PBH / colombia (active forums more▼ | travelguide | pictures) / post

Kudos to Salento, Quindío, Colombia

This last week I had the opportunity to visit the town of Salento in the department of Quindío. The town is doing many things correct in my opinion to help the town and its merchants. An old and decrepit building anchoring one side of the square received a new orange and white façade to at least make the town look more appealing. For semana santa they put up not only tents around the square to help feed the multitude of visitors, but added the detail of putting wooden floors in each one. Going down one street off the square revealed about 4 blocks of what appeared to be recently painted shops offering all kinds of items for the tourists. All were easy to get at and see and the street maintained a friendly police presence. Some people offered bathrooms available for a price of 500 pesos, but everyone I spoke with that used them stated that each bathroom was clean. At one store off the main square the owner started speaking to me in English with a strong Colombian accent. This happens to me much as despite every effort to blend in I just look way to gringo. He told me that he liked to practice his English whenever he could. He commented that with the roads being more secure that tourism has increased much. And that in the last two years more and more English speaking people have been visiting Salento. When asked about what benefits he has seen from it he stated that the economy has improved dramatically and that many local artisans have again started doing their crafts many of which had almost been lost. It seems that Salento has decided to bet on the new safeness of the area and promote tourism. In fact they even had ladies taking surveys from visitors to determine how to improve the town even more for visitors. olombia has much to offer and many other cities could take a lesson from Salento.

By JMCana on Apr 11, 2007, 05:35 in Friendly Talkzone.

billyb says on Apr 11, 2007, 06:20:

JM, I agree with you... on Salento and the sorrounding Valle de Corcora, it's one of my favorite places in Colombia and I always try to make a side trip there when visitng family in Pereira.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

webmanco says on Apr 11, 2007, 06:55:

Salento

Banco Agrario

Iglesia

Vista

Iglesia

Ejercicio

Principal

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

JMCana says on Apr 11, 2007, 07:08:

interesting city, but can't figure out. Pereira is one of those cities that is interesting. Unfortunately I was unable to stay there long enough to really understand it. It seems to be a place caught between the old Colombia and the new Colombia. It does nice things, but seems to do them only 75% correct. It has many assets but uses them incorrectly. It was the only city visited so far, where as an obvious gringo, I felt unwelcome. Will be glad when I can spend more time there and figure it out. But it does have a nice statue.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Apr 11, 2007, 07:12:

I'm surprised JM... in Pereira, as Paisas, they pride themselves on their hospitality. Try it again.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

JMCana says on Apr 11, 2007, 07:15:

same street Webmanco,
When did you take your photo of Principal? It is of the same street I took, but they are different and showing what I was talking about. It appears that they enlarged the sidewalk and decreased the street size. The shops on the left are all newly painted and the street seems more inviting to visitors now.

Thanks for sharing the photo it is good to see the difference.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

webmanco says on Apr 11, 2007, 07:31:

Those pictures were The pictures were taken last year, what happens is that before semana santa and mayor holidays, all turist towns try to do the best to make their places more atractive. I went to Juanchaco y Ladrilleros on the Pacific just before Semana Santa about two years ago and the places were not so nice but locals were getting it pretty for the Semana Santa.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

JMCana says on Apr 11, 2007, 07:49:

Not shooting tourists Tinto, probably not visible in the photos, but they type you describe as "boy scouts" are wearing boots and spurs. I am not an expert on Colombian police, but they appear to be the mounted police and where I live are very friendly guys. Americans are not use to seeing men with assault rifles on their city streets and when they visit Colombia or many other Central and South American countries they get the wrong impression. But the guy is not there to shoot tourists either. In essence, I am glad to see the guy there as well as the many along side the roads. Thanks to them and the safety they provide, Colombia is beginning to enjoy a more prosperous economy.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

webmanco says on Apr 11, 2007, 07:56:

Exploradores

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Simon says on Apr 11, 2007, 10:55:

JMCana,
Thanks for sharing JMCana,

Thanks for sharing your photos and experiences in Salento. It really is a wonderful town. The Valle de cocora is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. I almost passed out from climbing all those steps to get to the mirador, boy am I outta shape! Salento definitely has great tourist potential.

I was a bit taken aback by your comments about "feeling unwelcome" in Pereira though, because in my opinion the people are among Colombia's friendliest. I hope you give it another chance. Saludes.

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

0 funny, 0 helpful.

JMCana says on Apr 11, 2007, 12:42:

Another chance Billyb and Simon, yes, as I mentioned above I plan to visit Pereira again. I meant so disrespect with my comments. Just "Calling them as I see them" to quote an American saying. And I could see some of what you are talking about in the friendliness of the people but it seemed only toward Colombians. We were traveling with a group that included a person from England who has visited many Colombian cities. He also mentioned feeling a non-friendly attitude. Will keep you posted when I visit again. The church was excellent - I enjoyed the wooden supporting arches and the way they changed it from Romantic style to a kind of neo Classical one.

And this street vendor was kind enough to sell me a concoction of things to burn in my house to bring me good luck. Still also trying to figure that one out. But I will take good luck any time I can get it.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

el flaco says on Apr 12, 2007, 02:12:

nice reminder Thanks for reminding me of my pleasant stay at Salento. I have posted extra stuff on the guide to Salento. Great place, great post.

0 funny, 0 helpful.