Bogotá
How do I love thee, Colombia Let me count the ways Visiting Colombia was my son Nick’s idea. He’d gone to Cartagena for a Triathlon and stayed in the colonial walled city. He told us it was perfect for us—charming, cultural, historical, and the Caribbean Sea to boot....
Bogotá Countryside, Zipaquira, Leyva, and Raquira
Zipaquira, Salt Mine Cathedral The next morning, we were picked up by Magda for our tour of the Bogota countryside. The first stop was Zipaquira, a salt mine with an underground Catholic cathedral. It’s even open for weddings although a gigantic cavern would...
Pereira: Lush Coffee Country
Hotel Sazaqua On to the Bogotá airport for a quick one hour flight to Pereira, located in the foothills of the Andes in the coffee producing region. It was evening when we arrived, but it was clear our boutique Hotel Sazaqua was special. Tranquil, secluded, and...
Medellin: Beyond Pablo Escobar
Santiago, our lanky, friendly Medellin enthusiast and guide, met us at the Medellin airport. Located in the Andes and built in a valley with steep hillside slums, the name Medellin comes with preset expectations made famous by the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar (my...
Cartagena and the Caribbean Coast
Flying into Cartagena, we are greeted with the Penelope Ruth sign. Dramatically different weather, this is a Caribbean coastal city with the humidity and heat we hadn’t felt before. Our Hotel Bantu, a lovely boutique charmer, was located in the middle of the most...