In 2021, the national strike began in Colombia, people protested because a tax reform was going to be executed that was going to affect the poorest people. For this reason, I talked to my ex-girlfriend and we wanted to be part of the protests in Bogotá, it was easier because she lived in Bogotá at that time.

After the strike began, I traveled to Bogotá, I took the opportunity to visit my ex-girlfriend and go with her to the marches. It was a very long trip, 12 hours by bus from Pamplona to Bogotá, during the trip I was uncomfortable and couldn't sleep even though I had 2 seats to myself due to pandemic regulations.

When I arrived, I went to her apartment and we went out to eat. We went to one of my favorite restaurants which was Crepes and Waffles, there I ordered my favorite food and my favorite dessert. After that, we walked to a park near the apartment and bought some supplies for those days.

Then the next day we went to the first march, the march was totally peaceful. That day we walked for about 3 hours; the end of the march was near the apartment. There I learned several protest songs and harangues and I also got to know some sectors that I did not know about Bogotá.

The next day, we went to another march, this one was in the center of Bogotá, on the road to the airport. The march was being normal until we met the ESMAD, they threw water and tear gas at us, I remember all the people running everywhere and I almost drowned.

That was the closest experience to death for me, I couldn't breathe and I couldn't see well, I was just trying to get away from the gas with my ex-girlfriend, I heard the screams of other people, I felt like I was going to pass out from the lack of air but we found a way and crossed to a park where we could recover.

My ex-girlfriend was part of the health brigade, so we had to help other people recover, we gave them water and also vinegar for their eyes. After that, we had to go back to the apartment, but due to the protests there was no transportation and we had to walk home for 3 hours while it was raining.

We went out for several more days, we went to the sit-in at the monument to the heroes, it was incredible, there were many people, there were dances, music and more cultural demonstrations. It was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life, when I saw so many people together fighting for the same goal.