Zipaquira, Colombia town square and Christmas tree |
Ajiaco, a tasty, traditional Colombian soup |
The lovely beaches at Tayrona National Park |
Let's just say that I'm happy that I have been to Colombia before the crowds have discovered it. Throughout my time there, I realized that it despite its ugly stereotypes, it is actually a safe and beautiful place to visit-- and a place that I predict will have an influx of tourism in upcoming decades. In addition to the country's extensive natural beauty, Colombians are an extremely hospitable bunch. I have run into many friendly people throughout my travels, but it's fair to say that the Colombians I met and spent time with were over the top-- they introduced me to their families and best friends, and welcomed me into their world with an open embrace, in a way that I have never seen before in another country. At first, I suspected that this desire to please tourists and foreigners stems from the fact that so many tourists are still scared to visit, and the Colombians have an ulterior motive of tourism promotion through their kindness. Throughout my travels however, I realized that most Colombian's generosity is far from insincere. As some of my new Colombian friends told me, "This is just our culture. This is how we are."
My trip to Colombia began in Bogota, where I took Spanish lessons from an awesome language school called Nueva Lengua. Next, I traveled to the sunny Caribbean coastal cities of Cartagena and Santa Marta, where I took an amazing mud bath at the Totumo Volcano and visited the Tayrona National Park. Finally I visited Medellin, a city known for its impeccable climate and one of the most amazing turnarounds-- going from one of the most dangerous cities in the world to one of the cleanest in just a few decades.
Stay posted, as I will update this blog with highlights and photos from each city in the next few weeks. As the Colombians say, Colombia is "muy chévere!"
I am glad to learn how much you like Colombia. As you know, I visited the country forty years ago. I fell in love with it, and was saddened by the changes that occurred in the following years due to the drug trade. I am happy to know that things have changed. I enjoyed your post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marc! The safety in Colombia is largely improving, and has become a much better place in only a few decades. I hope that by sharing my experiences and telling others about the lovely people that I met there, I can do my part to change some of the negative stereotypes that still burden this beautiful country.
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