Across the river, to the west of the popular sector of El Poblado, lies the neighbourhood of Laureles Medellin. This strata 5 area of Medellin is becoming a popular place for entertainment, dining and living for many expats. Laureles – Estadio is the 11th Comuna in Medellin and actually consists of the barrios of Carlos E. Restrepo, Suramericana, Naranjal, San Joaquín, Los Conquistadore... »
The Medellin Christmas Lights project that began as a modest event in Medellin in 1955 has grown to become an internationally known holiday spectacle. The Alumbrado – The Lighting of Medellin has placed the city in National Geographics’ 2012 top ten cities worldwide to view Christmas lights. Traditionally the event has started on the 7th of December which is the unofficial start of the... »
Taking a taxi in Colombia is as simple as walking out to the curb and hailing a driver. The question is, how safe is it to do this ? Easy Taxi and Tappsi have resolved the issue of Colombian taxi service or at least made it much less worrisome. As in any new location that you might travel, the question always arises as to the safety of the taxis and their drivers. This concern is very prevalent i... »
Preserving history and cultural heritage Hacienda El Batan is a three hundred year old homestead in San Agustin, Colombia. It is a National Historic Landmark of Heritage Architecture located in the Northern Andes of South America. Finca El Batan is one of the oldest coffee farms in southern Colombia although it is better known for its museum and library. The main focus of the Fundacion El Batan ha... »
On the Road to Ginebra ´´Turn right at the guitar´´ is probably one of the strangest directions that I have ever been given. Somehow it made me think of Bugs Bunny and his famous line, ”I knew I should have made a left turn at Albuquerque” . It was however, completely accurate. Road maps don`t seem to be common in Colombia so we set off on our adventure to find Geneva or Ginebra Valle... »
Cartagena Taxi Fares are a mystery for many as the taxis do not have taxi meters. The fares are set every year by the city – ”Alcadia” and are established by zones. For example if you are going from Manga to El Centro the fare is 5.000 COP. If you want to go to El Cabrero, just on the other side of the old city – probably 5.600 COP and to Crespo 6.500 COP. It is worthwhile... »
On the Road to Bogota On April 6, 1536 the Spanish conqueror Jimenez de Quesada, left Santa Marta with 500 soldiers heading inland in hopes of finding a route to the south seas…. and of course El Dorado. Two years later they reached the current site of Bogota with only 70 soldiers remaining after conquering (= slashing, burning and robbing) various native groups along their rout... »
On the Road to El Retiro – The Cradle of Freedom One of the nicest drives you can make from Medellin is only 35 minutes in length. A trip to El Retiro Antioquia takes you along the winding Las Palmas highway as it snakes through the beautiful green hillsides outside Medellin. This is wood working country. Lined up along the banks of the road, perfectly poised to catch the warm r... »
On the Road to San Andres. Pirates ! Somehow the scourge of the seven seas – thieves, robbers, murderers, and the like have been immortalized and romanticized ad infinitum. My education taught us of Sir Francis Drake, the famous English explorer and yet he is known as El Draque to the Spanish. Supposedly the Spanish Crown had a reward of about $6.5 million (by today’s s... »
Chapter 2 – Getsemani – excerpt from the Hidden Treasures of Cartagena Except for a slaughter house and a Franciscan cloister, the island of Arrabal , later named Getsemani was largely unpopulated for 60 or 70 years. At the turn of the 17th century, as Cartagena expanded, this neighbourhood became home to artisans, pedlars and the less important bureaucrats of the city. The fortification of ... »
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