{"id":7032423,"date":"2026-08-07T18:55:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T18:55:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/proof-that-youre-never-too-old-to-slap-on-a-backpack-and-follow-your-dreams-4\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T18:55:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T18:55:21","slug":"proof-that-youre-never-too-old-to-slap-on-a-backpack-and-follow-your-dreams-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7032423","title":{"rendered":"Proof that you’re never too old to slap on a backpack and follow your dreams."},"content":{"rendered":"


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BTW\u2026<\/h5>\n

Please note, that\u2019s spelled ColO<\/strong>mbia \u2013 a country in South America \u2013 NOT ColU<\/strong>mbia University or the District of ColU<\/strong>mbia (D.C.) in the U.S. or British ColU<\/strong>mbia in Canada.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Las<\/a><\/p>\n

Our Lady of Las Lajas, Impiales, Colombia<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

O.k. so it\u2019s been nearly 6 months since I returned from Ecuador\u2019s neighbor to the north. I\u2019d visited Colombia briefly on my trip north to Quito<\/a><\/strong><\/em> and surrounds 3 yrs. ago (just a single overnight dash across the border to gawk at the stunning \u201cOur Lady of Las Lajas\u201d cathedral majestically straddling the Gu\u00e1itara River just a few miles from the northern Ecuador border).<\/p>\n

This time I was determined to explore Colombia a bit further\/longer.<\/p>\n

The truth is, I\u2019d initially been planning a(nother) marathon month+ trip back to Europe (incl. a couple nights in Paris, a week on the Mediterranean isle of Malta, plus 3 weeks exploring Albania), but instead\u2026<\/p>\n

Suffice I even had my rt. air ticket to Paris in the bag, when \u2013 suddenly (as is uber-rare once I\u2019ve plunked down a pile of C-notes for a non-refundable air ticket) I dumped the entire Malta\/Albania plan in a magnificent \u201cU-Turn<\/a><\/strong><\/em>\u201c. Instead, (in hind-sight, wisely) I decided I\u2019d had enough of strenuous, pricey, cramped long-haul flights across the Atlantic (not to mention the \u2013 far more disturbing \u2013 rabid social media destination hype both Albania and Malta have been recently getting). Especially given that\u2026<\/p>\n

\"South<\/a>I\u2019ve been calling Ecuador \u201chome\u201d for more than a decade now, and have only managed to explore but a few (Ecuador, Peru, and that singularly \u201cbucket-list\u201d isle 2,000+ miles off the coast of Chile: Easter Island) <\/span>of the 12 sovereign countries (+ one French territory)<\/span> that comprise this massive South American continent. Indeed, still plenty of new nations \u2019round here to explore (e.g. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil for starters). Not to mention the \u201c3 Guianas\u201d: Suriname (Dutch Guiana), French Guiana, and plain ol\u2019 Guy<\/span>ana (formerly British Guiana) all nicely clustered together along the north Caribbean coast to the east of Venezuela.<\/p>\n

In short, I\u2019ve got a lot of work yet to do if I hope to make even a modest dent in the vast continent of South America. So a return north to further explore Colombia seemed a good place to start.<\/p>\n

Now Colombia (fully *4 times* the size of Ecuador)<\/span> most certainly has TONS of interesting corners to explore, and trust that I did my usual earnest research of most all of them. I lately seem to be leaning <\/span>towards big cities (e.g. CDMX, London, etc.) in my travels<\/span> \u2013 likely b\/c of my ever-growing foodie addiction, plus the allure of accessing a wider variety of eclectic attractions when one chooses to live in a smallish (~600,000 vs. multiple millions), sublimely tranquil city on a remote 8,400+ ft. mountain-top in the Andes.<\/p>\n

So I initially considered visiting<\/span> Bogot\u00e1 as well as its smaller sister-city Medellin (pronounced \u201cmeh-duh-yeen\u201d) \u2013 b<\/span>oth high altitude cities (~9,000 ft. and 5,000 ft. respectively) w\/ year-round springtime temps. But kid sister (Medell\u00edn) seems to have become a bit of an expat magnet in recent years (not a local crowd that I seek in my travels). Plus from what I could tell from online travel chatter\/YouTube videos, it seems more on the radar of the proliferation of \u201cdigital nomads\u201d and \u201cslow travelers\u201d these days \u2013 that I had just cancelled a trip to Albania in order to avoid. Furthermore, Bogot\u00e1 is the capital of Colombia, and is known to be more international \u2013 esp. when it comes to some seriously outstanding restaurants.<\/p>\n

\"Flamingos<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a9 shankar s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

I also considered a few spots on Colombia\u2019s northern coast (esp. a flamingo sanctuary near Riohacha). But any such remote Caribbean locale was bound to be crazy-hot and humid w\/ no doubt armies of mosquitos to contend with (a climate that I had more than enough of in my younger days leading small groups amid the tropical jungles and beaches of Belize and Costa Rica). So I scratched that notion, and instead focused on limiting a tropical Caribbean stay in Colombia to but a week (with requisite a\/c sleeps) in Cartagena.<\/p>\n

