (2600m), 5 hours. Day pack only.

Tuesday June 10: Hike up to Vertoletny (Helicopter) Pass (alt. 3000m) takes 5 hours.

Wednesday June 11: Day hike to Terskol Valley.

Thursday June 12: Hike to Old Vista station (alt. 3,000m)
Afternoon walk to scenic lake below glacier

Friday June 13: Hike to Bochki Barrels. Six persons to a 'barrel'.
Lunch. Cooking in common catering building.
Afternoon - walk up to "Priut of 11" ("Cabin of 11") for acclimatisation. Return to Bochki for dinner and overnight.

Saturday June 14: Transfer up to "Priut of 11" with luggage. Accommodation at "Priut of 11".

Training for use of crampons and ice axe. Possible walk up to Pastukhov Rocks. Night in "Priut of 11"

Sunday June 15: Walk up to Pastukhov Rocks or rest day and training. Depends on weather and group. Possible summit day if good conditions.

Monday June 16: Summit Day - awake at 4am.
Walk from Priut to summit and back will take 10 or 11 hours.
Return to Terskol/Cheget, go to hotel and relax. Celebration dinner.

Wednesday June 17: Departure from Terskol at 8.00am.Transfer to MinVody (4 hrs). Flight to Moscow 12.45. ?Flight to London 17.45. Arrive in London 20.45

In order to follow the route precisely here is a map of the region and of the ascent route:

I am still not sure if there will be internet access from the mountain but we have devised a very avant garde procedure with the people of Conexion Colombia to ensure that I can blog from the mountains.

Before I finish I just wanted to tell you about the amazing conversation I had with one of the teenage moms today. I was talking to her as she was in the HQ of the foundation in Bogota (Way to go Skype!!). She is one of the graduates of the one year program that I am raising money for. She is 19 had her son Juan Sebastian 5 years ago (you can do the math) and enrolled in the foundation right after Juan Sebastian's birth. Needless to say she was dejected, rejected by her family and abandoned by Juan's father and only 15!!
Today I spoke to a University undergrad in Physiotherapy that was awarded a scholarship by one of the foundation's corporate sponsor because of her academic brilliance. In addition to her studies she is still part of the programs of the foundation and is the proud mother of Juan Sebastian. I was to taken back by her words that I started asking her for parenting tips for Mateo!!! This is just an incredible reality check and inspirational boost for the days ahead.

Finally, I want to thank all the people that have already donated and helped me reach my first USD thousand!! 7.5 to go!!

If you would like to donate in Conexion's new English site please click:  https://pagos.conexioncolombia.com/resultados_busqueda_proyectos.aspx?consult=yes&ProjectTypeID=20&Currency=COP

Thanks for reading and please keep reading!!

Andres

I want to begin with some great news, The Summit for a Cause campaign is only a week old and we have already raised close to 500 dollars!! Thank you for your support.

Should you wish to donate please click here:

To get on an even higher high, it’s Friday and the teenage moms from Colombia have sent me some letters and a video thanking me for supporting their program!  Here isthe video. Enjoy!!

It is incredibly humbling and motivating to read the letters from these girls. I haven’t even started trekking the mountain and they are already thanking me. As Tatiana said when she read the letters with me: “No pressure to summit then..”  One of the girls Cindy Bedoya (16) talks about how after being cast aside by her family with her newborn (she was 14 at the time), she found out about the foundation and has now been with them for two years and is very proud of her achievements: regaining her self esteem and her growing knowledge on how to manage a business: from inventory to customer management!. She’s 16! How many of us had that knowledge and experience at her age?!  As I´ve said before, they are my motivation. Girls with incredible responsibilities at such an early age that regain their self esteem and are becoming entrepreneurs. Watch out world,here they come!

In stark contrast with the message of hope that they emit, last week I was also given a clear reminder of how life also is about letting go and saying goodbye. An uncle of mine, who is 82 and has cancer, traveled to Europe to see his 3 children and come to the wedding of her grand daughter, fell very ill once he landed here. He has always been a keen sportsman, a fear inducing tennis player, an enthusiastic and positive influence on all our family is slowly saying goodbye. He was due to attend the wedding and visit his children here but the traveling proved too much and he made it to the city where the wedding was held but could not attend. He also had to cut short his trip and return to Bogotá for treatment. I was able to say goodbye although I hope it is not the last time I see him. Even if it is, my memory of Pacho will always be of a force for good and optimism in life, like the girls from Cartagena.

The lesson for me in all of this is that through good and bad times, optimisism and a lust for life are key to transforming your reality no matter what and how it is looking at the moment.

Once again thank you for your donations and should you wish to donate please click on:

https://pagos.conexioncolombia.com/resultados_busqueda_proyectos.aspx?consult=yes&ProjectTypeID=20&Currency=COP

Thanks!

Andres