From my travels so far, I have realized that life is simply too short to not take a risk, take a crazy adventure, or do something completely out of your comfort zone. I have done a lot of travels alone and have traveled with friends and family.
In all honesty, traveling alone or with people both have their perks; however, there is something truly special and somewhat magical about solo travel. It puts your mind into a place that is so different from every day life. Traveling alone forces you to essentially be in the elements. It's a truly wild and inspiring affair. Here is a travel log of one of my many adventures. This time, I wandered off to Bogota, Colombia for Labor Day Weekend. That's right, COLOMBIA.
September 5th, 12:30 pm (Eastern)
Bags packed, I headed for the metro which would eventually lead me to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). To be extremely honest, I almost did not even go on this trip. Just an hour before, I was contemplating just skipping out on the whole affair and taking a nap. However, something inside of me, perhaps my wanderlust, begged me to go. So, I gritted my teeth and headed to the airport for an adventure that was set to be my most wild, and daring trip yet.
Before I could get to Bogotá, I had a 12 hour layover in Miami, which I was also excited about. I had never been to Miami, or Florida for that matter, and wanted to see what the Sunshine state had to offer. However, when I finally arrived to DCA and saw the Miami flight, my heart sank. The weather was supposed to be rainy and cloudy.
I kept thinking to myself, "Oh, great, a storm's coming and it's not just the one in Miami," a storm of emotions seemed to be raining over me. Should I even get on this plane?
However, I kept telling myself, "This will be an adventure," and got on that plane. The flight was not too bad: good service, and relatively quick travel time.
Still beautiful, of course, but not very "sunshiney"
Location: 20,000 feet above Miami, Florida
September 5th, 5:30 pm (Eastern)
When we touched down, I headed quickly to the arrivals doors outside and waited for my Uber driver. The driver was nice, answered my questions and whisked me away to Miami's South Beach, home of clubs, chaos, and crazy men, and women.
Miami Skyline
From the Backseat of an Uber
I have to say: South Beach was definitely interesting. It was loud, vibrant, and fun. However, the rain was not very helpful. I got to enjoy several hours before the sunset, all of which were lovely. I first went down past the dunes to the actual beach, just to put my feet in the warm Miami ocean water.
One of my favorite things to do when I travel is search for new Snapchat geotags. This one in South Beach was one of my favorites during the trip. So Art Deco & Fun!
People watching by the ocean was an interesting sight to see. I remember gazing upon a couple who seemed to be having the time of their lives, giggling, soaking up what was left of Miami's dusk sun.
Everything seemed just, perfect. I loved their attitudes, I loved their spirits, and I loved their emotions. As the sun started to set, I retreated back to the main stretch of Miami Beach in search of food. For years, I have heard many people rant and rave about Miami's Cuban food. I felt like I had to try it. So, I headed to Lario's on the Beach to discover what I had been missing out on. The Verdict: a whole lot of good Cuban food!
September 5th, 7:30 pm (Eastern)
Lario's setting was beautiful. Candlelit tables adorned with beautiful and simple white tablecloths. Elegant menus rested beside the cutlery where I gazed upon several delectable choices including the ever-so popular Croquettes. I ended up ordering those perfect treats along with a slew of Cuban appetizers. As I ate my meal I looked around and enjoyed Miami's beautiful people. Everyone in the restaurant was so well dressed and happy to be there. I had always heard that Saturday nights in Miami were star-studded, but I had no idea the lengths that men and women went in order to get all "gussied up."
After dinner, I retreated back to my hotel for the night. I was tired from the day's excursion and even more nervous for the upcoming international affair. I watched television for a while to calm my nerves before falling asleep... tomorrow was a monumental day.
September 6th, 6:30 am (Eastern)
Today was the day. Never had I ever been this bold in terms of travel. I was nervous -- heck I was extremely nervous. I reluctantly got out of bed and headed back to Miami's International Airport. I was excited, do not get me wrong, but I was also apprehensive. Once I got on the plane, there was no turning back.
September 6th, 9:30 am (Eastern)
As I boarded the plane, I waved goodbye to my short stint in Miami filled with food, fun, and fritz. I definitely would love to come back and spend more time in the Sunshine state, particularly when it is sunny. Once I was seated, my nerves were amped. I was on a plane to Bogota, Colombia!
I was the first in my family to ever perform a feat like this! I was the first in my family to also go to Colombia! I felt like a pioneer, so to speak. As the cabin doors closed for departure, I became even more excited. I was on a quest, an adventure and it was just about to commence.
