The Ostrich has landed

This is for real now,all the talking is over.I am sitting at Madrid airport waiting for my flight to Bogota and it starts to feel more real than ever.I scan the area to see whos on my flight.I try to pick out who is Colombian.Ive never met a Colombian so I cant be sure.I board the flight and begin to wonder who I will be sitting next to.I dont want some screaming kid for 10 hours.I get to my seat and theres a twenty something black guy sitting next to me.He looks like a young Forest Whitaker.As it turns out he is Colombian and he doesn't speak English.This is a good chance to practice my Spanish I think.He has been working in Italy as a waiter and is going to visit his friend in Bogota before heading home north to Cartagena.As expected the conversation turns to football.I show him my newspaper and he names most of the players in it and Alex Ferguson.He is really friendly and gives me his name and asks me to facebook him.The flight was 10 hours but it went quick.In between conversations with Forest and sleeping I would listen to Spanish lessons on my Ipod.It was around 16:30 local time as we began our descent into Bogota.I looked out the window to catch a glimpse of the city but all I could see were trees and green fields.It was raining heavy and the fields looked flooded.The que to get through immigration is long.It splits into Colombians and foreigners but my que is taking forever well over an hour to get through. I pick up my luggage and walk outside to get my taxi that has been booked by my hostel.As soon as I walk out there is a man with a sign with my name on it, I give him the thumbs up and say hello.He speaks no English but he knows where the hostel is and that's all I need to know. I say goodbye to Forest who introduces me to his friend. His friend speaks perfect English and spent some time in Edinburgh and Manchester.He gives me his number and says to call him if I need any help.So far I've only met two Colombians and they have been very friendly.Its after 7 now and its dark and the rain is coming down as we head to the hostel.I have booked into the Bella Vista Hostel in the La Candeleria area of Bogota. Arriving in any big city at night on your own for the first time doesn't feel very welcoming and Bogota is no different.The driver tried to speak to me but he spoke no English and I was to tired to try my Spanish out on him.I was more interested in looking out the window at the big buildings and the people, trying to get my bearings, but it was pointless in the dark.Gradually the big buildings turned to smaller older style buildings, the streets became narrower and the people less.If a man on a donkey came down the street I wouldn't have been surprised.How could this be, we are supposed to be in a major city.I started to feel a bit uneasy.This area looks dodgy I thought.Slowly the taxi pulls up at a small square and he points to a building at the other side of the square.The square is how you would imagine an old Mexican village ,and theres a few people hanging about, but no gringos.This cant be it surely, this looks well dodgy.The driver gets out and I get out.We get my bag and he points to the same building and begins to walk towards it.I follow him across the square.I feel like everyone is looking at me.This is not how I imagined it to look.We ring the bell and the door opens.I walk in and a young Colombian guy welcomes me.You must be Paul he says and shakes my hand.I feel at ease and glad to be inside.I pay my driver 50,000 pesos which is about £16.It would have cost 30,000 if I hadn't pre booked but he was worth every cent of the extra 20,000, just for walking me across the square.I book in and get shown around.The place looks nice and the staff are really friendly.I get to my dormitory and no one is in there.There are 4 bunk beds and only one of them is taken.I throw my bags in the corner and sit on my bed.I feel a bit tired, its been around twenty hours door to door.What do I do now I think.Everything feels strange.The hostels quiet.I feel hungry but don't fancy going outside on my own.Its a strange looking place not how I imagined it , there was a few shifty looking characters hanging about outside and it was dark.I take a shower and brush my teeth.I feel better.Time for bed.I feel tired but my mind is racing.I need to learn Spanish , get a job,sort out a phone, get a visa....relax, I need to relax Ive only just got here.To much to take,in lets see what tomorrow brings ,things always look better in the daylight.
In the words of the Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, "the journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step "