#which is entertaining but barely scratches the surface of my life these last few weeks

[thentherewasfury]

They need an anonymous posting button. I have stupid thoughts to share with my followers but I don’t want anyone to know it was ME. Just SOMEONE on your dash reciting their tales of deciding to be a hoe.

[kimetsunoyaibawritings]

Burn like the Sun

Rating: General

Relationship: Reader/Kyojuro

Summary: “Simply knowing you are safe is a plentiful reward in itself.”

As a survivor of the Infinity Train accident, the reader seeks out the man who had saved them to try and offer some sort of proper thanks. And while he is severely injured -- enough to have to lay down his duties as a Hashira -- Kyojuro is nonetheless happy to know that his actions had protected someone.

"Is this the home of Kyojuro Rengoku?"

The question pulls the attention of the young boy standing outside the front of the gate of the vast home behind him, who had been sweeping diligently before your approach.

His bright, firey-colored hair is striking, but it is dwarfed immediately by the sharp red of his eyes as they move up to look at you. The resemblance to your savior is striking -- so much that you are sure that this is the right home before he even opens his mouth to speak.

"I-It is, yes," he says, voice oddly timid. "May I ask uh, why you are looking for him?"

He can't be older than twelve or thirteen. You try to offer him a comforting smile and gesture with your chin down to the small, cloth-wrapped bundle in your arms.

"I was one of the people he saved from the train accident a few weeks ago. I heard he was badly injured because of it and I..." you let the words trail for a moment as the boy (his brother? his son?) stares at you with a look that is not at all accusatory, but sharp all the same.

You clear your throat and speak, tone renewed, "I wanted to show him my appreciation and wish him well for his recovery."

At first the boy doesn't say anything in response. In the growing silence, you almost feel foolish. It had been hard enough to learn the man's name in the first place after the accident, but something about his presence had left a moment of terror and hopelessness instead with such warmth and comfort that the simple prospect of gratitude seemed the least you could offer.

Lost among your own thoughts and worries, the sound of the boy's voice rings out and drags you back into the moment.

"Let me go ask him first, if that's alright."

You're barely able to offer but a syllable of a reply before he's already slipped past the front gate and out of sight into the grand house beyond. It is as large as you were told, though you can't recall any prominent businessman nor politician with the family name of Rengoku. Some of your contacts had called him a swordsman -- had his family once served as samurai?

The possibilities proffered more questions than offered answers, leaving you to simmer in your own curiosity for several minutes until the young fire-haired boy emerged from the house and hurried towards you.

"He says you can see him -- he's also happy to know you're okay."

The boy -- Senjuro, you later learn as his name -- quickly explains how to get to Kyojuro's room, though you're too lost in the warmth in your chest from the too-simple notion 'he's happy you're okay' to pay all that much attention past the first two turns. But you thank him all the same and shuffle towards the house, leaving Senjuro to continue sweeping up with only the slightest, softest curiosity in his eyes.

Once inside the house, you’re taken aback by how… empty it feels. You’d expect a home as large as this to be busy with people — whether family or workers tending to it. You find neither, greeted instead by silence and an unnerving amount of peace.

It doesn’t take long to start trying to recall the directions that the young Rengoku boy had given you. A turn down the left hallway, past the third door and then… ah?

You couldn’t quite recall after that. Left or right? Was there another hall, or was Kyojuro’s room along the outside? One question bumbled into another until your unsureness twisted itself up into a ball of knots. Despite the confusion, you didn’t want to seem even more foolish by moving back to Senjuro and asking for directions again when he had gone out of his way to describe them once already. So you stand there, frozen by your own indecision at the edge of a corner-

Until someone suddenly turns it, running straight into you with enough force to leave you stumbling backwards. You would have fallen on your ass if it wasn’t for the fact that the same offender reached out suddenly and grabbed your arms, which were otherwise holding with a vice grip on the wrapped bundle still against your chest.

“I’m so sorry!” a bright voice offers, soft but merrily. “I didn’t see you standing there. Are you alright?”

It takes a moment for your thoughts to straighten and your gaze to fix upon the person who had both run into you and kept you from toppling backwards.

Blonde hair with firey tips, eyes brighter than rubies and sharper than a fine point. Though his face is covered in bandages and there’s a patch over his left eye, the recognition feels like icewater dumped over your head.

“K-Kyojuro Rengoku?” you ask, embarrassed in the stutter of your own voice.

“Yes?” the man tilts his head. You’re not able to say anything further before he suddenly winces, pulling his arms back against his body and drawing your gaze down over the rest of his body — as well as his multitude of injuries. Broken bones and layers of bandages seemed to but scratch the surface for all that he is dealing with, which made you feel the heavy weight of gratitude twice, no, three times over in his saving your life.

“Shouldn’t you be laying down?”

Kyojuro merely laughs. Though the sound must pain him, it doesn’t muffle the blossoming warmth of the noise as it fills the air around your ears. It’s strange, in a way; does the sound of his voice often have this effect on people?

“I’m well enough to walk,” he finally says, pain and aches hidden so dutifully behind his eyes that you have to second-guess yourself whenever his lips press together in a brief, but tense line. A smile, however, quickly moves across his face. “I thought it would be easier if I met you halfway so you didn’t get lost! You are the one who came to visit me, correct?”

You nod.

“Y-yeah. I’m uh. One of the people you… saved. On the train, a few weeks ago. I wanted to thank you and… maybe get to know you a little bit.”

The man watches you silently as you explain yourself, but not for a moment does a sense of judgement press on your shoulders from his attention. He simply listens, politely waiting for you to finish before responding.

“It must have been hard to find me,” he comments almost idly, some mixture of amused and impressed. “How did you manage it?”

The question is filled with an odd sort of praise, so you lower your head down until your eyes are on the ground and your mind is a shambling mess trying to piece words together.

“I uh. I have some friends in high places, you could say.”

“Well!” he chuckles. “That almost sounds like a threat!”

“Oh no, no no no no-” flustered, you immediately raise your eyes up and begin waving one hand about frantically as if to dissuade the notion entirely. “I promise I didn’t mean that as a— I mean, my family—… I…”

Your broken explanation is cut short when Kyojuro reaches up a hand towards your face, index finger curling ever so gently beneath your chin that you barely feel the heat of his skin against yours.

“It’s okay,” he murmurs, and for a moment you feel your heartbeat go still. “I promise I meant it only as a jest. You went to great lengths simply to see me, and you certainly didn’t need to.” His hand slowly lowers, but your gaze is held to his as if bound by unseen threads. “Simply knowing you are safe is a plentiful reward in itself.”

“I- I uh. It’s not-” the words fall broken and useless from your lips like shards of glass with no hope of coming together to make a cohesive sentence. Perhaps it’s for the best, since you’re not even sure what you can try to say in response to such an earnest notion of safety from someone who didn’t even know your first name.

And that is what finally pulls your thoughts into clarity.

You step back, providing just enough space between yourself and your savior so that your mind can clear and your heart can stop beating so damn quickly. Once you regain a sense of sensibility you all but glare at the man.

“My name is-” you say, brows knitted and stance firm as you all but aggressively introduce yourself to the man who had sacrificed so much of himself for your safety. For the safety of hundreds.

And Kyojuro watches, and listens, and then he smiles.

“That’s a nice name,” he says, then chuckles again, then bows his head for a moment. “Though you seem to know already, I am Kyojuro Rengoku. It’s quite the pleasure to meet you then! Properly meet you, at least. One less train involved.”

As the words settle humorously in the air, you watch Kyojuro turn and make a gesture to follow behind him. For a moment you’re confused, but he turns his face back to you and nods in the direction of the hall a few steps ahead.

“You wanted me to rest, yes? We can do so overlooking the back garden. I figure you’d like to sit and talk for a while-” and then he pauses, as if a moment of realization is just now moving across his thoughts. “…unless there is somewhere else you need to be?”

Bashful instinct presses at the root of your tongue to agree, perhaps even to make up some silly excuse for why you couldn’t stay for long. But then your eyes catch and hold onto a gaze that seems like brilliant rubies, and his voice echoes so warmly in your ears. And then you remember noting how empty the house felt when you stepped inside of it, devoid of anyone but what might be the last few members of the Rengoku family.

How lonely.

A shake of your head and motion of your legs happen before you can even think.

“O-oh no, I… have the day free. Though of course I didn’t assume you yourself had the time to entertain anyone, with you… healing up, and all.”

Kyojuro smiles for a moment before leading the way down the hall, his motions a bit stilted by injuries, but proud all the same. You held a deep respect for the man and his willpower despite knowing so little about him — and you certainly wanted to know more.

“I actually enjoy the company,” he says, just as you move in-step beside him. “And you are the first person from that accident to try and find me — perhaps the only one! So, if you’ll humor me for a bit of your time… I would like to learn more about you as well.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you can see him smiling. Despite the countless injuries that undoubtedly leave him in pain, some perhaps permanent, the man continues to smile as wide and as bright as the sun itself.

And you are glad to have met him.

[wizkiddx]

was thinking for toms most recent ig story it sounds like hes working out early everyday, what if u did a blurb where the reader does it with his and its like best friend --> something else ? sounded like a you type of story, id love if you gave it a go ❤️💕

oohkay so sorry this lit just came through this evening and I suddenly got v stupidly into it (if u put in a req before that I promise I am working on it I just got way to invested cos this is stupidly cute) xxxx

summary: what starts off as tom taking you under his wing and some sunrise workouts together might just develop into something more

“It shouldn’t be legal…. to be doing anything… this fucking early!” Spoken, well yelled, in between the fake strokes of the exercise bike and your pants. All you got in response was the two men laughing at you, no sign of sympathy at all, as your gritted your teeth - fighting against every body instinct to stop the movements. Your heart was pumping like the clappers; breathing shallow and rushed and your arms… your arms felt like they were about to fall off. Combine that with the lack of sleep from waking up before the sun did at 5 am - meant you felt like your were in literal hell.  

Why ever you’d agreed to do these workouts with Tom and Duffy escaped you. Being the new and rising actress, with a new supporting role in the next Spiderman, meant you’d spent a lot of time with Tom over the past few weeks. Not to inflate his ego either, but Tom had been a real life hero to you. See, you were the complete opposite of his experienced and seasoned professionalism - this was your first acting gig. And what a gig it was, the second biggest part in a Marvel movie. You never really believed you’d get the part and even when you did, were pretty sure it was some elaborate joke, where Ant and Dec were going to jump out from some corner and go ‘ha its a prank!’ or something. 

Yet somehow it was all still happening, you had been flown halfway across the world to spend three months alone on a film set. Well obviously not alone, but you knew no one - you were a complete outsider. That, really, was the reason you’d agreed to do these sessions with Tom. He’d offered half heartedly while between takes as you were moaning about how out of breath you got in that scene. At that point, you’d only known each other for a matter of weeks, he really hadn’t expected you to commit to 5 am each and every morning. What he wasn’t aware of though, was how ocmplerly stranded and lonely you felt here, hence why you jumped at his offer. 

And yes you loved to moan and complain when you were there, however you were also so incredibly thankful he ever offered. Duffy, Tom’s PT, was a right laugh too and he took great joy in torturing you - and was also entertained by the new and inventive ways you’d insult him after he ordered you about. 

“Come on Y/n, 200m more and then we are done, even your little arms can survive that.”

“Really … not the encouragement… I was looking for.” Still panting, face bright red and blotchy as you pressed your legs straight again.

“Tom? You wanna help Y/n out?” 

“Nah you know… kind of enjoying seeing her in pain.” The British voice laughed from somewhere behind you, making you roll your eyes.

“Why the hell… are you not… torturing him?” He sounded way to comfortable and relaxed to be working hard. 

“He’s got a stunt heavy day today so wanted to go easy this morning.”

Now that was a bloody joke. You were BOTH filming the SAME scene today, doing the SAME stunts. 

“Did I forget to mention Y/n is on set too?” The joy in Tom’s voice made you want to do horrible things to him. Even though you felt like you wanted to collapse on the floor, you’d happily do a set or two on a punch bag right now - if that punch bag was Tom’s face. 

Before you could hurl some fresh abuse at your costar, Duffy called time on the rowing machine, turning the display off and passing your water bottle over as you slouched on the slidey seat. 

“Done good Y/n/n, I am actually super impressed with your progress” The stocky man patted you on the back genuinely, bringing a bit of smile to your otherwise grimacing face. He went over the chat to Tom about some boy shit that you couldn’t care less about, allowing you a couple minutes to get your breath back. As soon as you did and tried to dismount the machine of death, your ruined legs seemed to have other plans, shakily buckling so you ended up starfished on the floor, groaning at the dull ache that came with the sudden movement. 

And what show of concern did Duffy show you? A belly laugh that echoed round Toms indoor gym making you groan again, throwing your forearm over your eyes. It was in fact the curly haired brunette, who came and knelt by your side, wordlessly balling up the towel and placing it under your head as you shot your eyes open in shock. 

“You okay? Sorry… I might’ve taken our friendly competition a bit too far.”

“I just… just might have to gain the power of flight this afternoon cos my legs aren’t gonna bloody work.” Tom chuckled and shook his head at your dry humour. 

“Oh I’m sure we can talk to Jon and get that arranged… not like Marvel don’t spend years crafting the script and storyline for a newbie actor to change it all.”

“Might I remind you… they wouldn’t have to if your weren’t such a dickhead!” You exclaimed, sitting up and staring at him with an exasperated look than only made him burst out laughing again. 

“I’m sorry I’m sorry… I just cant take you seriously when you look like such a tomato!” His voice went an octave higher as he laughed at himself, the situation getting even worse for you when you heard Duffy join in too. 

The boy was bloody lucky you couldn’t lift your arms right now, otherwise they’s almost certainly be attempting to ruin his pretty boy face. 

/////////////////////////////

After a long day of shooting you and Tom were in one of the set buggies, being taken back to your trailers to change for the evening. There was a peaceful silence until Tom ruined it yet again.

“ Got any fancy plans for this evening then?”

“Well you know me, back to my lonely little old place and  frozen pizza - so living the movie star life.” 

“It’s a Friday! You not going out with your team or anything?” He sounded so bemused at your quiet plans, and mention of a ‘team’ had you cocking your head to the side. 

“‘My team?’ Tom until I get my movie star pay check I can barely afford my pizzas, never mind a whole persons wage.” You were still only three weeks into filming and although you spent an hour every other morning sweating your ass off with Tom - apart from that you’d tried not to impose yourself on him too much. You didnt want to look clingy and naturally Tom always had a mountain of people vying for his attention - you would go to the back of a long line. So honestly, you were still a bit of a mystery to him, right now you’d both only scratched the surface on each other. 

“Really? I know this is your first big job but I thought you’d have someone here?” 

“Nah… I mean I’ve kinda clung to the Marty on the camera crew but he’s going to see family tonight sooo.”

“Come back to mine. I’ve swapped Harry for his twin Sam, which is a bit of an upgrade cos Sam’s a chef. He just arrived last night. I bet he can one up any pizza you were planning on.”

“Honestly I don’t want to impose, sorry I didnt mean for this to be a pity party or-“ The buggy slowed to a stop and Tom instantly vaulted out of it, standing right infront of you and blocking you exist off the back sofa. Both of you were still in costume, Tom in latex and you in your corset-esque two piece, but then both wrapped in matching long line black jackets supplied by set. 

“No come on I’m serious… Sam’s dying to meet you and it’d be good to spend more time together. You know, cos of chemistry and all.” The last bit was a switch from his cool and smooth, normally easy going tone - into something a bit more… anxious? Just like that, before your brain even knew what it was doing, you agreed, smiling broadly and nodding. 

So barely an hour later, you were knocking on the doors to Tom’s mansion-ish rented Atlanta home which was much much more grand than what the studio had arranged for you. Even though you were here most mornings, this time it felt different. Yeh it was stupid, but you can’t help the way you feel and you were stressed. For no real reason… just, just because. 

Thankfully, it wasn’t awkward at all  and you especially instantly hit it off with his younger brother Sam. Everything just felt easy and simple which meant so much more considering you’d felt so isolated an alone halfway across the world for your home comforts. Being British too, simply chatting to the two young men about your hometown and growing up was just so familiar, it really helped you feel less homesick.  Naturally too,  you’d fallen into a casual and friendly ribbing of Tom with Sam, making the three of you spend to majority of the evening cracking up (or in Tom’s case pouting at the abuse). It was a nice change from the two on one attack you got from Tom and Duffy that morning. You’d all cooked dinner together… well no, you and Tom had stood idly watching Sam cook an amazing chicken curry dish - which he promised to give you the recipe too. Honestly Sam felt like your long lost best friend, especially when it came to your shared ability to berate Tom for anything and everything. 

About an hour ago Tom had stuck on the film, effectively shutting up you and Sam - thankfully for him since Sam was just about to get to some rather embarrassing stories of Tom as a kid. You and Tom were on the longer grey sofa; with Sam sat  the other side of the coffee table in an impressively soft armchair - looking as though it was swallowing the lanky boy. The calm, the silence and the comfort was only going to go one way for you though. After your workout this morning, plus all the running and jumping during the shoot,  after what had already been a pretty intense week, it was hardly surprising that you didn’t even notice yourself drifting off the sleep. 

Who did notice though? Perhaps your brown haired costar who’d been stealing glances across to you ever since the movie had been put on? Because as much as he hated to admit it to himself, this didnt seem to be panning out as a normal job. A normal job is something you put your all into, for a couple weeks, and then leave with good memories and a good pay check. Yes, he had only known your for a matter of weeks or so but it already seemed to be unfathomable to cut ties with you. How would he go without your kind mannered abuse everyday? You were just refreshing, new and mysterious. And Tom was more than intrigued, his interest was peaked. 

And it was stupid to feel like that…. Of course it was. You can’t fancy a colleague because things get complicated and awkward. Tom knew that. 

Then why was he now delicately draping a blanket over your frame and smiling smally when you hummed in your sleep, in what seemed to be a show of appreciation for the layer of warmth? 

Because you were his excited puppy of a costar who is giving everything she has for the job? Because he is worried and wants to look after you? Because he cares? 

No matter why, in that moment you were contented and as was Tom. Oh and Sam? 

Sam saw the tell tale signs in his brother. He saw the way Tom had been touching your arm or the small of your back just a little more than what would be considered normal while he’d been cooking. He’d seen the way Tom had been laughing purely because you had. His eldest brother never did anything rash, it was always a painfully slow process for everyone involved. But Sam thought this just might be the start of something. The start of a slow burn.

[capitainelevi]

5, for the drabble challenge

Thank you for your ask!! ❤️❤️

Drabble challenge: Followers send a number to your ask and you write a drabble using that sentence/prompt in your piece. “You haven’t even touched your food. What’s going on?”

TW: dark themes, violence.

Dream in red

Criminal Levi. Canon setting. Word count: 2112

She was oblivious to the sights her beauty drew to her, giving Levi the perfect opportunity to marvel at the nymph across from him. He took in every move she made, committing to memory the way she loosened her honey-colored hair, which fell to her shoulders, or the way the girl bit her bottom lip in concentration as she rang up the customers of the small vegetable stand. She looked up briefly, and Levi locked eyes with her big, amber-colored ones as she gave him a shy smile. Her fate was sealed at that moment: she was everything Levi had been looking for. The missing piece from his life. Levi closed his eyes, imagining the blood flowing from the blade on his wrist as he plunges his knife in her heart, the light leaving her eyes as the fear on her face shifted to agony.

The last girl barely saturated Levi`s thirst. He wondered if Erwin ever suspected the activities that filled up Levi`s nights and if he was turning a blind eye to keep his most valuable soldier. Sometimes, he imagined the scandal that would ensure if he ever got caught. Humanity`s strongest soldier and also the most notorious criminal Trost ever had. Levi did follow in his uncle`s footsteps, after all.

Killing in the Underground was natural. He couldn`t even remember how many lives his hand took. Even his uncle gave up on him after the first time he found eight-year-old Levi crouched over the body of a young woman, his hands stained with her blood. Levi tried to keep his urges at bay when Erwin brought him up to the surface, putting all his rage and needs in slicing up titan flesh, but it lacked the intimacy he felt when he was in the same room as his prey. Nothing could replace the moment when his victims realized there was no way out for them.

From that day, Levi kept a watchful eye on his prey, learning every detail of her routine, but still keeping a safe distance from the girl. His small fantasy kept replaying in his mind day after day, of her tied to a chair as he prepared his blades to slice up her soft skin.

Climbing up to her bedroom became a routine in Levi`s days and nights. He knew everything her room had to say about her. He knew which book was her favorite by how worn out it was and how her clothes smelled like. At times, he felt so drawn to her he would linger through the night, watching her sleeping form for hours. His hand would slip to the blade in his pocket, wondering if the devastation on his father`s face as he found the light of his life sliced up in her bed would be better than the uncertainty he put the families through, as Levi disposed of all the bodies behind the Wall.

One afternoon, she came out of her house alongside three tall men, laughing with them, jokingly hitting one of them in their shoulder. Levi felt himself burning up with jealousy, his stomach was in knots, and against his better judgment, he started following the small group to the nearest tavern. Levi sat down at the bar, pretending to busy himself with a newspaper, positioning himself so he could steal glances at his small ginger, caught up in a conversation with her friends. His heart almost jumped out of his chest when Petra approached him so she could order her drink, and it took everything Levi had not to touch her. When she took out her pouch, she realized she was short on money when Levi told the bartender he would be covering for her.

“Wait, are you sure?”