I was\/am also keen on shortening my international wanders somewhat these days<\/span> \u2013 no more marathon month+ long trips w\/ countless dizzying plane\/train\/bus connections for this DIY solo dodderin\u2019 lass. A couple of weeks or so at a go has now become much more complementary to my liking\/endurance.<\/p>\n

Ah but enough preamble \u2013 suffice I settled on (an uncharacteristically) conservative itinerary: <\/span>a bit more than 2 weeks visiting just two (distinctly different) Colombian locales: the bustling (comfy cool) city of Bogot\u00e1, and the (steamy tropical) historic Caribbean port city of Cartagena.<\/p>\n

Bogot\u00e1<\/h2>\n
\"Rooftop<\/a><\/p>\n

Free \u201cdesayuno\u201d each morning on the rooftop terrace \u2013 with THE most lusciously smoooooth Colombian coffee!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Bogot\u00e1 Sleeps<\/h3>\n

While I\u2019ve never been one to flit from perch to perch in repetitive 1 \u2013 2 night-stands in my travels, I admit to often cramming a few too many corners into my trip itineraries. So in that spirit, I chose just two Colombian locales with a relaxed week or more in each of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, I (in retrospect, wisely) opted to spend nearly 10 days in Bogot\u00e1 \u2013 split between the beginning (4 nts.) and end (5 nts.) of my Colombia visit. I booked the same lovely hostel (Hostal R10 <\/a><\/em><\/strong>in the conveniently located Candelaria\/Central Historic district) for both stays \u2013 in a private room w\/ a fabulous rooftop lounge serving a hearty (gratis) breakfast each morning. My private room w\/ ensuite bath was just $21\/night (!!!) \u2013 yet another good reason to stick closer to \u201chome\u201d here in South America rather than wrestle with the ever more breathtaking prices of even the eastern European countries these days.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bogot\u00e1 Eats<\/h3>\n

\"Arepa<\/a>Ah yes \u2013 the EATS! Both street food (ahhhh, the heavenly arepas!), as well as a couple of lauded high-end restaurants. Indeed, speaking of the former \u2013 my first authentic Colombian arepa was at a stray food stand just outside of the Emerald Museum. As I recall, it cost me all of $2 and quite honestly \u2013 was so delicious I actually SWOONED w\/ my first bite. So very tasty in fact, I made sure to go back to that same street food stand on my final day in Bogot\u00e1 \u2013 for one final taste of Colombian arepa deliciousness!<\/span><\/p>\n

Then of course there was the lure of gourmet eats to consider. Cuenca has a wide (and ever wider lately it seems) variety of good restaurants to be sure. But (as yet) nothing to compare to the World-class dining options scattered around the globe.<\/p>\n

Bogot\u00e1 has quite a number of high-end eateries boasting a string of internationally acclaimed culinary awards. So the only question for this ardent foodie was\u2026 which restaurant should I drop a large chunk of my travel budget on?<\/p>\n

Long story\/boatloads of research later\u2026
<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEl Cielo\u201d \u2013 considered by many to be the \u201cbest\u201d restaurant in Colombia and noted for its \u201cmulti-sensory\u201d tasting menu \u2013 at first seemed promising. But (as proof that I don\u2019t favor uppity eateries merely for the bite-sized \u201cpretties\u201d and \u201cfoam and smoke\u201d theatrics), upon watching El Cielo\u2019s \u201cchocolate hand-wash\u201d experience complete with a finish of ground coffee and sugar (ugh) in THIS VIDEO<\/a><\/em><\/strong>\u2026 Suffice it all seemed like $200 worth of gastronomic gimmicks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Next up was \u201cEl\u00a0 Chato\u201d which likewise looked promising w\/ a 13 course tasting menu (incl. \u201ccandied trout\u201d and a \u201cfist-sized oy<\/span>ster\u201d swimming in clarified tamarind broth) at COP640,000\/$162. But reviews seemed to be mixed (and predominantly\u00a0negative) so I kept looking\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Checking \u201cLeo\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/strong> (listed at #76 in the World on \u201cThe World\u2019s 50 Best Restaurants\u201d<\/a> site \u2013 not too shabby<\/span> considering there are more than 17,000 restaurants in New York City alone!) with a (normally)<\/span> $230 12-course tasting menu \u2013 I got lucky!<\/span><\/p>\n

Back then (in November 2025) Leo was offering a \u201c20th Anniversary\u201d special lunch for COP96,800 (little more than $50!) Needless to say \u2013 I swiftly locked-in a reservation for lunch at Leo\u2019s for my third afternoon in Bogot\u00e1. For my 3 courses, I had a starter of \u201cAlbacore \u2013 Culona ants dipped in cane honey\u201d, plus an entr\u00e9e of (I forget exactly what-all was in it but it was delish) creatively wrapped in a steamed banana leaf and smothered in a most delectable sauce. And for dessert: \u201cMongoMongo\u201d A refreshing mango gelato with a (surprisingly tasty) accent of grilled jalape\u00f1o pepper).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Leo<\/a><\/p>\n

