Colombia January 2016 | Cali

We are in Medellín after a long drive to the airport in Cali, a longer wait at the airport, a very short flight, and then another long drive into the city. Margaret would have preferred to take the bus, and she was probably right. Half the trip would have been getting in and out of two of the biggest cities in Colombia. Gloria, who is hosting us here, met us at the door and helped with the somewhat confusing transportation to her home. The airport is on the other side of one of the mountains that encircle Medellín and eventually you drop down from the pass into the valley with the whole city spread out across the valley. It is a stunning sight, unimaginable until you see it.

But first our night in Cali. I cannot describe the elation as I walked through the locked door of the San Antonio Boutique Hotel to a quiet courtyard, surrounded by plants, original paintings and pottery, to be greeted by a somewhat accented “good afternoon". Our bags were quickly dispatched to the second floor as we were offered juice, tea, coffee. I confess to appreciating some creature comforts, like hot water from a shower that actually IS a shower, not just a pipe with water coming out of it. Air conditioning, a ceiling fan (I usually hate them), two double beds with silky white linens, six pillows each. We unpacked and headed out for coffee and to check out the 'hood.

San Antonio is a trendy barrio in Cali away from el centro. It's named for a lovely monastery at the top of a hill. After lunch of the famous Colombian vegetable (three potato) sopa (never the same twice; always fantastica), we walked up the hill to take in some local culture. Caleños gather here toward late afternoon, to take photos and hang out, as the sun sets behind the church. I can see why. It's a great view of Cali, stretched out across the valley to the mountains beyond, cast in perfect light for photos. There are characters up there, but mostly couples, having romantic moments, and families, watching over the city as the sun is lost behind them. Like every city it seems, Cali is nestled into the Andes.

He's not answering my call. Try texting?

Not sure what's up here

Not a model but definitely modeling. Quince años posiblamente?

We found dinner in a nearby restaurant specializing in local food. Cali is very international and in the few blocks where we hung out, close to our hotel, we saw everything from Dunkin' Donuts to patisseries, pasta to sushi. El Zaguán (the hallway) starts out just that way, opening to a spacious foyer with walls covered in memorabilia and photos, with signatures of course. Up two flights of stairs and you find yourself on a covered patio with the lights of San Antonio above and the city below. Dinner was meat; what can I say. They eat enormous amounts of it here. Each serving is enough to feed a family of four. And then there is rice AND potatoes, no options. We haven't yet learned to order just one meal for two of us.

Margaret is sleeping, our hostess is watching TV, and I am waiting on the laundry before we head out tonight to see the lights of the city from one of the cable cars. At least I think that's what we are doing. We are certainly language-challenged here with a native speaker but we will figure it all out. We use WhatApp when we don't understand because both of us can get the meaning from writing better than orally! No surprise there. She is taking us to the country to her cabaña tomorrow, for the weekend. She says the city is too busy during the weekend. We have a lot of choices to make in the next day or two about how to spend the last half of our vacation. Beach, coffee zone, beach, coffee zone.....
Off to see the city lights.