Our Colombia Adventure!

My boyfriend and I ventured to Colombia towards the end of April (I know, I am very much behind on my blogging!). Colombia has been a country we have been dying to explore for as long as I can remember. We were hoping to be able to see all the amazing cities and landscapes this country has to offer, but this time around were only able to fit in Cartagena. Not a bad trade off, and only gives us more excuses to go back! 

We stayed in the old town of Cartagena, which is what I would recommend for anyone wanting to visit the area. It features the most colorful homes, with beautiful plant filled balconies, and adorable walkable streets. Below are some of the shots from walking around the old town: 

During our time there we also a took a boat out to the Rosario Islands which features beautiful beaches and snorkeling (plus all the cute beach dogs anyone could ever need to snuggle with!)

As many of you know, I am very passionate about helping animals and preserving wildlife as much as possible. And most countries offer amazing volunteer opportunities to tourists, some ever as short as just a few hours. Remember, every little bit helps!

While in Cartagena, we made arrangements with Cartagena Paws run by the incredible Maureen. Her husband came and got us from our hotel, and drove us to the shelter where some dogs very much in need of human interaction and love were being kept. Hearing the stories of how the dogs ended up in Maureen's care was heartbreaking, but thankfully, most of the dogs we worked with were already adopted and heading to their forever home shortly! If you are considering adopting a dog, please check out Cartagena Paws or make a donation to their great cause. They also offer flight volunteering, meaning you can be the escort for an a dog on it's way home to the US. Below is just a little sample of the fun walk and snuggles we had with these cuties: 

And I think the weirdest and most unique thing we did while on the trip was visit Volcán de Lodo El Totumo (or mud volcano). It is one of the smallest volcanos in the world, and filled with mud. The mud is so thick you literally just float at the surface. It is very warm and supposedly great for exfoliating the skin. I do have to admit, I was a bit nauseous at first when entering the volcano and feeling the weightless feel the mud creates! This surely is one thing not to miss! 

So that's our trip! Although we were only there for a short while, this country and it's people have such an energy about it that is hard to put into words. The best thing I can recommend is visiting and experiencing it for yourself!

xoxo, Annika