Levi didn`t look at her as he pulled a few coins out of his pocket- “Don`t worry about it, just enjoy your drink.”

She eventually gave Levi a big smile and thanked him for the drink. When Petra started making her way back to her friends, Levi got out of his place and stormed out of the tavern. He couldn`t wait any longer. The image of her dead eyes plagued Levi`s days and nights. He needed to make his way to the cabin and get everything ready for his guest.

When the night finally came, Levi posted himself across from her house, waiting for his oblivious victim to fall into his arms. He pulled the hood on his face when the door opened, and the conversation he overheard was both amusing and sorrowful.

“Petra, love, maybe you should have told Oluo to come to pick you up. Too many young girls have been disappearing lately.”

Petra waved her father off, confident nothing would ever happen to her- “I`ll be fine, daddy, don`t worry. It`s just a short walk.”

Her father wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek- “I would be dead if something happened to you.”

“Nothing of the sort is going to happen to me, dad.”

Oh, my dove, maybe you should have listened to your father`s warning.

Used to living in the shadows, it was easy for Levi to tail her without her even noticing his presence creeping up on her. Petra struggled in his hold as she felt a hand across her mouth, stopping the air from reaching her lungs. She tried to bite or scratch or hit him, anything to get out of his hold, but as everything started going black, she knew there was no chance for her. I was wrong, dad. I`m sorry.

Levi covered her unconscious form and put her on his horse as he sped up towards the small cabin he kept for entertaining his most special guests. He was bursting up with excitement over the prospect of spending his night in the presence of the most perfect woman he had ever laid his eyes upon. Levi was going to take his time with her so that her death would not be in vain. He was going to take every bit of pleasure he could out of their time together.

After he tied Petra to the blood-stained wooden chair, Levi took a moment to admire her beauty. He ran his fingers through the ginger locks before tracing her plump lips with his thumb, thinking how it was a shame such beauty would be wasted in a matter of hours. How her pretty face would fall victim to decay.

The images in his mind shifted to how their life together would look like, how her sleeping sun-soaked form would look like in his bed every morning, on how he would wake her up with a kiss on her cheek. Levi would prepare her a cup of tea and her favorite dish for breakfast, and she would tell him all about the clients she had to deal with daily. Levi was brought back to reality by a groaning coming from the unconscious ginger, and against everything his instincts urged him to do, Levi made up his decision. Petra was going to live. And she would be his.

Levi shook her awake, and Petra groaned as she started to regain consciousness. She felt like her head would explode, and she couldn`t comprehend why a strange man was urging her to wake up. As memories of her night came flooding back, Petra yelled, trying to get away from her kidnapper. Levi waited for her to calm down as he tried to assure her that she was safe. When Petra stopped yelling, he approached her again, as he took her hand in his and caressed it.

“I followed the bastard here, but he ran away when he heard me approaching. Did he hurt you?”

Petra`s mind went blank as she tried to comprehend how lucky she had been. She looked into Levi`s eyes and saw nothing but concern, and the gruff-looking man in front of her became her hero. Petra threw herself in his arms, and while it was the last thing he expected, Levi didn`t think twice before reciprocating her gesture.

“No. Oh, thank the Goddesses you were here!”

Petra thanked Levi over and over again, wrapping her arms so tight around his body he nearly fell out of breath. He took Petra up in his arms and carried her to his horse to return his woman to his father. For the moment. He was sure he was in Heaven. He could see the relief and appreciation in Petra`s eyes as she told him he saved her life over and over again, and her father threw his arms around Levi the first chance he got.

Levi ignored the older man staining his cape with his tears as he threw his arms around Levi once Petra made her way back to the house- “My son, I owe you my life. Please, come back for dinner tomorrow evening. It`s the least I could do for you.”

Levi accepted the invitation and promised Petra`s father he would brief the Military Police the first chance he got. He just happened to be in the area as he saw the petite ginger`s misfortune of being chosen as the next victim of the newest killer plaguing their city. While they didn`t find any evidence in the cabin, the one Levi made sure to clean before waking Petra up, the Military Police still promised they would not treat this lightly, and it took everything Levi had not to laugh at their empty words.

He bought Petra flowers before coming to her house, and he didn`t miss the slight blush painting her cheeks as he put them in her arms. Petra`s father thanked Levi over and over again throughout dinner, telling him he was a blessing in their lives, and if Levi had any decency in him, he would have left right then. But no. Levi stayed and talked to Petra for hours and didn’t hesitate to accept the dinner invitation for next week.

Levi brought her flowers every time, and after the fourth dinner at her place, Petra asked him if he would like to accompany her to a picnic in the woods. They spent most of the afternoons lying on the blanket, with Levi listening to Petra talk about her childhood and how much she missed her mother, who passed away when she was a teenager. Levi shared a bit about his past, letting Petra know he grew up in the Underground, but realizing it must have been hard for him, she switched the conversation to his time in the Survey Corps and how he became Humanity`s Strongest Soldier.

Throughout their conversations, Levi could notice Petra`s sight swift to his lips from time to time, and while she was in the middle of telling him about her favorite dessert, Levi captured her mouth in a hungry kiss. Despite being taken by surprise, Petra reciprocated, being convinced that Levi was the greatest man she could ever be with.

Being Levi`s lover was hard, as she had to say goodbye to him with every expedition that he risked his life in, but Petra was the luckiest woman alive. Her lover was spoiling her with his attention and love. Every moment Levi got away from the military, he spent in her arms. After six months of dating, Levi announced to her he had a surprise for her, and he blindfolded her as he took her to the small apartment they would be moving in together.

Petra loved Levi more than she had ever loved anyone before, but doubt started making its way into her heart as evidence kept piling up over the months spent together. Such as the bloodstains she kept finding on his clothes as she washed them, after being fairly certain titan blood should have evaporated. Or the nights she woke up to an empty bed, as her lover claimed to have taken a walk outside to help with his insomnia. But no. She was being paranoid. Her Levi was the sweetest man she had ever met. But she had to ask. She needed to be sure.

Petra was lost in her thoughts as she played around with the food on her plate. She had just discovered another bloodstain on her lover`s cravat. Levi`s voice pulled her out of her thoughts- “You haven’t even touched your food. What’s going on?”

She sighed, unsure if she should even word it to Levi, but she knew the answer already. There was no way the kind man she had been dating would hurt people.

“Levi… do you have something to tell me?”

Levi sighed as he listened to Petra voice out her worries, all while pulling his knife out of his pocket.

[o0o-chibaken-o0o]

Do you have any rec list with bonds, forced or not between drarry From soulmate bond to magical link, whatever really

OH BOY DO I. This is one of my favorite tropes, and this list (which I made on a whim upon seeing a facebook post about bonding) barely scratches the surface of all the amazing related fics! Enjoy

The Destiny You Sold by @tryslora (59K)- In which Draco knits, Harry makes wands, and things get very tangled up between them.HONESTLY just the memory of this fic is so happy and healing that I’m almost certainly going to reread it a third time within the next week there’s KNITTING!!! But also D/S dynamics and shop-owning and tons of wonderful amazingness

For The Greater Good by @jadepresley (62K)- When Harry and Draco discover they’ve been bonded to one another, neither one of them is prepared for the secrets they slowly begin to uncover. Together, they learn that they can’t escape their past, or the things that have been left hidden there, and that sometimes the only way to move forward is to look back.This fic has SO MANY GREAT THINGS! I started to type them all out but then realized y’all probably don’t want a ton of spoilers and the way the plot of this fic unfolds and everything comes together is just masterful and enthralling and full of surprises!

Lift Your Open Hand by @firethesound (18.5K)- With Draco Malfoy as his assigned partner for the next six weeks of Auror training, Harry had been prepared for things to go poorly. But getting themselves accidentally bonded to each other in the first twenty minutes of their very first assignment seemed going above and beyond, even for them.I love love love this fic! It’s got sort-of bumbling Auror partners!Drarry who get into trouble first thing and then COVER IT UP like a pair of adorable idiots and of course they’re like this will be FINE until it’s not fine and everybody’s in love and Nick Cage is there for some reason and the reader is grinning like a loon

Twice as Much as an Earthquake by @firethesound (18.5K)- Accidental bonding. Breaking and entering. Conspiring, however unwillingly, in the strange one-man war Malfoy’s waging against detention. This isn’t the normal school year Harry anticipated having, but at least it’s not boring.I read this so long ago it is DEFINITELY time for a re-read because all I remember is feeling a great sense of mischief and joy, and like that’s everything we all need in our lives right now. 

Unexpected Consequences by lauren3210 (39K)- Harry was going back to school. He was going to play Quidditch, sleep in lessons, hang out with his friends, and generally just enjoy being a kid for a change. And he was also going to do it while being bonded with Malfoy, because apparently life was just going to continue throwing curveballs at him. Harry didn’t know why he expected anything different.This is one of the earliest drarry fics I read (possibly the first eighth year one?) and I have adored it ever sense! It has a wonderful premise, great exploration of issues of consent with a power imbalance, and all your standard amazing bonding tropes– especially roommates!! And Harry being Draco’s protector! OH AND it was written to go with “that picture” (you know the one) and so has an amazing dark mark removal scene that I’ll never forget!

In Evidence of Magical Theory by @bixgirl1​ (43.5K)- When a hex meant for Draco accidentally catches Harry as well, they’re forced to learn to understand each other in ways they previously might have thought impossible.In which Harry and Draco can’t fight, so they fall in love instead.OKAY I REMEMBER when I read this fic and was like WHO IS THIS RANDOM AMAZING WRITER??? because it was her first fic and now she’s one of the greats but damn this fic is still a testament to some of the things bix does best and is a must-read!!! Magical theory! Eighth year! Room sharing! BED SHARING! Her first drarry rimming scene!!! (Aww

Salt on the Western Wind by Saras_Girl (60.5K)- When the war isn’t quite as over as it first appears, a guilt-ridden Harry is sent to a mysterious safe-house. Among sandwiches, insomnia, and Mills & Boon, he discovers something quite unexpected. Like every single Saras_Girl fic ever, this fic is a true gem. It’s a relatively simple setting (seeing as they’re stuck in a house) but so realistic and subtle and evocative. The bonding in this fic is more physical than emotional, which is not only an interesting change of pace but also makes for many truly wonderful and embarrassing moments :D

The Comfort of Tea by Omi_Ohmy (20.5K)- A lawn mower, a pertly pink todger, endless cups of tea and a few sly grins. Oh yes, and Harry is cursed to temporarily bond to anyone he gets close to; for some reason that person ends up being Draco, more often than not…OKAY usually bonding fics are all angsty and pining-y, but this one is just fucking ADORABLE and fluffy and warm and cute and it will make you happy!!!!

Soup-pocalypse and the Great Curry Cataclysm by SquadOfCats (104.5K)-  Eleven years after the war, Draco Malfoy leads a quiet, boring, and perfectly respectable life, thanks very much. Or, at least he does, until a sudden and very unexpected veela awakening causes him to throw soup all over Harry Potter in the middle of the Ministry cafeteria.This fic was like a revelation when I read it because it was so. damn. good!!! One of my favorite fics of all time and a VERY refreshing take on the veela!Draco trope. Draco is the most hilarious, snarky, relatable narrator and the story is full of pining and tons of entertaining incidents and it’s just a perfect (and long, bless us all!) fic!

Bond by AnnaFugazzi (173.5)- I started to write this before HBP came out, and crossed my fingers that HBP wouldn’t make it totally non-canon. No such luck, I’m afraid. This, therefore, is an AU story, where (SPOILER) still teaches (SPOILER), (SPOILER) didn’t try to (SPOILER), (SPOILER) didn’t succeed in (SPOILER), (SPOILER) never dated (SPOILER), and most importantly, (MAJOR ENDING SPOILERS) never happened.This is like… the OG drarry bonding fic. An absolute classic, for very good reason! Warning for pressure to be intimate because of the bond.

Timeshare by @astolat (14K)- “It’s not for long,” Hermione said. “By the time we get back to Hogwarts, the Unfettering Brew will be ready.”“Listen to you!” Ron said. “He’s got to get through a month with the Dursleys and a month at Malfoy Manor. With Draco Malfoy.”“Yeah, thanks,” Harry said, because he hadn’t just spent the last week contemplating just how much more horrible his summer holidays were about to be than they’d ever been before.My favorite part about this fic is the sweet sweet satisfaction of Draco meeting the Dursleys and being VERY Malfoy about it. But there are also a lot of touching moments of Harry and Draco figuring each other out and learning to respect each other as well.

Dear Uncle Plume by @eidheann (16.5K)- Life after war is nothing like Draco expected. He only hopes he’ll survive it. Especially when his friends are less than sympathetic.OKAY BUT AGONY AUNT DRACO. That’s literally all that needs to be said and if that isn’t enticing to you then who even are you. Also contains great Slytherin friendships, struggling Draco, and secret relationship -> mpreg -> bond -> angst drama

The Sleeping Beauty Curse by who_la_hoop (152.5K)- When Draco Malfoy falls into a cursed sleep and can only be woken – at least, according to the Daily Prophet, that impeccable source of truth – by ‘true love’s kiss’, Harry Potter knows there’s no way on earth he’s the answer to this particular riddle. Is he …?This is a FABULOUS fic, completely hilarious and touching and full of all your favorite tropes, and SO LONG!!! Hours and hours of pure enjoyment :D

The Arrangement by create_serenity (Sivany) (16K)- The arrangement was very simple really, and very convenient. Draco just hadn’t expected it to result in this mess.So veela!Harry and veela!Draco have a deal in which they casually help each other out (with sex, in case that wasn’t obvious) while they search for their true mates, and OF COURSE you know what happens next and honestly what a brilliant idea

Before the World Was Made by daftfear (43K)- Draco has done everything in his power to leave the past behind him. He’s established himself a successful business and built a reputation around the quality of his work and the breadth of his knowledge. But when aurors show up at his shop one afternoon, seeking his expertise on a peculiar item of questionable origins, they completely overthrow the precarious balance in Draco’s life. Trust Potter to bring danger and destruction in his wake, along with a painful reminder of all the things Draco is trying to forget.WHAT BETTER to bond our two boys together than a cursed (wedding!!) ring, right?? Also I love any and all fics with antique shop owner!Draco, and lots of exploration of wizarding history and traditions, and this one does both things so well

Hungry by birdsofshore (24K)- The first thing Harry knew about it was when he woke up lying on a bed in the hospital wing, with his arm firmly stuck to the scrawny, milk-white arm of Draco bloody Malfoy.Another classing must-read bonding fic!!! This time featuring drarry as enemies with their arms literally stuck together in eighth year. AS GOOD AS IT COULD GET. One of my favorite enemies-to-lovers fics AND one of my favorite eighth year fics!

[ofharrie]

tied down

Summary: Y/N wants a relationship, Harry doesn’t. Until jealousy got to him. Word count: 3.7k  Warnings and themes: smut, swearing, angst

masterlist / request

(A/N: A big thank you to @sweetdaisys  and @playmelikeacello for helping me out with the concepts as well as proofreading and a massive thank you to @alwaysjacked-up for taking the time to edit, review and provide me with lots of very helpful feedback you’re a legend Sarah! Hope you guys enjoy this one!)

Harry was seated on an old recliner right next to the Christmas tree, flickering blue and yellow lights were giving him a small headache that wasn’t being eased by the mulled wine he’d been nursing all night. It was Christmas Eve and everyone was busy in the kitchen preparing for dinner as well as Christmas Day dinner. He was meant to be in there, too; giving a helping hand with the baked goods or even just checking on the pots so they don’t boil over, but his mum insisted otherwise.

“Have some wine and put your feet up, love,” She told him after handing him a glass. “You’ve been busy all week. Just look after the kids in the living room, keep them entertained and out of the kitchen.”

But his nieces and nephews were all already pre-occupied, colouring in their drawings with a heavy hand, whilst munching on gingerbread cookies that Gemma baked for them earlier. He wanted to busy himself, try and distract himself from the fact that his phone still hadn’t buzzed in his pocket. This thought often spiraled into him wondering if she’s with him and what they were doing. Although Harry knew deep down, it wasn’t his place to wonder.

He’s had his chance and he blew it. Y/N has dropped many hints before that she had romantic feelings for Harry. But Harry didn’t know if he could commit to anyone. Back then he was 23, exploring his first time as a solo artist, trying to find his place in the world. For the first time ever, Harry felt free and the thought of being in a relationship evoked feelings of being trapped and starting again from square one.

But, at the same time, Harry did reciprocate those feelings. He was sure of it. But the nagging thoughts in the back of his mind that lingered everytime he was having difficulty falling asleep (which happened to be almost every night) prevented him from ever pursuing anything with Y/N. And yet, the ugly feeling of jealousy crept up on him but he knew it was selfish of him to continue wanting to be the only man in her life and at the same time, not want to commit to her.

“I can’t give you what you want, Y/N,” He finally admitted, partly to her but mostly to himself. “You deserve better than some guy who doesn’t know what he wants.”

”Then you have to quit being a jealous sook,” She spoke softly through tears falling from her cheeks. ”You can’t have both, H. It’s either just me and no one else, or you can’t have me at all.” Their argument broke Harry’s heart and he knew that he couldn’t keep doing that to Y/N.

They’d forgotten about the argument and decided to completely move past it. It was never spoken about again and for a brief period of time, Harry felt relieved. They were fine again and were back to talking every single day like they always have. But a few months later when Y/N introduced him to some guy named James, who wore too much cologne for his liking, he’d never wanted to talk about the unpleasantries of their complicated situation more than he did now.

When James came along, the daily text messages, snapchats and random drop-bys came to an inevitable halt. It seemed like Y/N was just a distant friend and Harry was beginning to miss the smell of her perfume that usually stuck around the decorative throw pillows in his sofa, or the banana pancakes that she made for him but never ate herself because she wasn’t a fan of the texture, or even her laugh that would interrupt his sentences whenever he tells her about something funny that happened to him.   

So he left her a voicemail, asking her to come to Christmas Eve dinner in hopes that they could talk about it. It had been two days since he called, and not once had she replied. It was safe to say he was epically losing the staring game with his phone.

It was when the timer for the apple pie started rattling against the marble countertop that Harry jolted; the buzzing in his pocket mimicking the timer’s motions. His haphazard movements almost made him spill his drink on to the faux fur carpet that laid underneath the recliner, frantically reaching for his phone from the tight confines of his front pocket.

Y/N 3:02PM

Sorry for the late reply I only just heard your voicemail. I’d love to come!! Need to catch up with Gem and Anne anyway. What time did you want me there? x

Harry 3:05PM

No worries. Around 5 maybe? Altho you won’t get ahold of mum until maybe after dinner lol

Y/N 3:10PM

Alright I’ll see you then

-

Y/N was, in fact, not with James. Instead, she was cooped up in her apartment, watching Love Actually, wrapped up in her duvet with a cup of tea in her hands. She had ended things with James a few days back, politely telling him that she didn’t see their relationship going any further due to her not seeing a future for the two of them. That’s what her mouth said, anyway. Her heart, however, knew that it was because she’s still hung up on Harry and there’s no way she could pursue a relationship without moving on from him first. Hence, her avoiding him.

Harry and her haven’t spoken since she broke up with James and she wasn’t planning on breaking that streak until she finally listened to Harry’s voicemail. Y/N supposed that it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to spend Christmas Eve with Harry’s family, as she’s done so for the past five years that they’d been friends. But, then again, the thought of seeing Harry made her stomach flip.

A reply was eventually given, however, as Y/N heart finally caved as she found herself curating a message for Harry. Before she could think about just what she has done, she caught her thumb pressing on the blue arrow and sending her message.

Y/N threw her phone across the room, her actions surprising herself, but she didn’t dare move to pick it up. A few minutes passed and the phone eventually vibrated twice, indicating an incoming message. She hurriedly crawled off the couch and on to the carpeted surface on which the phone (luckily) landed on. There were no scratches or damages on the screen, instead just a reply from Harry.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid!” She whispered to herself, pacing back and forth around the room with her phone in her shaky hand. “What do I do? What do I say to him?”

A whisper-scream burst out of her lips (being wary of disturbing her neighbours) as she typed a second message to Harry. She still wasn’t sure if she’s ready to see him or not, but what’s done is done.

-

The next two hours were spent in contemplation. Harry didn’t know if it was right of him to invite Y/N to dinner, despite knowing that she was most likely trying to avoid him. He knew her like the back of his hand, Y/N always tried to distance herself from him (even more so than she already has) whenever there was something wrong and the lack of conversations between them the past thirteen days had taken its toll on Harry. He had no idea what was going on but if he had to guess, he’d say it was something to do with that James guy she was seeing.

He was furious just from the thought of him being anything but an absolute gentleman to Y/N. His Y/N. Harry knew he should be with her but, at the same time, he knew he couldn’t give her was she wanted. The doorbell rang ten minutes before 5PM, alerting Harry, as he was sitting in his spot in the recliner, and placed his drink down on the coffee table before hurrying off to answer the door, knowing exactly who was behind it.

“Hi!” Y/N greeted accompanied by a big smile on her face. Harry embraced her into a hug, reciprocating his actions with her arms wrapped around his waist.

“I’ve missed you,” Harry mumbled against the crook of her neck, his voice coming out muffled.

“Missed you, too,” She replied, pulling back from the hug and letting herself into the house.

Much to Harry’s dismay, Y/N went straight into the kitchen, looking for his mum and his sister. Before he could steal her away from them, she had already agreed to help Gemma set the table for dinner, so Harry decided to go back to his babysitting duties instead.

