Paradise

Jorge is the owner of the beautiful Colonial Hostel, our temporary home in Palmira. His father and brothers operate the family gem and pawn businesses in Connecticut, but he has returned to his hometown to build and operate his hostel and also to build his dream country home in El Paraiso (Paradise) nearby. He offered to take us there and we couldn't pass up the chance to see it.

   

And Paradise it was.  

Jorge drove us past field after field of sugar cane, then out of the Cauca River Valley, and up into the foothills of the Cordillera Central. The air freshened and the land became somehow more familiar to us. Crystal clear mountain streams hurried down the hill, birds sang, and fruit trees were everywhere.

He gave us a complete tour of his property and the interior of his large house which is nearing completion. Every room had territorial views across the Cauca Valley to the coastal mountains or of the high peaks to the east. Doors opened onto shaded verandas perfect for sinking into a comfortable chair with a large glass of fruit juice.

Jorge is an agronomist by education and he proudly showed us his organic beans. squash, and all manner of tropical fruit trees. We walked down by the stream below his house beneath Gradua bamboo over 40 feet tall and 10 inches in diameter at the base. This bamboo is a renewable resource, and is used everywhere for construction of rustic buildings, greenhouses, etc.


This foothill neighborhood has some older homes for sale or rent and properties are available. We walked down the country road to a large piece of property owned by the local indigenous people. They have a herd of African water buffalo and we took turns turning their heads with our amateur buffalo noises.

We had a wonderful time, we made a new friend, and we had fun. Yes we did.