Do we travel to the night of the Salamis fire? You also visit this town full of magic, we will take you!
Day 1: Arrival
The trip began on Sunday, we traveled from Medellín to Manizales in a short flight without mishaps. At the airport part of the team was already waiting for us to go to the center of Manizales where we had a delicious lunch and with a full stomach the adventure began. We walked the Polish Corridor of the Basilica Cathedral, 392 steps took us to the highest part where the effort was rewarded with a wonderful 360° view of the city.
At the end of the tour, we enjoyed a coffee and set out on the road to Salamina, which took us a little over two hours. Upon arrival at our destination we found a beautiful and very clean colonial hotel, we left our bags and went to eat.
The restaurant left us impressed, the entrance is like an old house, but upon entering we were greeted by an intimate place with dim lights, a fireplace and a garden with a very pleasant meal.
Day 2: Coffee between mountains
We went down early to the hotel restaurant, the delicious breakfasts and the friendliness of the staff were giving us an idea of what was to come and we were already beginning to fall in love with Salamina.
Some Jeeps were waiting for us and we left for our first destination: a coffee farm where we picked coffee and learned everything about the process of this fruit from the seed to the cup.
We ate cold cuts for lunch, ate custard and fritters, freshly squeezed guarapo, and tasted coffee. The perfect proof that food was not lacking on this trip. We witness various artistic displays typical of the region and traditional games such as yoyo, spinning top and ball bearing.
In the afternoon we returned to Salamina, we visited the most beautiful hotels in the area and had dinner near the main park.
Day 3: The night of the fire in Salamina
We had breakfast early to tour the Historic Center, in the atmosphere it felt that it would be an important day, some people were already outside their houses preparing the lanterns that would dress the whole town at night.
We had lunch, we tried the traditional Macana and the steamed eggs. Later we took the Jeeps again to meet with some businessmen who told us about their projects and the way in which they bet on Salamina to undertake.
We returned to Salamina to find the royal welcome to December, the streets full of lanterns and the people playing December music in their homes or premises provided the missing touch to finish animating the atmosphere.
Night fell and we had the elegant dinner that cannot be missing on trips, this occasion was important: we would live our first Night of Fire and we were waiting. We had dinner and the tour began, the colorful lanterns and lights adorned every corner of the town, the scene was magical and seemed to be taken directly from a Christmas dream (mine). The joy was felt and the emotion was growing, the inhabitants were heard talking about the central show at midnight, a videomapping show on the church in the main park that would end with a fireworks display.
The show was impressive and left us all speechless and although we were very tired at this point, we enjoyed it until the last minute.
Day 4: The Valley of Samaria
We had breakfast and left early to get to know San Félix, once again the Jeeps were waiting for us, which always gave a more fun touch to each experience. On the way we appreciated colorful houses that decorated the summit and after a little over an hour we arrived at paradise, a beautiful valley full of huge and imposing wax palms.
Not even the cold of 3,000 meters above sea level overshadowed the beauty of these lands, the palms touched the sky and left us speechless, we were in the Cocora Valley in Caldas and we had it almost to ourselves. We toured the place while we watched birds and learned about biodiversity.
We return at night to the main park of San Félix where we have dinner before returning to Salamina.
Upon arriving at the hotel some continued with the party that was still felt in the town, others rested to return early the next day to our cities.
Without a doubt, on this trip we had an unforgettable experience, we met and fell in love with this Heritage Town and its unique culture, we witnessed spectacular landscapes, we tasted delicious food, we met the kindest people, we saw birds that we did not know and we experienced a little piece of the way of living Christmas in this place in Caldas.