The dinner went well, everyone got along as per usual and the food tasted amazing. It’s exactly what Harry’s been missing all tour long, what he wishes he could bring along with him wherever he goes. It was nearing 11PM when he finally had Y/N all to himself. Deciding to step away from the large group indoors, he took her to the backyard with a space heater running and a couple of blankets, pillows, and bean bags spread out on the patio.

“How’ve you been?” He asked, sitting across from her. “Haven’t annoyed me with your lame jokes for weeks.”

“Hey!” She scolded, playfully throwing a pillow at Harry. “My jokes are funny, Styles. You’re the one whose jokes are lame.”

Their shared laughter faded and instead was replaced by Harry’s voice. “But, seriously, Y/N,” He said. “Where have you been?”

“Just my apartment,” She replied, avoiding his gaze. “Haven’t really been out much.”

“Thought James would have taken you on a few dates,” Harry sneered. “Especially since I’m not around.”

Y/N knew that Harry would soon pester her about James so she quickly tried to change the subject in order to not cause any arguments between the two of them. She didn’t want to ruin the night, after all. “Your hair’s getting long again,” She commented, nodding towards his disheveled curls that were barely touching his shoulders.

“Yeah, been wanting to grow it out again,” Harry replied, running his fingers through his hair. “D’ya remember what happened last time my hair was this long?”

-

She could see the evident smirk on his face and knew exactly what he meant. Neither of them intended for it to happen. Y/N was just mindlessly playing with Harry’s hair, admiring how it looked cascading down to his shoulders and in the heat of the moment, accompanied by a few glasses of champagne, they found themselves caught in a feverish kiss with the sound of their lips moving against each other echoing throughout the empty hallway as they made their way to Harry’s bedroom.

It was Harry’s shirt that was discarded first, the faded and worn out fabric of his Rolling Stones shirt hitting the carpeted flooring of his bedroom. One of his hands roamed around the small of her back, slithering down to squeeze her ass and causing her to moan against Harry’s lips. His other hand was cupping her jaw, desperately trying to deepen the kiss as they made their way to his bed.

She pushed him onto the bed and Harry leaned back on his hands, using them for support as he watched Y/N rid herself of her own clothing, leaving only her bra and panties. They were mismatched; her body adorned a simple black t-shirt bra and coral undies but Harry didn’t mind, he adored her nonetheless.

Y/N straddled him, continuing their frenzied kissing. She was dizzy from it all, a good kind of dizzy. She never thought any of this would happen, and yet there they were, about to fuck on his bed. She tried pushing those thoughts aside, instead focusing on unzipping Harry’s jeans.

“Can I?” She whimpered against his lips. “Please?”

“Can you what, love?” Harry asked, moving from kissing her lips to proceeding to sponge kisses all over her neck.

“Want to, uh,” She stammered, feelings Harry’s bulge rub up against her centre. “Wanna suck you off, H.”

“Yeah?” Harry asked mockingly, smiling against her throat. “Want my cock in your mouth before I fuck your pretty little cunt?”

She couldn’t help but pull at his long hair as he purposely thrusts up against her, almost soaking her panties with his actions. “Can I?”

“Of course you can,” Harry replied followed by a lingering kiss on her lips. “Anything for my girl.”

She stood up, removing her bra before getting on her knees in front of Harry. He lifted from the bed, helping Y/N remove his jeans and boxers before throwing them off the side. She’d be lying if she said it didn’t make her mouth water; Harry was so big and thick, she was almost scared to suck him off in fear that she’ll disappoint him.

“You’re so big,” She whispered, diverting her gaze towards Harry’s eyes. “Don’t know if I can take all of it.”

“Don’t have to take it all, love,” He said, stroking her hair. “Just do what feels right to you.”

She placed a hand around his shaft, giving him a few slow strokes before sponging kisses along his length. Harry was already a mess. He watched as her tongue darted out to give his hard cock a few kitten licks, paying special attention to his leaking tip. She hollowed her cheek as she sucked on his tip eagerly, letting out a sigh of content. Her tongue returns to the base of his shaft, licking a fat stripe all the way to the head of his cock.

“Such a good girl,” Harry whimpered, giving her a lazy smile.

She took him back into her mouth, gliding her wet lips along his tip before taking half of him into her mouth, feeling every ridge of his length against her tongue. Harry watched intently as Y/N bobbed her head, the light sound of her gagging as she eagerly tried to take all of him in her mouth. He could feel her swallow around him every so often and Harry knew he would cum soon if she kept going.

“Y-you have to,” Harry stammered, his jaw dropping as she eased more of him into her mouth. “Gotta pull off, love. Need to be inside you.”

She obeyed eagerly, slowly pulling off him. Harry almost let out an embarrassing whine after seeing the sinful look of Y/N, with her lips all puffy and shiny with a string of spit connecting them to the head of his cock.

“On the bed, love,” Harry ordered, his hand on the back of her neck gently guiding her up from her knees. Y/N sat on the bed, leaning against her forearms as she watched her best friend’s fingers curl around the waistband of her panties and slowly slide them down her thighs, leaving her completely naked for Harry to admire. He was quick to restart their kissing, wanting nothing more than to be inside her.

Harry began to tap gently on her clit, eliciting a small gasp from Y/N. He then proceeded to play with her throbbing clit, his fingers softly grazing along the button that was slippery from her wetness.

“Harry,” She moaned, feeling very sensitive. “Just want you inside me. Please.”

“Need to open you up first,” He replied, his fingers wandering lower to her opening. “Don’t wanna hurt you.”

“You won’t,” She replied surely, looking up at Harry whose long hair has been disheveled from their activities. “I can take it.”

“You sure about that?” Harry teased, giving her a smug smirk, before sliding two of his fingers knuckle-deep inside of her. She let out an audible gasp, surprised by his actions. Harry groaned, feeling her juices coat his fingers. His thumb began rubbing against her clit all the while his digits were gliding in and out against her wet walls.

“Get inside me, please,” She begged again, giving Harry a pleading look. He didn’t listen, instead pumped his fingers faster and deeper until he reached that special spot and had Y/N writhing underneath him. But before she could cum, Harry removed his fingers and put them in his mouth, savouring the taste of her juices.

“Taste so fucking good,” He muttered, giving Y/N a deep kiss and letting her taste herself on his tongue. Harry took his length with one hand and the other pinned Y/N’s thigh against the mattress. Slowly, he guided his leaking cock towards her entrance, pushing in inch by inch and watching as Y/N’s eyes roll back and her jaw drop in pure ecstasy.

“Feel so full,” She whispered, grabbing onto Harry’s biceps. It was a surreal experience, finally fucking Harry, bare and raw nonetheless. It was dizzying, the feeling of his hard cock inside of her and stretching her out like no man ever has before. Her legs were wrapped around his waist, occasionally pushing him closer towards her as an involuntary response to how good his throbbing cock felt inside of her.

“You’re so tight, love,” Harry moaned, jaw going slack as Y/N pulled on his hair. “Have no idea how long I’ve wanted this.”

Y/N let out a small and breathless laugh as she felt Harry’s curls tickle her neck, followed by a loud moan as his thumb began rubbing her swollen clit. “So warm and tight, wanna be inside you all the time,” Harry whispered, his voice muffled as he pressed kisses all over her neck and chest. His thrusts were growing shallow, desperate for a release from the both of them.

“I’m gonna-“ Y/N’s words were cut off by Harry grinding against her spot, making her see swirls of colour as her eyes rolled back. “Oh, fuck, Harry! I’m so close.”

“C’mon, Y/N,” Harry begged, his brows knitted as he continued fucking Y/N, still continuing to play with her clit that was slippery wet with both their juices. “Cum for me, cum around my cock.” A loud moan came from her mouth as Y/N came, her walls tightening around Harry’s cock triggering his own orgasm.

-

That night was never spoken of again, especially after Y/N started seeing James, and neither parties knew if the other one regretted it. Until Harry brought it up again. “Was a fun night, huh?” Harry said suggestively, giving her a smirk. “Bet you haven’t had a night as fun like that with James.”

“We’re actually no longer seeing each other,” Y/N quickly replied, looking away from Harry.

“Oh,” Harry quietly spoke. “Why’s that?”

“We didn’t want the same things, I guess,” She turned her gaze towards her twiddling thumbs.

“And what is it that you want?” He asked, a hopeful look on his face.

“You know exactly what I want, Harry,” She replied followed by a humourless chuckle. “But apparently that’s too much of me to ask.”

“Y/N…” Harry trailed off, not knowing what to say to her.

“It’s okay,” Y/N dismissed. “I know what you said before and I understand. It just really fucks me off that you have the audacity to be angry and jealous because I’ve decided to quit pining over you and instead start seeing other people. Just doesn’t seem fair to me.”

“I’m not angry nor am I jealous,” Harry scoffed, shaking his head. “That’s not at all how I’ve been acting. Was just teasing you, love.”

“Really?” She deadpanned, raising an eyebrow. “You expect me to believe that? I mean for fuck’s sake, Harry, you’ve been acting like a child about this whole situation. You don’t get a say in who I date. You’re just my friend.”

“Well maybe I don’t want to just be your friend anymore,” Harry rebutted.

“No!” She growled, standing up from her beanbag. “You’re being so unfair and you can’t even see it. You don’t just get to choose when you want me because it benefits you. You either want me because you do, or you don’t want me at all.”

“I do! I love you, Y/N!” Harry argued, also getting up from his seat and leveling with her. “Fuck, of course, I love you. You’re my best friend!”

“That’s exactly it!” She groaned, rolling her eyes at him. “You only love me as a best friend and yet here you are, constantly giving me shit for dating other people.”

“No, Y/N,” Harry interrupted as he moved closer, cupping her cheek and looking directly at her eyes that were welling up with tears. “You don’t get it. I’m in love with you. I know I haven’t been the best at dealing with my feelings, and I know I don’t deserve another chance with you after I made it very clear that I don’t want to commit to anyone. I also know that I broke your heart and I never apologised for it.”

“Harry-“ Y/N began to speak but was cut off by Harry’s words.

“I’m sorry,” He spoke quietly, followed by a kiss planted on her forehead. “It’s true when they say that you don’t realise what you have until it’s gone. Because every single time you weren’t with me and you were with James instead, it made my heart ache. I didn’t realise that you filled the void inside me until it was dug out again.”

There was a brief pause, a calm silence blanketing over the two of them outside the chilly patio with the orange burn of the space heater radiating a faint illuminance. Y/N wrapped her arms around Harry’s waist, bringing him closer to her. Harry’s heart was hammering against his ribs and he knew that Y/N could probably feel it with her cheek pressed to his chest.

“If we’re going to do this,” She began to speak, looking up to meet Harry’s gaze. “Then you have to be serious about it. You have to commit to the relationship. Are you really willing to do that, Harry?”

“I’d do anything for you, my love.”

[jtmportland]

Thoughts on Mexico City

On my final day here, I thought I’d write a few words about this magnificent city, and make an unlikely comparison with another one of my favourite cities. 

Click below to continue…

Walking along the beautifully pedestrianised Madero Street in the heart of Mexico City, I was struck with nostalgia for Istiklal Street in Istanbul. Istiklal is the famous pedestrian street, lined with elegant buildings, stores and restaurants, that runs southwest from Taksim Square in the old European heart of Istanbul.

Comparing a street in Mexico City to a world-famous street in Istanbul might seem a provocation - and that it is. I want to lure readers into the mental exercise of repositioning Mexico City into a different category of place. 

Shedding some preconceptions opens the mind to a revealing comparison that extends beyond two lively pedestrian streets. These cities have a range of things in common and, in fact, if I had to choose a city that Mexico City most reminds me of, it just might be Istanbul.

Mexico City and Istanbul are very old cities, built upon layers of earlier civilisations, with huge populations (well over 10 million inhabitants each). They are filled with a vast array of historical and architectural treasures and have teeming streets, vast markets, elegant neighbourhoods, and share an exhilarating vibrance. Incidentally, both cities were built on water, although in Mexico City’s case the water has almost entirely disappeared. Comparing these cities also makes sense from an economic perspective: Mexico and Turkey have roughly equivalent incomes per head. It’s illuminating to see the contrasts between cities of similar resources and size managing the challenges of creating an attractive and healthy urban environment.  

But whilst Istanbul is a mecca for tourists from all over the world, Mexico City remains a relative tourist backwater in comparison. It hasn’t yet gained the recognition it deserves for the positive changes it’s experienced over the last decade and for its wealth of attractions and the impressive ambience it has in so many areas. 

Up front, let me say that my verdict on Mexico City is in: you don’t have to fly across the Atlantic or Pacific to visit a dynamic, exotic and captivating global city. 

Mexico City has pretty much everything any tourist, adventurous or not, could ask for. It has countless museums, shopping for all tastes, regional and international food, and overall, a breathtaking level of urban vitality. 

There are only two cities in North America that offer this kind of dense city experience: New York and Mexico City. In Mexico City, however, you can immerse yourself in the urban scene for a small fraction of what it would cost in New York. I think Mexico City qualifies as one of the best kept secrets of North American travel. 

What I imagine to be Mexico City’s unglamorous reputation is mostly a relic from the past that will fade as this city continues to improve and gains the attention it deserves. 

One of the things that makes Mexico City such an engaging and fascinating city is that it is over-endowed with a lot of friction. Friction, in this sense, is the the density of details on streets, details that make you want to stop and take a look, buy something, or have a seat and get something to eat or drink. Mexico City just overwhelms your senses with the array of things on offer. A walk along the streets here is rarely uneventful.

An obvious starting point of a visit to Mexico City is the historical center. This area exudes character and, with the slightest help from the imagination, elegance. It is arguably the most extensive area of historic architecture in the Western Hemisphere. Few cities I’ve visited in North or South America can compare, although Buenos Aires gives Mexico City some serious, if more recent, architectural competition. Thanks to a concerted effort at restoration and revitalization, it now rivals even great European cities in terms of its attractiveness and beats most of them hands down when it comes to verve and dynamism. 

Although tourists might imagine spending the bulk of their time in the historic center, this is just the beginning of what’s on offer in this complex city. There are several extensive areas with rather dramatically different personalities. 

West of the center is Zona Rosa, which reminds me of modern areas of European cities, such as Barcelona or Madrid. Zona Rosa was once the wealthiest area of the city, but went into decline after the 1920s. It has since reinvented itself as a major center for shopping and entertainment. I think most tourists probably stay in this area because of its convenience, wealth of hotels and restaurants, and general attractiveness. Maybe it’s the least exotic part of the city and most accessible for visitors. 

South of the Zona Rosa lie the Bohemian neighbourhoods of Condesa and Roma. These areas, like Zona Rosa, have a history of being wealthy neighbourhoods that went into decline as wealthy populations moved further west. They are built on a smaller, more intimate scale than Zona Rosa, and from what I observed, are gentrifying rapidly. This is the place to go to find trendy cafes and restaurants set in generally quiet and green streets. 

Further west of the Zona Rosa you will find the very exclusive and newer centers of wealth in neighbourhoods such as Polanco and Lomas de Chapultepec. These areas, like clusters of the super wealthy in most large cities around the world, impress you with the extraordinary riches on display including high-end restaurants, exotic car dealerships, stores and hotels.  

This is just a quick summary of some of the neighbourhoods I’ve visited in this city.  A week or two here would barely scratch the surface of what’s on offer. 

My case for parallels between Mexico City and Istanbul weakens critically, however, when you wander beyond the nicer sorts of neighbourhoods I’ve described a bit above. These differences do not generally speak in Mexico City’s favour.

The divergence is immediately evident in the differing attention to the details of infrastructure such as streets, sidewalks and other public spaces. It’s plain to see in the obviously far more unequal society that Mexico is. And in all neighbourhoods, rich and poor, the difference is there in the far poorer (if somewhat improved) air quality. These issues are important to raise because together they conspire to significantly drag down Mexico City’s quality of life. Without addressing them effectively, Mexico City will never be as great a city as Istanbul.  

Ramshackle infrastructure is one of the characteristic features of Mexico’s cities. It’s apparent almost everywhere you go, with some exceptions, notably the infrastructure used by the upper classes, such as international airports. The state of most streetscapes is stunningly apocalyptic. There is a haphazard look to construction, a seeming lack of any master plan, scraggly trees where they exist, and vast expanses of roughly poured concrete, with garbage strewn everywhere. This raggedness, combined with unattractive buildings spread out in a kind of low-density sprawl, makes for a uniquely unpleasant city experience in a large part of Mexico City’s area. What I’ve written above about the delightful neighbourhoods is true, but they make up a just one part of the city. Mexico City is so big that even if only 30% of its area is pleasant, that provides a huge area for tourists - and the wealthy - to enjoy. But it is truly a different world when you get away from the nicer areas.

Istanbul, in contrast, is a proud European city. It obviously takes pride in its general tidiness and sense of order in all of its neighbourhoods, even the poorest. Istanbul, also a city of great contrasts, has much smaller areas of despair, and these are being renovated at a feverish pace (often to the dismay of those fighting for the rights of the poor). One reason for the less striking contrasts is the lower level of inequality in Istanbul. The poor are poor, but seemingly not as desperately poor as in Mexico City. 

Radical inequality is the root cause of most of Mexico City’s problems, including its vast ugly side. On measurements of inequality, Mexico scores as one of the most unequal societies in the world. In Mexico City this is on clear display in the stunning contrast between the areas of the wealthy and those of the poor. It is obvious in the tired, worn faces (and clothes) of the lower classes in evidence on public transport and on the streets of the poorer neighbourhoods. Societies and cities with mass inequality uniformly display a kind of schizophrenia. There are the cozy, isolated bubbles of wealth and privilege, and then the ignored domain of the poor which seems to be of another world. National and city resources are obviously not invested  equitably, which is why streets in rich areas look so nice, and those in poor areas so utterly atrocious. 

Finally, air quality is another constant reminder that Mexico City has a long way to go to reach a high quality of urban life. In most of the pictures I have posted here over the last several days, you can notice the smog and a general haziness to the air. I wonder about the incidence of respiratory disease in this city and have read that children are particularly impacted, with high rates of asthma. Mexico City is ranked right up there with Beijing in terms of its horrible air pollution.

An area where Mexico City compares favourably to Istanbul is in its extensive metro system. The system covers wide parts of the city and compared to cities in the United States and Europe, is very inexpensive (about 35 US cents for a ride anywhere the system goes).

During rush hours the metro is extremely crowded and not pleasant to use, but otherwise it’s a great way to get around the city. I was impressed with the general level of cleanliness (easily cleaner and better maintained than the New York subway) and the polished stone floors. It’s also an ideal place to see a wide spectrum of people and to witness the never-ending drama of vendors, musicians and others passing through the cars. 

The metro does not, however, cover all of the city. In fact, considering Mexico City’s population, the system is smaller than it should be. Far too large a share of public transport takes place on terribly crowded buses (often privately run) that are not integrated with the metro system. If a low-wage Mexican worker has to take a couple of buses, or a bus and then the metro, to get to work, this can add up to a huge amount of time and significant cost. There are plans afoot to modestly expand the metro system in the next few years.

There is one additional feature of Mexico City that truly stands out. I’ve never been to a city with such a proliferation of public washrooms. They are literally everywhere and cost less than 40 US cents to use. Just look for a WC sign.

Because the upper and middle classes generally don’t use public transport, cars dominate the streetscapes of this city. And because this influential constituency doesn’t use the trains or buses, they don’t demand improved public transport. The problem perpetuates itself. With ever larger numbers of cars on the crowded streets, bus transport becomes slower and slower and air pollution stays at levels that are totally unacceptable. 

Despite being a place very well worth a visit, without addressing its serious societal inequalities, including the stark divide in mobility, Mexico City will be condemned to an average quality of life well below its peers around the world. For tourists on a one or two week visit it’s rather easy to ignore most of these quality-of-life issues. I believe most visitors will come away positively surprised and charmed. I know I will be back.

[ashaywalker-author]

Natural Instinct (Poe Dameron/Reader Fic)

SUMMARY: Reader is a simple Jakku miner who finds herself in the middle of a First Order assault on Tuanul. Although unaffiliated with the war, she steps in for a Resistance pilot, and has to face the consequences.

CHAPTER WARNINGS: Some strong language, references to death

PAIRING: Poe Dameron/Reader (slow burn)

A/N: There is not NEARLY enough Poe Dameron in the fanfiction world. This fic makes a couple of very minor changes to The Force Awakens (specifically Poe’s capture, interrogation from Kylo Ren, and his escape with Finn) but don’t worry, this isn’t going to be a repeat of the movie’s action. It’s 99.9% original ideas. Please enjoy

Chapter 1 - THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME

Mining in Cratertown had become a kriffing joke. If it hadn’t been, if operations hadn’t become as flighty as the sand, I wouldn’t have had to travel further west on Jakku’s unforgiving wastelands, and I certainly wouldn’t have found myself stuck in the middle of a First Order assault. If I hadn’t been hunched over from dehydration and heat exhaustion, I would have hightailed it immediately once I saw the X-Wing parked a little way up the Kelvin Ravine, on the outskirts of Tuanul. What was it Ergel had said when I had complained of the lack of work while throwing a can of Knockback down my throat?

“Nothing good comes from Tuanul. Force worshippers, Jedi sympathizers. You’d do well to walk a long ways ‘round the Ravine.”

