Nature recovers just like you

by Simon Andres Rodriguez Satizabal (Colombia)

A leap into the unknown Colombia

Bogota, Colombia, 3:40 pm. In the mid-80s, Colombian government decided close a prison located in Colombian Pacific and after 24 years of operation turn it into a natural park. When I travelled internet was not as popular as now, so I went to a public library to document myself, I found a book from when it was a prison and another as a natural park. Just with seeing pictures of how it was, my skin bristled, life is of contradictions, a spectacular island was converted into a prison to retain most dangerous criminals and then became a natural park. That was definitely trip I wanted. At that moment in my life several things went through my head, I felt that concrete jungle was consuming me, I wanted to disconnect from people, seek for a connection with myself and needed something that makes me feel alive again. I remember that I always wanted to be a volunteer park ranger. Without thinking, next day I went to national park offices, there was hope, they told me that in a week training was beginning. I sign up and my house already looked like a historical archive of the island. When course began, I fill in a list of three possible parks that I would like to go to, Gorgona was number one, then Amazonas and finally Tayrona. They gave us information about how natural parks worked, how many were in Colombia and we made a first aid course. When course ended, I was selected for Gorgona, a burst of happiness, a goal accomplished and a dream to live. One month later. Bogota transport terminal, 11 pm. Journey began, I took a bus to Cali and from there another to Buenaventura from here I will take a boat. This coastal city has one of main ports of Colombia, I bought my ticket and I saw how they began to load ship because it was destined for trade more than tourism. Colors of sunset mixed with provisions catch me, it was amazing how ship was charged with fruits, vegetables, animals, beer, flour and rice. I was assigned on a cabin in stern of ship, a wall of about 80 cm separated me from sea. Finally, trip started at 6:30 pm, I was only passenger on board, when I was talking to a crew member, he told me about his first trip and laughed about this experience. After this I went to bed, 3 am, a scream woke me up, Gorgona passenger we are arriving. Excited I went out and I felt in a movie, my first image was sawing in middle of night island silhouette and due a storm a lightning bolt illuminated it. Then a boat appeared and I have to jump to get to island. I slept for a few hours, took breakfast and then manager introduces facilities, staff members and let me know there was a second training of a couple of days. Volunteering began, served as guide for tourists, participated in recycling programs, made my diving course, collaborated in a turtle conservation program, made patrols around island and they took me to most incredible places. A month of staying became three. Prison was covered by nature; I saw a blue lizard endemic species and most incredible animals from a three-toed sloth bear to whales jumping from where I took my breakfast and also monkeys having fun in jungle. Due to humidity sometimes clothes did not dry out and it could rain for days, you got used to it, something that comes from continent became a delicacy; a candy, a fruit or a piece of cheese. I made only a phone call in those three months, disconnecting from world connected with myself. Simple showed me important, silence captivated me with deep, interaction with community and travelers took me to incredible places without moving my feet. Gorgona catches you and you will always want to come back, those who worked there said that all the time, and once you are there you will feel the same.