After two weeks in Colombia, returning to Israel was easier than ever. Yes, it’s a little surprising to return from a two-week vacation, leave work and family behind, go on a trip full of experiences and still return to the race of life in the country in a light and yet natural way. The explanation for this is quite simple – Colombia is rhythmic, dynamic, colorful, bursting with energy and therefore returning to Israel did not really change the pace of life.
After 20 years since the big “post-military” trip to South America and Colombia in particular, I decided to return to a country I loved more than any other country in South and Central America. The country that offers rich culture, stunning views, tropical weather, Caribbean Sea, amazing food, Latin music and warm people. The return after almost 20 years was special, I changed but also Colombia in a lot of ways. The Civil War ended (at least officially), the economy enjoyed impressive growth and tourism also grew. So here’s my quick photo trip to Colombia’s three major cities.
The first destination – Bogota
Bogota is the capital of Colombia and also the largest (11 million people) and central in the country, located on the Andes ridge in the center of the country, at 2,640 meters above sea level – Bogota is the third highest city in the world so the weather is temperate and cool in most seasons.
A worker in Bolivar Square in the Chandelier district, he scrubs a graffiti of a protest movement against corruption in Colombia. The district abounds in spacious squares, picturesque alleys, important buildings, markets and museums.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)A local girl asks her parents to ride one of the bumps as part of the local attractions in the main center of Bogota – Bolivar Square, where government buildings and the city’s main cathedral are located.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)Street artists sell Venezuelan banknotes on which they painted. Venezuela, neighboring Colombia, has been mired in economic collapse for years. Due to the tremendous inflation of the Venezuelan-Bolivar currency, there is no longer any actual value.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)The observation site at the summit of Mount Montserrat offers a beautiful view of the city from an altitude of 3,127 meters, and is considered a leading must-see site in Bogota. At the top of the mountain stands a church, to which many stories of miracles are associated.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)The best time to get to the lookout from the summit of Mount Montserrat is towards sunset, so you can observe the city during the day as well as at night. You can climb the mountain on foot or by cable car (Funicular or Teleferico).
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)A street band plays salsa on one of its streets on Sunday at the flea market in Usaquén, featuring street musicians, puppet shows, gourmet food stalls and stalls selling handmade jewelry to local coffee beans.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)One of the restaurants in the trendy Osaken area, where you will find Asian fusion restaurants, high-class French food restaurants and many cafes.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)Ajiaco is a dish unique to Colombia. Ahiaco is a comforting chicken soup which consists of chicken, potatoes, and corn. It is traditionally served with avocado, capers and sour cream.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)An elderly man smoking in the center of Bogota against the backdrop of a typical hawker tray. The hawkers in Colombia work in a central location and offer, among other things, sweets, snacks, tobacco and drinks.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)In Colombia nature and trees are everywhere, both in the city and on the shirts of the locals.
The second destination – Midian
The city of eternal spring, this is the name of Midian and not by chance. The city is located at an altitude of about 1,500 meters above sea level and is considered the second largest city in Colombia and it enjoys pleasant weather throughout the year. In the early 80s and 90s Pablo Escobar the renowned drug dealer lived and managed his huge drug cartel from the Midian region but since then much has changed and the city is considered the most modern and innovative in Colombia, and even won in 2013 the title of the most innovative city in the world.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)A security guard enters the Antioca Museum – the region where Medellin is located, against the backdrop of The Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture, which is located in Botero Square in the center of Medellin.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)Inside the Antioch Museum, there is a permanent exhibition of the renowned painter and sculptor Fernando Botero, a native of the city whose works are characterized by very fat and fertile bodies of women and men.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)A view of the metro railway infrastructure in Midian, which crosses the Midian metropolis from north to south and from the center to the west. Metro Median was first opened in 1995 and is the only metro system in Colombia.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)A view of the modern center of the city from the metro train during the afternoon rush hour. The train itself is very safe and offers a pleasant and easy-to-navigate ride experience.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)As in any major place in Colombia, you will find coffee sellers who will offer you popular coffee with rich flavors at a cheap price. In most cases the coffee is already sweetened with sugar.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)Once one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Madeleine, Commune 13, perched on a mountainside above one of the mountains on the outskirts of the city, has undergone an impressive change in recent times and is now considered safe to visit.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)In 2011 a system of escalators was built in the pavilion to help the poor residents on the tedious climb to their home. It is estimated that the climb is worth climbing a 28-story tower.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)A boy sprays graffiti in one of the alleys of the pabla which is full of stunning and biting graffiti. In recent years with the return of a sense of security the pavilion has become a tourist center for many travelers.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)A look at one of the alleys in the colorful and beautiful town – Guatapé. The town is a two-hour drive from Medellin and its main attraction is the beautiful streets and the lookout from the rock ‘El Peniol’.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)A Colombian tourist overlooks the town’s colorful streets, through one of its many tourist restaurants.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)In the main and beautiful square of the town, you can enjoy an authentic experience in a meeting with the locals, who live in the peace and joy that is typical of the village area in Colombia.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)Observation from the rock ‘El Peniol’, this is a huge basalt rock that rises to a height of 200 meters and is located in the center of a picturesque valley surrounded by many lakes. To get to the top of the rock, you have to climb about 600 steps.
The third and final destination – Cartagena!
The city that has it all, history, colonial architecture, Caribbean Sea, amazing restaurants and uninterrupted nightlife. Cartagena de Indias, abbreviated as Cartagena, is a port city in northern Colombia, on the Caribbean coast with a tropical climate. In 1984 its beautiful historic center was declared a World Heritage Site.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)The old town of Cartagena, is characterized by a variety of squares, cobbled streets and colorful and beautiful colonial buildings.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)Clock Square in Cartagena, one of the crowded places in the old town – both for locals and tourists.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)The promenade in the Getsemani neighborhood of the old town of Cartagena offers stunning sea views, a pleasant park and an area of food trucks selling particularly delicious food.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)Fresh coconut water is served from coconut cut on the spot, on one of the streets of the old town of Cartagena.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)Cartagena has a very wide culinary richness and restaurants of the highest standard, but the most popular style is seafood and among them the amazing local ceviche which is served in the style of the new Peruvian cuisine.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)Cartagena is saturated with tourists and so are the attractions offered to them, including a tour in a carriage with horses around the tourist attractions in the city. In every central place you will also find fast food stalls with orphans (a kind of pita based on corn flour).
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)As in many places in South America, the house slides into the street. To get a more authentic look at the city’s residents, it’s recommended to take a walk in the neighborhoods of La Matuna and Getsemani in the Old Town.
(Photo: Amichai Jankovic)To find the most beautiful beaches in the Cartagena area, one has to be several hours away from the city. One of the most beautiful beaches in Cartagena itself is the small island of Isla de Tierra Bomba. In the picture you can see the modern and prestigious Boca Grande neighborhood located on the Caribbean coast.
The writer is a facilitator in smartphone photography workshops. For more details, visit the workshop’s Facebook page.
In collaboration with Pixel – photography on a smartphone.