Not that Ergel cared who worshipped what—he was friendly with anyone who could hold their alcohol—but anything that put any of us miners and un-allied Jakku scavengers at risk wasn’t worth the trouble. We wanted nothing to do with the Cold War. Nothing to do with the Resistance, or the First Order. But I hadn’t planned as effectively with my supplies as I had assumed, and so I found myself in Tuanul, the morning before a battalion of stormtroopers decided to pay a visit.

A great majority of the religious villagers had sprung up upon noticing the impending ships, blasters out, ready for a fight. Whatever they were willing to die for, I wanted no part of it. I ran in the opposite direction, dumping off a rucksack filled with gathered goods that ought to pay for my meals for a week. The weight was too much, and I hadn’t acquired a beast or a speeder with which to carry it. Sand billowed around huffing engines as I heard them land behind me, and the clunk of heavy boots against the ship’s ramps had me careening up a small dune. When I heard shouting far too close for comfort, I froze and turned to the source, where I saw the X-Wing’s pilot several meters away. He was running as well, a frantic orange and white droid hot on his heels, rolling small craters into the sand. If the insignias on his bright jumpsuit were at all legitimate, he was Resistance. So why the hell was he running?

I pulled away from it all and continued to move far, far away from the sharp squeal of blaster shots and the distant but obvious void when one by one, Tuanul’s villagers died. The sounds of boots and blasters were already far outweighing the sound of human life. And then the chaos was warped and swallowed within the sound of an explosion. It made the sand around my feet tremble and the heat blow a lasting breath against my back. The X-Wing was nothing more than a heap of hot, smoking metal. It didn’t matter. It was one more Resistance fighter down among an innumerable group of dead, not the first, and certainly not the last. But I still turned back.

The screaming had stopped. The village below the dune was crouching in bated breath around a masked black figure, tall and broad in the shoulders. Even from where I was, next to the remains of the destroyed ship, I felt his power. I felt the tendrils of raw, tainted energy flicking in the air even before I witnessed the blaster shot, still but writhing against an invisible force. I’d never seen anything so unnatural as that. Then there was the pilot, a tremble himself, his blaster arm forced down against his hip and his body frozen mid-step. This was beyond me, completely beyond a simple miner’s paygrade. Nothing good comes from Tuanul. I wouldn’t call what I did next bravery; simply, it was idiocy.

I didn’t have a weapon—not that it would have made a difference—but I still slid down that dune, kicking up clouds of earth, creating enough of a disturbance to capture the masked man’s—if he could be called that—attention. Just the slightest tilt of his mask’s chrome embellishments, and I knew he saw me.

“Leave him alone!” I screamed at the expressionless visage.

There was a beat of silent apprehension, and then every blaster in the area was on me. I resisted the urge to hold out my hands in surrender. Out the corner of my eye I saw the pilot, still unmoving, along with the pale blue bullet streaking the sky. Damn myself to hell.

The masked man in black—who I assumed was Kylo Ren; I was a Jakku miner, but I still heard the important rumors—motioned toward both me and the pilot, and we were drug toward him. I didn’t give the armored soldiers any trouble. I’d dug my grave, but I wasn’t too keen on just diving head-first into it. The pilot drug his sand-caked boots along, not really fighting, but not too eager either.

When we were both forced to our knees in front of Ren, I didn’t look at the pilot. Instead, I stared straight up the long legs of the First Order’s most deadly weapon. He was horrifyingly large; broad shoulders, towering, the air around him crackling so much that I couldn’t find it in me to pull enough breath into my lungs. Then he stooped, mask inches from my nose. He tilted his head back and forth between the two of us, maybe considering the most entertaining form of murder. I was such a kriffing idiot.

“Do you talk first or do I talk first?”

Okay, scratch that. I wasn’t quite up to par with the idiocy the Resistance pilot showed. I considered smacking him, but I could barely move for fear.

“The old man gave it to you.” Ren said, his deep voice laced with the barest metallic echo.

“It’s just very hard to understand you with all the…” the pilot waved his hands, “apparatus.”

“Search him.”

The pilot was hauled back up and patted down. I stayed put, preferring to stare down at the grains of Jakku’s earth, wishing I had kept running. Shouting did nothing. What did I change? Nothing.

“Nothing sir.” One of the troopers said.

“Put him on board.”

Ren turned his masked face down to me, tilting it softly.

“Put them both on board.”

Despite being on our best behavior—or, at least, decent behavior on the pilot’s part—we were pushed and pulled down hallways of a First Order Battlecruiser. Kylo Ren had disappeared on his own transport ship after ordering the murder of every person in Tuanul. I hadn’t known anyone, not specifically, besides the dark-haired woman who had offered me water when I stumbled into the village. Regardless, I felt like a Sarlacc had wormed its way into my stomach and was slowly eating me from the inside-out. I was terrified on the inside, so much so that I felt blank on the outside. I went everywhere I was ordered without a second thought. It was all I could think of to survive.

“I’m Poe.”

It took several seconds for the pilot’s greeting to get through to whatever part of my brain was still functioning. I turned my face to him, blinking a few times. He looked… okay, meaning he didn’t look like he was walking to an execution. In fact, his eyes were bright. When I didn’t respond at first, he looked around the bridge we walked through, as if taking the place in with genuine curiosity and not indominable fear.

The stormtrooper guiding me pushed me more roughly when my steps slowed a tad. His blaster poked against the small of my back, a simple but effective reminder.

“I’m… (Y/N).”

Poe nodded, smiled, and that was that.

Finally, we were dumped into a cell. I was a bit surprised that they would keep us together; it felt to me that isolation typically came with true imprisonment, but I had never actually been in this type of trouble, so what would I know? Our supposed cell also wasn’t what I would picture. It was dark, yes, and heavily unfurnished. The ducting lining and twisting the ceiling was uncovered, and the floor was unheated and void of any rug or padding. Bright red lights popped from each corner of the room, and I knew immediately that they were cameras. Off to the far-left corner was a chilly-looking chrome toilet, and I balked at the idea of having to relieve myself in front of Poe and whoever was manning the surveillance cameras. Luckily there wasn’t much in my system to get rid of. The last thing I noticed was the single bed in the far-right corner, which was rather more like a built-in shelf with a thin, foam covering.

I stood in the middle of the room for a while, the door the stormtroopers left through having long since merged with the rest of the wall, barely a groove to show its existence.

“You’d better rest while they let you.” Poe said.

He sat on the edge of the bed, pulling his boots off his feet. What was with this man?

“Do you get captured and imprisoned a lot?” I asked, unable to keep the snark from my tone.

He looked up with his broad eyebrows raised, a bit surprised I spoke up the way I did. My nerves were making me testy. I wasn’t usually the type for confrontation, but I was pissed at myself, and scared shitless. Anger seemed the safer option at this point. He considered me a moment and I considered him back, taking a moment to really see the person I stepped out of my relative safety for; messy brown-black curls, round eyes, a strong, square chin free of stubble. What I noticed most of all was how soft he looked. Or maybe soft wasn’t the right word. Whatever it was, it was nothing you found on Jakku. Everyone on the desert planet was made of some sort of stone, the sand constantly etching away at their surfaces. Frowning and exhausted was the natural state of being on Jakku; hard-eyes and an angry, stubborn resilience came with weathering the planet for many years. For someone who fought in a war, Poe looked decidedly less cauterized than anyone else I had ever met.

“This is actually my first time,” Poe said, gesturing to the small, square room we found ourselves in.

“Well you seem to know the ropes.”

“The supposed ropes you get with the First Order are pretty damn short. I’ve been dealing with these assholes for a while now.”

I truly hoped the cameras were not equipped with sound as well.

“Well then what do we do?” I asked.

He looked up at me with those frustratingly bright eyes and smiled. It was an actual smile too, one with teeth. That’s another thing you don’t see on Jakku much.

“You rest, (Y/N),” he said, patting the empty spot on the bed. “Within the next thirty minutes or so some stormtroopers are going to burst in here and try to torture information out of me. I’m not going to give it to them.”

“Then what happens?” I said, deciding not to sit quite yet.

“That’s a good question.” Poe said, cracking his neck. “I’m sorry, you kinda throw a wrench in the typical torture scheme. I don’t know what they intend to do with you.”

I tried not to panic, and I thought I was doing a pretty good job of it. But somehow Poe must have seen something of the new and realized fear that encapsulated me, because he reached out and grabbed my hand. I started at the contact. He had taken his gloves off at some point, so it was just skin, calloused and warm.

“Try not to worry,” he said, and I almost laughed out loud. “You don’t know anything. Do you have an allegiance?”

“No,” I insisted, glancing once at the nearest camera. “I was searching for places to mine outside of Cratertown. I only went to Tuanul because I needed water and some food and rest.”

“They will see your stepping in for me as a pledge to the Resistance. When they question you, you need to insist upon your neutrality. Although its likely they will force you to pledge to the Order instead.”

There was nothing accusatory in his voice or gaze, as if he would understand if I chose to become loyal to the First Order to survive. I would have thought he would urge me to deny the First Order, even if it meant death. Looking at him, I was sure that’s what he would do.

“Thank you, by the way,” he said, giving the knuckles of my hand the briefest swipe with his thumb. It felt nice. I was amazed that I could feel even a grain of safety when I had no idea whether I would be dead by morning or not. “That was brave of you, stepping forward.”

“It wasn’t bravery. It was stupidity.”

A soft chuckle, and he released my hand. “You’d be shocked how often those two traits go together.”

Then there was a pause. Something in the way he looked off took a small bite from his buoyant spirit.

“Can I ask why you did it?” he said.

I didn’t answer. I don’t know for how long it was silent, but somewhere in that void between his question and my answer the door to the holding cell slid open, and as Poe had predicted, stormtroopers filed in.

“That’s my cue.” Poe said, standing and brushing down his flight-suit. He left his boots at the side of the bed. “See you later, (Y/N).”

Once again, his shoulders were roughly taken, and with them he was pushed out and through the doorway. Not one word was said to me, and in a moment I was alone, standing in the same spot I had planted myself on upon entry.

“See you.”

[ai-qa]

Undivided Attention

---

Evening was soon followed by nighttime.  Much of the colony was giving up their clothes and retreating to bed, Aten seeing the smallest members to their respective beds.  She did so individually, but in a different order every night, which the tiny drones appeared to appreciate.  Even with their youthful restlessness they would soon enough be asleep just as well.

After ensuring everyone was where they needed to be, checking on supplies for the next day, and taking care of anything which looked out-of-place, she came to retrieve me from the dining benches.  The both of us walked in silence until we reached her room.

<"Please wait here for just a moment.">

I did so, staying at the doorway while she went inside.  She picked up a small box, took something from inside, and scratched it across the top.  They were matches, I would later find out.  With it she tended an array of candles, illuminating the room with a warm orange glow.  With her foot she gently scooted her bed just a bit closer to the candles, then turned around to face me again.

<"That was all I needed.  You may enter.">

I cocked my head slightly to the side before entering, looking around me to the rest of the room.  Just a change in lighting can make the same place look so different.  When I looked back, Aten had situated herself atop the bed, but had allowed me plenty of space.  I carefully stepped over to the bed and sat on the edge.  Though this was something I requested, I did not really know how to begin.  Even with my awkward silence, she simply waited.

<"Aten, sorry, I...I am not sure how to start.">

<"I do not need apologies.  If something is difficult for you, please take the time you need.  I am not going anywhere.">

A minute passed, though it felt like an hour.  I took a deep breath and searched for the words I needed.

<"...I-I come from a place...far north of here.">

Aten stayed silent, waiting for me to continue.

<"There is...a colony around there.  The north.  Northeast?  I...">

She remained silent, but curled her tail around the base of the bed, just a short distance from my toes, rest it on the floor.  Perhaps her way of letting me know she is still listening.

I sighed and leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees and raising my hands to my face and just stared at the floor.  I pulled back my fingers, raking my claws through my fur, tugging my ears before continuing to my upper neck and finishing the motion.

<"We were just numbers.">

Aten's shadow upon the floor shifted slightly to look more directly toward me.  Still she was silent.

<"All of us, just numbers.  Order of birth...I assume, anyway.  Sometimes drones just kept nicknames for themselves or others, but...not always.">

Her tail drew barely closer, resting at my toes.

<"We were to work, and only work.  We had to find our own food, but keep it away from others if we wanted to keep it, or be clever enough to find ways to hide it.  Many of us turned to little more than bone and resorted to stealing from those who could better hunt or had more luck.  While that fed you, it also turned those against you, so fighting was...rampant.  ...Even then, much of the food we gathered had to be given up to our leader, along with anything else of value we might find.  The most you were allowed to keep was a square of cloth to keep you from freezing at night.">

I took another deep breath.  I could feel my eyes welling up from just my own words.

<"We were only allowed the most basic literacy.  We were not allowed to learn, not allowed to think about life elsewhere.  Any talk of leaving, should the enforcers catch wind...you were lucky if they just dealt with you themselves-- you would hurt a lot, you might bleed, but you would be alive at the end of it...  There were certainly worse fates.">

A silence befell the room as I just sat there holding my head.

<"I am still listening,"> Aten said quietly.

<"...I wanted to learn.">

I raised my head to look up at the ceiling, to look at how the warm orange played with the cool dark blue of night upon the wood stone.

<"I had always been trouble, at least according to them, and try as they might even they could not always watch me.  One afternoon I...I managed to elude their attention to talk with a passing merchant group and quickly trade away everything I had with me-- food scraps, some useful plants, some pressed paper and bits of glass, everything but the blanket I kept...for a small book.  I used the blanket to conceal it and run back up into the trees.  I am not even sure it was a fair trade, or if they just entertained it out of pity.  Though it was hard and very slow, I managed to figure out the alphabet and their sounds, eventually making letters into words with meanings from the little helpful images.  The words were small and basic, but I was still learning...at least in secret.">

<"I am still here.">

<"...The depictions of seas, of forests, rivers, and flowers...they made me wonder about life outside.  Fish, bugs, birds, little mammals and lizards, a world so separate from mine only because of laws.  Everything I had come to know was hot, dull, dry...oppressive.  But I could not let on to anything I was learning, anything I had done over those few months.  I had to plan something, anything to get out of there and the more I learned, the more I longed for anything but home.">

<"'Home?'">

<"...I guess it was not really a home, was it?  I found that more and more true each passing day.  Eventually I just...I just could not take being there anymore.  Something had to change.  I needed to go, but also needed to avoid the watchful eyes of our leader's enforcers.  They were, um, very good at their jobs, or else they, too, had to live like us numbers.">

<"They lived differently?">

<"Y-Yes...  They were given food rations, better care in general...even real names.  There was always competition to become part of their ranks, since then you were...validated...you were a person instead of a peon.  It was ironic that, in order to become a person, you had to shed your humanity.">

I let out a little chuckle.

<"I got caught.">

I laughed again.

<"I was beaten by enforcers and dragged to the central tree to face our leader, but by some kind of dumb luck, one of the enforcers stumbled just before the end of the bridge and his grip loosened.  I spun as hard as I could, barely freeing myself from their grasp, and ran like I never knew I could.  Before I reached the other end of the bridge I turned my head around only for a split second to catch the unmistakable gaze of our leader from the dark central hollow.  Something about those eyes...were not normal.">

From the look of her shadow, her ears seemed to perk from the last detail.

<"Knowing there would just be more enforcers coming for me from the endpoint tree, I leapt onto the tree itself, finding any grip I could to scramble down to the surface world...though when I did finally meet ground I was jumped by three other enforcers I had not accounted for.  They pinned me to the ground, facing me upwards as our leader slowly walked to the middle of the bridge just above, staring daggers at me I could still feel from afar.  The only gesture I could make out from that far was a nod, after which the third enforcer grabbed my tail, drew their dull blade, and smashed the end of my stinger.">

<"You were a traitor,"> she put bluntly.

<"I guess I was.  While that branding did not hurt, it still brought with it a pain no gash or bruise could compete: Instead of just doing away with me there as I was, they wanted me to suffer, knowing both that I was not yet mature enough to produce the venom needed to make the stinger truly useful and that no other colony would accept me...thinking that I would succumb to the elements, perhaps even to corruptions, long before the damage could heal.  They also made off with the book I treasured above even food...I think I heard them say they were going to burn it before one of them physically kicked me away from the base of the tree.  Even with that possibility looming over me, I fled south, fled to the book's promises, as fast as I could.">

<"Did you find them?">

<"Yes, I did, after a couple days.  The sky seemed so much bluer, the grass was greener, and I saw all the spoils previously locked so tightly away.  I saw the blue sea, the murky lakes, the little leafy bushes and the taller, leafier trees.  I saw the great stone cliffs, the tiny colorful flowers, and all kinds of fauna I had never seen before...or if I had seen them, not in the same way.  The farther south I went, the more there was to find.  ...The farther south I went, the more conscious I became of my being out alone, the more I worried that running away was a poor choice.  While my surroundings were now so amazing, if I was to succumb to them in only a few weeks, would it have really been worth all the pain and trouble to get there?">

<"Did you find your answer?">

I looked around the room once more, then to my tail, the stinger still wrapped in purple cloth.

<"...I think I did.">

A few moments of silence allowed us both a short time to reflect.

<"What was the book?"> Aten asked.  <"I am quite curious to know what would provoke that kind of response.">

I clenched my fingers and toes, bracing myself for the worst.

<"It was a primer...for learning faraden.">

<"Faraden?">

<"...Yes."> I uttered, my ears flattening.

<"You can understand faraden?">

<"Well...not completely.  It was just a primer, so mostly pictures and solitary words, syllables, and some simple sentences.  I can still remember most of them."

<"Can you teach me?">

My eyes shot wide and I quickly turned my head toward her in baffled confusion.

<"Can you teach me what you remember?">

<"I...I could do that, but--">

<"Sagis.">

<"Ahhyes?">

Aten stood up, stretched and walked around to the front of the bed, gently pulling and leaning me into the fur on the side of her leg, slowly stroking my face and chin with her big hands.

<"You were a traitor to oppression, not to those worth the respect they dared to demand.">

With that she left briefly to gather some supplies from a cabinet at the far wall-- some paper, a reed pen, and a small bottle of ink.  She handed me these things when she returned to the bed, but I was still taken aback by the request.

<"Please come up by me and show me what you remember,"> she insisted.

I took up the supplies and did so, drawing letters, writing words, and making the sounds to accompany them and what they meant.  She listened intently, learning what I learned, and it made me happy.  It was a happiness in a way that was like eating a favorite food or hearing a favorite tune, yet so unlike it.  Fullfilment, maybe?

An hour passed, but so quickly unlike the moments leading up to then.  Both of us were quite tired and ready to turn in for the night, so I hopped off the bed and placed the writings and tools on a small table before making my way to the door.

<"Sagis?"> Aten called.

<"Yes?"> I answered, stopping just before the doorway.

<"What was the name of your colony 'leader?'">

I turned my head to see her still atop the bed, waiting.

<"Kyrbri.">

Aten's eyes widened slightly upon hearing the name, then closed with a furrowed brow and a frustrated-sounding exhale.

<"Thank you, Sagis.  Sleep well.">

---

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[pernatius]

Lost in Space Part 3: Ch 1

Summary: Sending the Earth to its doom, an unnamed Space Explorer must now try to prevent the demise of millions of humans by risking her life. 

Five chapters, 10k works, and in one week. 

Part 1: ch 1, ch 2, ch 3, ch 4, ch 5

Part 2: ch 1, ch 2, ch 3, ch 4, ch 5

------------------------ 

I sat on the windowsill. My shoulder is pressed against the glass as I watch the planets fly past us, blurring past us as a river of thousands of colors, which splash against the ship. A tear goes down my cheek. It splashes onto my palm as I rub my thumb against its cold, but soft surface. Noticing my reflection, the sorrow on my face, causes me to bend and fold my fingers into a fist. Lifting my head, I meet with her reflection. She’s sitting down, watching everything fly past us as well. I’m not sure what’s on her mind, but I feel bad for taking away the only home she’s ever known and forcing her into a world she’s only known from my stories. Earlier it sounded like she wanted to get away from it, but I don’t like how I made her do this. If I could I would’ve given her a choice. I would’ve given her time. 

Because I surrounded myself in a bubble, I flinched at the ship’s alarm. “Captain Saamuki, the ship’s fuel is at three percent,” the AI explained. 

She sighs before asking, “Is it at least enough to get us to the nearest planet with fuel?”

“Yes, it’s more than enough. However, that planet is inhabited by the Nantos.”

With the reveal of the alien species’ name Mikrovos’ ears twitch. “Can’t you find another planet?”

“Unfortunately, this is the closest planet with intelligent life. Therefore-”

Turning to him, “Mikrovos?”

“I’m staying in the ship as you guys get the fuel.” 

“I’m not going to be much help,” Ashley reminded us of her injury. 

“And I’m not going to be doing anything hands-on anytime soon either,” Saamuki also reminded us of her injuries. 

“Look, I just can’t step foot on that planet, okay?” My stubborn friend crosses his arms. 

My wife stood up and walked towards him. The AI stood between the two of them. She looked directly into his eyes, past the computer-generated face, as she tapped her foot against the floor. “ Mikrovos, this isn’t the time to argue. We need your help so that we can get as far away from your people as soon as possible.”

He grunted. In the reflection in her eyes, I saw his mouth open. He showed his teeth and made sure she saw his fangs. He raises his fists and moves them all too close to her, causing me to get up, but when he instead turns away from her rather than get physical I let out a sigh of relief. “As long as Saamuki is with me, I’m sure I’ll be able to do Mikrovos’ job. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the strongest Space Explorer, but with what I must’ve done when I was one I shouldn’t be someone you should dismiss from this situation.”