Miami: From The Sky
A Heavenly Approach
September 6th, 12:00 pm (Colombia)
The flight went relatively smoothly. I relaxed, listened to music and enjoyed the view outside that would shift from the Caribbean Sea to various islands. As we began our final descent, I looked outside the window to the beauty of the Colombian wilderness. I was so awestruck. My first experience in South America was already off to a phenomenal start.
Natural, Beautiful, Simply Inspiring:
Colombia
September 6th, 1:00 pm (Colombia)
After landing in Bogotá, I trekked past Immigration and Customs in order to get to my driver. My wonderful friend from The George Washington University, Daniela, set me up with a wonderful driver, Oscar, who took me on a grand tour of Bogotá. This trip also allowed me to garner even more Spanish skills considering that the country predominantly speaks Spanish.
After getting into the car, we headed outside of El Dorado Airport to go to the city center. Oscar reminded me that the traffic was so chaotic because of a tradition that occurs every Sunday called Ciclovia. In Bogotá, bicycles take over the Sunday streets for this long-standing tradition. I thought that it seemed extremely cool; however, the traffic was definitely not.
As we made our way through the city, I could not help but look out the windows. The views were impeccable, the mountains gorgeous, the people beautiful. I kept thinking to myself, "I'm in Colombia, I did it." Our first stop on the grand tour was in the historical district of Bogotá known as La Candelaria. This district was adorned with beautiful Spanish colonial era buildings along with children running loose strapped to the saddles of llamas. It was a sight to see, for sure. A sight I just could not stop soaking in.
La Candelaria in Bogotá
The sights, the smells, the people, all so special. I just love this photo because it captures so many different facets of the historic district. From the girl's flashy red hair on the right to the pigeons as far as the eye can see.
September 6th, 2:30 pm (Colombia)
After the historic district, we trekked to Monserrate, a mountain in Bogotá with unparalleled views of the city, which was such an eclectic experience. In order to get to Monserrate, we had to get into a sort of tram-like vehicle that was pulled on a chain to the top of the mountain.
Once we arrived at the top, the views were simply astounding. Never in my life had I seen such beauty. I felt like I was right out of a National Geographic segment. When I was here, it finally hit me that I was seeing the world. It touched my heart in a way that I will never forget. It was extremely emotional: I finally was making myself happy in the ways that I love so much. I love seeing the world, meeting new people, exploring new cultures. This Monserrate climb solidified that for me.
The gorgeous view atop Monserrate
September 6th, 4:30 pm (Colombia)
After Monserrate, it was clearly time to grub. I was getting so excited about trying Colombian cuisine. Oscar did not disappoint. He took me to an incredible Colombian restaurant where I got to test my knowledge of Spanish by ordering entirely in the language without the use of English. I think, for the most part, I fared well. My food came out perfectly and I gorged on some of the best food I've had in awhile.
Behold, AREPAS: One of the best things you'll ever put in your mouth
September 6th, 6:30 pm (Colombia)
As the sun started to go down, Oscar took me back through the mountains to witness the gorgeous views at night. All I can say is that I was completely taken aback. I had never felt this way in my life. I was so appreciative of this opportunity and so touched by the experience. As we drove up the mountain, I saw families, friends, and colleagues camped out on the side of the road just laughing, having fun, and enjoying the unparalleled views of Bogotá. Never in my life have I felt so comfortable, so happy, so enthralled by an experience. It was simply something so indescribable that you had to be there to have full capacity of the moment.
Bogotá at night: something so special to witness
September 6th, 10:30 pm (Colombia)
After my stint in Colombia, yes, stint (of about 10 hours), I headed back to the airport so excited and thrilled to have been able to have this experience. As a traveler, I feel so lucky, so inspired and so grateful for every journey I take. I have learned so much more through traveling than any textbook will ever teach me. I have made more friends through traveling than Facebook can ever allow me to have. I have taken more photos than Instagram could fathom. Traveling is so much more than a verb. Traveling is an art, traveling is a passion, traveling is the reason why I love to explore anything and everything. Traveling is emotional: it can be scary, it can be funny, it can be sad, it can be happy, it can be anything.
I encourage each and every one of you to visit Colombia. It is a beautiful country filled with beautiful people. As I write this, I feel so honored and privileged to have visited such an amazing country. I also want to thank Daniela and her incredible family for setting up the trip for me. I also want to thank my incredible friend, Jasmine for giving me inspiration, tips, and tricks for Colombia.
Be bold, be free, be COLOMBIA
