A happy reunion with Colombia
Travelling during the coronavirus pandemic
I put on my face mask, step outside and close the door of our flat in Chapinero, a lively neighbourhood in the Colombian capital, Bogotá, behind me. It’s December and the sun is high in the clear blue sky. My coat is open and I put on my sunglasses. It’s lovely to be back here. Away from the Netherlands for a while, surrounded by different smells, colours, landscapes and people. That gives me a real boost.
Taking your temperature and providing your details
I’m on my way to one of my favourite coffee shops: Amor Perfecto. From almost every shop and car, the South American sounds of salsa music and Colombian vallenato can be heard. At Amor Perfecto, I’m given a warm welcome, as always. The staff member’s eyes are sparkling and she seems to be working a big smile onto her face, though it remains hidden behind her face mask. As is the case in every public place in Colombia, the staff member takes my temperature. Once she’s established that I don’t have a fever, I leave my contact details. I then sink into a comfortable leather sofa and order a cappuccino. A few minutes later, I’m served my coffee – a true work of art.
A love of coffee
Amor Perfecto exudes passion and a pure love of coffee in everything it does. One of the staff members even has a tattoo of coffee beans and a thermometer on his arm. The thermometer indicates the perfect temperature for coffee. The coffee that Amor Perfecto serves and sells is sourced directly from small-scale coffee farmers. They live and work in former conflict zones, which were severely affected during the 40-year civil war. Amor Perfecto helps the farmers to optimise their product. They also put consumers in direct contact with the coffee farmers. When you scan the QR code on the coffee pack, you’ll immediately see all the information about the coffee plantation where your coffee comes from. A wonderful, sustainable initiative, but above all, perfect coffee!
Cartagena de Indias
Some time later, I found myself on the Caribbean coast with my partner. We started in Cartagena, the beautiful historic coastal city that is dear to both our hearts. We enjoyed a lovely dinner here at Celele and Doña Lola, two excellent restaurants in the Getsemani district. We strolled through the old town. We could see that everyday life had got back on track – even after a lockdown lasting several months. I’ve long since got used to the fact that everyone on the streets, even children, is wearing a face mask. It’s amazing how quickly that’s become the norm.
A deserted sandy beach
Together we visited the city of Barranquilla, where we were finally able to embrace my girlfriend’s family again after such a long time. Here, we took a breather on the Malecón. This is an endless promenade that runs along the final kilometres of the Magdalena River before Colombia’s largest river flows into the Atlantic Ocean. We have now arrived in the vicinity of Tayrona National Park. An immense rainforest that connects the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada with the Caribbean Sea. We walk quietly across the sand, watching the waves break on the endless, empty sandy beach. Here, we’ve put our face masks away, as the number of people we’ve come across during hours of walking can be counted on one hand.
Travel: a basic necessity
When, at the end of that disastrous year of 2020, I was given the chance to go to Colombia, I didn’t hesitate for a second. This trip was absolutely essential for me; I hadn’t seen my partner for a whole year. Of course, I don’t need to explain to anyone how lovely it was to be able to see each other in person again and to hold each other close once more. However, quite apart from that, it was only then that I truly realised just how much I’d missed travelling too. How good it can be for a person to be in a different environment again. To see different landscapes and to experience different smells and colours. During my trip, I read a news article in which the director of several bookshops in the Netherlands argued that reading should be regarded as a basic necessity of life. I’m an avid reader, but if reading is to be regarded as a basic necessity, then surely travelling must be too. Man, how I’ve missed this. And I truly hope that everyone who loves travelling will be able to experience it again in the foreseeable future.
Want to create your own unique trip?
Hopefully, we’ll all be able to go on another wonderful trip this year! We know you’re also raring to get travelling again, which is why we’ve taken these uncertain times into account. This means you can now book with complete peace of mind: no deposit required and free cancellation. We’ll also keep you updated on the latest developments regarding the coronavirus in Latin America via a dedicated page.
We’d be happy to help you explore the options and discuss your travel plans for 2021 or 2022. Call us on +31 73 610 62 04, email us at info@sapapanatravel.nl or request a bespoke quote below. We’d be happy to help.