Cheap perfume: In all shopping centres here you have little stalls that sell knock-off copies of expensive perfumes. They have these little leaflets listing all the brands and names (CK, Chanel, Hugs boss etc) that they've got but it says there are merely 'inspired' by the scents of these designer ones. Not sure that would be an acceptable legal loophole in Europe but I like the fact that I can spend £4 instead of £40 for perfume that basically smells the same.
Postobon manzana or uva: Colombian fizzy drinks in a variety of fruit flavours with my favourite being apple or grape. We need this in Europe!
Pandebono: Bread balls made with powdered cheese, delicious warm!
Bonbon Bum: Now, this may look weird in English but is actually these lollipops that have bubblegum in the middle. I am discovering the childhood I never had with these!
Mayonnaise crisps: Risadas do amazing mayonnaise flavoured crisps!
Crepes and Waffles: Banana and nutella waffle and the Pita Griega (a pizza-type thing with olive, artichoke, mozarella and tomato). Who doesn’t love this place?!
Arepa con queso: Colombian corn flatbread type thing stuffed with cheese!
Colombian cheese: Costeño is like a less rubbery less salty haloumi, Campesino is like a less salty less crumbly feta and what they call mozzarella but it’s just a hard yellow cheese - yummy.
Mostaneza: Hands down the best sauce ever. Mayonnaise, mustard and garlic – drool! They also do a smoky Ranch flavor!
Vegetation: The hotter cities here are very green naturally due to the climate and rainy seasons. You can always see some kind of colourful flower, tall palm tree or fruit tree no matter where you are and it's beautiful!
Mountains: Being in a valley means you can almost always see the mountains which makes city feel less suffocating and gives some stunning views.
Birds: There are so many beautiful colourful tiny birds here, including humming birds!
Lizards: I love lizards and they are very common here. Just yesterday I turned around in the shower and one of those little guys was staring right back at me.
San Antonio: This is an area to the northwest of Cali which is the old colonial area on a hill with a church on top. It is a little run down but the houses are really pretty and all painted different colours, I will write a post about it as it deserves to have it's own spot on my blog!
El Peñón: Just down the hill from San Antonio is a nice area with bars and restaurants near big hotels. It is rather pricey though but it has a nice atmosphere.
Public holidays: Being a very religious country, apparently Colombia has an average of 18 public holidays a year, the most in the world! Now, this may mean less official holiday days off work, but I guess it all adds up!
Gloves to eat with: In Colombia, if you are eating chicken in a fast food chain or a more casual restaurant, they will always give you plastic gloves to eat with so that you don't get grease all over your hands. I think it's genius!
Postobon manzana or uva: Colombian fizzy drinks in a variety of fruit flavours with my favourite being apple or grape. We need this in Europe!
Pandebono: Bread balls made with powdered cheese, delicious warm!
Bonbon Bum: Now, this may look weird in English but is actually these lollipops that have bubblegum in the middle. I am discovering the childhood I never had with these!
Mayonnaise crisps: Risadas do amazing mayonnaise flavoured crisps!
Crepes and Waffles: Banana and nutella waffle and the Pita Griega (a pizza-type thing with olive, artichoke, mozarella and tomato). Who doesn’t love this place?!
Arepa con queso: Colombian corn flatbread type thing stuffed with cheese!
Colombian cheese: Costeño is like a less rubbery less salty haloumi, Campesino is like a less salty less crumbly feta and what they call mozzarella but it’s just a hard yellow cheese - yummy.
Mostaneza: Hands down the best sauce ever. Mayonnaise, mustard and garlic – drool! They also do a smoky Ranch flavor!
Vegetation: The hotter cities here are very green naturally due to the climate and rainy seasons. You can always see some kind of colourful flower, tall palm tree or fruit tree no matter where you are and it's beautiful!
Mountains: Being in a valley means you can almost always see the mountains which makes city feel less suffocating and gives some stunning views.
Birds: There are so many beautiful colourful tiny birds here, including humming birds!
Lizards: I love lizards and they are very common here. Just yesterday I turned around in the shower and one of those little guys was staring right back at me.
San Antonio: This is an area to the northwest of Cali which is the old colonial area on a hill with a church on top. It is a little run down but the houses are really pretty and all painted different colours, I will write a post about it as it deserves to have it's own spot on my blog!
El Peñón: Just down the hill from San Antonio is a nice area with bars and restaurants near big hotels. It is rather pricey though but it has a nice atmosphere.
Public holidays: Being a very religious country, apparently Colombia has an average of 18 public holidays a year, the most in the world! Now, this may mean less official holiday days off work, but I guess it all adds up!
Gloves to eat with: In Colombia, if you are eating chicken in a fast food chain or a more casual restaurant, they will always give you plastic gloves to eat with so that you don't get grease all over your hands. I think it's genius!