Smile! Dental Work in Colombia
Why Dental Work in Colombia? Admittedly, we have been known to neglect preventive care due to the high cost of health care in the US. Though we’re both covered by health insurance now, there have been long stretches when one or both of us were uninsured. Even with our current coverage, dental care is not included. […]
Get Dirty Taking a Bath: El Totumo Mud Volcano
Cartagena was still filled with unexplored corners. We’d already spent longer than planned, but the streets lined with bright-hued houses, flower-clad balconies, small cafes and shops had hypnotized us. We roamed for hours, people watching, hunting for street art, taking in museums and historic sites and snacking, always snacking. Fresh fruit, fish for lunch by the […]
Travel Expenses Colombia
Travel Expenses Colombia Our trip to Colombia was different from many of our previous journeys. We had to adjust our minds to having less time (though not necessarily more money). The cost of an airline ticket could not be spread out over months. The fact was, our new work contract started in six weeks, not much time […]
Street Art: Medellin’s Voice of the People
Creative expression can be found in many forms. Street art is often a form of expression for those who don’t have other means. It can convey a personal message, or it can be a broader reflection of culture and the conditions of the society in which it’s found. While the word graffiti has negative connotations, […]
Street Art: Colors of Cartagena
Street Art in Cartagena Cartagena is already so full of vibrant color; it’s hard to imagine street art wouldn’t get lost in the kaleidoscope. Beyond the colonial architecture, doors and entryways painted in pastels and contrasting brights, the balconies laden with purple and white blooms, there are some wonderful examples of urban art. We devoted a whole […]
Heavenly Colombian Fruit
Traveling in Colombia we loved exploring colonial towns, learning some history, appreciating architecture and getting out into nature. Then there was the fruit! We spent a fair amount of time near the coast, from a short stop on the Guajira peninsula and beach time in Santa Marta to a week in Cartagena. One benefit of […]
Colombia Travel Route and Tips for Planning a Visit
[mappress mapid=”25″] This post is the index to our trip to Colombia in March/April 2014. It will be updated with links as new stories and tips are posted, so check back often! Our Colombia travel route is shown on the map above. Click on markers and lines for more information. Green lines represent travel over […]
Cartagena Doors: Infinitely Photogenic
To say we took a lot of photos in Cartagena is an understatement. The doors of Cartagena in particular continuously stopped us in our tracks, begging us to photograph them. We’re not sure if it’s the sheer size, the interesting design of smaller, inset doors, the ornate door knockers or the endless variety of […]
Villa de Leyva: Colonial Town in a High-Altitude Valley
The Road to Villa de Leyva Villa de Leyva is tucked into the mountains a few hours’ drive north of Bogotá. Traffic was heavy getting out of the city on the holiday weekend we set out, but we still had time to make a stop at a very important historic site. Just before the city […]
Colombian Hospitality: Intro to Bogota
Hospitality Every culture has its own form of hospitality. Some people make us feel at home right away, while for others it takes more time to warm up to new people and new situations. As an exchange student in Japan, my “favorite” host family, the one I still keep in touch with, welcomed me as […]