Pampered in Colombia.

It had been three years since we were last there and so there was a certain amount of giddiness as we arrived. To see Bogota get nearer as the plane descended was emotional and we were met with a super modern airport that was an indication of how much has changed since we were last there. But, as one might expect, there was much quite the same as well. For our girls much of it was "new" anyway, but for the parents it was a return of mixed impressions in a Colombia that has been embraced by world investment. 

Bogota is now a thriving city, filled with construction and movement. There seems to be a modernity to it that conflicts a bit with our momories, and Enlish (and tourists) are much more often seen. It is also a sign of openness to the world, new opportunities and a new place in the world economy. For better or for worse it is now a global city with modern buildings and more being built.

And yet, of course, the Bogota natives continue to be as warm and friendly and wonderful as ever, and our friends and family are no exception. We were greeted with a barrage (and continuous stream) of welcoming visits that lasted for days. Despite the traffic (that was always bad) the human connections in Colombia are always ideal. For whatever reason it's as if the Colombians know how to be good people and caring people. It was as warm and wonderful being there as ever and the girls loved pretty much everything (except for long ours in cars). 

We stayed in Bogota but also ventured out to Neiva and Ibague, each with visits to extended family and stints in tourist locations and events. But in the end we always came back to Bogota, to where mommy grew up, to the same little hills that she ran around as a child. Now she watches her children do the same with their cousins. And their new founds friends (children of friends and more friends) share the experience with them. Friendly dogs walk by and the play is immediately stopped for a quick hello, only to be re-initiated as soon as the canine has moved beyond arms length. 

One cannot say enough about the place, the people, the family. It's as if, in the hubbub of big city life there is an island of calm warmth that you can call home. Sometimes busy, sometimes not, but always welcoming, always smiling and always pampering it's visitors, whether they come from down the street or across the world.