Colombia, not Columbia

nice.. complete amateur though

Cartagena old town, endlessly fascinating and a great place for people watching if you are dining out in the evening. We were opposite San Pedro church and between 6.30 and 8pm there were three full blown weddings, much joy and celebration with fanfares and carriages to boot. I can’t think of a more romantic setting than this incredible city.

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horse and carriage tour 60,000 COP
for 1/2 hour

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Stunning colonial houses with large entrances and courtyards / stables beyond. Many converted into hotels and restaurants. Two convent buildings have since become internationally renowned hotels, but had been prisons and police stations in previous life.

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This city also has a sinister past. Brutal slave trading and Spanish inquisition. There are plenty of documents in the local library, where Colombian families can search their ancestry. But the torture instruments are shocking.

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Santa Clara Hotel, filled with colonial splendour, botero sculptures, fountains and lush vegetation in the main courtyard.

The conquistadors used their moor architectural heritage in the new world to combat heat and humidity. This cloister design is typical here.

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We own mochillas (hand woven bags made by local tribes) but nothing as beautiful as this.

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One of the joys of being here is food shopping. Everything is fresh and twice the size of what we might consider normal. Spring onions size of leeks, huge papaya and avocado. Then there are the fruits we never see in the UK like zapote (orange fleshy like mango)and nispero (pink fleshy like mango) superb for blending con leche and ice to make mouth watering fruit shakes. These are super fruits packed with alot of goodness.

Arepa is the staple of Colombia, from its modest flat round white corn meal beginnings, today there are hundreds of varieties in the big supermarkets. Some made with yuca, cheese or quinoa. But the local prize unique to the coast is the deep fried egg arepa, made skilfully at home from scratch for breakfast, served with a spicy tomato salsa.

The fruit shake choice is one of Colombia’s best keep secrets. The abundance of produce keeps costs down and provides vital nutrition. It is no surprise therefore to say that the Colombia’s people always look so naturally healthy.

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Nispero before blending. Skin is thick like zapote, stone is black and smooth.

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^ I've had that in Cuba, named Mamey.
Bit like a less fatty fruity avocado?

Really enjoying the new updates, keep it up. Colombia is such an awesome place

Yes, quite delicious although I never found this in Medellín only here on the coast.

I suspect Cartagena Old Town is a lot like Havana.

Yes, absolutely awesome and thanks.

We have the whole clan heading over from Medellín in the next hour. It’s going to be a riot and very colourful.

Of course it’s not the same without Papá so we will toast him with fine Scottish single malt whisky every night and to life and to living..

At some point in the next week, I will collect a load of coastal slang words to rival the Paisa lingo.

Today we made ceviche, not really a Colombian dish, more common in Peru and Ecuador.

Prepared icy cold on hot days this is pre cooked fish and shellfish with spring onions, celery, red onions, fresh coriander, peppers, tomatoes, plenty of salt and freshly squeezed lime juice. Part blended the rest finely chopped then mixed together. Served with sliced avocado, warm rice and sliced fried plantain.

Being on the 12th floor does have some drawbacks. Most nights and particular after a very hot day, the wind picks up and swirls around our building. And at every ill fitted opening in our apartment this wind whistles through. It is an eerie sound, that conjures all sorts of ghoulish thoughts. Of ghosts, dead pirates, sea storms here in the Caribbean. If you have read ‘the perfect storm’ and the description of high winds through ships rigging at each category, starting with a light whistling sound upto cat 1 the frequency reaches a low moan it reminded me of this.

The faint sound of the rumba party buses ‘chiva’ passing below through the night a welcome distraction to the unpleasant sounds at our windows.

have you been to barichara? i want to visit the santander region.

Not been to barichara yet, looks amazing.. when people ask what is it like in tayrona and mendihuaca, though. I show them this..

https://youtu.be/W9gQ3N2qv-k

https://goo.gl/images/Q4qJgy

Tripe readily available in stores

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To make mondongo, also known as towel soup.

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We are back in Barranquilla for Christmas, the carnival music is everywhere and locals are starting to hone there dancing skillz. What a vibrant and happy city we have.

https://youtu.be/5oc2wEIJLGo

I love that dance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E83oYrYd-WA

One thing is apparent about the carnival here in Barranquilla, it’s about celebrating both African and Indigenous dance and music. That rhythm is not lost on the local people. The festivities really start 01 January and main week lends upto 14 February. That’s some party.

We were out early doors this morning around 6am for a walk around the neighbourhood before the temp goes back to 35C and there were a couple of house parties in full swing. Even the Police turned up stayed 1/2 hour then drove off, like this was normal. I couldn’t count the number of rum bottles lined up on the pavement, obviously these were waiting for deposit returns :)

Happy times

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I saw this film a couple of years ago when it finally reached the UK for release. Epic does not even cover it, it’s ‘apocalypse now’ in terms of a journey and storytelling. I hope to make a journey quite soon, not as dramatic though.

https://youtu.be/B3uCQjHxAvw

I love these sounds, I’m hearing this all over town.

https://youtu.be/Lq0ogDWhg-M

Love this tune..

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa6R9Z576Yg