Category Archives: Colombia

Hacienda Venecia.

For one of the most well developed touristic coffee farms in the region, Hacienda Venecia should definitely be on your itinerary. Visitors can learn about “chocolate, from bean to bar”, participate in the “Barista and Cupping Workshop” and do some … Continue reading

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Day trip from Manizales.

Travelling from A to B is something that doesn’t happen quickly in certain parts of Colombia, what looks like a short distance on a map can take an eternity in reality. It is an extremely mountainous country, especially in the coffee region. Continue reading

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Feria de Manizales 2018/Manizales Fair 2018.

Every January, since 1956, Manizales has held a fair that brings together the best of artistic, cultural, sporting and nightlife events; the fair has Spanish roots with bull fights and other traditional content and catches the attention of both locals … Continue reading

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Hacienda Venecia

Last year it was putting together a ‘self-guided’ bird watching tour, amongst other things. This year it was helping to refurbish the orchid house. My orchid (and Spanish) professor was Luz.

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A welcome return to Colombia

From the delights of Panama City I flew to Medellin in Colombia. It was a pleasent feeling, returning to a familiar country. From Medellin I travelled to Salento, a small town I visited 2-years ago on a day trip. I … Continue reading

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The closing chapter.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour…Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain. If you … Continue reading

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White Gold.

The cocaine mafia started in a small way in the early 1970s but, within a short time, the drug trade developed into a powerful industry with its own plantations, laboratories, transportation services and protection. The boom years began in the … Continue reading

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La Violencia.

WARNING! You may find the following narrative and photographs disturbing. After a period of relative peace, a struggle between Liberals and Conservatives broke out in 1948 with ‘La Violencia’, the most destructive of Colombia’s many civil wars, which left a … Continue reading

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Bienvenido a Colombia.

Where is Colombia? The Republic of Colombia is in northwestern South America. It is bordered by Venezuela and Brazil to the east, Ecuador and Peru to the south, Caribbean Sea to the north, Panama to the northwest, and the Pacific … Continue reading

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Feliz cumpleaños.

Celebrating my birthday – Colombian style. A welcome break from the staff quarters came in the form of an invitation to spend the eve of my birthday at ‘Casa Principal’ (the main house). A room here normally costs circa £100 … Continue reading

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