In November of 2019, I had the honor of traveling with El Camino Travel to Colombia. Our group of sixteen journeyed throughout Cartagena and Medellin with a local guide (the incredible Andrés!), meeting with experts in food, dance, and all things culture. The trip was an eye-opening, life-changing experience. I am so grateful.
C A R T A G E N A
I landed at sunset in Cartagena. Humidity layered exposed skin in dewy moisture, and frizzed curls framed my face. My driver pointed out landmarks, and I listened, my Spanish slowly returning, through ears still finding their way to Colombia. We passed the beach in the cab. The sun was golden, hanging low in the sky. It illuminated the edges of high waves. A boy faced his back to the horizon, allowing the surf to break around his body, the droplets glittered as they spread, falling towards the earth. His arms were outstretched and his smile spanned widely across his cheeks. We entered the walled city, and candy-like colors erupted from every angle. The sun had given way to dusk, and the sky hung heavy with hazy air. We arrived at a gate, where a woman in a eggshell-yellow uniform welcomed me in to a courtyard filled with palm trees and climbing monstera.
+Cartagena taught me a lesson in color and in flavor
+The air smells of cardamom and ground coffee
+Papaya is sweet and abundant
+The mango variety is incredibly satisfying
+Front doors are grand, and open in two ways
+Humidity is well and alive in Cartagena
+People really relax. they sit inside their darkened homes, protected from the sun, socializing with their families and friends
+Dance and music runs through the veins of Colombians
+Visit the VOLCAN DE TOTUMO and soak in the healing mud
+Maracuya, maracuya, maracuya! Eat as much as you can get. Also try lulo.
+Street food. Arepas, deditos, buñuelos, etc.
M E D E L L I N
In stark difference to Cartagena, we arrived in Medellin, blasted immediately with lush, mountainous, jungle-like surroundings. My first order of business was coffee. I ended up getting a specific iced latte with coconut milk twice in four days, it was that delicious. Upon our arrival, I felt nostalgia wash over me, though I’ve never visited this city before. The smell of baked goods mixed with greenery and exhaust was all too familiar. The cadence here is relaxed, and wildly contemporary. It’s a city that makes you want to sit with a beverage and take in the beauty and peace that surrounds you. Tropical plants shroud every walkway, creating speckled shadows on the sidewalks. at every turn there are entryways, lush with greenery, to open-faced restaurants, cafes and shops. A lot of the boutiques are tucked away—like hidden secrets that you have to be savvy to find. The city encouraged enjoying the day, and laughing when you inevitably get soaked by the monsoon-like rains that showered the city each afternoon. I was in fashion heaven in this city—I would EASILY return just for the aforementioned iced latte and lots of shopping. Medellin, you have my heart and continue to inspire me from afar.
+Be sure to get a coffee from PERGAMINO. I highly suggest the iced latte [that I’ve mentioned four times] with coconut milk. And get a slice of carrot cake while you’re at it.
+Visit the lake and rock of GUATAPE
+Visit COMMUNA 13. It is a place with a difficult history, and the art that bleeds from this community is beyond inspirational
+Eat at KAI. This place will rock your world, and the interiors are swoon-worthy for all minimalists
+Shop at MAKENO. It’s a haven of all things cool.
