Edited Excerpts from Aboualy’s Travel Blog

Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena Colombia “Colombia was the most difficult country to get into. The embassy in Egypt would not give me a visa unless I had an invitation from someone in Colombia. The invitation had to be stamped from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombia. This was a ridiculous request since I did not know anyone there. When asked how I [was] supposed to get a visa if the embassy would not do it, they just said I should get it from any neighboring country in South America! I got my visa in Argentina, it was not so difficult but the embassy in Argentina was also not very organized.” “There are two places where most people stay in Bogota. The Zona Rosa has restaurants, bars and nightlife, and Candelaria, which is close to most sightseeing and where most backpackers stay. Candelaria is located on a hilly part of town. It is the more bohemian part of town with lots of cultural centers around. It has old colonial architecture. As you walk around Candelaria you are either offered drugs by dealers (men and women) or encounter people doing drugs. It did not feel safe to stroll around at night.” “I did not have enough time to check out the Zona Rosa, maybe if I had a chance to experience it I would change my negative perception of Bogota. The main problem in Bogota is that you cannot just go outside at night and get a taxi, you need to know the place where you call a cab to take you to your next destination, which was very inconvenient. There is also not much to do  there, only a few museums and the must-see Museo del Oro. It has a big collection of gold produced during the Andean civilizations, which explains the reason for the Spanish conquest.” “My next stop in Colombia was Medellin, a town known for the beauty of its women. Pablo Escobar and other drug cartels used to live there. Until today, the women of Medellin are known for their beauty and for the amount of plastic surgery they get to keep up with the high standards. Medellin is a really nice town compared to Bogota, and it also has its own Zona Rosa which is where the nightlife is.” “Fernando Botero is the country’s most famous contemporary artist and is from Medellin, he is obsessed with everything fat and this can be seen in all his statues and paintings in museums around Colombia.” “Feria de las Flores is held once a year in Medellin in August, and is the best time to visit the town. During the Feria there are concerts in almost every park and plaza.” “On my last day there was the local tradition of the Desfile de Silleteros. All the main streets are sealed to allow men and women to carry huge flower arrangements from the neighboring villages as they walk through town. This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.” “Cartagena was my last city in Colombia. It is located on the Caribbean Sea and used to be one of the most important coastal cities during the Spanish inquisition, which contributes to its rich history. The city is surrounded by huge forts and was the hub for trade and transferring gold to Spain. Cartagena is a magical colonial city, and definitely one of the most amazing I have seen. It is also a playground for the rich and famous, as they come on their yachts to enjoy the Caribbean. Caribbean culture is unique and is all about music. There is always someone playing music whether in the park, at a restaurant or in a plaza.” “The beaches around Cartagena are not very nice, so organize a boat ride to Isla Baru and Playa Blanca. There you can find amazing white sandy beaches and sip on some Pina Colada and Coco Loco in coconuts. You can also spend the night on the island sleeping on a hammock.” Buenos Aires Argentina “It was winter in Argentina when I visited, it was really wet on most days and this is why I decided to limit this visit to Buenos Aires only. I timed my visit in order to be there during the Copa America. I saw Brazil [lose to] Paraguay in the nearby town of La Plata.” “Buenos Aires is a big city and you can stay in a number of neighborhoods such as the Center, San Telmo, Recoleta or Palermo, which are the main tourist areas. I stayed in San Telmo, it was the older part of town; it felt more artistic and original and somehow resembles Downtown Cairo.” “The buildings all over Buenos Aires are beautiful; they call it the Paris of South America for a reason. There is a lot of sightseeing to do around the city center. You can walk around the center of town along Plaza de Mayo, Avenida de Mayo and Avenida 9 de Julio, where you can see the Casa Rosada and the congress building. The Recoleta Cemetery is amazing and should not be missed; you can see how the locals bury their dead in style! Go on a weekend in order to check the Recoleta weekend market, a very nice place to buy high quality artisanal handmade products. They are particularly famous for their leather.” “The food in Buenos Aires is the best in South America so far in terms of quality and value. They have the best oven-baked empanadas which I had daily for breakfast. Everyone knows about Argentinean steaks, you have to go to one of the many parillas (a style of grill used for cooking asado (barbecue). There is an all you can eat (parillal libre) place, but you may want to starve yourself first before going.” “At night, apart from going to the many bars and clubs, you can go see a tango show at Café Tortoni or check out one of the plays on Avenida Corrientes. If your Spanish is not good enough, you can see a show with more skin and less talking like Excitante.” “Buenos Aires is not my favorite city, actually far from it. Even though it is probably the most beautiful, it feels like any other city you have seen before. The locals (portenos) are known to be arrogant, which is very true, and I also think they have the worst accent in South America. Buenos Aires is a city for lovers not for someone looking for an adventure and something culturally groundbreaking. But I plan on returning in October to see more of the country and to go to Patagonia to see the glaciers. Ushuaia is the most southern city in the world and a hub to catch a boat to Antarctica.” Havana Cuba “Everyone wants to see Cuba before it changes, but once there, you can clearly tell that it has already begun changing, especially since Raul took control from Fidel. New cars can be seen and a lot of locals are carrying cell phones, but you can still find old American cars everywhere.” “All hotels, bars and restaurants in Cuba are owned and managed by the state. Not all hotels are in good shape but some are amazing. Backpackers usually rent a room at a casa and stay with a Cuban family. This helps you to learn more about the people and their daily life.” “Rum and cigars are among Cuba’s main exports and enjoying both while listening to Cuban salsa was how I spent a big part of my time. A visit to a cigar factory is essential. Also, a trip to Vinales in the Pinar del Rio province is where you can find the best tobacco in the world.” “The history of the country and the most recent revolution can be felt everywhere, in art, statues and messages displayed everywhere. Strangely, it is almost impossible to find any statues or pictures of anyone who was involved in the revolution and is still living, such as Fidel and Raul. All the artwork is dedicated to those who are no longer alive such as Che Guevara.” “Most Cubans do not own much, although this is changing and some forms of ownership are being allowed. The people are very nice and might seem poor, but in reality, they have access to theaters, movies and parks at very cheap prices, close to nothing. Education is obligatory and free, and every Cuban is entitled to free medical care no matter how sophisticated the operation is; Cuban doctors are well known for being amongst the best in the world.” “Trinidad is a small colonial town worth a visit. It is beautiful and has beaches overlooking the Caribbean, however, some parts of the beaches may not be fit for swimming but still offer amazing views.” “Santa Clara is another historic city and is where Che Guevarra’s remains are kept in a mausoleum with other revolutionary fighters. In this town, Che won a major battle against the US-backed dictator which triggered the success of the revolution.”