Mar 19, 2018 - Colombians know how to beach

We have had a few beach experiences during our stay in Cartagena. We have seen more beautiful beaches in our travels, but I must say that these beaches gain on atmosphere. They know how to enjoy their beach time. On the beach you can rent a 'tent' with chairs and a table. In a tent nearby, there is most likely a large group that plays music and dances. On a regular basis, vendors will come by with offers of massage, ice cream, souvenirs and - our favourite - cocktails. One has to be prepared though: Once you buy from one, you will become...

Mar 18, 2018 - First impressions

I love the first 24 hours in a new place where everything is new; places, smells, impressions. We took a taxi from the airport, and I got to try out the little Spanish that I have learned during 2017. At least Jonathan was impressed: 'Mommy, why do you speak all languages?'. Our neighborhood is Getsemani; authentic colonial style, colorful and lively. Our small hotel Casa Mara is very charming (and from seeing other areas of town in the following days, we are sure to be in the right place). We went to a local square to have dinner, on our...

Mar 18, 2018 - El Dorado (Gold Museum)

@@@@@@@ BACKGROUND Here’s some of what the Lonely Planet – Colombia chapter Bogotá has to say about Museo del Oro: Bogotá’s most famous museum and one of the most fascinating in all of South America, the Gold Museum contains more than 55,000 pieces of gold and other materials from all the major pre-Hispanic cultures in Colombia. It’s all laid out in logical, thematic rooms over three floors – with descriptions in Spanish and English. Second-floor exhibits break down findings by region, with descriptions of how pieces were used. There are...

Mar 15, 2018 - Around Villa De Leyva

@@@@@@@ BACKGROUND Here’s some of what the Lonely Planet – Colombia chapter Boyacá, Santander & Norte de Santander has to say about sites around Villa de Leyva: Hiking There are many hiking possibilities all around Villa de Leyva. In town, there’s a great hike that begins directly behind Renacer Guesthouse, passing two waterfalls to reach a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the village; the round-trip hike takes less than two hours. Estación Astronómica The Estación Astronómica Muisca dates from the early centuries AD and was used by the...

Mar 13, 2018 - Villa de Leyva

@@@@@@@ BACKGROUND Here’s some of what the Lonely Planet – Colombia chapter Boyacá, Santander & Norte de Santander has to say about Villa de Leyva: One of the most beautiful colonial villages in Colombia, Villa de Leyva is a city frozen in time. Declared a national monument in 1954, the photogenic village has been preserved in its entirety with cobblestone roads and whitewashed buildings. The city’s physical beauty and mild, dry climate have long attracted outsiders. Villa de Leyva is a leisurely place made for wandering around charming...

Mar 5, 2018 - Cartagena, Columbia

Cartagena, Columbia March 5 & 6 The sail from Panama brought us into harbor at Cartagena, Columbia around noon on Monday. We saw the high-rise buildings from afar and traversed a narrow channel with a visible reef off the port side. A statue of the Blessed Virgin with Baby Jesus stood in this reef. After lunch, we headed out on a land excursion called “Intimate Cartagena.” There were only 16 of us in a small bus with a great guide, Frank. Cartagena is the 5th largest city in Columbia with a population of about one million. Our tour...

Mar 2, 2018 - Cartagena, Columbia

So today we visited the large and very busy city of Cartagena, Columbia. This was obviously a prosperous, “money is here” city with many high rise buildings, but also the poor were represented. All I could think of was “Drug Money at work”. We had a great time riding the Hop On Hop Off bus and seeing all the major sights. The Walled City is a great combination of various types of architecture. Driving down the very narrow streets with their extremely colorful buildings with their overhanging balconies reminded us of New Orleans in many...

Mar 1, 2018 - Medellin

@@@@@@@ BACKGROUND Here’s some of what the Lonely Planet – Colombia chapter Medellín and Zona Cafetera has to say about Medellín: “Medellín packs the punch of a city twice its size. Situated in a narrow valley, the city’s skyline reaches for the heavens, setting high-rise apartment and office buildings against a backdrop of jagged peaks in every direction. Its pleasant climate gives the city its nickname – the City of Eternal Spring – and the moderate temperatures put a spring in the locals’ steps, at work and at play. It’s a bustling...

Feb 28, 2018 - Cartagena - Eating And Drinking

@@@@@@@ BACKGROUND Here’s some of what the Lonely Planet – Colombia chapter Caribbean Coast has to say about Cartagena’s Eating And Drinking: Eating “You can eat well in Cartagena, whether it be a COP$12,000 (CAD $6.00) comida corriente (daily set menu) meal at midday in a busy local lunch spot or a gourmet blowout feast inside a colonial-era boutique hotel. The city is also strong on street food: plenty of snack bars all across the old town serve typical local snacks such as arepas de huevo (fried maize dough with an egg inside), dedos de...

Feb 27, 2018 - Cartagena - Doors And Doorways

@@@@@@@ KAPOORS ON THE ROAD I think I fell in love with bougainvillea and hibiscus flowers the first time I encountered them in 1971 when I went to Nigeria with CUSO (Canadian University Service Overseas) as a volunteer teacher. I have to control myself from taking photos of every glorious array of these flowers that I see. My fascination with door knockers began early in our retirement travels, and I’m beginning to amass quite a collection of photographs of some very interesting ones. However, I’ve never seen such a wide variety of...

Feb 26, 2018 - Cartagena - The Walled Town

@@@@@@@ BACKGROUND Here’s some of what the Lonely Planet – Colombia chapter Caribbean Coast has to say about Cartagena’s Old Town: Cartagena de Indias is the undisputed queen of the Caribbean coast, a fairy-tale city of romance, legends and superbly preserved beauty lying within an impressive 13km of centuries-old colonial stone walls. Cartagena’s old town is a Unesco World Heritage Site, a maze of cobbled alleys, balconies covered in bougainvillea, and massive churches that cast their shadows across plazas. The old town is surrounded by...

Feb 26, 2018 - Sunday Am Cathedral Del Sal and horsemanship display

After our best nights seleep for what appears to be some time we started late today at 9am. We headed out of the ciity and to Zupaquira where a cathedral had been carved out of the redundant salt mine and like the day before at Montserratt, the creator had developed 12 stages for prayer of Christ the Passion. In each sector Christ was represented as a Cross and each of the stations were dramatically lit. So having prayed at each point you are then able to enter the main cathedral, which was massive. It was also very acoustic with...