Dangerous Colombia! Drugs, guerillas and kidnapping.

It´s hard to imagine a country with a worse reputation for violence than Colombia. Okay, so maybe it only makes the top 10, but you get the picture. When people at home hear you are planning to visit, their immediate response is generally something like ¨Isn´t it dangerous there?¨ or ¨Be careful...don´t get kidnapped!¨. When fellow, in-the-know travellers who have experienced Colombia´s present day magic hear you are going, the common responses are ¨Man, I can´t wait to go back there¨ or ¨Be careful...you may not want to leave.¨ Indeed Colombia has even stolen that sentiment for it´s new tourism campaign...¨Colombia, the only danger is you may not want to leave.¨ Having heard all of these positive stories in the months leading up to my arrival in Bogotá, I could not wait to get there.

After another long, multiple bus journey from Quito I arrived in Bogotá and met up with Clara, my CS host for the next few days. I also met her two children - Juana (age 7) and David (age 5). What an incredible way to travel and to learn about (real) local people and places. Two days turned into a week here in Colombia´s capital and could have easily turned into a month had I not a few more countries to see before Christmas. I spent a lot of time hanging out with Clara, her friends and even spent a night at her parent´s house. On a couple occasions, we took the family car out with her sister and explored some cool little pueblos outside of the city. They were even kind enough to show me the corner in Bogotá where the drug-dealing, prostitute mariachi bands hang out. No joke. Finally, on my last night in town we grabbed the Colombian flag and went to another World Cup Qualifier - versus Paraguay.


It is immediately apparent that Colombia is a beautiful country. The stunning landscapes, the
soaring mountains, and the colorful colonial buildings are all incredible. What is even more apparent, however, is the kindness of its people and their desire to make you enjoy your time here. I have never been anywhere in the world where locals were so interested in what you think of their country. There is such an eagerness to show the world how amazing their country is that you can feel it. After only a week, I´m convinced. And it won´t be long before you start seeing newspaper and magazine articles popping up everywhere about this beautiful place and its beautiful people. And about the dangers of not wanting to leave.