Showing posts with label hiking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hiking. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Manizales, Colombia: My Pereiran Escape

 Manizales is a beautiful city nestled in the vibrant mountains of the Colombian Coffee Region.

 
View from the top of the park where everyone goes to fly kites.
Manizales is built on a mountain, so it requires easy transportation from top to bottom.  The way this is accomplished is the Cable Car.  I love riding these things! They are relaxing and have great views.  My friends and I were thinking how cool it would be if at night they closed it for traveling, and only allowed you to sleep inside them.  It would be such a great way to spend the night.


Manizales Cable Cars
I love touring old churches.  I think it's interesting to see the different styles and colors.  Especially, when they are all the same denomination. Here are some of the unique churches in Manizales:

Gorgeous Stained-glass windows
Creepy birds



I would love to turn this into a hotel.

This could be my house.


I love the colors!
Not only does Manizales have great architecture, but they have cool art sculptures and beautiful views.

My two traveling buddies enjoying the view.





I love the fog in these pictures. They make it seem like the beginning of a very mysterious and creepy film.

View from the top of the Frontier Sculpture
Pioneers struggling up the mountainside.



The top of the sculpture.




The walk up the side of the mountain is amazing! It is a refreshing break from the obnoxious traffic and lack of public outdoor space of Pereira.  I will always love spending a day in Manizales.




Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Hot Springs in Colombia's Coffee Region

Hot Springs in San Vincente


One of my favorite places to relax.

The best part of living in Pereira, is traveling to the nearby towns.  San Vincente isn't a town, it is a health spa on the top of a mountain surrounded by the jungle.  In short, for me, Heaven.
  I love going to Hot springs. For me, its pure bliss. The hot springs in San Vincente are especially my favorite because of their rustic surroundings and remoteness. I love being in nature. My dream home is far away from civilization. I also am quite fond of the reasonably low cost of staying in a cabin and the spa benefits.


  I stayed for a weekend and had two full body massages, a mud bath, and an exfoliation massage in mountain sand for 220,000 Colombian pesos, which is about $120.00 U.S..  It also includes transportation and two meals.                      AWESOME!!!
View on the Way.

Colombian mountain range.
View from my room at the resort.
You can swim until midnight!