In early 1990 we took a last minute trip with our ten year old twins

The two older boys stayed home because of school and work obligations.

My Husband not an adventurous man by nature can’t resist a deal.

In the travel section of a toronto newspaper he came upon a seemingly,

fantastic cheap trip.

It was five hundred dollars all inclusive for two adults and two children under twelve.

All you could eat and drink, the flight, the hotel, the shuttle too and from the airport,

and all the taxes, and the pictures of the resort were just stunning,

it looked like a tropical paradise.

I asked my Husband, ” who vacations in Columbia isn’t dangerous”.

He said, “its a well known travel agency and charter vacation are usually a good bet.”

So off we went our relatives and friends thought we were crazy.

The plane ride was uneventful, but when we arrived at the airport,

there were armed guards everywhere the guns they carried enormous.

Some of the police or guards had ferocious loking dogs snifing at people luggage.

The travel Rep. met our group and hurried us onto the bus with a furtive glance around.

The bus to the resort was very warm, (no air conditioning). At first the scenary was breathtaking.

Then suddenly it changed, the landscape was like a swampy waste land.

The bus driver told us they had had an ecological disaster.

My daughter said in a scared sounding voice, “Mom are we going to a concentration camp.”

I said,” of course not honey”, and looked at my husband for reassurance,he just grinned sheepishly.

We reached the resort and there were high gates and barb wire fences.

I felt my confidence drain away. But when they opened the gates the scenary was stunning,

with tropical gardens and an inviting pool with the blue ocean for a back drop.

When they showed us to our room at first it seemed great a beautiful outside terrace and,

two rooms with a decent bath.Then we realized there was no place for the twins to sleep ,

there were just two twin beds. Eventually after much complaining they finally brought us two cots

for the kids. there were jugs of water in our room that i didn’t think we should drink.

So we bought bottled water at the resort store. After some refreshments we decided to explore.

Walking along the beach , suddenly an armed guard jumped in front of us waving his arms

and yelling in Spanish to stay on the resort. This didn’t give us much confidence in our vacation choice.

So we swam in the pool and had a nice dinner of pasta and salad.

My Husband didn’t eat the salad but had spagetti and beer.

Shortly after this the twins and I became very ill, with vomiting and diarrhea.

I was so sick that I thought I might die.

My Husband became concerned and the hotel sent us a Doctor.

He gave us electrolyte fluids and antibiotics. The twins remember him saying, “oh good your tongue is not black”,

so you won’t die. I only remember praying that we wouldn’t die is this horrible place.

They flew us home early and most of the other guests were ill as well, some even had IV fluids.

We were told somone had washed the lettuce in untreated water. When we arrived back in Canada ,

I almost kissed the ground,I was so thankful to be home and alive.

Later we found out the resort had been the home of an notorious drug lord in the past.

Then we heard tourists had recently been kidnapped in the area. My Husband was never sick he

insists its because you can drink the beer anywhere in the world, but not the water.