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I'm British and my wife is Colombian. I've lived in Bogotá and travelled around the country a fair bit. It's an absolute paradise. The nature and landscapes ar

I'm British and my wife is Colombian. I've lived in Bogotá and travelled around the country a fair bit. It's an absolute paradise. The nature and landscapes are just incredible. You have rolling lush green hills with forests and lakes, snowy mountains, canyons and desert plains, the coffee regions, tropical forests and beaches.. You can even drive for just a few hours and see a few of these in a single day. It is truly wonderful and can't really be described, you just have to go there and see it for yourself. The food in particular is really great. For instance, the sheer variety of fruits and vegetables on offer that I didn't even know existed before I went to Colombia is remarkable! If you are considering going to Colombia, don't give it a second thought, just book your flights! I promise you will have an amazing time, and will be telling your friends the same when you get back :-)

personlurking 9y ago
I've been saying the same to friends and strangers for over a decade. Colombia is an awesome place. As the article says, they have this seemingly gimmicky tourism phrase "the risk is that you'll want to stay" (only it's true). Speaking of fruits, one of the problems there has to do with papayas. There's a Colombian phrase "no dar papaya" (do not give papaya) and it means that you shouldn't act foolishly because someone will "take your papaya", if you do. In fact, the second unwritten rule regarding papayas (aside from "don't give them") is that if someone offers it to you, you must accept. Essentially, it comes down to "take whatever opportunity will place you in an advantageous position". This is obviously bad on a societal level, in many ways. That being said, it's still an undeniably beautiful place/people/culture/cuisine.
- santiagogo 9y ago
  I agree with you, I'm Colombian and I think that the "No dar papaya"saying and mindset is terrible on so many levels. That mindset incentivizes distrust, cheating and exploitation of unfair advantages. I've personally thought about starting a movement called "Si dar papaya". I just haven't had much time to start it and no idea of where/how to begin.
- nasredin 9y ago
  "Papaya" apart from being a delicious fruit is also slang for "pussy" - not the cute furry kind - in many Spanish-speaking countries. So if a voluptuous Colombian woman offers you some papayas, then yes, "you must accept".

personlurking 9y ago

I've been saying the same to friends and strangers for over a decade. Colombia is an awesome place. As the article says, they have this seemingly gimmicky tourism phrase "the risk is that you'll want to stay" (only it's true). Speaking of fruits, one of the problems there has to do with papayas. There's a Colombian phrase "no dar papaya" (do not give papaya) and it means that you shouldn't act foolishly because someone will "take your papaya", if you do. In fact, the second unwritten rule regarding papayas (aside from "don't give them") is that if someone offers it to you, you must accept. Essentially, it comes down to "take whatever opportunity will place you in an advantageous position". This is obviously bad on a societal level, in many ways. That being said, it's still an undeniably beautiful place/people/culture/cuisine.

santiagogo 9y ago
I agree with you, I'm Colombian and I think that the "No dar papaya"saying and mindset is terrible on so many levels. That mindset incentivizes distrust, cheating and exploitation of unfair advantages. I've personally thought about starting a movement called "Si dar papaya". I just haven't had much time to start it and no idea of where/how to begin.
nasredin 9y ago
"Papaya" apart from being a delicious fruit is also slang for "pussy" - not the cute furry kind - in many Spanish-speaking countries. So if a voluptuous Colombian woman offers you some papayas, then yes, "you must accept".