All of them turn to me. Saamuki looks at me with concern in her eyes. “Unlike Earthling ships, ships we use run on crystals. The one for this type of ship is much smaller compared to the ones used for other ships, but they’re extremely heavy nonetheless.”

“Well, I’m sure I’ll manage. Besides, it’s not like we have any other choice.“

“If it’s too much for you...maybe I can get a Nantos, or whatever else could be on that planet to help.”

“You’re going to be okay, right?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well…” My eyes pointed to the brooding Mikrovos sitting in the windowsill. 

“I’ll just keep my distance from him until he gets back, but while I do can you promise me that you’re not going to hurt yourself by lifting that crystal?”

“I promise, but,” I flexed my muscles, “that crystal should instead be worrying about me.”

This gets a chuckle out of her and my heart fluttering out of me. If I’m not able to fix what I’ve caused to Earth then I’ll at least try to fix what I did to her. No, I must. I have to keep making her happy. I can’t hurt her. I have to protect her from it. I have to protect her from my impulses, from myself. 

Crystals had sprung out of the ground. They created a dense forest with their varying shapes, sizes, and colors. Speaking of their colors, from underneath them different shades of reds and blues bent within them, bouncing from one of its sides to another. It faded in and out, following the same rhythm as my heartbeat. Saamuki led me to an alien whose species I’ve met before. He’s the same species as that ringmaster who orchestrated that fantastical fight back on that desert planet. So, his physiology is blob-like, but his clothing told me he doesn’t live to entertain others. It’s the opposite. He’s wearing a robe with three shades of orange and a bright yellow sash. As I note that his hands are hidden, I also note a dark circle that’s been imprinted on his forehead. 

“We’re here to-”

He sets his hand in front of my snakelike companion before she can finish. I note the several holes and scratches on it as he spoke, “You are here because you wish to be given something from my people. For that to be, you must first offer us something of value.”

Before I can omit my frustration Saamuki places her hand in front of my face. “I am the last of my people, so I am the only one with the knowledge of the last three days of my planet.”

“Ah, yes, we have gotten word of the demise of your planet. Unfortunately, writing of its final year has come a few and far between, especially its last days. Your knowledge will be a great addition to our library.” Moving his hand closer, placing it on her forehead, I become worried. Her eyes become blank as the circle on his forehead glows. Before I can act it’s already over. She falls to her knees and throws up. I go to her and pat her back, hoping to relieve whatever pain she’s feeling. 

Once I helped her up, “What did you do to her?” The ground rumbles as his forehead glows. Behind him, the crystals separate from one another, creating a passageway that led to a cave. “Hey. Answer me.”

“It’s okay. I’m alright,” Saamuki responded but she’s clearly out of breath. 

“All are welcome into the Nantos’ temple. He bows and as I led her into the makeshift passageway I looked at him. He doesn’t look at me. I had a feeling he wouldn’t, but I just needed him to know if he did something permanent to her, something fatal to her, then I wouldn’t hesitate to bring him down as well. 

Just like on the surface crystals sprouted all over the ground and even on the walls and ceiling. It gave the cave light. It gave it life. 

Hundreds of Nantos walked about. Most of them had their foreheads glowing as their hands covered the vegetation wrapped around the crystal before them. Half of them caused the plants to levitate and be pushed into the basket sitting in their laps. A few of them used that same power to move large orbs of water onto the newly freed crystals. The rest meditated. All of them paid no mind to us. “It’s none of these, right?”

“Right. The crystal we’re looking for is much darker. The crystals we’ve seen so far would barely get us off this planet.” With that last word spoken she coughs. Some of her blood spit out as well. Most of it lands before us and the rest sit on her lips. 

“Saamuki!”

She tries waving my worry away. “It’s fine. My sister was here before. She had to do that same thing too. It’s draining, but it only lasts for a few hours. Just help me walk and I’ll tell you which one it is.” 

I helped her the rest of the way without another word, but worry still hit me throughout it. Once we find the crystal I gently set her down and turn towards it. Unlike the ones I saw earlier, this one is a dark purple and is much smaller. Because it’s half of my size, confusion circles my mind. I expected it to be as big as Mikrovos or at the very least an inch taller than me, but once I tried lifting it I understood why she needed him. My arms and legs shake as I try to pry it off the ground. In height, it’s shorter and in width, it’s skinnier, but it managed to be heavier than me. Sweat rose at the brim of my forehead and my back began to burn. I was carrying it right. I was using my legs rather than my back, but it’s just that heavy.

“Hey. Don’t push yourself. I’ll get-”

“No, I got this,” I grunted between shaky breaths. 

I felt it slide out of its hold, but because I celebrated too soon I let go. It slipped back into the ground. One of my eyes twitched. I placed my grip back onto it. I sunk my nails into it. I felt like I was going to blackout. Thankfully, a familiar set of brown fur-covered hands wrapped themselves around the crystal too. It’s able to be pried out easily. I turned around to thank Mikrovos for changing his mind at the right time, but instead, my heart dropped. While he’s a Tauvox he isn’t the face I thought I’d see. His body is just like The Commander’s, but his face is slimmer. It’s more angular like it’s triangular.  

As he sets the crystal on his shoulder, “It’s good to finally meet you, human.” I stand frozen as his eyes meet with mine, causing him to smirk. 

Still drained, all Saamuki can do is talk. “How-how did you find us?”

“Us Tauvoxes has excellent tracking skills. We are a barbaric race, yes, but we know how to use our means.” He points a finger behind his neck. 

My eyes widen. My hands attack the chip still inside my neck.

“It’s much too late for that, human. However, I wouldn’t do that if I were you. One wrong move and it’ll send a fatal electric shock.” I slowly move my hands away from my neck. “But I’m not here for conflict, at least not yet. You see, there’s a little tournament that’s going to happen by tomorrow and I want Mikrovos to enter. Unfortunately, he declined my invitation. So, I was hoping you’d change his mind.”

“Knowing him, there’s a reason why he doesn’t want to be part of it. I’m not going to be played by people like you, especially when it means putting my friend in danger.”

“Even if it means the chance of ending our little raid on your homeworld?”

“What do you mean?”

“Ever since the fall of The Commander the Tauvoxes have gone into chaos. There isn’t any clear leadership. Sure, I was his second, but my power only lasted during his command. The tournament I speak of will determine our next commander and if Mikrovos wins he’ll take full leadership even if he’s a low-class Tauvox, especially one that willingly left our ranks. From the face you’re making, I see I’ve interested you.”

“Don’t listen to him. He’s a high ranking Tauvox. He’s a Space Pirate too!”

“Now. Now. Let the girl make up her mind. She’s old enough to.”

“I can save it. I can fix this, but Mikrovos…”

“He’ll listen to you. He’s gotten close with you, soft for you.”

“But I can’t just make him do this. Isn’t there another way? Can’t I just take his place?”My offer gets him to laugh. It echoes and rings in my ears. “A human fight against hundreds of Tauvoxes? You won’t survive past five minutes. Maybe if you’re lucky you’ll make it to ten.”

“I don’t care. I’m never going to put any of my friends’ lives at risk. Besides, this is my fault. I have to fix this. I have to be the one to enter.”

“Humans always let their pride speak for them,” he shakes his head, “Well, I’ll see what I can do. It was hard enough as it was to get them to let all Tauvoxes enter, but before I do will you shake on it? If they agree to your offer will you commit to your words?” He moves his free hand in front of me. 

I gulp. In the corner of my eye, Saamuki wants me to rethink my decision. In front of me, the Tauvox is giving me a devilish grin. It’s obvious this is all a game to him. It’s obvious I’m a pawn that fell right into his arms, but I don’t fight free. I shake his hand. 

“My name is Syco and it’s a pleasure to do business with you.”

[textsfromumbridge]

Accidental Break-In (E/e)

How do you accidentally break into the wrong apartment? Well, for Eponine Thenardier, it definitely involves a lot of alcohol and a friend with a similar apartment one building down. 

For @hihiyas

....

Her head hurts. 

With the amount of alcohol she’d been mainlining the night before that should not have been such a surprise. Basically, it’s karma. Drinking is a terrible way to deal with her problems, and she should not be indulging in it this much – that is what Marius would say. Actually, that is what Marius will say when he sees her on his couch for the third time this week. And it’s only Thursday – or Friday morning by now.  

Fuck, she is so going to have to face Best Friend Wrath again. 

She pulls the blanket over her head and ponders how Marius managed to find the time between work and dates with his new girlfriend (the girl she still has not met, damn it) to buy a new blanket. This one is way less scratchy than the old one. 

As the sound of feet hitting the floor reaches her sensitive ears, she takes a couple of deep breaths, trying to decrease the chances of puking all over her best friend – again – before she even gets to explain or apologize. And knowing Marius as well as she does (over ten years of friendship will do that to you), she will have to do both. 

“Nice upgrade on the blanket, dude,” she speaks from underneath said blanket. “I mean, this one has a way lower scratch factor. I approve. Also, before you see anything else that will mentally scar you, I’m not wearing pants. Again. I think R puked on them last night because they really fucking stink. Don’t worry, I’m wearing a shirt. Yours, of course, because mine was… well… fucking gross.” 

The shirt is fucking fancy, but her best friend is a fancy lawyer now, so she is only happy that he finally managed to upgrade his wardrobe to match his profession. Gone are the sweaters his grandma made – fugly as they are – and Marius has moved up in the world, to some stylish three-piece suits. She couldn’t find his college band shirts either – which was much more disappointing – so she had to sleep in a crisp white blouse. But at least it’s soft and it smells vaguely of fabric softener. 

Really, the new girlfriend has left Marius almost unrecognizable. 

“Is it safe for me to come out?” she asks, still hiding under the blanket. “Please don’t hate me too much! I promise to quit drinking so much. I swear on my mother’s life. I hate my mom, I know, but I really don’t want her dead. So, I swear!”

Still there is no response from Marius. And even though her best friend is an awkward little shit, he is not usually so quiet, even on a Friday morning. Something is wrong. 

So she peeks, dropping the blanket from her face inch by inch, hoping that she has not interrupted some kind of sexy interlude between Marius and his special lady friend – because she does not want to see that freckled ass again. 

“What the fuck?” she makes her own head hurt with that screech. 

The man staring down at her, holding a baseball bat in his nicely muscled arms – JFC, focus Éponine – is most definitely not her best friend. He is not wearing the ugly flannel pajamas Marius always wears to bed, and he doesn’t have those adorable freckles that almost match Marius’ slightly ginger hair. This guy is taller than her best friend, with slightly wavy blond hair kept in a short ponytail at the base of his neck. His eyes are narrowed, so she can’t really tell what color they are. He looks furious with her. 

“My head hurts,” she groans, gently sitting up. “I don’t know where Marius is, but I’m sure he’s around. Or you can leave a message. I’m going back to sleep.” 

She pulls at the blanket again, only to stop when her bleary eyes catch sight of something that she certainly did not notice when she climbed the fire escape last night: there is a gorgeous cabinet where the TV should be. It’s all vintage looking and she has got to ask Marius where he got the damn thing. 

Only, not a single place of furniture in the apartment looks familiar. The couch is much more comfortable – and probably much more expensive – and she is clutching the softest blanket that has ever touched her skin. There are bookcases everywhere, made of dark wood, and some of the cases are in the exact spot where Marius keeps his stupid PlayStation – even though she beats him every time, he still likes to play. 

He would never get rid of that damn thing, not for any girlfriend. 

Well fuck. 

“I broke into the wrong apartment, didn’t I?” she wants to facepalm badly. 

How did that even happen? Sure, she was pretty damn drunk, but she cannot have been drunk enough to enter the wrong apartment. She knows the route to Marius’ place by heart, and the window was slightly open as usual. Keys are too complicated when she’s drunk, because she has ruined many a key or a lock with drunken stupidity. It’s why Marius refuses to give her a new one until she gets her life together. 

“Who are you?” the blond guy is still gripping the bat tightly. 

“You wouldn’t happen to know Marius Pontmercy?” she avoids the topic. “Cuz I really thought this was his place.” 

Giving her name to a stranger is a bad idea, but this stranger could get her into a lot of trouble, seeing as she basically broke into his apartment and helped herself to some of his stuff – she is wearing his seriously high-quality shirt, and nothing else. It is making her feel kinda sexy, to be honest, and that is not a feeling she usually relates to hung-over mornings. But her legs are bare and tanned as she slips them from underneath the soft blanket – and she watches this stranger get more and more flustered as she reveals more and more skin. 

She’s got some kickass legs, so she’s gotta flaunt them – not just to distract the cutie from filing charges, but also because she doesn’t often get to feel this sexy. The urge to vomit has pretty much passed, so she has no problems standing up, facing the stranger with what she hopes is a sultry smile on her face. 

“But I really like this a lot better than facing an angry best friend,” she grins. 

With a final peck to his cheek, she is out the door, holding her stinking clothes at a distance, hoping to figure out how she ended up at the stranger’s apartment. And trying to figure out how she can ‘accidentally’ end up there again. 

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Her drinking habits have improved a little after that night – ‘cause she’s sure the next stranger won’t be so nice about it. She kinda wants to keep her record as clean as it’s gonna get, so anymore accidental break-ins would not be a good idea. 

Seriously, if she’s ever gonna finish up grad school (so fucking expensive), she’ll have to stay on the right side of the law. Seriously, no one is gonna trust her with kids if her record gets any worse than it already is. Some minor infractions from her wild teenage kicks aside, she’s being doing pretty well. She shouldn’t fuck that up. 

So she only goes out drinking on weekends now, and she takes either Marius or his new girlfriend – who knew he was dating her old foster sister? – with her as a chaperone, to make sure she gets home safe and doesn’t flash any more strangers her panties. 

Though she doubts that apartment guy minded all that much. 

She was wearing her good panties and everything; the ones without tears or holes in them, the ones that make her skin look tan and gorgeous. So if he did get an eyeful when she hightailed it the hell out of there…. Well, she committed a stupid crime, but she did look gorgeous when making her escape. At least there’s that. 

Really, she’s been waiting for the cops to arrive at her place every day now, and it’s been about a week without so much as a word. No flashing lights or angry beat cops, no hostile knocks on the door – at least not from anyone looking for her. Her roommate has managed to piss off some sorority girls, which was entertaining for a little while. 

Since they’re both grad students, they should not be involved in this petty shit. But it’s just so fucking entertaining. 

So it’s with a bounce in her step that she walks into the seriously boring office building that happens to house the law firm Marius works for. Sure, in a few years she might work in a boring office of her own, but there’d better be some really fucking awesome decorations to make things bearable. 

There’s a ridiculous amount of security present, but they don’t make her feel a damn bit safer about Marius’ employment at a firm that has a reputation for taking on controversial cases. She sneaks past all the men with ease, making a note to tell Marius that the lobby is totally not safe. At all – because let’s be real, if a retired petty thief can sneak past these people, dangerous people can do so as well. 

On her way upstairs, she takes a flying leap into a mostly empty elevator of which the doors are about to close. She makes it just in time, landing against a hard surface that feels surprisingly like a man’s chest. 

Her good day just turned into a great one. 

“Thanks for catching me,” she grins before extricating herself. 

“It’s you!” the man in question speaks. 

She looks up – well fuck! It is the guy from last month, the one whose apartment she broke into during her quest to get drunk every single night of the week. That epic quest had to be discontinued after that night – because breaking and entering is bad, mmkay? 

“Shit,” she is eloquent as usual. 

This kind of coincidence is ridiculous? What even are the odds of running into him a second time, especially a second time when looking for Marius? She is sure one of Marius’ brainiac friends could calculate that for her. But that’s so not the point, because right now she just really needs an exit plan. 

Getting arrested again would be really bad – it would ruin the excellent streak she’s been on since she started being a good girl in senior year of high school. 

“Please don’t have me arrested,” she decides to just come out with it. 

They are the only two people in the elevator, and she only has about seven floors to convince him. And since this elevator is shooting up way too fast, that does not leave her with that much time to get persuasive. 

“It was an accident,” she tells him, hands moving frantically. “Your apartment is like, exactly where my friend’s is, only one building to the left. Total drunken accident!” 

With one eye on the doors, she tries to guess just how much time she has left before she can make her escape. Ten seconds? Fifteen? Maybe twenty if she is really unlucky and other people need to join them in awkwardness. 

When the elevator finally stops on the right floor, she jumps out, trying not to trip over her own feet as she makes her escape. 

Guess this is the last time she’ll pick up Marius at work. 

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Supposedly the guest lecturer is this brilliant mind who graduated from high school at age 16 and managed to get through college and law school so fast that he’s one of the best and the brightest in the law world before his thirtieth birthday. Nobody is telling her his exact age, but he should not be that much older than the students. 

And while she hopes the class is actually interesting, she mostly just hopes that the guy is hot. She needs someone else to think about other than the guy whose apartment she broke into – she should not still be thinking about how hot he was and about his shirt that is still hiding in her closet. 

Yeah, she might actually keep that, like the pathetic weirdo she is. 

Anyway, so, this guest lecture. She doesn’t technically have to be here, but she figures her presence might appease the professor – because she’s been a bit absent in classes lately. She blames the guy she burgled. The shirt totally counts as stealing. 

That just makes it worse. Great. 

“Welcome everyone,” the professor wears a smug grin. “I want to introduce Gabriel Enjolras, graduate of this very university and now a prominent lawyer at Chandler, Finn, and Smith. He will be speaking today on his experience with family law.” 

She looks up just in time to see familiar eyes boring into hers – of course it’s the same guy she was just thinking about. Of course she actually accidentally broke into the apartment of a sort of famous lawyer. Well, fuck. 

There goes her career. 

“Thank you for having me, professor Mendez,” he has to acknowledge their leader. “I know that the details of law might not be to your particular interest in this class, but I will try to focus on the cases that be most relevant to you as a class.” 

Now she has to remain focused on this lecture – because she really is interested in family law – while hoping she can escape immediately after this class. And at the same time, she has to try not to be too obvious about her drooling over his stupid physique that she should not be focusing on. 

Seriously, somehow she noticed his looks that first time, and apparently her drunken/hung-over memory is much better than she ever imagined it to be, because she has been unable to get him out of her head ever since that moment. The wavy hair, still in a ponytail. The eyes that might be gray or blue depending on the light. 

He is still the same and she can’t stop staring like a stupid, naïve high school girl.  

Maybe she should just get all the staring done while she still can – she doubts that the police officers he is undoubtedly sending her way after this will be as visually appealing as he is. Shit, she is so totally fucked, and not in the good way. 

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When she finds him in her favorite chair at her favorite coffee shop, she is seriously fucking tempted to back away slowly and just go on without her desperately needed dose of caffeine. Seriously, if he hasn’t had her arrested yet, she can’t keep tempting him to do so by showing up everywhere he is. 

Not that she is doing that on purpose, but karma is a fucking bitch, and she has clearly pissed off that bitch one too many times. 

But really, if she has to deal with an all-nighter for that fucking paper she should have gotten started on days ago, she is going to need that coffee. And this is the only place around that actually has decent coffee for a decent price. 

So she might just have to face the beast. 

“Funny running into you here,” she decides to just walk up to him and get the awkward encounter over with. “Enjolras, was it?” 

She does have the advantage of knowing his name when he does not know hers. Sure, giving him custody over the shirt would be going too far – it is just so damn comfy – but she is going to at least try to be nice to him. 

“Éponine,” he acknowledges her and she tries not to look too flabbergasted. 

It is taking everything for her to keep her mouth shut and not ask him just how he knows her name. As far as she knows, they are complete strangers. Heck, the only reason she knows his stupid name is because he is semi-famous in his field. There are no such honors attached to her name, so it makes absolutely no sense for him to know anything about her other than her terrible drinking habits. 

“Well, I think we’ve moved past mere coincidence at this point,” she waves at ‘Chetta behind the counter, trying to keep things light and pleasant. “Once is awkward, two is a coincidence, and three is a pattern. We’re at accidental meeting number four.” 

Maybe they should just talk things through, get the awkwardness – and inevitable arrest – out of the way. Because if things keep going like this, next week she is going to find him in her dorm room, talking to her roommate like they’re old friends. That is how Bizarro World her life has gotten since she first met him. 

“I doubt this will be the last one,” Enjolras looks her in the eye ever so briefly before looking away again. “I do work at the same firm as your friend Marius. I assume our paths are bound to cross again because of him.” 

She can be civil if he is too – well, shit, not that civil is the right word here. 

“I promise not to have you arrested,” he adds, and she takes a relieved breath. 

“That’s all I ask of you,” she awkwardly quips. 

Because he damn well discombobulates her, she is off like a shot, snagging her coffee from ‘Chetta and tossing a crumpled bill at her friend that hopefully covers at least some of her outstanding bills. No time to talk, no time to even look at her friend or that damn guy again before she is out the door and on her way. 

Dwelling on how he flusters her would just be a bad idea. It’s not just the threat of arrest that was hanging over her head until now, it’s just how she can never be composed around him. 

Well, clearly she’ll have to learn, because karma still has a bone to pick with her. 

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Azelma’s clunker stands out a bit in the midst of the drive-in, but they’re paying that no mind. And why would they, when Casablanca was about to start on the biggest screen they’d ever been able to watch it on? 

Of course, the minute the lame previews start and her attention starts to drift, she spots a familiar figure a few cars over. His blonde hair is still in that ponytail, and he is dressed a little too formally for a night spent watching a movie in his car. 

