The rather compact city center of this city of millions is located at the lowest point of the valley and is perhaps not really the top attraction for travelers.

I took the photos of the center right at the beginning of my first trip. Coming from Germany, I wanted to get used to the height a bit. The sun was shining and it was really hot that day. Accordingly, the photos are colorful, and they also have a few very dark shadows.

As far as architecture is concerned, I am not an expert, but to me it seems like a mixture of a Spanish city and something urban that I know from other cities in South America. I'm not sure if there's a typical architectural style for Medellín.

I tried to capture symmetries, surfaces and lines with the photos. I like the pictures precisely because they capture simple shapes. I also always find it important to have a very special mood on the first day of a trip. Maybe I can't convey the mood here so well, but it just says: You're somewhere else again now.

The Comuna 13 stretches picturesquely up one of the eastern mountain slopes. By metro and city bus you are there in no time. I enjoyed strolling through the steep streets for hours, exploring the narrow streets, climbing stairs, and even riding escalators. Everywhere you will find hundreds of stalls, shops, bars and restaurants. The walls are true works of art and full of colorful graffiti.

In many places, loud music creates a good atmosphere, but there are also quiet corners to relax. I discovered a few cozy bars where I could watch the hustle and bustle of the neighborhood without much trouble and enjoy a cold beer. But everything seems as if it is constantly changing. A quiet bar today may be the hotspot for visitors next year.

The streets and paths in Comuna 13 are full of people from all over the world. I met Mexicans, of course the friendly locals and, who would have thought, also a few Germans.

Everyone and his mother holds their phones enthusiastically into the air to take pictures. And no one bothers to be photographed themselves. Posing is the order of the day. The Comuna 13 is an absolute hotspot for street photography.

It was impressive when a thunderstorm came across the sea at night. In the not very soundproof wooden hut, the thunder slammed quite properly. The rain rattled so violently on the roof, as if you were sitting in a waterfall.

I also paid a visit to Mecana. While El Valle is located south of Bahía Solana, Mecana joins as a tiny village north of Bahía Solano.

From there you can dive directly into the so-called primary forest. This is a forest that has never been changed or reforested by humans - a real nature experience! For this hike, however, it is recommended to take a guide with you and rubber boots. I wasn't going there alone.

Unfortunately, I had no luck with the whales in April. They are off the coast at other times of the year. However, the boat trip from the pier in Bahía Solano back to Mecana and a few days later still was a funny highlight. Before boarding, just pay a little money for gas, boat refueled, and then off we went with everything the outboarder gave.

By the way, a film adaptation of One Hundred Years of Solitude was created in Mompós. If you know the book and know the town, it seems clear that there is hardly a more suitable place in the world.

I particularly liked the restaurants and cafes on the waterfront. I found the food really good everywhere. A particularly delicious tip is Butifarra, a well-seasoned sausage of Catalan origin.

Since there are no cars in large parts of the historic center, it is dead quiet there - measured by Latin American standards. Sitting over the river in the warm evenings in the dark and having a drink was a highlight of my trip and an indescribably beautiful and peaceful experience.

Mompós is probably also a paradise for photographers. The light in the morning and evening is fantastic. The sun rises over the Magdalena River in the southeast and paints the sky and river in beautiful colors.

The walls of the house get all the warm, soft light. At sunset, the sun drops west over the city and casts its golden light over the roofs.

If you have the opportunity, you should definitely be on the riverfront just before dusk or climb on roofs or high balconies. I was lucky enough to stay at Casa Amarilla, where there is access to the roof.

Santa Marta is not far from Mompós, but the bus ride takes seven to eight hours. The city is located directly on the coast and has a lot or rather nothing to offer depending on personal taste. The historic center is manageable and in some places quite run down.

Santa Marta reminded me a bit of Havana in Cuba, but there is no Malecón and instead only a rather unsightly coastal promenade. The possibilities that Santa Marta would have as a coastal town seem untapped. If you like it a little more well-groomed and more cosmopolitan, you probably prefer Cartagena anyway.

For urban photography, the city center seemed to me to be really suitable. When the sun wasn't too high or a few clouds adorned the sky, the light was just wonderful.

The streets, which were not excessively well maintained, offered exciting motifs and pretty details. Peeling paint, faded wall paintings and a tangle of power cables created an interesting ambience. There was also a bit of street shooting.

Salamina is high in the mountains and is not easy to reach. That's why it's a bit quieter here than in the tourist centers of Salento or Filandia. It is more relaxed, but really charming and wonderfully colorful.

With the steep roads and the surrounding mountains, it almost felt like a Swiss alpine town. Jardín (close by how the crow flies, far away by road) has a very similar atmosphere.

From Salamina I could take a nice drive to San Felix, which is about 3,000 meters above sea level. There you can stroll among the famous Colombian oil palms and enjoy some breathtaking views. It is a quiet, almost lonely place where I could enjoy nature to the fullest.

Not far from the city of Salento there is also an area with many tall oil palms. The terrain is more extensive, but also much more touristy. Nevertheless, the views of the palm slopes are really worth seeing.

During my visit to the palm trees near Salento I had a lot of fog, which was a bit of a shame, because the palm trees were partly not visible. Nevertheless, I was able to take some beautiful photos.

The majestic-looking oil palm is the fastest growing palm species in the world. To my knowledge it only grows in the mountains of Colombia. Unfortunately, this species is threatened with extinction due to agriculture.

The Hacienda Guayabal is not far from Pereira or Manizales and is easy to reach. The accurately block-like, two-storey guest house seems reminiscent of a building from Cuban socialist realism. In front of it is a short cut lawn field, in which a pretty blue glowing pool is sunk. At least five large dogs are added to this. Coffee plantations stretch all around. It is a really pretty Hacienda and for coffee lovers it is definitely worth a visit.

Behind the guest house are the farm buildings, where the freshly harvested coffee beans are dried, selected and packed in bags. Leading through the surrounding plantations are paths, which are wonderful for a stroll. The beautiful view over the hills a little further uphill is worth visiting.

I spent three wonderful days at the Hacienda and recovered really well. The food was really good and of course there was plenty of delicious coffee.

I especially liked the hammock on the upper porch, in which I relaxed. A highlight was also the magical little coffee house, which was fluttered by hundreds of hummingbirds throughout the day.

My guided tour through the Hacienda was super interesting. I learned a lot about harvesting, drying the beans and making coffee. And I was lucky with some photos. Especially the evening light was just wonderful.

I don't want to write much about Finca La Argelia, but one thing is clear: The property is fantastic! And there seems to be several fincas with this name in the coffee zone. I do not want to give more details about the location.

Where I was, there was a wonderful house with many lovely details and a lot of greenery all around. The owners are just great and I spent three fun days with them and their friends. It was a relaxing and beautiful time and ultimately a wonderful conclusion to my previous tours through the country.