January 2019

Salento

I did love this little town! All colorful, and prepared still for the holidays season, plenty of shops. The town become alive at night even though we were late for the “ferias” (carnavales). We were driving on the "eje cafetero". Such a great drive, a big new highway in the canyon, the intensity of the greens, and exquisite "fincas" with stables all over the place. From here we drove to Cocora Valley and did a great walk! Soaking wet, going up to 2,800 mt, to be closer to the tall palms; then all the way down to the river and crossing many bridges made me feel like Indiana Jones. 6 hours, 12 km... and we are dead!

Manizales

Finally on time! We catch up the yearly ferias here. Never seen so many people together on the same spot! Hundreds and hundreds walking elbow to elbow through the streets, all the shops, all the food! Interestingly enough, with such a crowd, I never felt unsafe ??

Tatacoa Desert

We thought that Road Runner and the Coyote were going to appear at any moment! It was like a Disney set... such as incredible and unreal this desert is. Funny formations and colors, we did a walk under a sunny 40 degrees…and sadly couldn’t stay to see the starts as I become sick from the heat

somewhere on a night on a petrol station, near the desert of Tatacoa.

I am writing this after so many days without writing, reflecting back in what has been already such a great experience in Colombia. The country did not disappoint us a bit, and it was no an exaggeration when other travellers told us many many times about the Colombian people. We have had so incredible experiences so far. Where the Brazilians were helpful and intense and so friendly, the Colombians… well, they treat you like you are family! They entered our home without asking permission for example, just saying... ”I want to see your place”... and up they do! You can hear the music coming from every house, every corner. They are interested in us; they want to get to know us. We have seen countless cars just followed us and stop for a chat. And in the streets, they do wave us as we do pass thought the roads.