Lust for Life is a series where Mintyce and I explore the world, through the lens of love and adventure, challenging ourselves to expand our comfort zones and experience the world at the same time.

dress by free people

restaurante celele by chef jaime rodriguez

I’ve always had a dream to put a map on the wall and add pins to each place I’ve touched. When this fantasy was initially incepted into my thoughts, I had only envisioned traveling solo but as I’ve grown in love with my partner-in-crime, I now know that travel is another frequency that love uses as a tool. Memories are so vivid when we recall them not because they live in our minds but because they are embedded in our souls, using love to tie themselves to moments. This trip to Colombia was impactful and the start of many more memories just like this.

Colombia is technically our first trip out of the country together. We traveled to Cancun prior but I don’t count all-inclusive resorts when I talk about my travels. We also did the west coast of Puerto Rico but that is technically still the US lol.

Cartegena was everything we expected and more. For years I had heard stories about how magnificent the country was and had heard stories from friends that have made the trip about what to expect. Even with the friendly preparation, I was truly unprepared for what we experienced on the ground. The city, its people and the surrounding landscape were all so vibrant and that’s what we fell in love with while there.

swim 1 by label reverie, swim 2 by voight: by valentina, swim 3 by andi bagus

First off, I have to tell you how amazing the food was in Cartagena. If you’re into good food with a reputation for presentation and a vibrant bar scene, Colombia is a hot spot for that. With the popularization of foodie culture making waves across the internet, Central and South America have laid the stage for a wide range of culinary experiences. From Fine Dining with a show to gastropubs, farm-to-table artisans, and everything in between, it’s not unusual to stroll into a top restaurant or bar without even realizing it. As we highlighted in the vlog briefly, places like Buena Vida, which was a very popular brunch and late-night restaurant, or Alquímico, which boastfully brags about their ranking of Top 50 Bars in the World and one of course one of our favorites, Restaurante Celele, with the graceful artisanal approach to locally grown ingredients, the food committee thoroughly enjoyed our gastronomic experience in Cartagena. Not only was the food top tier but so was the experience on the street.

If you’re familiar with any of my travels in the past, you would know that I like to “leave the resort” in hopes of really experiencing a city and country for its true identity. In this case, we stayed at an Airbnb just outside of the busy walls of Cartagena’s old town. In my opinion, renting an Airbnb is the best way to experience a new place because in most cases, a hotel often acts as a buffer and removes a bit of the discovery that comes with newness. So every time we book a trip, we hop on Duolingo and familiarize ourselves with the language of the land in preparation for our next adventure. Learning the basics of the native language is important because it allows you to have a bit of control over your travels rather than relying on someone to translate for you, or flat-out being ignorant and expecting them to speak your language instead.

On this trip, I learned that Colombia has so many Black people (dark-skinned and of African descent) even though what we are shown in mainstream media would suggest otherwise. There was a sense of relation that I could see in people’s eyes as we walked the streets of Carta, which was a refreshing feeling for both of us. It’s a difficult concept to explain to non-Black people but there’s a greater sense of safety when you see people like you, especially with the understanding that Blackness in most parts of the world is villainized. But we did, in fact, feel safe as we moved about and were even greeted as “brother and sister” by some.

As I mentioned, we fell in love with the city of Cartagena and its people. If you work remotely and can do so from anywhere, I would highly suggest Cartagena. The city is a great mix of culture, high-end shopping, food, and party while also being on the coast. Walking through the city and meeting people along the way, we were advised to also visit Bogata and Medellin if we enjoyed the vibes in Carta. So hopefully soon, we can get back to Colombia to experience even more.

But until then, Life & Love ✌🏾.