Colombia – A country that’s hard to leave

As many others, when I left Canada, I thought that because of “safety issues” in Colombia, I’d be unloading my bike and just passing through. The only people who will tell you not to go to Colombia are people that haven’t been themselves. Funny how people always “know” things they haven’t touched. While traveling down from Canada, I have met quite a few people on the way traveling up. ALL of them told me how much they loved Colombia and what a beautiful place it is. Most of them renewed their visas to stay longer. Such a discrepancy in opinions between the ones that have visited the country and the ones that think they know the country because they have some internet access or because they watch the late news on TV before taking a sleeping pill to have a good night sleep.

From what I have seen up to now, Colombia is by far the nicest country I have visited. Not just for it’s mind blowing scenery, but also for it’s amazingly friendly people. From a country that I thought I’d just pass through, I have changed my mind to moving there. As for the security part, the guerilla have been pushed deep into the Amazonas about 20 years ago, there is Police and Military everywhere and I haven’t felt threatened or scared once. Actually, I’d say that Colombia is the most secure country below Canada.

My last couple of weeks, I have spent in Medellin (where I’m thinking of moving) and Cali. I don’t like taking the big camera around cities as it weights too much and it can attract unwanted attention so there wont be too many pictures. I did go to a few Zoos and botanical gardens so get ready for a flower overload.

This is one of the Teleferics of Medellin. Part of the metro system. If you have a metro ticket, the transfer is free to the teleferic.

Flowers from Medellin

Around the science park… which BTW is WAY nicer and WAY more advanced than the one in Calgary… not to mention about 10 times the size.

Some more cool parks in Medellin. This one is really unique. You go bare foot in there and there are small pools with Jets where you can get a water foot massage… all free of course… not to mention SUPER clean!

Scientific (super technologically advanced) building

From Medellin I rode to a town called Jardin. Really nice litle town fueled with Local and almost no international tourism.

You get a taste of the area every time you drink some Colombian coffee. Coffee plantations everywhere.

Between Medellin and Cali, I stopped in Manizales, a college town. I visited a coffee park there which didn’t have much to do with Coffee but more of a botanical garden.

With a crazy orchid garden

The zoo in Cali

A few hours away from Cali, back again towards the Manizales section, this is what you can see…

… Josh taking a leak! 😀 Met up with the big guy again in Medellin for a day and then here for another day.

I ended up spending about a month and a half in Colombia. I also renewed my visa for the motorcycle when I reentered from Venezuela as you only get 60 days in one shot.

For all of you thinking of visiting Colombia now, don’t do it just yet! Lets just say that ummmm…. it’s still dangerous? Actually, just wait till I move there and open up my hostel, then come and give me your tourist $$$. 😉