Gusty Guajira

This Easter break I spent a few days in Dibulla, La Guajira.  It's east of Santa Marta and I flew via Riohacha (way too far by car!).

I knew it'd be hot (around 35 degrees) but I wanted to see the area and enjoy the sea air!

At times it was pretty windy, which was nice too.

Every morning I'd come here with my coffee:

Then in the evening this beach bar was perfect for sunset!

The hotel I stayed at was a little boutique hotel, which was lovely, though unfortunately not with a sea view.  😒

The sea is behind the building at the end of the garden

This traditional roof kept the terrace cool

One day I took a trip to Palomino and visited an indigenous community (Arhuaca), where the women were making traditional bags (mochilas).

making thread from fique (a fibre from the maguey plant) 

The designs represent things (in this case the paths in the Sierra Nevada).  The white bags are traditionally only for the Mamo (spiritual leaders, healers, wise men).

My guide playing the Gaita.

These indigenous communities live off the land and cultivate a variety of crops including root vegetables,  cocoa and coffee.  They now also sell their handicraft to tourists.

Check out the a/c in the car I was in!

Another day I went around the town of Dibulla.  This is a small, sleepy town.  Here are some photos:

Dibulla church

We also came across an Easter procession:

fisherman drying his net

improvising with building material

laundry day?

guy from hotel (Jorje) showing me around

water canisters (no drinkable, running water)

I had a lovely visit and it was a perfect place to relax for a few days.

Back to the colourful Colombian Coffee Axis

This year I returned to the coffee region.  Whilst some of the areas I visited were already known to me, this time I did get to see some new places.

We did the journey by car and started in Pereira, making our way towards colourful cities, like Salento, and finishing just outside of Armenia.

The irony is we didn't once visit a coffee farm, nor did we buy coffee to take back.  Guess I'll have to return again. 😁 

Pereira is basically a large city in the mountains of the coffee Axis.  We decided that rather than enter the busy city we'd take an arial view using the Mega Cable (cable car).

Oliverio on Mega Cable in Pereira

From Pereira we did a few day trips.

We started off with the San Vicente thermal pools.  The road there was pretty treacherous but stunning none the less.

And then we arrived.

Termales de San Vicente

It was a misty, cold day, but the thermal water was just perfect!

We finished off the day with a typical Colombian meal of frijolada at a colourful restaurant (La Ruana) in Pereira.

La Ruana restaurant

Frijolada on right, with plantain, avocado etc.  Grilled chicken breast on top left.

Another day we went to Cartago (known for Bordados (embroidery) de Cartago).  This is handmade embroidery, passed down from the Spanish women who accompanied their husbands during colonial times.  

https://colombia.travel/en/blog/cartago-embroidery-hispanic-arab-legacy-north-valle-del

The city is nothing special but we went for shirts and to see the work.  Unfortunately there didn't seem to be a workshop or something we could visit.  Just shops.  I found a museum too, so next time: https://museodelbordadocallerealcartago.com/el-museo/

We did get to see a double rainbow on the way back though.

One day we just took a drive and came across this small town of Buenavista.  

Buenavista town square

We were mostly enjoying the countryside and views

and then saw this hotel (Casamalva Villas).  Way too luxurious to stay but a perfect place for a coffee with a view!

Our next stop was Salento

 

Wheelies in Salento

Hotel terrace with view over Salento

Relaxing with Oliverio on the terrace.  It was a bit cold so the hotel provided Ruanas (typical Colombian wraps)

view from Salento Mirador (viewpoint)

From Salento we went to the Cocora National Park.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocora_Valley

entrance to the park (after which it's no longer paved)

Oliverio wrapped up, ready to hike!

spooky looking!

From Salento we had lunch in Filandia, another colourful town in the coffee Axis.

Jose Fernando restaurant

Marranitas

Canilla de Cerdo

Our final stop was near Armenia.  We stopped by the Gold Museum.

As you can see, it was pretty rainy that day!

Finally we got to enjoy our last few days in the sun.

Cannatel Exclusive Hotel

Our journey home was through a series of tunnels and we passed all sorts of vehicles.

bananas anyone?

On the way back we stopped in Ibague for lunch.