Um, yup those ANTS. A species of leaf-cutter ants (a.k.a. \u201cbig-assed\u201d and only the queens are edible). Trust that my chunk of tuna appetizer only had but a touch of them ground, sprinkled on top. But as I was curious, my waiter brought me a small dish of them whole \u2013 and I (naturally) tossed a couple of them down my throat! \ud83d\ude2e
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As per Wikipedia\u2026<\/h5>\n

\u201cThe hormiga culona has been eaten for hundreds (if not thousands) of years, as a tradition inherited from pre-colonial cultures such as the Guanes. The ants are harvested for about nine weeks during the rainy season every year, at the time when they make their nuptial flight. A. laevigata are used as traditional gifts in weddings. There are local superstitions and beliefs regarding the ants as aphrodisiacs.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Moving on in my pre-trip research \u2013 g<\/span>iven the sweet savings on my Leo lunch, I couldn\u2019t help but search a bit more for a second lauded eatery in Bogot\u00e1. And my-O-my! Did I find (what turned out to be) THE most fabulous restaurant of all: <\/span>\u201cHumo Negro\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/strong> (\u201cBlack Smoke\u201d in the style of \u201cFine Dining Grunge\u201d)<\/p>\n

Listed at #41 among 50 Best\u2019s Latin American restaurants (the chef at Humo Negro worked for \u201cEl Chato\u201d \u2013 #1 in Latin America \u2013 for many years). Suffice I very nearly overlooked it. But a few weeks in advance, I managed to grab a reservation for their \u201cOMAKASE\u201d tasting menu (a Japanese dining style that translates to \u201cI leave it up to you\u201d a.k.a. \u201cChef\u2019s choice\u201d)\u00a0on my final night in Colombia.<\/span><\/p>\n

No less than 16 tastings, at (a gastronomic STEAL!) of just COP420,000\/ $122 incl. tip. Seriously, a most delicious, eclectic, and stunningly beautiful assortment of toothsome bites \u2013 ranging from a single (HUGE) grilled oyster, to coconut escargot, blue crab ceviche, veal sweet breads, squid, duck, scallops, younameit. Oh and, a generous bit of the legendary \u201cpirarucu\u201d (the largest Amazonian fish in South America, reaching up to 10 feet in length!) Of course\u2026 I only had about an inch of it. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Better yet, how \u2019bout I simply point you to the entire 16 COURSE MENU HERE<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s just a visual sample of the dizzying assortment of fabulous Humo Negro eats:<\/p>\n

\"Humo<\/a><\/p>\n

Whew! Needless to say, Bogot\u00e1 proved to (waaay) more than satisfy my (ever democratic) lust for both yummy street food, as well as \u201cOMG!\u201d world-class fine dining.<\/span><\/p>\n

But that was just the tip of the Bogot\u00e1 iceberg of treats for me\u2026<\/p>\n

Bogot\u00e1 Miscellany<\/h3>\n
\"Don't<\/a><\/p>\n

My \u201cDon\u2019t Try This at Home\u201d art quilt made in 2005<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

QUILTING:<\/strong> Yet another obsession of mine \u2013 I\u2019ve recently reignited my passion for all-things art quilting. I bought myself a used sewing machine about a year ago, but\u2026 Suffice quilting cottons (much less the beloved lusciousness of \u201cbatik\u201d fabrics) that are abundant in my native Seattle \u2013 alas, are but a pipe-dream on my (otherwise) sweet mountain-top in Cuenca. Thus\u2026 trust that I crossed fingers and toes that I might somehow unearth a quilt shop in a much larger city like Bogot\u00e1. On my first morning I headed for the (single) such shop I\u2019d found online and\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"quilt<\/a><\/p>\n

OMG \u2013 row upon candy-colored row of 100% quilting cottons!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

WOA-BABY!!!<\/h3>\n

An entire shop filled with a kaleidoscope of *100% COTTON* fabrics! Seriously. quiiite<\/em> the rare treasure trove of quilty lusciousness down here beneath the Equator!<\/p>\n

MUSEUMS:<\/strong> I also enjoyed visiting several of Bogot\u00e1\u2019s fine<\/span>\u00a0museums: the International Emerald Museum, the Botero Museum (a renowned Colombian artist that favors all things \u201cpudgy\u201d); and of course the (excellent!) Museo del Oro (Gold Museum).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

TEJO:<\/strong> Then there was the most interesting game of \u201cTejo\u201d. Somewhat similar to \u201chorseshoes\u201d but much more exhilarating as it involves hurling a heavy disc at an *explosive* target. The game dates back more than 500 years to pre-Hispanic times and was originally discovered in the town of Turmequ\u00e9 just outside of Bogot\u00e1<\/span>. The indigenous would typically drink \u201cchicha\u201d, a fermented corn drink, and play during their ceremonies or settle differences by throwing a disc made of real gold.<\/p>\n

Modern Tejo consists of pitching heavy metal disks (tejos) across a distance of 10-20 meters depending on skill level, at triangular pieces of paper folded around a pinch of explosives. These small targets are placed in a wooden box filled with muddy clay. Upon impact, a violent blast announces that you\u2019ve earned a 3 pt. \u201cmecha\u201d (hit).<\/p>\n