The Light that Guides

A dreamlike scenario began to unfold. The young Chilean boy guided me out of the dark and humid bowels of this ancient fortress, and now stared into the light. I felt my pupils painfully contract as intense brightness flooded my vision. My mind's eye took over, and a familiar sight swept over me. A grassy esplanade dominated by gleaming white monuments. An immense Egyptian obelisk and a hulking Capitol Dome. A city of trees and parks, of stone and brick...the place that I had last called home. But when I stepped forward and adjusted my eyes, Washington, D.C. did not lay before me. The Colombian city of Cartagena had taken its place.

Taking the Scenic Route

Medellin is a city of a thousand views. The second largest metropolis in Colombia once fit in a valley, but has spread dramatically up the surrounding hillsides. The vantage from any of these ascents is magnificent. But it's unnecessary to put on climbing boots to appreciate Medellin's grandeur. All you need is a metro ticket.

Always Talk to Strangers

Getting up from the table, you walk by the front window of your home and are surprised to see a complete stranger staring inside. He is clearly not from around these parts. What do you do in this situation? Politely and firmly ask him to go away? Threaten to call the police? Or, invite him in, give him a tour of the house, and feed him a hearty lunch? That is exactly what Roberto, from Jericó, Colombia choose to do. This generous act is emblematic of the residents of the majestic coffee region of Colombia, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful areas in all of South America.

More than Cocaine and Coffee

Mention to someone that you're planning on visiting Colombia and cynical admonitions may result. Dangerous guerilla movements. Random kidnappings. Widespread drug-related violence. These are the images that immediately spring to mind to many raised on a diet of sensationalist western media. Accordingly, I had no plans to visit Colombia before leaving for this latin journey. However, over the preceding seven and a half months, I had met so many travelers who raved about this diverse nation that I decided to swing by and check it out for myself. First stop: Bogotá.