What are the first things you would show a friend visiting you?

Gator says on Mar 30, 2008, 09:32:

Downtown to Monseratte, before the clouds roll in then La Candelaria for lunch and then since we are DT the Museo de Oro (Gold Museum).

Corabastos market on the south end is just to damn far away and Mrs Gator(me too) find it overwhelming. For that type of market we take a visitor to Paloquemao which is much closer and Mrs. Gator goes nuts over the cut flowers which are cheap and a MASSIVE selection. But you need to be early because, I think, it closes about noon.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

Lowell says on Mar 30, 2008, 09:34:

The Door! No not really. Probably a short drive into the country and a litlle bit of the road to Armenia from Cartago. Then off for some Cholado by the river..

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

Bill Turley says on Mar 30, 2008, 10:20:

I would show ( and hope one day to show my son) the 265 year old wood frame church that overlooks the park in Somondoco. The site has been in continual use since the late 1500s.
Monserrate, and the Gold Museum for sure and a rural market like in Guateque or Garagoa.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

diabloblas says on Mar 30, 2008, 10:50:

hey rikito...nice bio you have...

robi666 says on Mar 30, 2008, 11:34:

Parque Tayrona and La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta areas.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

adrimm says on Mar 30, 2008, 12:27:

That is *the* question: tourist destinations, vs every-day life destinations (and the Mercado is an excellent example).

To me the every-day life destinations are just as, and sometimes more interesting than the tourist destinations, especially since there are such head-spinning contrasts in every-day destinations.

-> I can shop in indoor factory-farm plastic-wrapped Carulla or I can shop in the loud fresh, usually organic, locally-produced markets... it's amazing.

Yes, the Gold Museum is unique in the world (with it's collection of uniquely colombian indigenous art.. On the marketside, while fresh locally grown markets are an active daily part of regular life many other countries , Colombian markets have collections of uniquely Colombian fruits and meats. :)

Bucaramanga has a newer Mercado right in downtown, it's 4 or 5 story affair with a different food group on each floor. Very cool.

In summary I would show my visitor things that don't exist back home.. from the unique tourist destinations, to the contrasting ways of life, to TransMilenio.

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 30, 2008, 13:18:

I'd take the friend up a bit onthe hillside and show him/her the Statue of Belalcazar, the founder of Cali, pointing with his finger towards the sea. (There's a popular version that Belalcazar was robbed in Cali and is pointing his finger at Cristo Rey on another hilltop who is spreading his hands saying "it wasn't me" and behind him on another hill there's the Virgin of Yanaconas saying "Search me!") I'd show the the Lovely Lady of the Valley from high up, shrouded in a white veil of the early morning mists against the blushing dawn at the Cordillera Central with two snow-capped volcanos visible at that early hour and the deep indigo of the Farallones against the rising sun.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

DodgerDogs says on Mar 30, 2008, 13:38:

I would show them this church , and 100 other great things too see.
Los Lajas Cathedral.

Las Lajas Church video

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.Martin Luther King:

Ctg Bound says on Mar 30, 2008, 13:45:

DodgerDogs,

Where is it located in Colombia?

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 30, 2008, 13:46:

I've been to Las Lajas, when I first came to Colombia. I was totally overwhelmed by that place....it's amazing.
There are so many places to show, I hope that if anybody visits me when I'm in Colombia they are not in hurry because it'll take me a while before I run out of places to show.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

Simon says on Mar 30, 2008, 13:48:

"I'd take the friend up a bit onthe hillside and show him/her the Statue of Belalcazar, the founder of Cali, pointing with his finger towards the sea."

Desi, how is the Belalcazar statue pointing towards the sea when it seems he's pointing eastward out into the city?

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

DodgerDogs says on Mar 30, 2008, 13:48:

Very close to the Ecuador border just outside Ipiales , Colombia .
Because of Farc activity in the area very few get to see this great church.
G.S. (goin_south ) Has a special lady from close to that area, who lives in Pasto.
But the duck plays it safe and meets her in Bogota.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.Martin Luther King:

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 30, 2008, 13:52:

Nope, Simon, he's pointing towards the hills.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 30, 2008, 13:54:

Ipiales, right. It's a short bus or taxi ride from the town.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

Simon says on Mar 30, 2008, 14:00:

Oh I see, I must have been really drunk that night I went there.

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

DodgerDogs says on Mar 30, 2008, 14:06:

The church is a 3 dollar taxi ride from downtown Iiaples or a 25 dollar guided bus tour from Pasto to
the Gorge area , there is lots of waterfalls and wildlife ,to be seen above and below the church.
I have made the trip sveral times as I have inlaws that live in Iiaples.
( Caution if you look like a tourist, only go to Iaiples in the day time and spend the night in Pasto.)

