THREE WEEKS IN COLOMBIA

My firstborn son has recently returned from a three week “trip of a lifetime” in Colombia. I dropped him off at the airport full of trepidation. It can’t be helped – as a parent we always worry about our children venturing out of your house and into the world – but COLOMBIA??? Back in the day, we wouldn’t have dared step foot in Colombia. Terrified that we would bump into Pablo at best, be chopped up into small pieces at worst. But all that seems to have changed, so I had to put my fears aside, hug him tightly and watch my child, who I’d spent years nurturing and cautioning, wander off into the distance with his backpack, trying to keep calm and not think about what could possibly go wrong.

Well I’m delighted to report that he’s still in one piece and had an incredible time. He enjoyed his two treks the most – especially the one in the Amazon. He visited a coffee farm in Salento, spent some time on Rosario Island, snorkelled around a plane wreck, saw bioluminescent plankton in lagoons, wandered around colourful Cartagena – “a cool city in the North” and went fishing for Piranhas (well I’m not sure if Piranhas were what he was meant to be catching, but they ended up being his supper that night). Piranhas??? OMG I’m so pleased I didn’t know about them until he got back. What if he’d fallen into the water? Would they have devoured him in 30 seconds flat? I also know very little about any of the dramas – maybe there weren’t any. I tried to ask him about the cocaine situation – which apparently is now sold on street corners openly, but he was very vague about that.

So rather than grill him, I’m just delighted that he had an amazing time, happily jealous of his experience and HUGELY relieved that he’s safely home and back in the comforts of the suburbs! (Clearly it’s time for me to get out more and have my own adventures).

This photo gallery speak louder than any words, but if there are any questions – let me know and I’ll ask him! He flew into Bogota but didn’t stay there long, these pictures below were of his first trek. Be warned there’s a minging picture of his sodden feet further down, but they do recover! :-

OMG his poor feet after a few days trekking! Sorry – disgusting and I was worried one of those Amazon worms had made its way into his ankle, but turns out it was just a vein….

But you’ll be delighted to know they perked up nicely after a few days!

He then flew to the North of the country to Medelin and the coast:-

And the hostels were certainly not too shabby on Rosario Island where he found one with a private beach and pool!:-

He loved the colourful Cartagena – a cool city in the North:-

Then it was off to Salento, the coffee region:-

And finally his trek in the Amazon which he loved. Another cause for maternal terror of course when you see how close he got to snakes, scorpions and tarantula’s! Who knew you could take such cool wildlife photos simply with your phone!:-