Archives For Colombia

Heading South- Medellin and Bogota

October 2, 2012 — Leave a comment

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After I left Cartagena, I decided it was time for some cooler weather, and hopped a plane to Medellin- aka The Drug and Murder Capital of the World, circa 1990. Lucky for me, times have changed in Medellin, and today it is more well known for its proud resident paisas, its magnificent parks, its raucous nightlife, and its temperate climate. After Cartagena, any place called ‘The City of Eternal Spring’ sounded just about right…

I landed in Medellin, marveling at the rolling hills and deep valleys during the approach into the airport, and excitedly hopped on the bus into the city. It had been an early morning- 4am taxi, 2 hour mini-bus ride to the airport, 8am flight from Barranquilla to Medellin- but the cool breeze and crisp morning air were a welcome change from the heat of the coast, and I was anxious to get into the city, drop my bags, and start exploring. The change of scenery had me invigorated, and once again, I had a new city at my fingertips.

 

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Medellin was awesome- a great city with an amazing combination of urban ruggedness, artistic chic, and a unique attitude bent on leaving the dark days of the drug wars behind. The city is speckled with pristine parks and numerous green spaces, contrasting against the modern building and remaining colonial architecture. I spent my few days in Medellin exploring a few of the local parks, taking in the Botanical Gardens, riding the impeccable Metro (with the ski-lift-like Cable Car included), and having a night out in the infamous Zona Rosa. Needless to say, it was a quick three days- way too quick, in fact- and before I knew it, it was time to head to the next stop of my tour through South America- Bogota, the capital city of Colombia.

 

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Bogota has a bit of an edge to it- as any city that boasts a local graffiti tour as one of its highlights would, I suppose. That was one of the first things that I noticed as I headed into the city- there was graffiti EVERYWHERE. Monuments, buildings, statues, construction barriers, buses, taxis- it definitely created a sense of urban ruggedness as my taxi wound its way through the city streets to my hostel. I stayed in an older part of the city- an area called La Candelaria- packed with narrow alleys, close cafes, and shops and restaurants right on top of each other. Want traditional Colombian food? No problem. Fancy a pizza with cheese in the crust? You got it. Craving a humongous kebab or a Mongolian stir-fry? You can find one on just about every corner in La Candelaria. Needless to say, as my taxi pulled up to my hostel, I was ready to explore…

I checked into my hostel- a sprawling complex of rooms, courtyards, open-air gardens, and sitting areas- and happened to bump into a group of Irish travelers who were setting out on a guided bicycle tour of the city. Hmmm…? A group of Irishmen, on bicycles, in Bogota, Colombia. Sounded like a recipe for OF COURSE I’ll go along! The Irish- they’re always such great craic! I dropped my bags, grabbed my camera, and off we went.

 

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Bogota was incredible- I have to admit, I was a bit suspicious at first, with all the graffiti everywhere, but I suppose it has just become a part of the culture and status quo in Bogota. Beneath this urban front is a magnificent city full of amazing sights, sounds, and people. I spent my few days exploring the city, visiting the impressive Museo de Or (Gold Museum), venturing up the Cerro de Monserrate, and learning a bit of salsa along the way- let’s just say that Colombian girls have a way of making you want to dance, and leave it at that… It was a great three days, but again, they went by much too quickly, and before I knew it, it was time to move on.

An overnight bus and a quick stop in the southern town of Popayan, and then I would be on my way to Ecuador… Let the adventures continue! VAMOS!

 

For more information on traveling through Colombia, click here.

For more on The Backpack Professor’s travels through Colombia, click here.

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Beating the Heat in Cartagena

September 23, 2012 — Leave a comment

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SO- I’ve been battling ‘Technical Difficulties’ with my computer for the past week and a half, and that is what has kept me from posting anything about my adventures in Colombia… Today, the computer has decided to cooperate, and thus, I’m trying to take advantage of the window of opportunity to get as caught up as I can…

Cartagena was AMAZING- once I acclimated to the heat and humidity, and was okay with sweating as soon as I walked out the door, it was all good. There is SO much to see and do in the city, well beyond the history and shopping within the city walls- it‘s no wonder it is one of the major tourist ports in all the Caribbean.