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.Martin Luther King:

Lcacique says on Mar 30, 2008, 17:39:

If your going to go to Las Lajas you might as well risk your life and take them to el río de los cinco colores, Caño Cristales, en la sierra macarena.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

DodgerDogs says on Mar 30, 2008, 17:47:

Lcacique : el río de los cinco colores , is to remote for most as it has lots of selva.
I would though like to trek there one day to see the wildlife.
www.colombia.com/turismo/sitio/cano_cristales.asp

Here is anice place to visit watch their videos on this website , and download them for free.

http://www.lagransabana.com/video.htm

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.Martin Luther King:

Lcacique says on Mar 30, 2008, 18:12:

I was being facetious, not too many people would be brave enough to hike that far in such a dangerous area. I am considering it though, on my next visit.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

BillBigD says on Mar 30, 2008, 18:22:

Great picture of that church

DodgerDogs says on Mar 30, 2008, 18:28:

Lcacique: Colombias best places are of the beaten path, in 8 1/2 years of living in Colombia.
I have never spent any time in Bogota, Medellin or Cartagena that I was not ready to leave the first hour there. Medellin and Bogota may have lots of city culture, but
I like the natural beauty and the small towns people better.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.Martin Luther King:

nueva york bombero says on Mar 30, 2008, 18:32:

The combination of the two is what I love on a trip.

jorgegdiaz says on Mar 30, 2008, 18:48:

I´ll show them The Chicamocha Canyon:

Man with hole in pocket feel cocky all day.

jorgegdiaz says on Mar 30, 2008, 18:49:

Monumento, "La Hoja de Tabaco"

Man with hole in pocket feel cocky all day.

jorgegdiaz says on Mar 30, 2008, 18:51:

View of the Chicamocha River from the park (mind the haziness)

Man with hole in pocket feel cocky all day.

Lcacique says on Mar 30, 2008, 19:12:

DD: Personally, I do not mind the cities; however, I totally agree that what is outside of them is more enjoyable. I loved the time i spent in tiny pueblos as well and the wildlife in Colombia is one of a kind.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

Lisa Zee says on Mar 30, 2008, 20:01:

Where is that last photo? are those mountains bare, is it arid?

jorgegdiaz says on Mar 30, 2008, 20:13:

Chicamocha Canyon Lisa

Man with hole in pocket feel cocky all day.

Simon says on Mar 30, 2008, 20:42:

Here's a great thread about the Chicamocha Canyon:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=439598

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

Lcacique says on Mar 30, 2008, 20:53:

here's a vid about rafting in the canyon:



What's Buca like, I haven't been there?

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

DodgerDogs says on Mar 30, 2008, 21:02:

Here is good website with lots of photo galleries and vacation packages.

http://www.chivastoursdelosllanos.com/index.php

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.Martin Luther King:

adrimm says on Mar 30, 2008, 23:16:

Chicomocha has spectacular views, a fascinating monument and the chance to do some "extreme" sports is nice.....BUT on the whole I think a charming town with a nice monument would have been more interesting to me.

The whole thing at Chicamocha felt too manufactured, and it is impossible to visit while enroute anywhere unless you are in a private vehicle. I discovered this the painful way.

Lisa Zee says on Mar 30, 2008, 23:21:

Wow que berracos! I still don`t know where that is, which state?

jorgegdiaz says on Mar 31, 2008, 05:36:

Adrimm, there are buses that take you to and from there only. The park is little fabricated, yes. But the view, the scenery is not.

http://www.parquenacionaldelchicamocha.com
In Santander Lisa.

Man with hole in pocket feel cocky all day.

Juanes says on Mar 31, 2008, 09:22:

after giving them a warm welcome.......



depending on which part of the country i was in, i would try to show them......passion of the colombian people if it was a weekend..




that every bus ride way outside of the big 3 cities can be an adventure...




and if you want a bit of peace and tranquilidad then a pueblito up in the mountains is often best....





and that the old colombian way of life can still exist alongside the more modern way of living




but above all i would tell them not too drink too much aguadiente o demasiado cervezitas because you never know what could happen....

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Juanes/

Juanes says on Mar 31, 2008, 09:22:

after giving them a warm welcome.......



depending on which part of the country i was in, i would try to show them......passion of the colombian people if it was a weekend..




that every bus ride way outside of the big 3 cities can be an adventure...




and if you want a bit of peace and tranquilidad then a pueblito up in the mountains is often best....





and that the old colombian way of life can still exist alongside the more modern way of living




but above all i would tell them not too drink too much aguadiente o demasiado cervezitas because you never know what could happen....

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Juanes/