Blogs from Colombia, South America - page 16

La Candelaria is Bogota's historical quarter; it is where you'll find the cheapest accommodation, the quaintest narrow cobbled streets and the best street art. You can sample chicha (fermented maize), grab great street snacks (welcome back the empanada), patch up a child's head, have your pockets picked and witness singing soldiers... Bogota had previously suffered from the worst forms of graffiti with random, repetitive, unskilled tags adorning any accessible surface. That was until someone, somewhere, had an inspired idea: now an aspiring artist may ask anyone for permission to paint on their property and, if the owners are agreeable, they simply nip to the local government office to be provisioned with all the paint and equipment required (for free). The results are impressive: drab grey facades are lifted, really amazing art is created and thus-inclined individuals ... read more

With only hours left in Cartagena I wanted to make the most of what I could in such a short time. After an early and fast breakfast at the hotel I began to walk the now quiet streets (the tourists were gone or still in their beds) and watched as Cartagena begin to come alive. Shops were still mostly closed but the street vendors were beginning to set up their stands or wagons filled with fruit, coconuts and other edibles. Men walked with towers of hats on top of their heads, and some had large woven basketshanging from their necks and shoulders, but the fruit selling-photo-selling ladies in their colorful bright dresses must have been sleeping in. I never bought a “Panama hat” in Panama and knowing that the origin of the hat is from Ecuador ... read more

Our 8am pickup arrived at the Hotel Central Panama to take us to the airport for our COPA airline flight to Cartagena. We were pleasantly surprised to see that jovial Roberto (“familia!”) was our bus driver. Most of our group of 21 OAT travelers were heading home, or had already left, but eight of us were heading to tour beautiful Cartagena, Colombia as an extended three day excursion. On our way to the airport we passed now familiar old buildings and were able to enjoy the contrasting modern skyline on our way to the Panama City Airport and our COPA airline flight. After a short, comfortable flight on COPA, maybe my favorite airline now, we actually had breakfast (a delicious ham and cheese sandwich with fruit and coffee) for that two hour flight! After collecting our ... read more

Actually, not Baranquilla itself, but Puerto Colombia, 16 kms West of Baranquilla center. This is a small city with almost no tourists in view, with beach front and a long "malecon", (boardwalk along the sea). This city is a getaway for families of big Baranquilla. The atmosphere is relaxed and it's quite safe with all the families and children around. The ocean color is not Caribbean turquoise but it's okay. Along the malecon, many artists painted benches and other objects. The small animated center is one street inland of malecon. The hotel we stayed was Hotel Boutique Porto Bello. It's by far, the nicest hotel around! We arrived on a Sunday afternoon, and all weekenders left the hotel, so we were alone for 2 days! With all the personnel to ourselves, we felt like movie stars! ... read more

After 7 days straight in baking hot temperature, it was time for a relief! We took the road. From Tayrona, we headed to Santa Marta, and then , took small road to Minca. You're going up all the way. At some point there are a couple of very tight 180 degrees curve so watch yourself! Minca is a very small city but it's quite compact. There are many accommodations but for peace and quiet, choose one out of the village. i chose one on Cerro Kennedy road named "tierra adentro private reserve". It's advertised as having free parking, but the road to get there are really really rough! I made 85% of the small road but had to abandoned and return to Minca. There, I parked my car in a private parking and took a jeep ... read more