Colombia
Finally going on a vacation
Our room in the Viaggio in Medellín
Dining room in the Viaggio
Art in the neighborhood
We walked to a shopping center for a meal and groceries
First meal in Medellín at Vivo Live Food
Seafood and a bibimbap-style mix
A quick rain shower
Food court
Breakfast at the Viaggio
Subway map - we're going to Juan XXIII
To get to the hilly neighborhoods, take the cable cars
Our tour guide, Camilo, at Juan XXIII
A view of the hillside Comuna
Foong checks directions
Camilo, our tour guide, and Steven from Ireland
Matt from Hong Kong rides the slide
Long path winds through shops
The band entertains
Street murals
Hip hop dancing
Freshly prepared food... goop?
The hills are endless
Jane and Joe Tourist in Comuna 13
Sprawling forever
A scenic overlook where everyone wants a photo
The line to get to the overlook
This guy has cute puppies, you can take photos with them
This guy was very patient with my Spanish
Down the many steps, past wall murals
Woman and bird
Lots of bird paintings
Macaws
Lots of symbolism in this mural
Bored monkey
Overhead decorations
With our fellow tourists, Steven (Ireland) and Matt (Hong Kong)
End of the train line
Museo El Castillo
Waiting for the castle tour
Fountain at the castle
Inlaid tile work looks almost Nazi-like
The gardens of Museo El Castillo
Museo El Castillo
This young woman is from Cary NC
Dinner at Relato in Provenza
Relato in Provenza
Lomo enyucado and hot rock ceviche
Dessert served on a cloud
Provenza Letras Medellín
Provenza Letras Medellín
Provenza Letras Medellín
Outside the Viaggio
Plaza Botero
Plaza Botero
Plaza Botero
Plaza Botero
Plaza Botero
Plaza Botero
Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe
Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe
Museo de Antioquia
Museo de Antioquia
Botero statues in the Museo de Antioquia
Museo de Antioquia
Museo de Antioquia
Museo de Antioquia
Museo de Antioquia
Museo de Antioquia
Museo de Antioquia
Museo de Antioquia
Museo de Antioquia
Museo de Antioquia
Plaza Botero
Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe
Police barricades surrounding Plaza Botero
Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe
vendors outside the barricade at Parque Berrío metro station
Gerónimo told us to visit Pueblito Paisa
A 360° camera at Pueblito Paisa
Tropical fruits and flowers at Pueblito Paisa
A model of Medellín valley at Pueblito Paisa
A refreshing drink at Pueblito Paisa
Santa Fe Mall
We ordered a Bandeja Paisa (Paisa Platter) at the mall
Dusk at the Santa Fe mall
Bandeja Paisa (Paisa Platter)
Breakfast at the Viaggio
Lining up to board our plane to Cartagena
We flew "Clic" airlines
Arriving in Cartagena
A mobile payphone
We bought the 2-day hop-on-hop-off bus tour package
Hotel Caribe in Bocagrande, Cartgena
Modern hotels in Bocagrande
Inside the walled city in Cartagena
Restaurant in Getsemani (Calle Adentro)
Seafood and pasta and plantains and salad
Inside Calle Adentro Restaurant
Cafe Havana is very popular at night (closed mid-day)
Street in Getsemani
Parque Centenario
Haircuts at the Plaza del Reloj (clock tower square)
Statue at Plaza del Reloj
We waited a long time for our bus just outside the wall
Tightrope walker at the stop light
Tour bus stop on the Caribbean coast
View from our room at the Hotel Caribe
Sunset at the Hotel Caribe
This bird is on the tallest branch, 5 stories up.
Sunset, preparing for a swim
Pool at the Hotel Caribe
Night view of Bocagrande from our hotel
Night view of Bocagrande from our hotel
Going to the buffet (night shot, actually!)
Welcome drinks at the pool-side bar
Tiny door to get to the buffet
The resident macaw
The resident peacock
View of the Caribbean from our room
On the hop-on-hop-off tour bus
Old house in Getsemani
Pigeon at Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas
Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas
Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas
Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas
Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas
Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas
Another crazy stoplight acrobat
Inside the walled city
Tight parking
Texas Restobar, Cartagena
street in the walled city
Along the wall, facing the Caribbean
We gave up on the bus reaching this stop, called an Uber
The beach outside the Hotel Caribe
The macaw can't fly, but he knows where people leave their food
Stealing a hotel guest's food
Sunset at Hotel Caribe
Sunset at Hotel Caribe
Night life in Getsemani
Night life in Getsemani
Night life in Getsemani
Night life in Getsemani
7 Cielos restaurant
View from our table at 7 Cielos restaurant
7 Cielos restaurant
Bird cleaning breakfast tables at Hotel Caribe
Courtyard at Hotel Caribe
Hallway in Hotel Caribe is reminiscent of Getsemani streets
Juan Valdez coffee shop
Old school boarding
Pet bathroom in Bogotá airport
Pets on the plane
Guatapé
Hotel Los Recuerdos
Hotel Los Recuerdos
Foong at Hotel Los Recuerdos
We ordered way too much food!
Bandeja Paisa
Open elevator at Hotel Los Recuerdos
Taking a tuk-tuk to El Peñón (the Rock)
Taking a tuk-tuk to El Peñón (the Rock)
At the base of El Peñón (the Rock)
Climbing the 708 steps of El Peñón
View to the north from El Peñón (Hotel Los Recuerdos near the bridge)
View to the east from El Peñón
On top of El Peñón
On top of El Peñón
View to the west from El Peñón
Foong and Alan, on top of the world
"Bajando" means "going down"
Going down
A tiny car
Tuk-Tuks
Our ride to town
Horses on the road to El Peñón
Guatapé town
Shade and color, a touristy street in Guatapé
We ate lunch at this restaurant shop-house
The church in Guatapé
Guatapé is known for its house paintings
Guatapé is known for its house paintings
A tricked-out tuk-tuk
The dinner cruise only runs on weekends
"Don Hector" took us on a boat tour
Guatapean ducks
The burned out remains of Pablo Escobar's vacation home in Guatapé
A marker indicating the old Guatapé town, which is 40m under water
View of El Peñón from the lake
Posing for a picture on the rocking boat
The Rock, the lake, and the tourists
Helicopter tours took off every few minutes close to our hotel
Sunset in Guatapé
In the town of El Peñol, the locals ride their bikes on the long gradual incline
We were at the Medellín airport when the annular eclipse happened
Our flight back from Florida to NC was delayed until almost midnight
Souvenirs from Colombia
Liquor bottles in Colombia have tamper-proof spouts to prevent drugging
I bought some liquor in the duty free shop