Part 4.a: Home in a New Place

Colombia wasn't like anything I'd experienced before, and it certainly wasn't like anything I thought it might be. From the moment I landed in the Santa Marta airport (November 14th, 2021) on the Caribbean coast, I sensed something different in the air.

I could tell you a million reasons why I loved staying in the tiny fishing town turned scuba diving hotspot called Taganga: the people were so friendly, the food was delicious and cheap, the scenery was top notch, and the slowed down vibes were excellent. The mix of mountains and ocean immediately captivated me.

I spent two and a half weeks lounging on the beach and going for long walks by myself every day, and making friends while watching the sunset every evening. I enjoyed a new sense of security: maybe there were other places in the world that I would love. Maybe I was made for the nomad life!

When those two weeks were over, I hopped on a short flight to Medellin, potentially the most famous city in Colombia.

It was a big city, but unlike any big city I'd ever seen in my life. Nature and infrastructure are one in Medellin, and even though it's a giant city, I still felt like I was in a small town - like I could breathe.

I loved the bakeries on every corner, and the myriad of free walking tours that I took advantage of. The Comuna 13 tour is filled with amazing grafiti, and a super cool story about how this particular neighborhood was riddled with poverty and crime, but they worked together to improve upon the neighborhood, which is now a top tourist spot in the city. The people there are super proud of what their hard work has accomplished.

The second tour was of downtown Medellin. This one is filled with excellent history about the city and Colombia as a whole. They talked about the hard times Colombian has been through, and they take you to a bunch of really interesting places in the city. The tour guide was super knowledgable and willing and able to answer any and all questions we had. I highly suggest doing both of these free tours!

It was in Medellin that I started feeling sure of myself. I was independently exploring a country that everybody in the US thought was too dangerous, and I was having the time of my life.

I couldn't get over the extreme sense of well-being that I felt in Colombia. Even though I was still dealing with my family issues, something about this country was healing small parts of me. It was as if the air itself was welcoming me and making me feel at home.

I was only in Medellin for a week, and then it was off to Cali, the salsa capital of the world. I didn't know what to expect, but Colombia kept getting better and better, so I had high hopes.

Cali did not disappoint. If I thought the people in Taganga and Medellin were friendly, I wasn't ready for the warmth and joy every person in Cali emanated towards me. It was as if Colombia had been warming me up and saving the best for last.

Every moment that I spent walking the streets of Cali, I knew that I would be back. My trip was extremely short, because I had plans to spend Christmas back in Pennsylvania with my dad. When I got on the plane and said goodbye to Colombia, I cried.

I think every nomad has a moment like this at some point. They visit a country and all of a sudden they feel like they're home. I was lucky to have this experience very early on in my travels, but I wasn't ready to let it stop me just yet.

Next up, a short trip home, and then...