My wife and I were exceedingly blessed to spend a month in Colombia in May and June of 2023, after our 2022 trip was hampered by COVID and other illnesses in our family. We seemed to be making up for lost time with encounters with family and friends, as well as side trips to Santa Marta, Pereira, and Manizales. Below are just a few of the highlights of our trip.
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| Manizales is a city with pockets nestled in the mountains |
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| The Hotel Irotama in Santa Marta has an enormous pool |
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| The Nevado del Ruiz, an active volcano that was emitting fumaroles |
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| We peeked inside a church in Madrid, a town outside of Bogotá, and witnessed a wedding! |
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| The dizzying view from the top of the cathedral of Manizales |
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| The Museo del Chicó in Bogotá is a former hacienda |
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| Nevado del Tolima in the foreground, Nevado del Ruiz in the background |
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| Plenty of birds to see in Colombia like this Bananaquit in Pereira |
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| Informal gatherings of musicians, like this one in Bogotá, are always fun |
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| The courtyard in the Museo del Chicó in Bogotá is beautiful |
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| In the Laguna de Guatavita park, about two hours north of Bogotá |
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| Like Manizales, the city of Pereira has cable car transportation |
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| The Laguna de Guatavita, site of the Muisca ritual of the cacique or chief, also known as El Dorado or The Golden Man, covered in gold powder and bathing in the lake |
