Colombiano

In Colombia, people begin putting up holiday decorations as early as mid-October. Indeed, some homes and businesses leave the lights up year round, dimming them during the off-season. And, as soon as November arrives, lights start popping up everywhere from upscale malls to small houses, in windows, across roofs and in trees. This season offers an excuse for cities and towns to try to top one another with the most spectacular lights displays possible. Of course, that is especially true in major cities like Bogotá, Cartagena and Medellín, which boast massive light spectacles in parks and public spaces.

This year will bring a special element to the celebrations – the recent, new peace pact between Colombia’s government and the FARC rebel group. This agreement, though still controversial among many, has the potential in the long run to bring an end to a 52-year-old conflict. But it won’t happen overnight.

Cited in a recent Wall Street Journal article, William Ury, a Harvard University expert on conflict resolution who has advised Colombia and other countries, said “We’re talking about 2, 5, 10 years, 15 years even. Just looking at other peace processes around the world, these things take time.”

Ashish is currently in Colombia, leading as educational trip that includes an exclusive look at graffiti art. He reports, “We have talked to many people in Bogota about this in the last 48 hours from guides to drivers to graffiti artists. There is a lot of excitement about what this historic agreement will mean for Colombia’s future and its blossoming tourism sector.”

Big Five began offering Colombia about eight years ago, and is today an even bigger, more committed fan of this dynamic country. “The potential is there to project Colombia as a new beacon of stability in Latin America that is trying to peacefully shed the nightmares of its past for a greater future,” adds Ashish.

But you don’t have to wait to experience Colombia. Begin your exploration with the 10-day Colombia’s Gems. Ride a bike through Bogota, dig for your own emerald, savor a private rum tasting in Cartagena, discover Medellin’s barrios, and travel into the heart of Colombia’s coffee growing zone.

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