TIM AROUND THE WORLD
Seeing the world, one week at a time.
CHAPTER FIVE: ENCANTO
(In 2024, I planned and executed a round-the-world adventure, spanning all six occupied continents in about a month. This is Chapter 5 in a blow-by-blow retelling of how it all came together, and how it all went.)
NOVEMBER 11 - SALENTO, COLOMBIA
MILES TRAVELED: 2,346
With my new friends off to explore other parts of Colombia and my own flight to Panama scheduled for very early the next morning, it was time for one last day of exploring Salento.
It started with one last fantastic breakfast at the hostel. I always get looks of disbelief when I tell people that I frequent hostels when I go on solo trips. But trust me, if you find the right ones, it's a whole new world. Viajero Salento is one of those (and no, they're not paying me to say that). I had my own room with a fantastic view, places to socialize with other travelers, and a little bar/restaurant when fatigue or weather kept me from wandering into town. And at probably a third of the price it would have cost me for a hotel room.
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Anyway, after breakfast, I checked out of my room and left my luggage in the reception area, then spent the rest of the morning soaking in Salento's atmosphere one last time.
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I took my time, stopping in several places to do a little souvenir shopping and wandering down a few streets to admire the colorful buildings, epic scenery and lively atmosphere of the town. It really did remind me of the town featured in Disney's Encanto movie.
Finally, I waited patiently for one of the window seats at La Cuesta de la Abuela, a restaurant overlooking the main square. I had a couple of local beers and a patacone, which is basically a smashed and twice-fried plantain with toppings on it (plantain pizza?). I took my time, watching life on the square go by. I could have sat there for another hour or two, but the restaurant was busy and it was time to move on.
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So it was back to hostel to pick up my luggage and catch my transfer back to Pereira, which went uneventfully once the driver was able to navigate the city's one-way streets to get to my hotel.
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My hotel in Pereira (Ghi Hotel Abadia Plaza) was nice, but I didn't really have that much time to enjoy it, since my flight to Panama City was leaving at 5:07 a.m. the next morning. I basically checked in, reconfigured my luggage, tried to take a nap (but there was a very loud youth sports team checking in on my floor), and then went to find some dinner.​​​​​​​​
Although they're only 30 miles from each other, the vibe in Pereira is much different than Salento. First of all, it's a city, with 700,000 people in its metro area compared to barely 10,000 in Salento. And once it got dark, the downtown area where my hotel was really emptied out. So when I went looking for a place for dinner, I got that 'Spidey sense' feeling walking down a side street by myself. Honestly, it was probably fine, but I wasn't feeling adventurous enough to risk it. So I came back to the main drag, found a brightly lit restaurant serving Colombian and Chinese (?) food close to my hotel, ate dinner and returned to my hotel for an early bedtime (luckily, the youth sports team had quieted down by the time I returned).
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It was time to say goodbye to Colombia. My only regret? I never did get to play tejo.