I’d taken coffee estate tours in Salento and, of course, tried the coffee. And I thought it was really good. But…one day, I had the best coffee I’d had on my entire trip. In fact, no coffee satisfied me as much during the weeks that followed. I can still remember how much I savored it….
When I checked in at the beachfront hotel in Palomino, Colombia, I immediately noticed how much Maria, the manager, smiled. She looked beautiful and happy…radiant, in fact. “I used to be an actress on a soap opera in Argentina,” she told me proudly when we had our first conversation. “Really? A sweet character or a…
I saw this watermelon vendor, sitting in front of Café Havana on Calle Media Luna in Cartagena, several times day while there recently. Both he and his watermelon looked sweet, and I looked forward to buying some and getting to know him. He was only there during the day, when the cafe was closed. He…
This sand dune at Taroa Beach in Punta Gallinas, Colombia, really blew my mind. It is so breathtaking and other-worldly that I just stood there for a few minutes when I first saw it. Then, like my fellow travelers, I took a few steps and left my footprints behind… Shortly thereafter, they began to vanish…
The palma de cera, wax palm tree (ceroxylon quindiuense), is Colombia’s national tree and a beautiful sight to see! They’re found in the high-altitude Cocora Valley, located near the town of Salento, in the department of Quindio. This is one of the only places in the world to see them in their natural habitat. I…
These soldiers, guarding the presidential palace (his official home and workplace) in Bogotá, looked intense (as they tend to do no matter where in the world you encounter them). And I enjoyed watching them stand guard. I like how official they look. Also, it’s always nice to see where el presidente lives. Unfortunately, I didn’t get…
I’d read that hormigas culonas, ants with big butts, are a common snack in the Santander region of Colombia. After the wings and legs are removed, they’re roasted or fried. For some reason, but I was curious about what they might taste like… Not sure why, either. I’m not the most adventurous eater. Sure, I once…
Where/When: El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá It was barely 5 am when my plane landed in Bogotá and I was exhausted. Once I passed through Customs/Immigration, I had two things on my mind: getting a cup of coffee and buying a SIM for my phone. First I got the coffee; then I looked for a…
After many years of thinking about it, I’m finally traveling to Colombia–yay! I’m very excited about this trip because I’ve got many cool things planned. In this post, I’m sharing my rough itinerary and asking for tips and suggestions. Trip length: 5 weeks I’m allowing plenty of time for this trip since I don’t feel…
Before traveling to Jamaica, I wondered what it would be like. Tourists everywhere? Super expensive? Rastas on every corner? Cheap Jerk chicken? And would I smell ganja being smoked 24/7? Most of my questions were answered on my recent trip. I spent most of my time in Treasure Beach, which is off the beaten path,…