“Say goodbye,” the man in uniform smiled at me.

My heart skipped a beat, stereotypes of Colombia racing through my head, until I realised that the immigration officer was merely being friendly and polite and wishing me a pleasant stay; linguistic shortcomings had confused the issue.

I had allowed prejudice and preconception to get the better of me. Perceptions can linger for many years despite actual circumstances changing. Colombia is a case in point. The reality on the ground is very different from the headlines.

Some facts: Colombia is the size of France and Spain and has a greater variety of birds than North America and Europe combined. Its fauna varies from the keen sighted praying mantis to the rare spectacled bear. It is the only Latin American country with a coastline on two oceans – the Pacific and Atlantic.

Yet all that the majority of us know of Colombia is that it is the world’s largest producer of cocaine and beset by problems that one would associate with such a dubious honour.

It is an image not without justification but one that needs clarification and a little updating. The country and its people are not all about drugs. Yes there are parts of the country – as with many countries around the world, not least our own – that are not safe. But conversely there are many parts – and remember what I said in the previous paragraph in reference to its size – that are safe, friendly and welcoming.

Some of Colombia’s gems include Ciudad Perdida, San Augustin and the country’s capital, Bogota, awash with buzzing markets, quality museums, forward-looking locals and visionary architecture. However the jewel in the crown must be Cartagena, arguably the most beautiful city in Latin America.

Cartagena began as a warehouse for gold, silver, emeralds and other local treasures looted from the interior by Spanish colonialists. Unsurprisingly word of Cartagena’s wealth quickly spread attracting legendary pirates such as Hawkins and Drake who attacked and besieged the city. The Spanish response was to build an eleven kilometre wall and the impressive fort of Castillo San Felipe de Barajas on San Lazaro hill. It took nineteen years and 44 million ounces of gold to build the fort and its imposing 150 metre high wall. The fort is masculine and brutish, its steeply angled, ramp-like paths take you up to the top of this bare, brutal edifice from which an outsize Colombian flag billows out. The fortifications now attract rather than repel visitors; but for me the real attraction of Cartagena is the feminine wiles and charms of the old town.

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An excelent video about one of the most nicest paradise in the Northern South America Continent. You will enjoy it!!!

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PART 2.

Oh how Colombians love their music. The type of music coming from the smoothie vendor boom-boxes always seemed to set the distinctive tone of that town. They always played the music that was popular in that particular area. Whether it was “Salsa”, “Costeño”, or whatever type, it was always pure Colombian music.

As we were waiting for our smoothies, my eyes began to wander. I started to take in the sights and sounds of that little village in the mountains. I saw two soldiers who looked about seventeen years old standing across the street in front of a small cafe. They were holding machine guns, and giving me the eye. These were Colombian Government soldiers who were stationed in little towns like this to keep them out of the control of Leftist Guerillas who live in the jungles that surround them.

Some of those remote Colombian towns have an aura of unrest, and that one was definitely one of them. I dared not pull out any cameras at that moment. The last time I decided to videotape in a town like that, I was immediately approached by two soldiers and promptly escorted away. I thought I would never be seen again. Lucky for me, my wife’s brother-in-law was with us at that time. He happened to be a Colonel in the Colombian Military, so he interceded on my behalf. He explained to them that I was just some “crazy Gringo” who was in Colombia to visit his wife’s relatives, and to surf the waves that Colombia had to offer. They released me to the good Colonel, and I promptly put my cameras away. Apparently, Guerillas have been known to come into town and videotape the soldiers and the police. Then they hand the footage over to hired assassins who slip into town soon afterwards and kill them. I can understand the soldier’s apprehension with cameras. After that incident, my M.O. on the trip was to stay low-key, and not draw attention to myself.

My wife and I were getting some evil stares from several local folks that were wandering around the streets. I wanted so badly to pull my cameras out and pass the time documenting everything we were experiencing, but I could not risk it. Soldiers are not the only ones I needed to worry about. Being kidnapped by Guerillas was always in the back of my mind. Although I was able to get a lot of great footage and photos along the way (when it was permissible), my memory was my camera most of the time.

It was going to be dark in a couple of hours. We did not want to be in that village after dark. I would much rather have been viewing that town from the safety of a bus seat just passing through, but sometimes you have to stop to change busses. In that case, the bus we were waiting for was running late, thus the unscheduled and excruciatingly long delay.

As I was thinking about how glad I was going to be to get back on one of those colorful busses, a crusty old man on a Burro walked past us and gave me the stink eye. I tried to ignore it as I turned my glance upward and away from him. I began to stare at the thick mountain foliage that
surrounded that little town. It was still a very wild and untamed country out there. Civilization barely had a foothold. I could see how maintaining control would be difficult for the Colombian Government.

