CARTAGENA, Colombia (AP) — Tell people you're vacationing in Colombia and some react like you're going to a war zone. Street vendors and tiny shops sell broad-brimmed hats and jewelry, all in distinctive local designs. Silverfish leapt into our small boat, our jackets were covered with tiny green frogs and our guide pulled an alligator from the swamp with his bare hands. Just down the road from Leticia is the bustling Brazilian port city of Tabatinga — again, no passport needed — so we took a taxi there for a $25 one-hour tour, including stops to buy soccer shirts and empanadas, and to see a market selling colorful produce, river fish and live chickens. All our adventures were flawlessly organized by the Amazon Bed and Breakfast in Leticia, where exotic breakfasts included bright purple and green juices made from fruits we'd never heard of. The B&B has no air conditioning, but ceiling fans and cool showers kept us comfortable. Colombia's capital city felt grittier than our other destinations, with old-school graffiti, protests outside government offices in Bolivar Plaza and hotel security dogs sniffing our bags. The Botero Museum houses work by Colombia's most famous artist, Fernando Botero, known for his rotund figures, including a plump "Mona Lisa" and curvaceous nude sculptures. The tour includes an extensive exhibit on Escobar, from artifacts like his watch and motorcycle, to details of how police ambushed him by tracking his cellphone calls.
Magical Realism In Colombia: Not Just A Slogan
By BETH J. HARPAZ, Associated Press, Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Living
Thu, 12/04/2014 - 10:12am
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