{"id":9254,"date":"2013-07-19T13:29:32","date_gmt":"2013-07-19T18:29:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/?p=9254"},"modified":"2016-05-04T16:51:57","modified_gmt":"2016-05-04T21:51:57","slug":"our-20-of-july-post-the-new-colombia-cliche-staying-happy-independence-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/2013\/07\/our-20-of-july-post-the-new-colombia-cliche-staying-happy-independence-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Our 20th of July Post! The New Colombia Cliche: Staying. Happy Independence Day."},"content":{"rendered":"

And here I was thinking I was special.<\/p>\n

By this time, I\u00b4ve got my little story all scripted out for when people ask me what I\u00b4m doing in Colombia. \u00a0 \u00a8Well, to tell you the truth, it was just an accident. I just came here for a holiday, \u00a0and wasn\u00b4t planning on being here for very long at all. But, after my month was up, I thought… hmmm…. why not stay a bit longer? And then, a bit longer. After a while, I realised how amazing this place was, and stopped saying I was only staying for one month more. Then, I met someone, and decided to stay. Now, I guess I live in Colombia.\u00a8<\/p>\n

Little did I know it, but I\u00b4ve been spouting the new Colombian Cliche. Forget those tired old ones that Hollywood\u00b4s still luxuriating in, because this one\u00b4s much nicer. So many gringos I\u00b4ve met have stories similar to mine. Not knowing about Colombia before they come here, they quickly realise they\u00b4ve made it to one of the world\u00b4s special places, and just find it really hard to leave. Not that I\u00b4m grumbling or anything.<\/p>\n

Even though I\u00b4ve traveled a bit, there\u00b4s still so much I don\u00b4t know about this country – even about the capital, Bogota, where I\u00b4ve lived for… what is it now? ten months?<\/p>\n

Here are some others that feel the same, and what they make of this country:<\/p>\n

Felicity (UK)<\/h3>\n
\"Flic<\/a>
Flic in Bogot\u00e1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“What has stood out the most is that the Colombian people are some of the warmest, most polite and welcoming people I\u2019ve come across.”<\/p>\n

Stephen (Ireland)<\/h3>\n

All along the backpacker trail from Mexico southwards you\u2019re meeting people raving about Colombia: the food, the women, the parties, the scenery, the people, the dancing\u2026 My expectations were impossibly high but I was still completely blown away.”<\/p>\n

Florian (Germany)<\/h3>\n
\"Florian<\/a>
Florian in Cartagena<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Something about the culture and the people is just amazing.”<\/p>\n

Brent\u00a0(US)<\/h3>\n

“Colombia is great place to practice Spanish and meet locals because tourism is relatively new here and it\u2019s not quite on the gringo trail yet. However, the country has adequate transportation infrastructure and much improved safety, making traveling easy and extremely enjoyable.”<\/p>\n

Chris\u00a0(UK)<\/h3>\n

“Colombia is a country that will constantly surprise you, offering some of the most beautiful landscapes imaginable, from the coast to snow capped mountains. Throw into the mix a nation that loves to party and you have the perfect trip away!”<\/p>\n

Christian\u00a0(Australia)<\/h3>\n

“I started running\u00a0Bogot\u00e1 tours<\/a>\u00a0and they\u2019ve been a massive success. For that I have to thank the independent spirit of Colombians, and their incredibly rich culture that isn\u2019t just on show in museums \u2013 it\u2019s on show all over the country.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Have you heard anyone else spouting this cliche? Any variations on it? Let us know.<\/p>\n

And, happy Independence day, this country I call home now. May there be many more positive cliches to come.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Here are some some expats on what Colombia means to them:<\/p>\n

1.<\/a>\u00a0Paul Fowler<\/p>\n

2.<\/a>\u00a0Felicity Wallace<\/p>\n

3.<\/a>Stephen Norton<\/p>\n

And check out these posts for more!<\/p>\n

What does Colombia mean to you?<\/a><\/p>\n

11 People tell us why they love Colombia<\/a><\/p>\n