Suddenly, I received a tap on my back and I jumped as if I had been electrocuted. It was the smoothie guy, letting me know our freshly blended fruit smoothies were ready. He handed them over to us, and we paid him with a few Colombian coins that equaled about ten cents in American money. The smoothies on that trip tasted better than anything you could ever buy in the United States. The milk they used was so fresh it seemed like it was squirted straight from the cow into the blender. They also blended in all kinds of exotic tropical fruits with names like “zapote”, “tomate de árbol”, and “maracuyá”, all of which are incredibly delicious and can be found growing wild in the areas around the towns we visited. Those smoothies were like something a Slurpee aspires to be in it’s wildest dreams.

As we were enjoying our smoothies, another local man walked up to us and made a sales pitch for a very interesting product; dried iguana eggs. He had several strings of them hanging around his neck like necklaces of giant white pearls that were about the size of quail eggs. His semi-white tee-shirt had a sweat stain from his neck down to his belly that had a brown border of dirt gathered on the edge of it. It was really hot out there, but he did not seem to mind. His face and hands told the story of a man who had worked hard his whole life in the South American sun. He was probably only about fifty years old, but his skin was wrinkled beyond it’s years. This man claimed that the iguana eggs provided magical powers of fertility and sexual stamina to anyone who eats them. He then looked at me and winked. I could not help but wonder at that moment how many kids this iguana egg vendor had back at home. My wife and I chuckled at his bold claim, and politely declined his offer. As my wife turned away for a moment to find something in her backpack, I quickly handed the man several crumpled up bills on the sly. He then winked at me again, and handed me two strings of iguana eggs, which I promptly concealed in my day-pack. I figured I may be able to use these eggs on a romantic moonlit night in beautiful Tayrona, after a long, arduous journey.

Copyright 2006. Michael P. Connelly-

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The archipelago of San Andrés y Providencia is located 700 kilometers from the continental coast of Colombia. These are islands of corsairs and buccaneers, with excellent services and attractions that may be enjoyed to the rhythm of reggae. San Andrés has large white-sanded beaches and facilities for water sports. Its attractions can be discovered under the guidance of kind, friendly islanders. Providencia is a seductive destination with ever green hills and a large coral barrier….

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Michael P. Connelly is an Author, Artist, and Filmmaker who has traveled the world in search of adventures and enriching experiences that provide a great deal of good writing material.
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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Part 2: Deep Inside Colombia- Crossing The Andes with a Surfboard

Once a very untouchable country, Colombia today is more open to international travelers than it has ever been. The soaring peaks of the Andes and the motley ecology of the lowlands contributes to the indefinable nature of this ever-evolving nation. Yu will be able to swim in the Caribbean, hike through the Amazon, climb to exhilarating heights and, at the end of the day, sip premium coffee and cocoa with the locals.

The independent nation of Colombia is located in the northwest corner of the South American Continent, just across the Canal from Panama. To understand the infinite diversity of Colombian travel, one must understand its size and neighbors. Colombia is more than twice the size of France and is the only South American country to have a border with both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Airfare to Colombia is also a fantastic place to start in South America as Colombia shares borders with Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

Sweet and Soulful City Life in Colombia

Travel to Colombian cities is a magical vacuum of time where colonial Spanish balconies hang regally over plazas next to modern commercial complexes along stone paved streets. For a uniquely urban Andean experience, visit the capital city of Bogotá at an elevation of 8,660 feet. Airfare to Colombia through Bogotá is also quite common. The city is rich with Colombian history and culture, as well as posh nightclubs, swanky restaurants and some unique boutiques. Make sure to visit the Museo del Oro where spectacular gold and precious gem items from numerous Hispanic archeological sites have been preserved.

Cartagena is one of Colombia’s most famous and most photographed cities. Located along the Caribbean, visitors get to enjoy monumental Spanish architecture and exotic plazas within the old wall of this World Heritage Site with the gentle ocean breeze in the background. Dining and nightlife feature prominently in Cartagena’s cultural dynamics. Also, the Ciudad Perdida, or Lost City, is a must see for history buffs and relaxed vacationers alike. The remains of this indigenous community date from the 11th to the 14th century. The Lost City is one of the largest Pre-Columbian settlements and requires an exhilarating 6 day hike through thickly forested hills and valleys. This is a real hands-on way to become acquainted with the countryside!

Can’t Get enough of Colombia

When you book your airfare to Colombia, be aware of the vast and wondrous national parks, wilderness reserves and sparkling stretches of beach. Map out your itinerary and then your flight accordingly, as Colombia is expansive. If a private hammock on the beach is your ideal stay, do not miss the lavish beauty of El Parque Tayrona. For the avid divers and snorkelers, spend a few days among the whales and sea turtles of Isla Gorgona.

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The risk of coming to Colombia is falling in love with its landscape, its people, its cuisine, its fairs and festivities and its artisans and their colors.

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