32 COFFEE&GOLD COLORFUL COLOMBIA Ingrid Vultorius, Head of South America, shares why she believes Colombia sparkles! The streets, the people, the vibe: Colombia is one of the most colorful countries in South America. This is the first thing you will notice. COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Right from the moment I exited the plane, I found Colombia to be different from what I expected. I had heard about many drug checks at the airport but we were welcomed by a very modern building with only the regular security controls you usually find at an airport. Because of the drug cartels of the 1980s, there hasn’t been many visitors over the last few decades, which in a way contributes to the very authentic experience you will find. Even the most visited and renovated city of Cartagena has a local flair, and there are few foreign stores or fast food chains. The people are naturally friendly. I would even say they are the friendliest people in all of South America! As an Argentinean, I was surprised to find a strong tango culture in Colombia, which converges around Medellín. Colombians are ashamed of their drug history and wish to turn the page. When visiting today, you would never know that there was a drug terrorism issue in the distant past. Colombia is a very safe and quiet country, with easy roads to connect destinations. There is still some military presence, mainly in the jungle, but it is rare that you will come across it. Tourism initiatives have really aided the reconciliation of communities with both former guerillas and victims working together. The government recognize the importance of indigenous communities. Every month each year, the most visited national park, Tayrona, is closed for a whole month to allow spiritual and ecological healing by the local indigenous people! STREET SPARKLE You can see emeralds being traded in the street, even though they are very expensive. That’s because the quality of an emerald is best seen with natural daylight. Once you see the emerald you like, you go to the jeweler’s office and close the deal! NEW to the Enchanting Travels collection Discover New Worlds