He’s everywhere she is, so why not here? 

“I told Courf to meet me here,” Azelma is so very late to mention. “You won’t mind entertaining his friend, right? If he’s super boring, you can always ignore him to watch the movie.” 

Ever since Azelma and Courfeyrac (what even is his first name?) started getting serious, she’s been bailing on sister time for her damn boyfriend. Really, Eponine should have known when Azelma agreed to the outing without concern for a night spent away from her boyfriend – because she wasn’t going to be apart from him. 

“Fine,” she huffs. 

At least she’ll always have Paris. 

“His name is Gabriel something,” Azelma continues. 

Seriously? Does karma hate her that much? Is that still a thing? Does she really have to run into him everywhere? 

Not that she doesn’t want to see him – she is very appreciative of the visual he presents – but to be forced to see him and have it be so awkward every single time is not really her idea of fun. Somehow she always comes across as such a complete mess when he’s around, and he seems all too put together. For once, she’d like to see him on her terms, when she’s ready for him. 

She’s sure she can make his jaw drop a time or two, leave him discombobulated for once – she can be pretty and funny and impressive. Well, for twice maybe, because she did leave him kind of stunned and in awe when she ran out of his apartment half naked. Maybe nudity is what it takes to surprise him. 

“Courf, baby,” Azelma is already all over him – no surprise there. 

Gabriel Enjolras is trying really hard to avoid getting in the way of the way too amorous reunion. Luckily for him, Azelma and Courfeyrac appear to be heading in the direction of his car. Only, that does leave Enjolras with Eponine. 

“We meet again,” she grins.  

“So we do,” he is not a man of many words right now. 

Well, she can deal with that. She climbs back into Azelma’s car, motioning for him to follow – she doesn’t want to miss the movie. 

“This does explain why Courfeyrac suddenly wanted to see Casablanca,” he mutters as he climbs into the passenger seat. 

He has to slide the seat backwards quite a bit, and she is trying not to be too obvious about how she’s eyeing him. He’s just so tall, and he’s looking handsome, and if they’d met any other way, she might have tried to make something out of it. But not even the great Eponine Thenardier can make burglary into a meet-cute, right? 

“If you’re saying you hate this movie, I’ll kick you out of this car,” she warns. 

She is not even joking much. 

“I could never hate a true classic,” he quickly replies. 

“Good,” she grins. “And I promise not to steal anything this time.” 

Why not make a joke out of it? He already said he wouldn’t report her, so it’s time to let it be an inside joke instead of a source of anxiety. 

“Sounds like a plan,” he’s smiling too. 

And then they’re quiet, listening to the movie and trying to pretend they aren’t looking at each other. She’s sneakier about it than he is, but even the great Eponine Thenardier gets caught sometimes. 

If they keep getting thrown in each other’s paths, why not enjoy it? 

e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e

It’s been a whole week since the drive-in, and she hasn’t seen him. She hasn’t accidentally run into him at the coffee shop again, she hasn’t been by to visit Marius at his office, and clearly the universe is sick of throwing them at each other. And that sucks, because it chooses to quit just when she actually wants to run into him. 

She had a great time at the drive-in. He didn’t try to talk through the movie, and he snuck back to Courfeyrac’s car to get them some snacks that technically weren’t quite allowed. When she teased him about her being a bad influence on him, he went with it, displaying a sense of humor she hadn’t seen much more than a glimpse of before. She was intrigued, even more so than before. So here she is, standing in front of his door on a Friday night, hoping he’ll actually be home. Actually, she is pretty sure he will be home, but she is just unsure if he will want to see her again. He didn’t ask for her number after the movie, so clearly he isn’t interested in her the way she is in him. 

Ugh, this feeling is so disappointing for a badass such as herself, but she is going to power through it. 

The doorbell sounds, and she waits for a response, awkwardly holding the newly washed shirt. She hates that she has to return it, but if he’s not interested, it might be for the best. It would be too awkward to have a random shirt belonging to him at her house, especially if their paths crossed again in the future. They probably will, knowing how the universe likes to mess with her.

“Eponine,” Enjolras is smiling when he opens the door. 

“Gabriel,” she has to grin in return. “I came by to bring back your shirt.” 

Or, actually, she is using that shirt as a damn good excuse. Hopefully he’ll see right through her and appreciate the effort. Ugh, she is so beyond wishful thinking, but he’s making her. 

“It probably looks better on you,” he says. 

And then he blushes, making her think that he really did not mean to let that slip. It’s a very good sign, and the blush is actually working for him. 

“Do you want to come in?” Enjolras recovers quickly. 

She walks in without another word – because did he really think that she was going to say no to that? 

When she walks back out the next morning, she is wearing the shirt. 

At least this time she didn’t have to sleep on the couch.

[vidovicart]

My 21 Favorite Places to Visit in Colombia

Posted: 4/18/2019 | April 18th, 2019

From the blue waters of Tayrona National Park, the sweeping views of the Cocora Valley, and the ruins of San Agustín, Tierradentro, and the Lost City, to the white colonial buildings of Popayán and the hustle and bustle of its metropolises, Colombia is packed with things to see and do.

I’d wanted to visit Colombia for years. And after spending six weeks there, I must say, it lived up to the hype.

I mean I’ve been fawning over it a lot in my last few posts. And I know I’m the millionth blogger to do so, but it really is as incredible as people say. (Even getting knifed there couldn’t stop me from loving the country.)

I had falsely assumed that six weeks would be enough to get a good sense of Colombia. After all, six weeks is a fair amount of time to spend anywhere.

But I was wrong. Given its size and the sheer number of activities, it was barely enough to scratch the surface.

Yet I did manage to see a lot.

Today I want to share my list of what I think are the best things to see and do in Colombia. These are the activities and places you should try to focus on when you visit:

1. Cartagena

Cartagena is one of the most visited destinations in Colombia (thanks to a lot of direct flights and cruise ship visits). Dating back to 1533, the city is famed for its colonial Old Town: a maze of cobbled alleys, flower-covered balconies, and giant churches on spacious plazas.

But despite the crowds (and there are a lot of crowds), I really enjoyed Cartagena. While there aren’t a lot of tourist activities (you can do most of them in a single day), what makes it a wonderful place to visit is just that: it’s somewhere you can slow down, relax, and gorge on the phenomenal gastronomy.

For more, check out this blog post about Cartegena and all my favorite places to eat there.

2. Tayrona National Park

Located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Tayrona has long stretches of golden beaches lined with coconut palms and a dense rainforest with lots of easy day hikes. You’ll also find campsites for overnight stays, hammocks for rent, restaurants, diving, and horse riding.

It’s easy to visit as a day trip from Santa Marta. I highly suggest you start early at the big entrance at El Zaino and exit the park through Calabazo. This underused route takes a whole day, and once you pass the Cabo San Juan campground, you’ll get the last half of the trail to yourself. Try to avoid visiting during January and weekends, when the crowds on the beaches and hiking paths are at their peak.

3. The Lost City (La Ciudad Perdida)

The Lost City was built around 800 CE and contains 169 terraces carved into the mountains, as well as a network of tiled roads and small plazas. It’s one of the most beautiful treks in the country, and the site is older than Machu Picchu! To visit, you need to hire a tour operator (you can’t do it by yourself). It’s about $300-350 USD for the trek from Santa Marta through the jungle up to these beautiful ruins and takes 4–6 days. If you’re pressed for time, you can also do it in three days; the only difference is the pace you go at.

(Tip: You cross a lot of rivers, so be sure to bring an extra pair of shoes or flip flops for when you cross the rivers. You’ll easily ruin a pair of sneakers along the way.)

4. Salento

Surrounded by green mountains and coffee farms, this is one of the oldest towns in the coffee-growing region and the most popular for travelers. The houses are painted a variety of vibrant colors, and the high vantage points throughout town provide some stunning views (sunsets are quite magical). There’s not much to do in the city itself — it’s simply a base for coffee tours or hiking the Cocora Valley (see below) or the trails around town — so it’s easy to spend a few days here watching the world go by with a good book in hand.

5. Cocora Valley

The Cocora Valley is home to Colombia’s national tree, the wax palm, which grows to nearly 200 feet tall. This area has probably the most popular day hike in the country (which was also my favorite activity during my entire trip). You’ll cross jungle rivers, visit a bird sanctuary, and enjoy some stellar views and forest scenery. The route’s about five hours, and you can choose to either take the clockwise or counterclockwise route. The clockwise route, starting at the Wax Palm Valley, is easier, with fewer hills. Counterclockwise is easier at the end, though a little anticlimactic, as you end the hike walking down a boring road.

(Tip: Start early to avoid the brutal midday heat, since there are a lot of exposed areas here.)

6. Bogotá

Bogotá is Colombia’s vibrant capital. While it’s not the country’s most popular destination, it felt the most “Colombian” to me: there was just a certain edge and charm to it, and it seemed the least touristy, with the fewest gringo expats. The historic downtown, La Candelaria, is filled with bright colonial buildings, detailed museums, delicious restaurants, tiny fun bars, historic churches, and centuries-old houses. The north end of town is home to boutique hotels and entertainment areas like Zona Rosa and Zona G. The foodie scene in the city is incredible, with a lot of international options and cutting-edge gastronomic happenings. Throw in some amazing walking tours, day trips, and hikes and you’ve got a recipe for an astounding city.

For more, here’s a list of all my favorite things to do – and places to eat – in Bogota.

7. Cali

This hot, hot city is the salsa capital of the world, where people come to dance. A lot of the guests at my hostel had been there for weeks to learn (the hostels also offer free dance classes). If you like to dance, you can’t miss this city. Besides dancing, though, there are a number of parks, museums, and churches you can visit, plus free walking and food tours. While I didn’t stay long, I definitely enjoyed the scene.

8. Popayán

Popayán rivals Cartagena as Colombia’s most impressive colonial town. It’s known as La Ciudad Blanca (“The White City”) because all the buildings are painted white. Popayán is also a college town (there are three universities), and it’s produced 17 presidents too! Though small, I really loved the slow pace of life and the surprisingly robust food scene here (eat at La Cosecha Parrillada, Restaurante Italiano y Pizzeria, La Fresa, and Mora de Castilla).

While you don’t need a lot of time (take the walking tour, climb the hill, see the churches, and you’re done), I do suggest staying longer to enjoy the slow pace of life. So much of Colombia is go-go-go, it’s nice to find a place that’s more “stay and relax a while.”

9. Tatacoa Desert

Millions of years ago it was once a lush tropical forest. Now, Tatacoa Desert is filled with rocky canyons in shades of red and gray. It is also home to one of the most important observatories in South America, where you can gaze at the stars (weather permitting). If you want to be blown away by the universe, you really need to see this place! Other than that, there’s not much here. Bike into the desert, take some walks, stare at the sky. Stay a night or two. It’s not a popular area, but it is a picturesque way to break up the long bus ride from Bogotá to the south or vice versa.

10. San Agustín Archaeological Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Agustín is a small mountain town that’s home to hundreds of pre-Columbian statues and burial mounds. Its collection of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures is the largest in Latin America, for which you’ll need at least one full day (two to really see it all in depth). If you love history, this is probably the best spot in all of Colombia to experience it.

11. San Gil

San Gil is considered the outdoors capital of the country. Extreme-sports fans love it here. You can go white-water rafting, paragliding, caving, rappelling, trekking, and more from this city! This city is a great place to do outdoor activities and you’re going to find a lot of tour operators in the city. Try to plan at least three days here. It’s worth it.

12. Providencia and San Andrés Islands

These islands are actually closer to Nicaragua than Colombia. They are also considered some of the most unspoiled places in the Caribbean. You’ll find white-sand beaches, stunningly clear blue water, and few crowds (though, thanks to some recent press, Providencia is becoming a lot busier).

Try to make it when tens of thousands of black crabs migrate to the sea. This happens twice a year for about a 1-2-week period between April and July, so it’s not always easy to nail the timing.

13. Medellín

In a country full of hype, this hyped-up city is all that it’s cracked up to be. Set in the Aburrá Valley, Medellín is one of the fastest-growing cities in Colombia. It has enough activities and things to do to fill weeks on end: from microbreweries, museums, walking tours, spacious parks, street art, food tours and markets to incredible nightlife, and on and on and on.

It’s one of the most popular destinations for expats and tourists in the country. While it’s easy to get lost in Gringoland here, try to get out of Poblado or Laureles and see the locals’ side of town.

There’s more to the city than those two areas!

14. Guatapé

This pueblo is one of the most picturesque towns in Colombia and one of the most colorful in the world, as most of the traditional homes have murals painted on the bottom half of their façades that depict animals, people, and shapes. Just hanging out in one of the bright plazas, drinking coffee and people-watching, is one of the most pleasant things to do here.

Most people, though, come to climb the steep (and difficult) staircase to the top of the monolithic Rock of Guatapé (La Piedra) for some of the best views in the country. Guatapé is a long day trip from Medellín (hostels in the city organize them throughout the week) so I recommend trying to spend at least a night here so you aren’t as rushed and can enjoy the area little more.

15. Chingaza National Park

This is one of the biggest nature reserves in Colombia, home to more than 1,000 plant species and 187 bird species. Here you’ll learn about the Páramo ecosystem and how it affects the global water system. (Fun fact: Nearly 80% of Bogotá’s water supply comes from Chingaza.) If you’re going to hike, joining a tour is a good idea. The guides are usually naturalists who can explain the unique environment of the area. One of the best routes is the challenging hike to the summit of Lagunas de Siecha, with a great view over the lakes.

16. Barranquilla

Located between Santa Marta and Cartagena, Barranquilla is the spot to be during Carnival, the second biggest in Latin America. It starts on a Sunday with the Battle of Flowers (a big parade) and the coronation of the King and Queen.

But there’s a lot to do here when it’s not carnival season as well. Make sure you visit El Museo del Caribe, a museum offering an interesting insight into the history of Colombia’s Caribbean coast. There’s also a special exhibit dedicated to Gabriel García Márquez (the famous author who wrote Love in the Time of Cholera).

17. Tierradentro

Tierradentro is one of the most important archaeological sites in South America. It’s up there with San Agustín but gets less press since it’s located in the middle of nowhere and not on a main road. It contains over 100 hypogea (underground tombs) dating from the sixth to the tenth centuries, the only examples of their kind in the Americas. It takes a day or two to hike all the paths around the tombs. You can hire a guide if you want, but the trails are pretty easy to do on your own.

18. Manizales (and Los Nevados)

On the road from Medellín to the south is the city of Manizales. Here, you can take some tours at this northern point of the coffee-growing region, or roam around town, which has some decent restaurants and churches, and a scenic gondola ride. The main reason people visit is to hike Los Nevados, a mountain range with majestic snow-capped peaks. You can do a day or multi-day hikes, but whatever you do, don’t rush up to the top — acclimatize yourself to the altitude in Manizales for a few days first. The town is 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above sea level, but mountains are about 6,000 meters (19,700 feet)! I wasn’t climatized and could really feel the altitude just walking around town. Don’t push yourself if you want to do the hike.

19. The Caribbean Coast

The beaches on the Caribbean coast might not win any awards (at least in my opinion), but the sleepy towns reminded me a lot of the tiny backpacker beach villages around Southeast Asia: a dirt road, lots of hostels, a relaxed atmosphere, and not much else to do. I could easily see why people end up getting stuck here for weeks at a time. The best beach towns to visit are Costeño Beach and Palomino.

20. Punta Gallinas

Punta Gallinas is the northernmost point in all of South America. Most people come here via a tour from Santa Marta or Cabo de Vela, with the latter (through La Guajira Desert) being the better option if you just want to take your time and relax because it’s closer so there’s a lot less drive time. In fact, the only way to see the area is via a tour. Most are two or three nights depending on where you’re coming from. Any hostel can organize a trip for you.

21. Minca

Minca is located in the foothills of the Sierra de Santa Marta Mountains. Once a sleepy backpacker town, it’s now a hot spot for tourists escaping the oppressive heat on the Caribbean coast and hoping to do some quiet hikes. One of the best hikes is to Los Pinos, but it isn’t easy: it takes about three hours from the center of town, and it’s a steady climb into the mountains but, like all things like this, it’s worth it.

There are a lot of waterfalls in the area as well. Two of the best are the Pozo Azul and Marinka. Both have swimming holes at them too.

Be sure to check out the sunset Mundo Nuevo Hostel. It’s an amazing vantage point.

***

Colombia has a million and one things to do. I lost track of all the places I kept wishing I had time to visit. You can spend months there (and a lot of people to do). However, I think this list is a great start. My recommendation is that if you’re short on time, fly (the bus rides are long) or just stick to one area of the country and go in depth around that region.

Trying to “see it all” in Colombia is just a recipe for burnout!

Book Your Trip to Colombia: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Want More Information on Colombia? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Colombia for even more planning tips!

Photo credits: 4, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 21, 22

The post My 21 Favorite Places to Visit in Colombia appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

[travelguy4444]

My 21 Favorite Places to Visit in Colombia

Posted: 4/18/2019 | April 18th, 2019

From the blue waters of Tayrona National Park, the sweeping views of the Cocora Valley, and the ruins of San Agustín, Tierradentro, and the Lost City, to the white colonial buildings of Popayán and the hustle and bustle of its metropolises, Colombia is packed with things to see and do.

I’d wanted to visit Colombia for years. And after spending six weeks there, I must say, it lived up to the hype.

I mean I’ve been fawning over it a lot in my last few posts. And I know I’m the millionth blogger to do so, but it really is as incredible as people say. (Even getting knifed there couldn’t stop me from loving the country.)

I had falsely assumed that six weeks would be enough to get a good sense of Colombia. After all, six weeks is a fair amount of time to spend anywhere.

But I was wrong. Given its size and the sheer number of activities, it was barely enough to scratch the surface.

Yet I did manage to see a lot.

Today I want to share my list of what I think are the best things to see and do in Colombia. These are the activities and places you should try to focus on when you visit:

1. Cartagena

Cartagena is one of the most visited destinations in Colombia (thanks to a lot of direct flights and cruise ship visits). Dating back to 1533, the city is famed for its colonial Old Town: a maze of cobbled alleys, flower-covered balconies, and giant churches on spacious plazas.

But despite the crowds (and there are a lot of crowds), I really enjoyed Cartagena. While there aren’t a lot of tourist activities (you can do most of them in a single day), what makes it a wonderful place to visit is just that: it’s somewhere you can slow down, relax, and gorge on the phenomenal gastronomy.

For more, check out this blog post about Cartegena and all my favorite places to eat there.

2. Tayrona National Park

Located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Tayrona has long stretches of golden beaches lined with coconut palms and a dense rainforest with lots of easy day hikes. You’ll also find campsites for overnight stays, hammocks for rent, restaurants, diving, and horse riding.

It’s easy to visit as a day trip from Santa Marta. I highly suggest you start early at the big entrance at El Zaino and exit the park through Calabazo. This underused route takes a whole day, and once you pass the Cabo San Juan campground, you’ll get the last half of the trail to yourself. Try to avoid visiting during January and weekends, when the crowds on the beaches and hiking paths are at their peak.

3. The Lost City (La Ciudad Perdida)

The Lost City was built around 800 CE and contains 169 terraces carved into the mountains, as well as a network of tiled roads and small plazas. It’s one of the most beautiful treks in the country, and the site is older than Machu Picchu! To visit, you need to hire a tour operator (you can’t do it by yourself). It’s about $300-350 USD for the trek from Santa Marta through the jungle up to these beautiful ruins and takes 4–6 days. If you’re pressed for time, you can also do it in three days; the only difference is the pace you go at.

(Tip: You cross a lot of rivers, so be sure to bring an extra pair of shoes or flip flops for when you cross the rivers. You’ll easily ruin a pair of sneakers along the way.)

4. Salento

Surrounded by green mountains and coffee farms, this is one of the oldest towns in the coffee-growing region and the most popular for travelers. The houses are painted a variety of vibrant colors, and the high vantage points throughout town provide some stunning views (sunsets are quite magical). There’s not much to do in the city itself — it’s simply a base for coffee tours or hiking the Cocora Valley (see below) or the trails around town — so it’s easy to spend a few days here watching the world go by with a good book in hand.

5. Cocora Valley

The Cocora Valley is home to Colombia’s national tree, the wax palm, which grows to nearly 200 feet tall. This area has probably the most popular day hike in the country (which was also my favorite activity during my entire trip). You’ll cross jungle rivers, visit a bird sanctuary, and enjoy some stellar views and forest scenery. The route’s about five hours, and you can choose to either take the clockwise or counterclockwise route. The clockwise route, starting at the Wax Palm Valley, is easier, with fewer hills. Counterclockwise is easier at the end, though a little anticlimactic, as you end the hike walking down a boring road.

(Tip: Start early to avoid the brutal midday heat, since there are a lot of exposed areas here.)

6. Bogotá

Bogotá is Colombia’s vibrant capital. While it’s not the country’s most popular destination, it felt the most “Colombian” to me: there was just a certain edge and charm to it, and it seemed the least touristy, with the fewest gringo expats. The historic downtown, La Candelaria, is filled with bright colonial buildings, detailed museums, delicious restaurants, tiny fun bars, historic churches, and centuries-old houses. The north end of town is home to boutique hotels and entertainment areas like Zona Rosa and Zona G. The foodie scene in the city is incredible, with a lot of international options and cutting-edge gastronomic happenings. Throw in some amazing walking tours, day trips, and hikes and you’ve got a recipe for an astounding city.

