This past winter break, my cousin married an absolutely marvelous Colombian woman named Catalina. Despite the fact that they both live in Vancouver B.C., they decided to hold the ceremony in Bogota for her family, which is very close. Not to be stopped by such trifling obstacles as international boundaries, the indefatigable Blakelys packed up and went tropical for a week of foreign language, newfound family, and food.
The entire trip was completely amazing - Every morning we gorged ourself on fresh papayas, pineapples and plums. Every day we spent exploring the city, visiting the National Gold Museum, the collected works of the painter Fernando Botero, and the National Police Museum where we had coffee with the general and in the basement saw the bloodied jacket of Pablo Escovar. On a clear day we rode the cable car to the top of Mon Serrato, where we visited the church and surveyed the entire city of 8 million people. On another day, we drove north of the city to see the great salt cat
hedral, which has been carved out of a salt mine under a massive hill above the town of Zipaquirá.
The most amazing experience of all, however, lay in meeting our new Colombian family. Years ago, Catalina's grandfather built a gated compound with a house for each of his 4 daughters, and they are all very close as a result. We visited the compound for lunch, and were presented with a mouth watering display of colombian staples, which never seemed to end. There were arepas with fresh guacamole, boiled plantain, potatoes, mashed yucca, and an mountains of red meat. Later, when we were tired from eating and talking, we were given fresh buñuelos and flaky cheese sticks to eat with our freshly brewed, Colombian coffee.
They were all so amazing that by the end of the week it was very sad to say goodbye. I will miss them all, but know that the next time I'm in Bogota, I can always stay with my Colombian family!
The entire trip was completely amazing - Every morning we gorged ourself on fresh papayas, pineapples and plums. Every day we spent exploring the city, visiting the National Gold Museum, the collected works of the painter Fernando Botero, and the National Police Museum where we had coffee with the general and in the basement saw the bloodied jacket of Pablo Escovar. On a clear day we rode the cable car to the top of Mon Serrato, where we visited the church and surveyed the entire city of 8 million people. On another day, we drove north of the city to see the great salt cathedral, which has been carved out of a salt mine under a massive hill above the town of Zipaquirá.
The most amazing experience of all, however, lay in meeting our new Colombian family. Years ago, Catalina's grandfather built a gated compound with a house for each of his 4 daughters, and they are all very close as a result. We visited the compound for lunch, and were presented with a mouth watering display of colombian staples, which never seemed to end. There were arepas with fresh guacamole, boiled plantain, potatoes, mashed yucca, and an mountains of red meat. Later, when we were tired from eating and talking, we were given fresh buñuelos and flaky cheese sticks to eat with our freshly brewed, Colombian coffee.
They were all so amazing that by the end of the week it was very sad to say goodbye. I will miss them all, but know that the next time I'm in Bogota, I can always stay with my Colombian family!
3 comments:
Would you be willing to let me join this blog. I have a desire sometimes to post recipes for people, and no where to do it. I made a wonderful dinner tonight which was wonderful. I feel like sharing. Let me know.
Also, you never showed me pictures from this trip.
OMG, it's a LLAMA!!!
Seriously, that's one hell of a trip- I look forward to seeing the rest of your photos when next you're in the Cities.
--Geoff--
Well said.
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