January 2016 Travel Recap: From New York to Colombia's Caribbean Coast and Beyond
In my monthly round-ups, I reflect on the past four weeks of travel, sharing what went well, what didn't, and upcoming plans.
January was an eventful month! I bid farewell to New York City and embarked on my first new destination of 2016: Colombia. Traveling with a companion for the initial weeks allowed for a faster pace than solo, but it also led to unforgettable shared adventures.
Recent Activities
The New Year began with a relaxing day in Brooklyn, caring for temporary cats in a friend's stunning apartment—complete with a spacious kitchen where I experimented with new recipes during daily baking and cooking sessions.
I finally carved out time to unwind after months of hustle: movie nights, long baths with my Kindle, park runs with podcasts, and favorable weather for outdoor cycling in New York. If you've followed my journey, you know my passion for biking, and I happily reunited with it last month.
Then, it was off to Colombia. True to form, I planned at the last minute—handling errands, Amazon orders with tight delivery windows, and securing Cartagena accommodation just days before departure. Some habits die hard.
My Colombian journey started in Cartagena, a tourist hotspot for good reason: its preserved historic center, encircled by ancient stone walls, boasts Spanish colonial charm on the Caribbean Sea. I wandered narrow streets lined with bougainvillea-draped balconies and vibrant houses. In fact, I'm writing this from Cartagena after extending my stay twice!
From there, we explored the coast: Tayrona National Park, Palomino's beaches, a mountain detour, and returns via Playa Blanca and Totumo mud volcano.
While much was idyllic, challenges arose—detailed below. First, the highlights!
Highlights
River Tubing in Palomino, Colombia At 35, I'd never tubed before, missing it in places like Belize and Laos. Colombia was ideal: floating down a Sierra Nevada river through lush jungle into the Caribbean, with golden afternoon light and jungle sounds. Pure bliss!
Traveling with My Favorite Companion Our fourth trip together was a joy, easing my South America return despite a brisk pace and less work time. Next adventure already in planning!
Domestic Bliss in New York Pre-departure days brought freezing temps (19°F/-12°C, coldest since 2007 Chicago), but I cherished the kitchen—baking pinned recipes and savoring NYC favorites like Thai, sushi, bagels, pizza, and Mexican breakfast before South America's unknowns. Eager for my own kitchen and balanced nomad life!
Winning a Margarita Maker After Singapore Airlines tickets in November, I snagged a $300 Margaritaville machine. Time to revisit margaritas!
Care Package from My Sister Perfect timing: German goodies, including chocolate Santa, arrived pre-Colombia—touching Christmas gifts despite the delay.
Lowlights
Self-Imposed Stress Despite months in New York, I procrastinated planning, grabbing a guidebook last-minute and impulsively booking a 5-day jungle trek—scrambling for gear via Amazon pickup hours before flight.
Pre-Departure Jitters from Colombia Stories Reading "Solo Female Going to Colombia? Just Don’t" mid-packing was unwise. Combined with another tale, it heightened fears—though company helped upon arrival.
Forgetting Essentials Swiss Army knife, Ziplocs, underwater camera, and backup hard drive—oversights I regret.
Missing the Lottery My luck with contests didn't extend to $900M/$1.2B Powerballs.
What Went Wrong
Bungalow Break-In in Palomino After beach time, we found our room ransacked—but laptops, passports, cards, and cash safe in a locked backpack. Thieves fled mid-search, sparing us disaster. A global risk, not Colombia-specific.
Food Poisoning Cartagena's top-rated La Mulata delivered divine meals—until hours later: vomiting, cramps, diarrhea. Bedridden 24 hours, recovery took days. Worst since 2011.
Boarding Denial for Lack of Onward Proof At JFK, no return ticket barred boarding (recurring issue). Frantic refundable booking succeeded just in time—lesson learned for one-way entries.
Losing Gear Canon charger and battery (post-break-in), Kindle charger, favorite tank top—early road losses.
Challenges
Balancing Work and Travel Post-10-week NYC productivity, Colombia's spotty WiFi (slow, room-inaccessible) and early-closing lounges disrupted routines. 'Coffice' hunts wasted hours amid 91°F heat. Companion travel tempted exploration over work, but balance is improving.
Upcoming Plans
Exciting ahead: Leaving Cartagena for Santa Marta, then 5-day Lost City trek (800 CE site, 650 years older than Machu Picchu) in Sierra Nevada. Next, Bogotá reunion, then flow decides.
P.S. Follow daily photos on Instagram.