 

 

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I spent my few days in Cartagena wandering around the Old City, marveling at the ancient walls and the winding narrow alleys. In Cartagena, one is never short of photo opportunities, with every corner bringing something interesting to see. Flowered balconies, crumbling churches, hidden city squares full of fountains and statues- it really is an incredible place just to walk around in.

To get my bearings, I ventured out on the Big Red Bus- the stereotypical tourist bus that can be found in any and every tourist destination in the world. I’ve been on several in the past, and have found that while they can be a bit cliché, they are a great way to familiarize oneself with a new city, and they also require very little effort. Sit, listen, snap a photo here and there… A great way to actually do some sight seeing, even while still battling the lingering effects of jetlag.

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The open-air, double-decker bus in Cartagena was exactly what I hoped it to be- an informative tour of the Old City and some of the more modern surrounds- parts of the city I probably wouldn’t have seen otherwise. I explored the modern area of Bocagrande, with its high-rise hotels and fancy shopping district. The bus passed through the suburbs of Mangos and Getsemaní- two other corners of the city I surely would’ve missed. Along with the ticket came a walking tour through the Old City, complete with a local guide pointing out landmarks and famous churches seemingly on every corner.

On my final day in Cartagena, I explored the massive Castillo de San Filipe de Barajas- the enormous fort built to protect the city from pirates and invaders during Cartagena’s rich colonial times. It is INCREDIBLE- a HUGE fortress, with battlements and firing lines set out to make it virtually impenetrable. The audio guide brought the castle to life, allowing me to envision the English and French troops advancing amidst the roar of cannons and the spitting of rifle fire, while the Spanish soldiers defiantly defended the city from behind the castle walls. The fort is in remarkable shape, with countless passages and tunnels descending into its bowels- an intricate network designed for defense and reinforcement. Very impressive, and an afternoon well spent.

After 3 incredible days of exploring the wonder that is Cartagena, I decided it was time to head for cooler climes. So, I boarded a plane and set off for Medellín- a city that was once the most famous city in all of Colombia- if not South America- for all the wrong reasons…

 

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For more information on traveling through Colombia, click here.

For more on The Backpack Professor’s travels through Colombia, click here.

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And the Adventure begins…

September 11, 2012 — 4 Comments

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Well, it’s official- I’ve made it to South America! Woop-woop! I’m currently sitting here in the lobby of my hostel in Cartagena, Colombia, desperately trying to do two simple things- keep cool, and stay awake. Turns out it’s not so simple, on either count… I’m trying to keep cool because it is HOT down here- hot and HUMID- and I’m trying to stay awake because I just completed a seemingly simple 12-hour trip-turned-26-hour ‘Moving Day’ marathon. Ugh- what a nightmare…5 hours of delays, only to have the first leg of my trip cancelled, re-routed through a city in the opposite direction I should’ve been traveling, more lay-overs and sitting around in airports, and an ‘overnight’ flight that was actually less than 5 hours long- didn‘t get any sleep on that one… Needless to say, I’m EXHAUSTED. But, I’m here, and in the end, that’s what matters.

 

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Quick first impressions of Cartagena- see above… Ha! Actually, I haven’t made it very far out of the hostel yet… It took me awhile to cool down and re-hydrate from the previous day’s adventures in traveling, and I’ve just been sitting in a window at the front of the open-air lobby of the hostel, watching people come and go, while the world outside drifts by. I did chase down a fruit vendor when he passed by and caught my eye with his loaded cart- something fresh sounded really good after all the airport and airplane ‘food’ I’ve had over the past 24 hours… Other than that, I’ve seen just a bit of the Old Quarter from the taxi on the drive over from the airport, and it seems Cartagena delivers as advertised- narrow alleys winding here and there, cobblestone streets between colorfully painted colonial buildings, and friendly people milling about everywhere. I plan on heading out to explore later in the afternoon, once things cool off a bit… Maybe find some street food for dinner- now THAT sounds like a delicious adventure…

 

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For more information on traveling through Colombia, click here.

For more on The Backpack Professor’s travels in Colombia, click here.

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