By Stephen Bugno Salento is not the type of place where you’re going to be the only Gringo in town. Don’t try and fool yourself, it is a touristy place. But it’s popular for a reason. And even if you only have a limited time in Colombia, it’s still worth the effort to make it [...] Read more »
Photo from the Road: Fruit Vendor at the Market, Colombia
I snapped this photo at the market in San Gil, Colombia. San Gil has recently emerged as the adventure sports hub of Colombia, but it is a fine small city to visit on its own. The market is particularly good, with exceptional fruits and fruit juices. Once inside, pull up a stool, sit down, and [...] Read more »
Colombian Colonial Towns: Giron
By Stephen Bugno I’m sitting on the balcony of my small hotel room in Giron and it’s raining again. It’s rained almost every day I’ve been in Colombia, about 3 ½ weeks straight. The sky is dark. It’s 7 pm. The yellow-orange glow of the street lamps reflect off the puddles forming on the uneven [...] Read more »
Cartagena: Living up to Expectations or Not?
By Stephen Bugno When a city has the reputation that Cartagena has, it takes a few days to absorb the city to see if it lives up to its hype. So I spent the first day walking the postcard perfect streets of the old city. It is gorgeous– a colorful, energetic, hot, grand colonial city. [...] Read more »
The Wheels on the Colombian bus go…
By Stephen Bugno I’m going to dedicate this post solely to Colombian bus rides, focusing on one ride in particular. How does an 80 km (50 mile), 4-hour bus ride turn into a 10-hour trip? Welcome to Colombia in the rainy season. Our bus driver is stressed. I can tell by his furrowed brow. He [...] Read more »
Fernando Botero Sculptures in Medellin
By Stephen Bugno After Pablo Escobar, Medellin, Colombia’s most famous son is Fernando Botero. He is perhaps South America’s most beloved artist. You might recognize his art as those characterized by the use of distorted proportions, or more simply, his people and animals look a little fat. I’ve been bumping into Botero’s work around Europe [...] Read more »
Yes, Mother, I’m Going to Colombia
By Stephen Bugno Colombia is in the news again as The Expeditioner has out. And for good reasons, the Financial Times and the New York Times are talking about tourism in Santa Marta. This country has always been an incredible place to travel: with two oceans, snow-capped mountains, white-sand beaches, lost archeological sites, gorgeous colonial [...] Read more »