Panama and Columbia | FindPenguins

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Panama and Columbia
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Manizales coffee region
18 февраля, Колумбия ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
We drove through the Andes mountains at a somewhat lower elevation (read: warmer and more humid) to the hacienda of Don Jose and Dona Marisa. Dona Marisa’s family had been in the area for 150+ years and she had inherited the hacienda from her father. The rooms and old furniture were lovely but we bonded over a mutual appreciation for china, ceramics, and table settings. Due to global warming, the climate is no longer suitable for coffee and they now grow oranges. Don Jose is retired and grows exotic orchids.Читать далее
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Путешественник They look like tiles!
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Путешественник Wow, it really looks like the dining room in Encanto
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ПутешественникI need to rewatch
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ПутешественникI felt the same way
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Panama and Columbia
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The road to Medellin
19 февраля, Колумбия ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
Photos tell some of the story of our day
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Путешественник Wooooooow
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Путешественник I love the painted metal balconies!
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Путешественник Why so early??
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ПутешественникOriginally, the early hour was so long hat children could get home early and help their parents in the field. That is not always the case now
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Panama and Columbia
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Manizales to Medellin
19 февраля, Колумбия ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
The most important thing we learned today was to pronounce the name of this city as the local Antioquenos do, "Medda-jean". Otherwise, it was an up and down day.
We departed Manizales (6,300') for the Cauca River Valley (2,100'), then up to Jerico (5,000'), then back to the valley and up to Medellin (4,900').
Our first stop in the valley was near the town of Irra. During the bad times, the paramilitaries had a checkpoint here and if you looked like a guerilla, they would grab you, shoot you & dump your body in the river. The Cauca became known as the "River of Death" for all the corpses washing ashore.
Up to Jerico for lunch -- a pretty town with well laid out Plaza Major and a pleasing Cathedral.
Enroute Medellin, we went through a long tunnel at Mulatos (2,450 m) and an even longer one at Amaga (3,600 m).
One noticeable change was the dearth of coffee plants in the coffee region. Just like vineyards in Bordeaux, the lower slopes are now too warm and the farmers have had to move up the mountain. As an aside, as part of the Columbian Exchange, coffee came from Africa to America & cacao from America to Africa. Now, cacao is growing again in Columbia on the places where coffee used to be.Читать далее
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Путешественник Pretty windows!
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Путешественник Beautiful tiles!
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Panama and Columbia
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Metrorail, Gondolas & Escalators
20 февраля, Колумбия ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
In 1995, two years after the demise of Pablo Escobar, the Colombian govt decided that the way out of the troubles was to invest in the poor people.
They built a metrorail that connected the far reaches of the city with downtown. They connected the terminal stations with a gondola system that went into the hills. And lastly, they built escalators in the hillsides to replace the long, long staircases to where the poor people lived.
The result was that the workers be could get to the workplace. We sampled all three modes of transit today and the system works.Читать далее
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Путешественник Did you try it?
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ПутешественникNope
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Путешественник I bet that tasted AMAZING
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ПутешественникDelicious!
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Panama and Columbia
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Two More Things
20 февраля, Колумбия ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Путешественник Wow
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Panama and Columbia
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Medellin
20 февраля, Колумбия ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
We had the wonderful experience of going into on of the communities in the mountains above Medellin. New arrivals just build houses above what’s already there. Initially, no sewer,, water, electricity, or a way to get there. The new inhabitants build stairways and connection sewer and water. In about 1995, the city started building a Metro, gondolas, and escalators to reach all of these places. Unemployment is high and most establish small businesses in an informal economy. They are organized into numbered communes. We visited #13 and bought groceries for 4 families. I presented the big bags to a single mother with 2 kids. She was really grateful.

The metro system is impressive in its cleanliness and efficiency. The addition of the various forms of public transportation has made a huge impact on the quality of life for poor people.Читать далее
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Путешественник Great for physical fitness but tough for the infirm!
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ПутешественникThat's true love, Marcia!
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Panama and Columbia
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Guatape Lake & Village
21 февраля, Колумбия ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Through one of the longest tunnels in Colombia, the Tunnel de Oriented )8.2 km/5.1 mi) to the 50 year old reservoir at Guatape.
Primarily a hydroelectric project, it also provides water for Medellin, an increasingly thirsty city. The project was initially conceived in the 1930s and took a while to gain momentum. It took seven years to build and fill as one whole town and lots of little landowners were displaced.
After arrival near Guatape, we took a Chiva (Goat) ride to the lake where we got aboard a pontoon boat for a quick zip around.
After lunch we did a walkabout the village which was quite colorful and crowded with tourists.
Back through the tunnel to Medellin, we had supper to a pounding club beat.
Tomorrow: We depart the "City of Eternal Spring" and head to CartagenaЧитать далее
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Путешественник Nice picture of you M. I’m enjoying the artwork.
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Путешественник Love the soundtrack!
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Путешественник Driving in style!
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Panama and Columbia
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Puebliando
21 февраля, Колумбия ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Puebliando is a Columbian word for going from town to town. People who live in Medellin love to get away from the city on Saturday and/or Sunday and go along the shore of Guatape Lake, created by the damming of two rivers in order to provide hydroelectric power. The area is lush with beautiful flowers and views of the lake. The many villages and settlements on the various fingers of the lake provide countless wayside locations for a coffee, a snack, lunch, dessert, and the another coffee.

