Colombia is a land of contrasts: we started our visit on the Caribbean, with tropical temperatures, cocktails and pirate stories.
We then crossed a very dry plain (El Nino's at work here) to reach the first signs of the Andes and the three parallel "Cordilleras" that dominate Colombia's Western provinces.
We were two of more than 8 million wandering about Bogota , before being nearly alone, off the beaten track, in the mountains near San Agustin.
And we haven't even seen the Amazonian jungle provinces that border with Venezuela and Brazil! (The idea is to fly back to Brazil once Archie is on a ship to South Africa!).
Colombia also contrasts favorably with its reputation. Europeans know Colombia as the drug kingdom once ruled by the notorious Pablo Escobar and as the source of nearly all cocaine consumed in the world. They also know of the leftist FARC-guerilla and their kidnap victims of Bétancourt fame. Let's not fool ourselves: cocaine still flows from Colombia, and the FARC still exist, even if pushed back by the current government.
At the same time, life in Colombia has changed a lot, cities such as Medellin have recovered from the cartel days of the 1980s, and most roads are safe to travel. Common sense and the observation of a few rules (like not driving anywhere at night) make it a very enjoyable tourist destination.
Colombians have shown themselves to be the most friendly, polite and proactively helpful people on our trip so far. Police officers greet you politely before asking for papers, people spontaneously change seats in the buses to allow a couple to sit together, shopkeepers take the time to explain the name and ingredients of their many cookies, hotel owners thank you personally for traveling in Colombia. No offense, but Central America could take some inspiration of the Colombian example!
In conclusion: do go and visit Colombia! You'll have a very good time and you will be well received. We certainly enjoyed ourselves, traveling with open eyes and staying away from potential trouble.
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