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| At the Cali Zoo! Photo by Dave Stewart |
Aaron's mom and Dave came down over our spring break at the end of March. It was their first time in South America which made it a really special, eye-opening trip!
We spent a few days in Cali touring our favorite parts as well as places we hadn't gone before. For example, we took our first trip to the Cali zoo which, for me, trumped any zoos I've ever been to! Although some of the animals were pretty lazy, it was a beautiful place to see some of the Colombian wildlife up close and take in the gorgeous flora and fauna.
Our next adventure was off to Santa Rosa in the heart of Colombian's coffee country. However, we weren't there for the coffee. Oh no. We had heard that there were some beautiful hot springs, but even more importantly, chorizo. Santa Rosa is known to have the best chorizo in the world! We were ready!
After taking a bus from Cali, hopping in another bus to Santa Rosa, and then a jeep, we made it to
Matisses Hotel Campestre. We were early and couldn't check in yet, so without skipping a beat, like a kid in a candy store, Aaron asked, "Where's the best chorizo?!" Our lovely host recommended a tiny place, walkable distance from our hotel. We followed the smell of grilled meat all the way to the little Christmas colored restaurant with an unbelievable view of the lush, green mountains! The chorizo exceeded our expectations. Whether it was the meat or the micheladas, we were in a food coma the rest of the day! We woke to chickens the next morning and made our way to the Termales Balneario. They were stunning. We soaked in the hot pools and gazed at a giant waterfall with multiple streams of water dancing down from the jungle above. You could also jump in the cool waterfall and then run to the steaming hot termales. Sandy and I got massages while Aaron and Dave drank beers and soaked in the natural beauty. We were there in the morning which was really peaceful as there was not many people (apparently the evening is the most crowded time). I will definitely come here again.
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| Matisses Hotel Campestre--a beautiful, peaceful accommodation |
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| Waiting for our first taste of Santa Rosa chorizo. Photo by Dave Stewart |
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| Hiking up to the Santa Rosa Termales Balneario. Photo by Dave Stewart |
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| Bathing beauty in front of the waterfall. |
Next up was Salento. Now, Aaron and I have been to Salento more than anywhere else in Colombia, but we just can't get enough. We always stay at
La Serrana because of it's absolutely perfect rural setting and gorgeous views of the mountains. But this time we did something we'd never done---horseback riding. We did a 4 hour ride to a waterfall. Now, it was the rainy season which definitely made for a slippery ride. For those of you who don't know, I got bucked off a horse at church camp in middle school and broke my arm. Needless to say, I'm not a very confident horse rider. But this ride sure got me confident QUICK. Our horses were slipping and sliding in this narrow tunnel down the mountain...sometimes almost chest deep in mud! Talk about the best four wheel drive possible. I was astounded at how well the horses were able to maneuver their way down the steep, slippery passage. After crossing streams, rivers, and mountain valleys, we made it to the waterfall. It was certainly a ride to remember.
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| Sandy and Dave looking like pros in their new sombreros! |
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| Mom and son in front of the waterfall. Photo by Dave |
No visit to Salento is complete without a trip to the Cocora Valley. Now, keep in mind it was the rainy season. Although we were hoping for blue sky, it just didn't happen. But, after years of camping and hiking, that didn't stop any of us, especially Sandy and Dave. We hiked up to the top of the valley only to see fog--Aaron and I kept trying to describe what would be the view using our best poetic devices but nothing could replace it. However, cold and wet, we drank hot chocolate with cheese as our feeling of accomplishment kept us warm. As we returned down to the valley, we really started to appreciate the mysteriously magical way the mist made the wax palms creep out at you. It added a depth to the experience that we had not felt on our previous sunny visit. It also forced us to look more at the beauty in front of us like hummingbirds, orchids, and insects.
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| Perspective. Photo by Dave |
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| One of the "look out points." Photo by Dave |
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| Don Elias Coffee Tour Photo by Dave |
We were SO lucky to have Sandy and Dave visit. The crazy bus rides, laughs, micheladas, pastries, and chorizos shared will be remembered. Word on the street is that they hope to make a return trip...we're so happy they fell in love with Colombia. It's hard not to.
