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.

Iglesias de Colombia or Colombian Churches

My Adventurous Weekend....

started when I decided to go to the Pereira library for the first time.  I walked in completely unsure if I had to have id or if there were weird rules about looking at the books. So, I walked in and the guard stops me because I guess you can't bring in purses or bags. You leave it with the guard, they put it in a locker and giver you a number tag to pick it up when you leave.

I started by looking for the English books and found a few from the late 80's. In fact, almost all of the books are about 20 years are more.  This makes me EXTREMELY grateful for the state of the art library in Indianapolis, it is gorgeous! Six floors of endless possibilities; travels, music, art, education, adventure, science, history, and the creative imaginations of generations of authors.

A view from the older section of the Indianapolis Library. You can see the indoor atrium from here.

One of the fiction reading rooms.

A hallway to the world!

Yes, they have fireplaces too!

View from a window.

View from the new extension. Downtown Indianapolis.

So, suffice it to say, my high expectations were cut to the core and I only lasted about 15 minutes.  As I was leaving the guard stopped me and asked why I left so early.  My limited Spanish caused me to say I only wanted to look because it was the first time I had been there.  Well, being the friendly Colombian he is, proceeded to give me a tour.

So, even though they don't compare to the Indianapolis Central Library, they do offer free English classes, where I met Andy, a very comical teacher, movies on Sunday for the kids, and free courses on technology and financing.  After observing them for a few minutes they were actually pretty decent.

From the library I decided to continue walking downtown. I met Octavio at the church near Plaza Bolivar. I went in to take pictures of the Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Pobreza.

I was able to take these two photos right before Octavio started telling me the entire history of the building, convert me to Catholicism, and save my soul. I managed to escape 45 minutes later.  I continued walking and enjoying the sights, until this weirdo started saying all of these rude comments about white people and foreigners thinking they can wear whatever they want and go wherever they want.  All I was wearing were my moccasins and a green dress. I didn't think it was that inappropriate, but who am I to discern the inner-workings of a know-it-all, crazed man. He scared me enough that I decided to grab the next cab and hop away.

All in all. I walked about 7 kilometers and saw some new and interesting shopping centers and cafes.  I finished my afternoon at Unicentro before heading home and calling it a day.  Below are some photos from the view of the library and Victoria Plaza. I'll share part two, day two of the adventure in the next post.

Another favorite church of mine, Igelsia de Carmen.

The plaza where events are held. Today was some music thing with Pony, a very weird malted beverage that Colombians love.

The library is in the cultural center to the left.

Traveling and Hiking: Parque Tayrona, Colombia

Hiking, Beaches, and Outdoor Sleeping

I went hiking with friends over Semana Santa (Holy Week).  Our destination of choice: Parque Tayrona.

We left from Santa Marta on one of the worst "buses," I've been on. It was overcrowded, humid, and I believe 7,000 degrees Fahrenheit. I cannot stand swapping sweat with people, which is bound to happen when you're squished so tight, you're not sure where your skin ends and theirs begins.

After a torturous hour of sweat-swapping, breath-sharing, and odious scents we finally arrived at the park entrance.  Now, I have a cedula, which is a residency card issued by the Colombian government, but because it takes FOREVER to get the i.d. they gave me a temporary one that is "supposed," to be accepted just as if it were the actual one.  This never happens. They always look at it weird and tell me, its not legit. Whatever. It really only bothers me in situations like buying my ticket at the park. I had to pay triple, just because of this stupid temporary card.

Suffice it to say, I was not in the greatest mood upon arrival.

Then, we arrived at our hike's entrance and all of the frustration melted away when I saw this....

Making our way through towering foliage and swaying trees our hearts pounded with every anticipatory step.

Bulging rocks led us deeper into the heart of the origin of life.

I could feel the proximity to Eden. Warmth and light filled our lungs, crushing away the doubt.

Blue. Green. Life Colors.

Every step, every breath, was leading us to this moment.

Eden.

Hope.

Joyous raptures!

The physically exhausting hike was worth every ragged breath when I walked out of those trees and beheld this.

We camped here.  I slept under the stars with the crashing waves lulling me to sleep. 

Love Love Love

I heart the ocean

Its the Aquarius in Me.

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!

Coffee and Rum: Manizales, Colombia.

WELCOME and BIENVENIDOS

The Juan Valdez Cafe is the Starbucks of Colombia. Of course, they claim they are the original Cafe coffee shop and Starbucks is the copycat.

A group of friends from school went to Manizales, Colombia for an art fair and International Fair.

Of course, Jesus was there as well!

There were some outdoor concerts, great food, and lots of artisan crafts.

We toured a Rum brewery and listened to the history of Ron Caldas. They had samples too! I wasn't really into it since everyone was drinking from the same set of unwashed glasses. Yuck! No thanks.

 Jesus met some very flavorful folks!

Enjoying the concert.

Manizales is a great day trip in Colombia's Coffee Region. The city is designed oddly because it weaves up and down the mountains. If you are going to walk around for the day, make sure to pack very comfortable shoes. You will be getting a ton of exercise going up and down the city blocks.

When you arrive you should take the Cable up to the top. It has a great view and it is the cheapest way to get there.  While you're riding up you can still see some of the destruction caused by the devastating landslide of 2011.