Arroyos in Barranquilla are real and dangerous and very very beautiful!

It was a hot but lovely afternoon yesterday as we headed out to have lunch at the Crepes and Waffles. I loved the pita bread dish they served! After eating our lavish lunch and sumptuous dessert, we headed back to our client’s office. As we walked out of the restaurant, skies got a little murky but there wasn’t any warning of imminent downpour.

The moment we sat inside the taxi, it poured like crazy, which was cooling and a welcome respite from the hot sun. But, a cooling moment or two aside, we realized that the legendary arroyos weren’t the fiction of anyone’s imagination but a real and present danger. In fact you have to see it to believe it!

As we crossed lanes and roads, it was evident that we were going to witness something elemental. While we still could see the funny side of it (see the video below), everything escalated really fast.

It was water water everywhere and reminded me of the movie Waterworld. We managed to continue towards our office and at one point the rain stopped and so did all the cars. Pretty anxious to get back to dry land now, I checked with the driver, who was a cool one. He quipped, “The arroyo won’t let us pass!”

I got out of the taxi and made a video to capture how strong the current was and how dangerous it all really is. And I learned my lesson – while in Barranquilla when it rains, stay high, stay dry and stay inside!