Will Bucaramanga become the next hotspot in Colombia?

I am a bit of a creature of habit. I sit in my room, listening to the rain on the tin roofs around me.

The sound drowns out the loud music blaring a minute ago and drowning out the sounds of cars passing by. Yes, when will I ever learn? I’m not too fond of cities.

I have been in small towns or pueblos for the past month. I enjoy my daily walks around Pueblos, checking out the locals, walking by the cows and chickens, and loving on-the-street dogs.

However, I decided to check out the city of Bucaramanga. I have heard so many good things about it, the overlooked city of Colombia.

The charm of the parks, the lack of tourists, and the slow, steady up-and-coming nightlife may one day rival Medellin. But don’t ask me about the nightlife; I am snug in bed by 10 pm.

I must say, no, lo sieto mucho Bucaramanga. However, you will never be Medellin. First of all, there are no Paisas here, which is the charm of Medellin.

I know you are reading this thinking, but Sara, you don’t like Medellin. That is correct. I have a new appreciation for the city and why so many move there. Will I move there? No, never.

Yet do I miss the charm of the Paisas? Yes.

I wanted to love this city, and I am a bit of a lazy traveler these days. If I can not walk out of my hotel, walk up a mountain or sit in the square, or explore the waterfall, on foot without taking a bike, taxi, or bus. I have zero interest.

The first day I got here, I thought ok, I saw on the map a Parque de Agua; I asked the girl where it was and if I could visit. No, it’s closed for repairs.

Ok, and are there other parks? She rattled off a bunch and then told me to see a small town outside the city or go to the municipality of Floridablanca south of here.

I am a lazy traveler, I came to see Bucaramanga, not the towns around, or I would have stayed there! I also picked the wrong hostel, well, it’s an amazing hostel, but it is only near a mall and a small dog park.

I have gone to the mall twice; I’m not too fond of malls, so that tells you something, I did have to resupply my skin cream ( ladies, Isdin has the best skin care ever, it’s from Spain).

The best part of the city is they have my creams.

So yesterday, I decided to find a nice brunch spot, explore, and find the town center. Usually, there is a square. Instead, I found more malls, shopping, and another park, not great, but green space.

The city is a bit meh, big, dirty, hot, and below my expectations.

At least I came, and tomorrow I leave, where it is almost 7 pm, and I am still deciding.

I have applied to two volunteer gigs, and one will accept me; if not, to the bus terminal, and I will decide when I get there.

The food here has been delicious, so that is one thing I must say about Bucaramanga; other than that, the accent is thick, I need help understanding anyone, and I have to ask them to repeat or slow down constantly.

If you love to shop, this is your town; I prefer to avoid shopping.

I have only two or three pictures, I did not film them as I did not feel safe with my go-pro out, and I have seen more homeless in the Santander region than in the rest of Colombia, possibly the closeness to the Venezuelan border, and it breaks my heart.

Yet it is a global problem.

So far, my favorite city in Colombia remains Manizales and that region. However, I have only one month left in Colombia; I have gotten too comfortable and need to mix it up, plus my visa will be expired soon.

Yet I have promised to meet my sister on the other side of the world, she is going to work, and I encouraged her to go, with a caveat that I would meet her.

So I am going to the motherland of my people, and I am so excited, a change! Yet, I have one month left here in Colombia, so I will vow to only go to Pueblitos from now on!

XOXO

S