For more, here’s a list of all my favorite things to do – and places to eat – in Bogota.

7. Cali

This hot, hot city is the salsa capital of the world, where people come to dance. A lot of the guests at my hostel had been there for weeks to learn (the hostels also offer free dance classes). If you like to dance, you can’t miss this city. Besides dancing, though, there are a number of parks, museums, and churches you can visit, plus free walking and food tours. While I didn’t stay long, I definitely enjoyed the scene.

8. Popayán

Popayán rivals Cartagena as Colombia’s most impressive colonial town. It’s known as La Ciudad Blanca (“The White City”) because all the buildings are painted white. Popayán is also a college town (there are three universities), and it’s produced 17 presidents too! Though small, I really loved the slow pace of life and the surprisingly robust food scene here (eat at La Cosecha Parrillada, Restaurante Italiano y Pizzeria, La Fresa, and Mora de Castilla).

While you don’t need a lot of time (take the walking tour, climb the hill, see the churches, and you’re done), I do suggest staying longer to enjoy the slow pace of life. So much of Colombia is go-go-go, it’s nice to find a place that’s more “stay and relax a while.”

9. Tatacoa Desert

Millions of years ago it was once a lush tropical forest. Now, Tatacoa Desert is filled with rocky canyons in shades of red and gray. It is also home to one of the most important observatories in South America, where you can gaze at the stars (weather permitting). If you want to be blown away by the universe, you really need to see this place! Other than that, there’s not much here. Bike into the desert, take some walks, stare at the sky. Stay a night or two. It’s not a popular area, but it is a picturesque way to break up the long bus ride from Bogotá to the south or vice versa.

10. San Agustín Archaeological Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Agustín is a small mountain town that’s home to hundreds of pre-Columbian statues and burial mounds. Its collection of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures is the largest in Latin America, for which you’ll need at least one full day (two to really see it all in depth). If you love history, this is probably the best spot in all of Colombia to experience it.

11. San Gil

San Gil is considered the outdoors capital of the country. Extreme-sports fans love it here. You can go white-water rafting, paragliding, caving, rappelling, trekking, and more from this city! This city is a great place to do outdoor activities and you’re going to find a lot of tour operators in the city. Try to plan at least three days here. It’s worth it.

12. Providencia and San Andrés Islands

These islands are actually closer to Nicaragua than Colombia. They are also considered some of the most unspoiled places in the Caribbean. You’ll find white-sand beaches, stunningly clear blue water, and few crowds (though, thanks to some recent press, Providencia is becoming a lot busier).

Try to make it when tens of thousands of black crabs migrate to the sea. This happens twice a year for about a 1-2-week period between April and July, so it’s not always easy to nail the timing.

13. Medellín

In a country full of hype, this hyped-up city is all that it’s cracked up to be. Set in the Aburrá Valley, Medellín is one of the fastest-growing cities in Colombia. It has enough activities and things to do to fill weeks on end: from microbreweries, museums, walking tours, spacious parks, street art, food tours and markets to incredible nightlife, and on and on and on.

It’s one of the most popular destinations for expats and tourists in the country. While it’s easy to get lost in Gringoland here, try to get out of Poblado or Laureles and see the locals’ side of town.

There’s more to the city than those two areas!

14. Guatapé

This pueblo is one of the most picturesque towns in Colombia and one of the most colorful in the world, as most of the traditional homes have murals painted on the bottom half of their façades that depict animals, people, and shapes. Just hanging out in one of the bright plazas, drinking coffee and people-watching, is one of the most pleasant things to do here.

Most people, though, come to climb the steep (and difficult) staircase to the top of the monolithic Rock of Guatapé (La Piedra) for some of the best views in the country. Guatapé is a long day trip from Medellín (hostels in the city organize them throughout the week) so I recommend trying to spend at least a night here so you aren’t as rushed and can enjoy the area little more.

15. Chingaza National Park

This is one of the biggest nature reserves in Colombia, home to more than 1,000 plant species and 187 bird species. Here you’ll learn about the Páramo ecosystem and how it affects the global water system. (Fun fact: Nearly 80% of Bogotá’s water supply comes from Chingaza.) If you’re going to hike, joining a tour is a good idea. The guides are usually naturalists who can explain the unique environment of the area. One of the best routes is the challenging hike to the summit of Lagunas de Siecha, with a great view over the lakes.

16. Barranquilla

Located between Santa Marta and Cartagena, Barranquilla is the spot to be during Carnival, the second biggest in Latin America. It starts on a Sunday with the Battle of Flowers (a big parade) and the coronation of the King and Queen.

But there’s a lot to do here when it’s not carnival season as well. Make sure you visit El Museo del Caribe, a museum offering an interesting insight into the history of Colombia’s Caribbean coast. There’s also a special exhibit dedicated to Gabriel García Márquez (the famous author who wrote Love in the Time of Cholera).

17. Tierradentro

Tierradentro is one of the most important archaeological sites in South America. It’s up there with San Agustín but gets less press since it’s located in the middle of nowhere and not on a main road. It contains over 100 hypogea (underground tombs) dating from the sixth to the tenth centuries, the only examples of their kind in the Americas. It takes a day or two to hike all the paths around the tombs. You can hire a guide if you want, but the trails are pretty easy to do on your own.

18. Manizales (and Los Nevados)

On the road from Medellín to the south is the city of Manizales. Here, you can take some tours at this northern point of the coffee-growing region, or roam around town, which has some decent restaurants and churches, and a scenic gondola ride. The main reason people visit is to hike Los Nevados, a mountain range with majestic snow-capped peaks. You can do a day or multi-day hikes, but whatever you do, don’t rush up to the top — acclimatize yourself to the altitude in Manizales for a few days first. The town is 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above sea level, but mountains are about 6,000 meters (19,700 feet)! I wasn’t climatized and could really feel the altitude just walking around town. Don’t push yourself if you want to do the hike.

19. The Caribbean Coast

The beaches on the Caribbean coast might not win any awards (at least in my opinion), but the sleepy towns reminded me a lot of the tiny backpacker beach villages around Southeast Asia: a dirt road, lots of hostels, a relaxed atmosphere, and not much else to do. I could easily see why people end up getting stuck here for weeks at a time. The best beach towns to visit are Costeño Beach and Palomino.

20. Punta Gallinas

Punta Gallinas is the northernmost point in all of South America. Most people come here via a tour from Santa Marta or Cabo de Vela, with the latter (through La Guajira Desert) being the better option if you just want to take your time and relax because it’s closer so there’s a lot less drive time. In fact, the only way to see the area is via a tour. Most are two or three nights depending on where you’re coming from. Any hostel can organize a trip for you.

21. Minca

Minca is located in the foothills of the Sierra de Santa Marta Mountains. Once a sleepy backpacker town, it’s now a hot spot for tourists escaping the oppressive heat on the Caribbean coast and hoping to do some quiet hikes. One of the best hikes is to Los Pinos, but it isn’t easy: it takes about three hours from the center of town, and it’s a steady climb into the mountains but, like all things like this, it’s worth it.

There are a lot of waterfalls in the area as well. Two of the best are the Pozo Azul and Marinka. Both have swimming holes at them too.

Be sure to check out the sunset Mundo Nuevo Hostel. It’s an amazing vantage point.

***

Colombia has a million and one things to do. I lost track of all the places I kept wishing I had time to visit. You can spend months there (and a lot of people to do). However, I think this list is a great start. My recommendation is that if you’re short on time, fly (the bus rides are long) or just stick to one area of the country and go in depth around that region.

Trying to “see it all” in Colombia is just a recipe for burnout!

Book Your Trip to Colombia: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Want More Information on Colombia? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Colombia for even more planning tips!

Photo credits: 4, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 21, 22

The post My 21 Favorite Places to Visit in Colombia appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

source https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/best-places-colombia/

[melissagarcia8]

My 21 Favorite Places to Visit in Colombia

Posted: 4/18/2019 | April 18th, 2019

From the blue waters of Tayrona National Park, the sweeping views of the Cocora Valley, and the ruins of San Agustín, Tierradentro, and the Lost City, to the white colonial buildings of Popayán and the hustle and bustle of its metropolises, Colombia is packed with things to see and do.

I’d wanted to visit Colombia for years. And after spending six weeks there, I must say, it lived up to the hype.

I mean I’ve been fawning over it a lot in my last few posts. And I know I’m the millionth blogger to do so, but it really is as incredible as people say. (Even getting knifed there couldn’t stop me from loving the country.)

I had falsely assumed that six weeks would be enough to get a good sense of Colombia. After all, six weeks is a fair amount of time to spend anywhere.

But I was wrong. Given its size and the sheer number of activities, it was barely enough to scratch the surface.

Yet I did manage to see a lot.

Today I want to share my list of what I think are the best things to see and do in Colombia. These are the activities and places you should try to focus on when you visit:

1. Cartagena

Cartagena is one of the most visited destinations in Colombia (thanks to a lot of direct flights and cruise ship visits). Dating back to 1533, the city is famed for its colonial Old Town: a maze of cobbled alleys, flower-covered balconies, and giant churches on spacious plazas.

But despite the crowds (and there are a lot of crowds), I really enjoyed Cartagena. While there aren’t a lot of tourist activities (you can do most of them in a single day), what makes it a wonderful place to visit is just that: it’s somewhere you can slow down, relax, and gorge on the phenomenal gastronomy.

For more, check out this blog post about Cartegena and all my favorite places to eat there.

2. Tayrona National Park

Located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Tayrona has long stretches of golden beaches lined with coconut palms and a dense rainforest with lots of easy day hikes. You’ll also find campsites for overnight stays, hammocks for rent, restaurants, diving, and horse riding.

It’s easy to visit as a day trip from Santa Marta. I highly suggest you start early at the big entrance at El Zaino and exit the park through Calabazo. This underused route takes a whole day, and once you pass the Cabo San Juan campground, you’ll get the last half of the trail to yourself. Try to avoid visiting during January and weekends, when the crowds on the beaches and hiking paths are at their peak.

3. The Lost City (La Ciudad Perdida)

The Lost City was built around 800 CE and contains 169 terraces carved into the mountains, as well as a network of tiled roads and small plazas. It’s one of the most beautiful treks in the country, and the site is older than Machu Picchu! To visit, you need to hire a tour operator (you can’t do it by yourself). It’s about $300-350 USD for the trek from Santa Marta through the jungle up to these beautiful ruins and takes 4–6 days. If you’re pressed for time, you can also do it in three days; the only difference is the pace you go at.

(Tip: You cross a lot of rivers, so be sure to bring an extra pair of shoes or flip flops for when you cross the rivers. You’ll easily ruin a pair of sneakers along the way.)

4. Salento

Surrounded by green mountains and coffee farms, this is one of the oldest towns in the coffee-growing region and the most popular for travelers. The houses are painted a variety of vibrant colors, and the high vantage points throughout town provide some stunning views (sunsets are quite magical). There’s not much to do in the city itself — it’s simply a base for coffee tours or hiking the Cocora Valley (see below) or the trails around town — so it’s easy to spend a few days here watching the world go by with a good book in hand.

5. Cocora Valley

The Cocora Valley is home to Colombia’s national tree, the wax palm, which grows to nearly 200 feet tall. This area has probably the most popular day hike in the country (which was also my favorite activity during my entire trip). You’ll cross jungle rivers, visit a bird sanctuary, and enjoy some stellar views and forest scenery. The route’s about five hours, and you can choose to either take the clockwise or counterclockwise route. The clockwise route, starting at the Wax Palm Valley, is easier, with fewer hills. Counterclockwise is easier at the end, though a little anticlimactic, as you end the hike walking down a boring road.

(Tip: Start early to avoid the brutal midday heat, since there are a lot of exposed areas here.)

6. Bogotá

Bogotá is Colombia’s vibrant capital. While it’s not the country’s most popular destination, it felt the most “Colombian” to me: there was just a certain edge and charm to it, and it seemed the least touristy, with the fewest gringo expats. The historic downtown, La Candelaria, is filled with bright colonial buildings, detailed museums, delicious restaurants, tiny fun bars, historic churches, and centuries-old houses. The north end of town is home to boutique hotels and entertainment areas like Zona Rosa and Zona G. The foodie scene in the city is incredible, with a lot of international options and cutting-edge gastronomic happenings. Throw in some amazing walking tours, day trips, and hikes and you’ve got a recipe for an astounding city.

For more, here’s a list of all my favorite things to do – and places to eat – in Bogota.

7. Cali

This hot, hot city is the salsa capital of the world, where people come to dance. A lot of the guests at my hostel had been there for weeks to learn (the hostels also offer free dance classes). If you like to dance, you can’t miss this city. Besides dancing, though, there are a number of parks, museums, and churches you can visit, plus free walking and food tours. While I didn’t stay long, I definitely enjoyed the scene.

8. Popayán

Popayán rivals Cartagena as Colombia’s most impressive colonial town. It’s known as La Ciudad Blanca (“The White City”) because all the buildings are painted white. Popayán is also a college town (there are three universities), and it’s produced 17 presidents too! Though small, I really loved the slow pace of life and the surprisingly robust food scene here (eat at La Cosecha Parrillada, Restaurante Italiano y Pizzeria, La Fresa, and Mora de Castilla).

While you don’t need a lot of time (take the walking tour, climb the hill, see the churches, and you’re done), I do suggest staying longer to enjoy the slow pace of life. So much of Colombia is go-go-go, it’s nice to find a place that’s more “stay and relax a while.”

9. Tatacoa Desert

Millions of years ago it was once a lush tropical forest. Now, Tatacoa Desert is filled with rocky canyons in shades of red and gray. It is also home to one of the most important observatories in South America, where you can gaze at the stars (weather permitting). If you want to be blown away by the universe, you really need to see this place! Other than that, there’s not much here. Bike into the desert, take some walks, stare at the sky. Stay a night or two. It’s not a popular area, but it is a picturesque way to break up the long bus ride from Bogotá to the south or vice versa.

10. San Agustín Archaeological Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Agustín is a small mountain town that’s home to hundreds of pre-Columbian statues and burial mounds. Its collection of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures is the largest in Latin America, for which you’ll need at least one full day (two to really see it all in depth). If you love history, this is probably the best spot in all of Colombia to experience it.

11. San Gil

San Gil is considered the outdoors capital of the country. Extreme-sports fans love it here. You can go white-water rafting, paragliding, caving, rappelling, trekking, and more from this city! This city is a great place to do outdoor activities and you’re going to find a lot of tour operators in the city. Try to plan at least three days here. It’s worth it.

12. Providencia and San Andrés Islands

These islands are actually closer to Nicaragua than Colombia. They are also considered some of the most unspoiled places in the Caribbean. You’ll find white-sand beaches, stunningly clear blue water, and few crowds (though, thanks to some recent press, Providencia is becoming a lot busier).

Try to make it when tens of thousands of black crabs migrate to the sea. This happens twice a year for about a 1-2-week period between April and July, so it’s not always easy to nail the timing.

13. Medellín

In a country full of hype, this hyped-up city is all that it’s cracked up to be. Set in the Aburrá Valley, Medellín is one of the fastest-growing cities in Colombia. It has enough activities and things to do to fill weeks on end: from microbreweries, museums, walking tours, spacious parks, street art, food tours and markets to incredible nightlife, and on and on and on.

It’s one of the most popular destinations for expats and tourists in the country. While it’s easy to get lost in Gringoland here, try to get out of Poblado or Laureles and see the locals’ side of town.

There’s more to the city than those two areas!

14. Guatapé

This pueblo is one of the most picturesque towns in Colombia and one of the most colorful in the world, as most of the traditional homes have murals painted on the bottom half of their façades that depict animals, people, and shapes. Just hanging out in one of the bright plazas, drinking coffee and people-watching, is one of the most pleasant things to do here.

Most people, though, come to climb the steep (and difficult) staircase to the top of the monolithic Rock of Guatapé (La Piedra) for some of the best views in the country. Guatapé is a long day trip from Medellín (hostels in the city organize them throughout the week) so I recommend trying to spend at least a night here so you aren’t as rushed and can enjoy the area little more.

15. Chingaza National Park

This is one of the biggest nature reserves in Colombia, home to more than 1,000 plant species and 187 bird species. Here you’ll learn about the Páramo ecosystem and how it affects the global water system. (Fun fact: Nearly 80% of Bogotá’s water supply comes from Chingaza.) If you’re going to hike, joining a tour is a good idea. The guides are usually naturalists who can explain the unique environment of the area. One of the best routes is the challenging hike to the summit of Lagunas de Siecha, with a great view over the lakes.

16. Barranquilla

Located between Santa Marta and Cartagena, Barranquilla is the spot to be during Carnival, the second biggest in Latin America. It starts on a Sunday with the Battle of Flowers (a big parade) and the coronation of the King and Queen.

But there’s a lot to do here when it’s not carnival season as well. Make sure you visit El Museo del Caribe, a museum offering an interesting insight into the history of Colombia’s Caribbean coast. There’s also a special exhibit dedicated to Gabriel García Márquez (the famous author who wrote Love in the Time of Cholera).

17. Tierradentro

Tierradentro is one of the most important archaeological sites in South America. It’s up there with San Agustín but gets less press since it’s located in the middle of nowhere and not on a main road. It contains over 100 hypogea (underground tombs) dating from the sixth to the tenth centuries, the only examples of their kind in the Americas. It takes a day or two to hike all the paths around the tombs. You can hire a guide if you want, but the trails are pretty easy to do on your own.

18. Manizales (and Los Nevados)

On the road from Medellín to the south is the city of Manizales. Here, you can take some tours at this northern point of the coffee-growing region, or roam around town, which has some decent restaurants and churches, and a scenic gondola ride. The main reason people visit is to hike Los Nevados, a mountain range with majestic snow-capped peaks. You can do a day or multi-day hikes, but whatever you do, don’t rush up to the top — acclimatize yourself to the altitude in Manizales for a few days first. The town is 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above sea level, but mountains are about 6,000 meters (19,700 feet)! I wasn’t climatized and could really feel the altitude just walking around town. Don’t push yourself if you want to do the hike.

19. The Caribbean Coast

The beaches on the Caribbean coast might not win any awards (at least in my opinion), but the sleepy towns reminded me a lot of the tiny backpacker beach villages around Southeast Asia: a dirt road, lots of hostels, a relaxed atmosphere, and not much else to do. I could easily see why people end up getting stuck here for weeks at a time. The best beach towns to visit are Costeño Beach and Palomino.

20. Punta Gallinas

Punta Gallinas is the northernmost point in all of South America. Most people come here via a tour from Santa Marta or Cabo de Vela, with the latter (through La Guajira Desert) being the better option if you just want to take your time and relax because it’s closer so there’s a lot less drive time. In fact, the only way to see the area is via a tour. Most are two or three nights depending on where you’re coming from. Any hostel can organize a trip for you.

21. Minca

Minca is located in the foothills of the Sierra de Santa Marta Mountains. Once a sleepy backpacker town, it’s now a hot spot for tourists escaping the oppressive heat on the Caribbean coast and hoping to do some quiet hikes. One of the best hikes is to Los Pinos, but it isn’t easy: it takes about three hours from the center of town, and it’s a steady climb into the mountains but, like all things like this, it’s worth it.

There are a lot of waterfalls in the area as well. Two of the best are the Pozo Azul and Marinka. Both have swimming holes at them too.

Be sure to check out the sunset Mundo Nuevo Hostel. It’s an amazing vantage point.

***

Colombia has a million and one things to do. I lost track of all the places I kept wishing I had time to visit. You can spend months there (and a lot of people to do). However, I think this list is a great start. My recommendation is that if you’re short on time, fly (the bus rides are long) or just stick to one area of the country and go in depth around that region.

Trying to “see it all” in Colombia is just a recipe for burnout!

Book Your Trip to Colombia: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Want More Information on Colombia? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Colombia for even more planning tips!

Photo credits: 4, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 21, 22

The post My 21 Favorite Places to Visit in Colombia appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Traveling News https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/best-places-colombia/

[tamboradventure]

My 21 Favorite Places to Visit in Colombia

Posted: 4/18/2019 | April 18th, 2019

From the blue waters of Tayrona National Park, the sweeping views of the Cocora Valley, and the ruins of San Agustín, Tierradentro, and the Lost City, to the white colonial buildings of Popayán and the hustle and bustle of its metropolises, Colombia is packed with things to see and do.

I’d wanted to visit Colombia for years. And after spending six weeks there, I must say, it lived up to the hype.

I mean I’ve been fawning over it a lot in my last few posts. And I know I’m the millionth blogger to do so, but it really is as incredible as people say. (Even getting knifed there couldn’t stop me from loving the country.)

I had falsely assumed that six weeks would be enough to get a good sense of Colombia. After all, six weeks is a fair amount of time to spend anywhere.

But I was wrong. Given its size and the sheer number of activities, it was barely enough to scratch the surface.

Yet I did manage to see a lot.

Today I want to share my list of what I think are the best things to see and do in Colombia. These are the activities and places you should try to focus on when you visit:

1. Cartagena

Cartagena is one of the most visited destinations in Colombia (thanks to a lot of direct flights and cruise ship visits). Dating back to 1533, the city is famed for its colonial Old Town: a maze of cobbled alleys, flower-covered balconies, and giant churches on spacious plazas.

But despite the crowds (and there are a lot of crowds), I really enjoyed Cartagena. While there aren’t a lot of tourist activities (you can do most of them in a single day), what makes it a wonderful place to visit is just that: it’s somewhere you can slow down, relax, and gorge on the phenomenal gastronomy.