Our guide wanted us to enjoy a similar experience so we started with hot chocolate, a farmer cheese (similar to queso fresco) and a delicious corn pancake. This was followed by a boat ride on the lake and then lunch at a rooftop Ruston with beautiful views of the lake.

Next stop was the colorful and delightful town of Guatape. Tom and I did a paseo around the main plaza, paid an obligatory visit to the church, and photographed many of the zocalos on the town buildings.

I think publiando is a custom I could easily become accustomed to to!Читать далее
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Путешественник Gorgeous plates!
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Путешественник I love the colors!
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Путешественник The zocalos are so cool! Are they made of plaster?
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ПутешественникWe think the answer is yes — made of plaster — but we aren’t certain
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The zocalos are so festive! [Deb]
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Panama and Columbia
Charming Cartegena
22 февраля, Колумбия ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
Cartagena is in the northeastern part of Columbia on the Caribbean coast . The city was founded in 2533 and served as a key port for the export of Bolivian silver and import of enslaved African people. Though it’s a city of about a million people, the historic center, where we’re staying, is very colonial in architecture and has only a minimum number of cars. The Spanish built a defensive wall around Cartegena, a World Heritage site, between 1614 and 1796. The original walls and fort are still intact. Tourism is essential to Cartegena’s economy.
We enjoyed seeing an Augustinian monastery and the old fort that protected the city from pirates and the navies of other countries.Читать далее
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ПутешественникReally pretty! Is this your hotel?
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Panama and Columbia
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Charming Cartegena photos
22 февраля, Колумбия ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
Sorry — the draft uploaded before I could include these photos.
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Путешественник Holy moly, you’d need sunglasses for mass!
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Путешественник Same style as el Murro
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Panama and Columbia
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Cartagena de Indias
22 февраля, Колумбия ⋅ 🌬 27 °C
A stark change in climate and attitude today. Medellin is high in the hills, an energetic city continually making room for more.
Cartagena is on the Caribe, hot, humid, beachy and tourist to the max.
The city was wrestled away from the natives and for centuries it fended off pirates of all stripes. Initially a series of islands (hello, Venice), the Spanish filled in or bridged the flats to create a city.
We are staying in the old, walled city. Of you woke up and didn't know you were here, you might think you were in Old San Juan. There are many similarities.
After arrival, we had a windshield tour of the Old City, had lunch, a tour up to the most prominent landmarks (the Augustinian Monastery & the Castillo San Felipe).
This evening we simply had a glass of wine on the hotel's rooftop bar & called it a day.Читать далее
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Путешественник You should finagle an invite for next year!
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ПутешественникFabulous place for an evening event. Gorgeous views
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Путешественник Maybe that dinner they were setting up for…
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Путешественник23 inches of snow in Stoughton and it is still snowing. I like the sand castle, it gives me hope for nicer weather.
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Panama and Columbia
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Farewell Cartegena
23 февраля, Колумбия ⋅ 🌬 27 °C
Cartegena’s designation as a World Heritage Site brought attention from tourists and the Cartegena government. The old buildings had great bones but they’d fallen into disrepair. Upon realization that tourists like history and charm, the locals got busy. Results are very appealing.

Cartegena has a more energetic and vibrant feel due to its location on the Caribbean coast. Many slaves from the various Caribbean islands escaped to Cartagena. The were called Maroons or Morones. The Maroon Music School is working hard to teach the African music, dance, and traditions of their ancestors. Their presence has also influenced the food — really flavorful.

Columbia considers itself very aligned with the US. Their economy appears to be in good shape and focused on helping the poor achieve financial success through improved transportation, infrastructure, and education. The 4 big regions are quite different from each other but work together harmoniously under a central government. They consider the country a strong democracy and are proud of their success in reducing drug cartel operations.

So glad we spent time in Columbia. Thanks to Kevin and Tom, we’ve now added Bolivia to our travel plans. Central and South America have a lot to offer.Читать далее
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Путешественник Cartagena had so much to offer, beautiful architecture , beautiful people, great history, so fun!
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ПутешественникI agree!
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Путешественник Unique balcony!
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ПутешественникThis is a bldg awaiting renovation. The metal keeps pieces of the real balcony from falling on the people walking below.
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Panama and Columbia
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Final Day in Columbia
23 февраля, Колумбия ⋅ 🌬 27 °C
We head out a bit earlier as the day promised to be warm (it kept it). We had a pleasant stroll through the old walled city of Cartagena checking out the architecture, landmarks and points of interest. It is a nice town with lots of little shops, cafes, et al.
Mid-morning we bused east to a much less affluent coastal area populated historically by fisher folk. There we were educated into the intricacies of Afro-Caribe music including drumming lessons and a group dance. Some of our group were more nimble than others but it was great fun for all.
We had the afternoon on our own so we continued the walk about the old city including St Pedro Claver Church & Museum, and the Museo Naval del Caribe.
After a bit of re-pack & getting back out our cold-weather clothing, we moseyed down the Calle for the farewell dinner.
Supper was an exceptional experience. Old Habana style music, Afro-Caribe dancers, fish & wine. The lead off was a rum cocktail -- very smooth and saboroso.
0300 Reveille. Oof.
In the words of Simon Bolivar, "People of Cartagena, if Caracas gave me life, you have me glory...Hail redeeming Cartagena!"Читать далее
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Путешественник My kind of cat!
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Путешественник The greenery kind of looks like wisteria. Any idea what it actually was?
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Путешественник Love the quote
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