Hi- I had a excellent time- thanks!

Hi!,

I just wanted to write again after my trip to Colombia in the summer- my first time there (and Latin America in general). I was on holiday from work for a month from mid August to mid September and was able to visit a few places but not nearly enough. I started in Bogotá for a few days, then went to Gorgona Island for a couple more (via Cali), then to Salento in the Coffee Zone, then to Medellín where I stayed twice as long as I had originally planned as I liked it there so much. Then on to Cartagena and back again to Bogotá via Pereira.

I had an excellent and very enjoyable time- no negative experiences. Very friendly and polite people which was very welcome. Apart from the flights to Cali and Guapi for Gorgona, I went everywhere by coach in the end including night journeys to Cartagena from Medellín and back again. (Unfortunately I missed the anticipated interesting part as I was asking on a post a while back, as on both legs it was night at that point). I liked the aproach to Medellín at night anyway with the city lights on up all the hills- gave some interesting perspective viewpoints I thought. I also felt the views on the journey from Pereira-Armenia-Bogotá were vey impressive- I hadn't originally planned to do that trip but I'm glad I did.

I nearly managed to get a free (I think) return flight with Avianca too as people have mentioned before. At check-in I was put on standby on my return journey, so I asked about the ticket but in the end all the standbys got a seat in the end as far as I know.

A thankyou to all those who have provided useful and helpful information over the time I had been looking beforehand- much appreciated. Also to elmo who although I've never mentioned by name at times has kept me very amused with his comments..
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Many thanks!

By ecco on Oct 24, 2007, 13:06 in Friendly Talkzone.

billyb says on Oct 24, 2007, 13:15:

How did you like Salento and the Corcora Valley?

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ecco says on Oct 24, 2007, 13:38:

There are lots...
The few I spoke to were friendly and attractive- those meaning girls working in hostels or the supermarkets. I did go out, mainly in Medellín but wasn't there with the aim to meet anyone and I'm not the type to brag so I'll just say I'm not going to say much- sorry! On the bus/coach journeys though..
I didn't experience any of this flys-to-stick-on-a-shit business- it maybe overated or I was in the wrong place, or with the wrong people or I'm just not an intersting target for them. Over the course of the month there were friendly smiles from random girls passing by for me to notice it though.

Salento I liked- very pleasant for a short while. I was there for three or four nights- can't remember. I wouldn't be able to stay there for more than a week I doubt. That quiet and small that I was seeing other tourists every day evey hour and there isn't much to do. I went to the coffee farms, the butterfly park thingy and the Cocora Valley which was my favourite bit of that stage. I did the trek to Acaime where the humming birds were. Hard work as I've never walked like that before on steep slopes and mud but worth it for the easy road back down and through the valley with the palms- overall about six hours.

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dwmte7 says on Oct 25, 2007, 05:38:

hope you have more relaxed time...next time. glad you made it to my home, medellin, ain't nothin like it in all the world; and i've seen a whole bunch of this world. it's been strong enough, even with all it's problems, to keep me there, and to keep a home there for 19 years. we have to stay to much stateside right now--home still in medallo--as we don't want our youngest studying in colombia. ain't that a pity?

hope you make it back soon to add to your memoirs. you sound like a civil, considerate sort. dw

dwmte

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justino says on Oct 26, 2007, 22:03:

Ecco, I admire your adventurous spirit - seeing so much in such a short time (and flying solo, I gather)! To what do you owe such fearlessness? Rational thinking based on research here and elsewhere would suggest that these routes and destinations are quite safe, however most people wouldn't be able to overcome the negative hype to the degree that you did - especially as a first-timer on the continent. Impressive!

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