Colombia Q&A

After deciding to visit Colombia I had a lot of questions and thoughts running through my head- it didn't help that many people constantly said, YOU'RE GOING TO COLOMBIA!? WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO DO THAT? Before arriving and even before I knew I was going to be coming I had read several books about Colombia, about the history of the country, and the current situation. Quite a few people back in the states have only heard negative stuff about Colombia and therefore automatically assumed I was coming to an undeveloped jungle with an ongoing war.

Even though I felt I had a pretty good grasp of what to expect here from the books I had read, stories from AHOP, and reading up on recent news I was still unsure of little things, like

How much under development will there be?
- There is underdevelopment but there is segregation between developed/underdeveloped areas. People without steady jobs or income seem to have found many, many ways to make pesos without begging. Many people sell produce and odds and ends at street corners in the city to make ends meet. People are very creative in trying to make a few coins. I have only seen a few people begging for money.

Will there be a lot of hassling?
- No

Can we drive anywhere without feeling safe?
-again, there is segregation between developed and undeveloped area. It's pretty obvious if you've driven or walked into an area where things seem a little sketchy.

How secure are attractions and stores?
- Everything is well looked over by security personnel- neighborhoods, parking lots, attractions.

Do people speak conversational English?
- the main language here is Spanish. some people know a few phrases of english and a few people are conservational. AHOP has served as my translator the entire trip.

Would my family/friends enjoy a trip to Colombia?
-Colombia is full of many many great things to do from- historic cities, adventure travel, world class beaches, good food and much more. The people are friendly, welcoming, and know how to serve tourists. AND the price is right! The big downfall is the lack of English spoken in the country. A good option may be to hire an English speaking tour guide during a trip to the country.

Have any other questions? Leave me a comment and I'll try to answer it.