Colombia and Ecuador 2018

Colombia's Colonial Jewels and the Coffee Triangle

We will be celebrating Valentine's Day in Bogota, Colombia this year.

Coincidentally, I just learned that almost all of the red roses that people in the US give each other for Valentine's Day are grown near Bogota. The region has the perfect climate, and they have developed an efficient delivery process to get the roses harvested and flown from Bogota to Miami in the millions for the big day. Soon after, they appear at your local florist.

They used to smuggle drugs in with the roses sometimes, but the authorities are saying that doesn't
happen anymore.

There will probably be a lot of exhausted rose growers, sellers, and shippers sleeping late in Bogota

this morning before they go on their own vacations. Don't tell them "to take time to smell the roses,"
though. Most likely they've had enough of that.

We will be exploring Colombia and Ecuador with Overseas Adventure Travel.
Enjoying the arts revival in Medellin. Catching some sun in Cartagena.

I'm also looking forward to staying in the coffee triangle, based in Pereira.
I will inhale and drink deeply, giving thanks for one of my favorite gifts of the gods.

The government and the dominant guerrilla group have (mostly) made peace.
The narcotics traffic and related horrific violence have diminished.

It seems like the perfect time to experience Colombia's rich history and beautiful scenery.

At the end of the trip we will be spending a few days in Ecuador, mostly in the mountains.

I'll finally get to see the magnificent volcano Chimborazo.

Tonight we are catching up on our sleep and adjusting to altitude. More later.