Vol IV: #4 Thoughts And Observations of Colombia
As I wrote yesterday, Colombia was wonderful. It’s far from a perfect country, but I believe in its future. And, I want to write one more post about my trip as a way of documenting my experience and processing what I encountered.
1) The Colombians I met were generous and kind. In my view, I can offer no higher compliment of a people or nation.
2) The women of Colombia are a different type of women*. For starters, they work. I saw lady cops and armed military guards. They deliver food and hock coffee in the street. And they hustle tourists for a few pesos at a time. What I found to be common, was the women of Colombia didn’t appear to be furthering the feminist cause. Rather, they simple stepped up when needed. War tends to drain a country of its young men(not to mention displaced people and destruction), and these women have played a huge role in rebuilding Colombia.
3) I don’t know how to say what I’m about to say, but here it goes: The produce in Colombia is just better. I nearly cried when I bit into a small peach, not because it was delicious but because it’s rare to find anything peach as yummy in the America. You name the fruit or veggie and I guarantee it tasted better in Colombia. And I hate admitting it. I don’t want to be that douche bag^, but I’d be lying otherwise. We’ve got to do something about our food system in the US. We’ve been boiled like frogs, and you only taste it when you go outside our borders.
4) Number four isn’t so much about Colombia as it is about a benefit of travel: I love being shut off from US news and the endless parade of fear/woke ideology. It’s as though all the conflict is gone for a few days and I can breath easier. I know it’s a fake bubble, but I enjoy it all the same.
5) Getting back to food…the variety of food, mainly fruits, is outstanding. They say Colombia is land of eternal spring due to the weather, and I believe them. I believe I could eat my way from one side of Colombia to the other, trying new foods every single day.
6) Colombia looks like a developing country but acts like a a developed country. Yes, wages are low in comparison the US or Canada. And yes, you’ll see people in the mountains hauling lumber and rocks by mule, but these people are connected and dialed in. And they are ready for the future.
*Yes, Colombian women are very beautiful. They also appear to put effort into how they look.
#In regards to better tasting produce, it’s possible in the US. Just this week I’ve eaten cucumbers and tomatoes from a local garden. They are fantastic. The cucumbers are slightly sweet and earthy while the tomatoes remind me of what a tomato ought to be- rich, acidic, slightly floral, sweet yet savory. Very dynamic. I’ve not lost hope, but my faith in my local grocery options is now at an all time low.