For more, check out this blog post about Cartegena and all my favorite places to eat there.

2. Tayrona National Park

Located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Tayrona has long stretches of golden beaches lined with coconut palms and a dense rainforest with lots of easy day hikes. You’ll also find campsites for overnight stays, hammocks for rent, restaurants, diving, and horse riding.

It’s easy to visit as a day trip from Santa Marta. I highly suggest you start early at the big entrance at El Zaino and exit the park through Calabazo. This underused route takes a whole day, and once you pass the Cabo San Juan campground, you’ll get the last half of the trail to yourself. Try to avoid visiting during January and weekends, when the crowds on the beaches and hiking paths are at their peak.

3. The Lost City (La Ciudad Perdida)

The Lost City was built around 800 CE and contains 169 terraces carved into the mountains, as well as a network of tiled roads and small plazas. It’s one of the most beautiful treks in the country, and the site is older than Machu Picchu! To visit, you need to hire a tour operator (you can’t do it by yourself). It’s about $300-350 USD for the trek from Santa Marta through the jungle up to these beautiful ruins and takes 4–6 days. If you’re pressed for time, you can also do it in three days; the only difference is the pace you go at.

(Tip: You cross a lot of rivers, so be sure to bring an extra pair of shoes or flip flops for when you cross the rivers. You’ll easily ruin a pair of sneakers along the way.)

4. Salento

Surrounded by green mountains and coffee farms, this is one of the oldest towns in the coffee-growing region and the most popular for travelers. The houses are painted a variety of vibrant colors, and the high vantage points throughout town provide some stunning views (sunsets are quite magical). There’s not much to do in the city itself — it’s simply a base for coffee tours or hiking the Cocora Valley (see below) or the trails around town — so it’s easy to spend a few days here watching the world go by with a good book in hand.

5. Cocora Valley

The Cocora Valley is home to Colombia’s national tree, the wax palm, which grows to nearly 200 feet tall. This area has probably the most popular day hike in the country (which was also my favorite activity during my entire trip). You’ll cross jungle rivers, visit a bird sanctuary, and enjoy some stellar views and forest scenery. The route’s about five hours, and you can choose to either take the clockwise or counterclockwise route. The clockwise route, starting at the Wax Palm Valley, is easier, with fewer hills. Counterclockwise is easier at the end, though a little anticlimactic, as you end the hike walking down a boring road.

(Tip: Start early to avoid the brutal midday heat, since there are a lot of exposed areas here.)

6. Bogotá

Bogotá is Colombia’s vibrant capital. While it’s not the country’s most popular destination, it felt the most “Colombian” to me: there was just a certain edge and charm to it, and it seemed the least touristy, with the fewest gringo expats. The historic downtown, La Candelaria, is filled with bright colonial buildings, detailed museums, delicious restaurants, tiny fun bars, historic churches, and centuries-old houses. The north end of town is home to boutique hotels and entertainment areas like Zona Rosa and Zona G. The foodie scene in the city is incredible, with a lot of international options and cutting-edge gastronomic happenings. Throw in some amazing walking tours, day trips, and hikes and you’ve got a recipe for an astounding city.

For more, here’s a list of all my favorite things to do – and places to eat – in Bogota.

7. Cali

This hot, hot city is the salsa capital of the world, where people come to dance. A lot of the guests at my hostel had been there for weeks to learn (the hostels also offer free dance classes). If you like to dance, you can’t miss this city. Besides dancing, though, there are a number of parks, museums, and churches you can visit, plus free walking and food tours. While I didn’t stay long, I definitely enjoyed the scene.

8. Popayán

Popayán rivals Cartagena as Colombia’s most impressive colonial town. It’s known as La Ciudad Blanca (“The White City”) because all the buildings are painted white. Popayán is also a college town (there are three universities), and it’s produced 17 presidents too! Though small, I really loved the slow pace of life and the surprisingly robust food scene here (eat at La Cosecha Parrillada, Restaurante Italiano y Pizzeria, La Fresa, and Mora de Castilla).

While you don’t need a lot of time (take the walking tour, climb the hill, see the churches, and you’re done), I do suggest staying longer to enjoy the slow pace of life. So much of Colombia is go-go-go, it’s nice to find a place that’s more “stay and relax a while.”

9. Tatacoa Desert

Millions of years ago it was once a lush tropical forest. Now, Tatacoa Desert is filled with rocky canyons in shades of red and gray. It is also home to one of the most important observatories in South America, where you can gaze at the stars (weather permitting). If you want to be blown away by the universe, you really need to see this place! Other than that, there’s not much here. Bike into the desert, take some walks, stare at the sky. Stay a night or two. It’s not a popular area, but it is a picturesque way to break up the long bus ride from Bogotá to the south or vice versa.

10. San Agustín Archaeological Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Agustín is a small mountain town that’s home to hundreds of pre-Columbian statues and burial mounds. Its collection of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures is the largest in Latin America, for which you’ll need at least one full day (two to really see it all in depth). If you love history, this is probably the best spot in all of Colombia to experience it.

11. San Gil

San Gil is considered the outdoors capital of the country. Extreme-sports fans love it here. You can go white-water rafting, paragliding, caving, rappelling, trekking, and more from this city! This city is a great place to do outdoor activities and you’re going to find a lot of tour operators in the city. Try to plan at least three days here. It’s worth it.

12. Providencia and San Andrés Islands

These islands are actually closer to Nicaragua than Colombia. They are also considered some of the most unspoiled places in the Caribbean. You’ll find white-sand beaches, stunningly clear blue water, and few crowds (though, thanks to some recent press, Providencia is becoming a lot busier).

Try to make it when tens of thousands of black crabs migrate to the sea. This happens twice a year for about a 1-2-week period between April and July, so it’s not always easy to nail the timing.

13. Medellín

In a country full of hype, this hyped-up city is all that it’s cracked up to be. Set in the Aburrá Valley, Medellín is one of the fastest-growing cities in Colombia. It has enough activities and things to do to fill weeks on end: from microbreweries, museums, walking tours, spacious parks, street art, food tours and markets to incredible nightlife, and on and on and on.

It’s one of the most popular destinations for expats and tourists in the country. While it’s easy to get lost in Gringoland here, try to get out of Poblado or Laureles and see the locals’ side of town.

There’s more to the city than those two areas!

14. Guatapé

This pueblo is one of the most picturesque towns in Colombia and one of the most colorful in the world, as most of the traditional homes have murals painted on the bottom half of their façades that depict animals, people, and shapes. Just hanging out in one of the bright plazas, drinking coffee and people-watching, is one of the most pleasant things to do here.

Most people, though, come to climb the steep (and difficult) staircase to the top of the monolithic Rock of Guatapé (La Piedra) for some of the best views in the country. Guatapé is a long day trip from Medellín (hostels in the city organize them throughout the week) so I recommend trying to spend at least a night here so you aren’t as rushed and can enjoy the area little more.

15. Chingaza National Park

This is one of the biggest nature reserves in Colombia, home to more than 1,000 plant species and 187 bird species. Here you’ll learn about the Páramo ecosystem and how it affects the global water system. (Fun fact: Nearly 80% of Bogotá’s water supply comes from Chingaza.) If you’re going to hike, joining a tour is a good idea. The guides are usually naturalists who can explain the unique environment of the area. One of the best routes is the challenging hike to the summit of Lagunas de Siecha, with a great view over the lakes.

16. Barranquilla

Located between Santa Marta and Cartagena, Barranquilla is the spot to be during Carnival, the second biggest in Latin America. It starts on a Sunday with the Battle of Flowers (a big parade) and the coronation of the King and Queen.

But there’s a lot to do here when it’s not carnival season as well. Make sure you visit El Museo del Caribe, a museum offering an interesting insight into the history of Colombia’s Caribbean coast. There’s also a special exhibit dedicated to Gabriel García Márquez (the famous author who wrote Love in the Time of Cholera).

17. Tierradentro

Tierradentro is one of the most important archaeological sites in South America. It’s up there with San Agustín but gets less press since it’s located in the middle of nowhere and not on a main road. It contains over 100 hypogea (underground tombs) dating from the sixth to the tenth centuries, the only examples of their kind in the Americas. It takes a day or two to hike all the paths around the tombs. You can hire a guide if you want, but the trails are pretty easy to do on your own.

18. Manizales (and Los Nevados)

On the road from Medellín to the south is the city of Manizales. Here, you can take some tours at this northern point of the coffee-growing region, or roam around town, which has some decent restaurants and churches, and a scenic gondola ride. The main reason people visit is to hike Los Nevados, a mountain range with majestic snow-capped peaks. You can do a day or multi-day hikes, but whatever you do, don’t rush up to the top — acclimatize yourself to the altitude in Manizales for a few days first. The town is 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above sea level, but mountains are about 6,000 meters (19,700 feet)! I wasn’t climatized and could really feel the altitude just walking around town. Don’t push yourself if you want to do the hike.

19. The Caribbean Coast

The beaches on the Caribbean coast might not win any awards (at least in my opinion), but the sleepy towns reminded me a lot of the tiny backpacker beach villages around Southeast Asia: a dirt road, lots of hostels, a relaxed atmosphere, and not much else to do. I could easily see why people end up getting stuck here for weeks at a time. The best beach towns to visit are Costeño Beach and Palomino.

20. Punta Gallinas

Punta Gallinas is the northernmost point in all of South America. Most people come here via a tour from Santa Marta or Cabo de Vela, with the latter (through La Guajira Desert) being the better option if you just want to take your time and relax because it’s closer so there’s a lot less drive time. In fact, the only way to see the area is via a tour. Most are two or three nights depending on where you’re coming from. Any hostel can organize a trip for you.

21. Minca

Minca is located in the foothills of the Sierra de Santa Marta Mountains. Once a sleepy backpacker town, it’s now a hot spot for tourists escaping the oppressive heat on the Caribbean coast and hoping to do some quiet hikes. One of the best hikes is to Los Pinos, but it isn’t easy: it takes about three hours from the center of town, and it’s a steady climb into the mountains but, like all things like this, it’s worth it.

There are a lot of waterfalls in the area as well. Two of the best are the Pozo Azul and Marinka. Both have swimming holes at them too.

Be sure to check out the sunset Mundo Nuevo Hostel. It’s an amazing vantage point.

***

Colombia has a million and one things to do. I lost track of all the places I kept wishing I had time to visit. You can spend months there (and a lot of people to do). However, I think this list is a great start. My recommendation is that if you’re short on time, fly (the bus rides are long) or just stick to one area of the country and go in depth around that region.

Trying to “see it all” in Colombia is just a recipe for burnout!

Book Your Trip to Colombia: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Want More Information on Colombia? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Colombia for even more planning tips!

Photo credits: 4, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 21, 22

The post My 21 Favorite Places to Visit in Colombia appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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[themusicenthusiast]

Wednesday, March 27th, 2019 – Thoroughly Engaging and Entertaining, The Revivalists Take Good Care of Their Dallas Fans

Photos by Jordan Buford Photography A Wednesday night definitely isn’t the prime night for a concert, and for a time in the early evening it looked as if South Side Ballroom wouldn’t be too crowded, the vastness of the venue being obvious. That was early on though, about the time the lone opening act, Rayland Baxter, set things in motion around eight o’clock. As he and his band performed, droves of concertgoers continued to pack in, ready for something fun to break up the monotony of the work week, and everyone seemed to know that The Revivalists would be the cure for that. The eight-piece ensemble had returned to the road earlier in the month, continuing to tour in support of their recently released fourth studio album, Take Good Care (out via Loma Vista Recordings/Concord Music Group). With each new album The Revivalists have experienced more substantial success, this latest one being no different, spawning some of their biggest singles to date. In turn, the Take Good Care Tour had them gracing some of the largest stages they have headlined in their career, and for it they had prepared an absolutely vigorous performance. The audience reflected the diverse reach that The Revivalists’ music has, patrons ranging from their twenties to many who were middle-aged and up, all packing in as tightly as they could, consumed by excitement as they awaited their showtime. Andrew Campanelli and Paulet "PJ" Howard  took the stage as the house lights dimmed at 9:16, taking a spot behind their respective drum kits where they proceeded to knock out a heavy, steady set of beats. In a way they were almost dueling drums; and as bold a step as that is for a band to incorporate two percussionists into their sound, it never sounded like excess this night. Quite the contrary, actually, jointly further fleshing out the music and providing a richer depth to it. Howard has been a part of the group for a little more than a year now though he’s still the newest piece to the band, his addition having emboldened their already distinct sound that draws on elements of rock, soul and funk to name a few. A sound that could only be born out of the style and flare that is found in their hometown of New Orleans.

As they carried on their band mates filed out one by one, George Gekas grabbing his bass and taking his spot over on stage left where he was soon joined by pedal steel guitarist Ed Williams. To the right of the massive risers that housed the drum kits was another riser with the keyboards, Michael Girardot climbing up behind them. Each received thunderous applause as they found their way out underneath the stage lights, guitarist Zack Feinberg garnering some of the loudest yet when he appeared; while Rob Ingraham waved his saxophone in the air after grabbing it before proceeding to twirl it around in his hands. The most applause seemed to have been reserved for David Shaw, the frontman bounding out on stage with vim, raring to go; and with everyone in place they were off. The attention would largely be on Take Good Care this night, and while it has become customary for bands to open with something from their current release, The Revivalists opted for some older material. Songs they knew would instantly click with the spectators and deliver that euphoric rush that a concert is about, while also being songs they were most comfortable with and made the most of their showmanship.

Not every band can come out and completely captivate an audience from the first note, though this octet succeeded at it as Feinberg launched into the opening riff of “Criminal”. It played to the strengths of these finely tuned musicians who were in peak form from all of the touring they’ve currently been doing, allowing them to quickly find their groove both as individuals and as a unit. Performing that cut from City of Sound seemed like second nature to them. It was noticeable in the way they handled themselves; the finesse that Shaw exhibited when it came to interacting with the onlookers and building a rapport with them being inspiring. The relationship he and his band mates worked to achieve transcended the general performer/fan or creator/consumer relationship (however you wish to view it), bridging that gap by striving to make every last soul in the building feel as if they were an integral part of the show. A large runway type structure extended from the center stage, jutting out slightly into the crowd and that was where the vocalist spent a great deal of his time, making sure they were feeling it as he got out amongst them in a sense, frequently pointing the microphone towards everybody as he sprinted around.

Just in that opening number there was enough going on that it was almost overwhelming to the senses, just being so much to try to observe and take in and The Revivalists had barely begun to scratch the surface. Attention went back to Feinberg as he began to delicately pick at his axe, soon revealing the next song to be "It Was a Sin", which was met with roaring fanfare. There’s a cinematic quality to that tale of regret and remorse, the way it builds to something grand before tapering back, ultimately springing to life. Shaw continued to command the audience, giving them opportunities to sing along at various moments; while Ingraham suddenly disappeared from sight, jumping down into the pit and standing on the barricade in front of fans that had scored a spot up front. Upon finishing his part on the saxophone, he proceeded to shake as many hands as he could, further delighting the already enthralled onlookers before racing back up to the stage.

Shaw followed his lead during the smooth and infectious "You and I", the vocalist leaving the stage and interacting even more directly with the patrons. During the other times he was constantly covering the length of the stage, he and his band mates pushing one another to go bigger and bolder; and at one moment he was he even seen sneaking over behind a member of the security team, quickly tapping him on the shoulder before running off, playfully smiling once the guy looked at him. The point is for the entire band this was about having fun, and they were fully embracing that concept. One song that exemplified that the best was “Oh No”. The sax and trumpet – performed by Girardot – were featured prominently and infused the groovy number with an undeniable party vibe that made it feel like an anthem whose intent was to get everyone moving. Indeed, it did, most every soul doing whatever their version of dancing was, just cutting loose and enjoying themselves and the superb music that was so conducive of an excellent time.

They meshed it with the lead single from Take Good Care, "All My Friends" already feeling like a long-standing favorite of The Revivalists’, who tore through the funky tune with searing passion. They even embellished it some, tacking a striking instrumental outro on to it, allowing the musicians to commit themselves to their craft in a different way than had been observed up to that point, spectators staring in awe of their abilities. "All in the Family" came as a pleasant surprise, that gem from Men Amongst Mountains demonstrating the more aggressive rock style that The Revivalists’ possess; the all-out assault Feinberg unleashed in the form of his wicked guitar solo hammering home just how wonderfully chaotic they can be when they so choose. Back on the other end of the spectrum was the rich and warm "Got Love", which was easily the most accurate song of the night, the love between performers and audience being mutual.

Their 75-minute long set just flew by. That was so clearly their aspiration: to get people lost in the music and performance and they achieved it, the final song of the night coming rather abruptly. It at least felt that way, being a bit shocking to think the night was already over with. The Revivalists went out with a bang thanks to their final couple of tracks, "Wish I Knew You" wrapping it all up in a soothing yet mighty fashion. “We’ll see you again. Somewhere, somehow…” Shaw remarked as they bid everyone farewell. An encore was imminent. However, what came as a surprise was the extent of it once the band members reemerged from the wings of the stage a couple of minutes later. That encore was something of a marathon, four songs stretching on for thirty additional minutes of pure bliss, climatic moments coming at every turn.

Some of the more reserved cuts had been saved for last, Shaw taking up an acoustic guitar as he spoke of a song he had written more than a decade before. One where the idea for it just struck him and the entire thing came together within the day. “It’s about catching fireflies,” he finished, the elated crowd reacting strongly to that. "Catching Fireflies" alone took up nearly a third of the time of their encore thanks to the remarkable crescendo they added to it, steadily building it up before letting it explode for a phenomenal finish. The robustly delicate originals followed one after another before The Revivalists switched gears for the finale. The lone cover of the night, they turned to Pink Floyd’s catalog for something a bit different by their standards. There are two perspectives that can be had concerning their rendition of “Have a Cigar”. One is that it was a rather straightforward cover. The song wasn’t altered in any significant way or anything, keeping it true to form; and usually it is better when an act does something to make their version stand apart from any other, leaving their mark on it so that it’s theirs. On the other hand, all of that was mostly irrelevant, because they did such a stellar job with that classic rock tune. It brilliantly highlighted the raw musical prowess of Girardot, Feinberg, Williams, Gekas, Campanelli, Ingraham and Howard, all of whom were able to showcase a different side of themselves. Even without attempting to redefine the track they still owned it, it being topnotch in every respect, capping the evening off in a memorable fashion.

There was no question about it, The Revivalists gave everything they had in them during the upwards of two hours that they had the stage, leaving it all out there underneath those lights. While the terms “show” and “performance” are often used interchangeably (and I, too, am guilty of that at times), it’s important to remember there is a distinction between the two. What The Revivalists unleashed on South Side Ballroom this night was a performance through and through, and one that could serve as a burning example to other acts as to what they should be like as a live act.

The showmanship that they exhibited – as both individuals and a group – was absolutely amazing. There was so much charisma about them that it was impossible to not be utterly transfixed by what they doing, keeping the onlookers’ eyes on a constant move, the leading role frequently shifting amongst the eight of them. To even call The Revivalists a well-oiled machine doesn’t seem to fully justify what they are capable of. As a group they have perfected the chemistry with one another, working off one another’s energy, yet each member and their brilliant talent also stood on their own, the imperative role they played always noticeable. That impeccable musicianship did rule the performance, but not so much so that it out did the fun atmosphere they worked tirelessly to cultivate. Like all performances this one was for the fans, and that was a fact The Revivalists were keenly aware of. As was stated earlier on, they took every step necessary to make the audience feel as if they were part of what was going on while simultaneously keeping them entertained. No easy feat, though they made it look effortless.

A carefully curated set list aided them on that endeavor, each song being strategically placed so that it could further enliven patrons, kicking things up a notch from where the previous number had just left it. And even with that aspect of the show being planned out, there was still a sense of spontaneity about it that allowed the performance to feel unpredictable. Just like the dynamics that went into it. Once it was all said and done The Revivalists had succeeded in delivering just what everyone in attendance had desired. More than just an entertaining way to break up the work week, they had given their fans an experience. An experience they got lost in, all the cares of the outside world melting away as they got lost in the music, allowing themselves to enjoy every last second of it. That’s primarily what music is about, providing an escape from reality, no matter how temporary. For an act to bring that into the live setting is something, especially in the scope that was seen this night. It’s a hallmark of a legitimate group of performers.

If you haven’t seen The Revivalists, you owe it to yourself to catch a show. At the very worst these guys exemplify every great quality of what a concert experience is supposed to be. At best, they elevate it. After witnessing them, I’m quite inclined to go with the latter. 2019 will continue to be a busy year for the band, who has dates scheduled through the fall at the moment. Those include an April 6th show at Key West Amphitheater in Key West, FL; a performance at The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans, LA on April 26th; and a gig at The Fillmore in New Orleans on May 2nd. The eastern portion of the Unite States will be their focus during the summer; and on September 21st they can be seen at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO. A complete list of their upcoming events can be found HERE; and do give Take Good Care a listen via either iTUNES or GOOGLE PLAY. Set List: 1) “Criminal” 2) "It Was a Sin" 3) "You and I" 4) "When I'm with You" 5) “Oh No” 6) "All My Friends" 7) "Change" 8) "All in the Family" 9) "You Said it All" 10) "Got Love" 11) "Fade Away" 12) "Celebration" 13) "Wish I Knew You" Encore 14) "Catching Fireflies" 15) "Some People Say" 16) "Soulfight" 17) “Have a Cigar” (Pink Floyd cover)