33 ARTISTIC TASTE Experience Andrés Carne de Res on the outskirts of Bogotá’, one of the world’s best restaurants, serving up unique South American cuisine with a theatrical and carnival flair! FAST FRUIT I love all the fruits of the country, which create deliciously fresh juices. The avocados are amazing, as are the chuchuva, which are found growing wild in San Agustin, guanábana cocoa fruit, mangostines, sapote and plantains. I also highly recommend that you feast on fish with coconut rice in Cartagena, or enjoy a cheese arepa on a street corner in Villa de Leyva, or a hamburger at El Corral, Colombia’s own answer to fast food. A CUP OF NATURE Whether you are a nature lover or simply appreciate a fresh cup of coffee in the morning - you have to head to the Coffee Zone, located in the Northeast of Colombia. I simply adore this region for its incredible views. The name is actually a red herring – as the region is also home to cocoa, plantain and many fruit plantations and is actually considered Colombia’s botanical garden. It’s also a bird’s paradise! Cocora Valley is a particularly awesome area with its waxed palm trees. Experience a delicious caffeine-induced journey on your own private Colombian coffee tour! You can learn about everything from the geography and soil quality to the planting, harvesting and processing during a plantation visit. Today the area is protected by the Colombian government, and you can visit Lake Guatavita on your way from Bogotá to the beautiful colonial town of Villa de Levya. Discover Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) in Bogotá, showcasing the world’s largest collection of gold artifacts! This includes pre- Colombia gold, including a famous golden raft that represents the ceremonies conducted by the native people on Lake Guatavita. THE LEGEND OF EL DORADO The history of gold in Colombia has literally shaped the country. Have you heard the legend of El Dorado? When the Spanish conquerors of the 1600s first came to Colombia they couldn’t believe the prevalence of such valuable artifacts, and the natives' apparent ignorance of their value. This inspired speculation that there was a plentiful source for them. When reports from captured natives that El Dorado was the source, the Spanish went on a series of gold seeking expeditions. They learnt that the initiation rite of the new zipa (ruler) used to take place in Lake Guatavita. The conquerors used laborers to drain the lake, yet three months later still only a small amount of gold had been recovered. A notch was then cut deep into the rim of the lake, which reduced the water level by 20 meters, before collapsing and killing many of the workers. At a later date, a British expatriate drained the lake to expose only mud and slime, which made it impossible to explore. When the mud dried in the sun, it set like concrete. Treasure was never found.