Green views

After a "short" stopover in picturesque Switzerland, the beautiful Munich and historic Rome and Florence, where I gorged myself on raclette, sausages and pasta, I am once again exploring the stories and cultures of South America. With a new job and many goals in my luggage, my path led me to the vibrant metropolis of Lima.

As you all usually get so excited when I post, I would like to announce that I will be adding two new categories to the blog next time:

• People & Interviews

• Food & Recipes

I will also be sharing a list of all the restaurants, cafés and bars with you, including ratings and locations. This is to thank you for your support and the countless positive comments.

But before I move on to the new adventures, I would like to tell you about my unique experiences in the heart of Colombia, where I encountered nature in a new way in the Eje Cafetero, the coffee triangle.

Well-hidden treasure

It all started with another stroke of luck, thanks to the incredible EHL network that brought me together with Hernán Vanegas, an angel in human form. Through him, I not only found accommodation in a hotel, but also the opportunity to work on other exciting projects.

La Herencia, (in Spanish the heritage) was once a generous gift from the parents to their 10 children. Each one would receive a plot, with the intention to build a small "family village" where all of them would live and celebrate together in harmony. Over time, some started to build huge houses or set up a small organic farm with focus on meditation and connection to nature, others sold the plots back to sister and brother, and the rumour even says that one brother lives among them in a very simple wooden house, only eading fruits and vegetables from the ground. Later, only one family stayed on the property, an decided to convert the existing houses into hotel rooms and event spaces.

Today, La Herencia Hotel consists of five spacious, individually built and decorated villas, all equipped with a kitchen, terrace, pool and Jacuzzi, nestled in lush greenery and surrounded by hundreds of fruit trees, inhabited by colorful birds, as well as friendly bush rats and running iguanas and surrounded by banana and coffee plantations. With a total of 37 rooms that can be rented individually or as a whole villa, this was a unique place that seemed made for weddings as well as relaxing vacations. So peaceful and secluded, with fairytale views of the green mountain ranges, it's like being in your own little world.

Surrounded by the unceasing chirping of birds, with freshly prepared meals every day with sweet treasures, even fish from their own garden, this was pure luxury. On the day of my arrival alone, I tried five new fruits that I had never seen before. As much as I enjoyed this oasis of calm, it was not a perfect harmony, neither for me nor for the hotel. Unfortunately, there were very, very, very few guests. A lack of advertising, strategy, communication and "pereza" (tiredness/lack of motivation) on the part of the staff meant that I was sometimes the only guest for weeks on end. What made me feel almost like a king also meant loneliness and, above all, great challenges for the hotel and its owners.

Packed with beauty, but still far from having the necessary infrastructure and hospitality education, this hotel, like the whole region, remains a slumbering diamond in the rough.

Cultural excursions

While I was able to support the team on the road to success during the week, as well as pursue my work, sports and a bit of self-discovery, I could hardly wait to leave the bubble at the weekend and head towards civilization by cab.

Often alone, but also with my friend Hernán and his wife Sara, I was able to explore the authentic villages of Pijao, Salento and Filandia. From the colorful houses and doors of Filandia to the unique wax palms in Salento, each place had its own charm. But it wasn't just the landscape that captivated me, it was also the coffee. I learned to appreciate the art of a large, less strong cup of coffee. What was unimaginable for me before my trip was now part of my daily experience. Less bitter but richer in flavor and, above all, through new preparation techniques, I immersed myself deeper into Colombian culture with every sip. So deep that I occasionally had sleepless nights. Sometimes because of loud weddings on the lawn outside my door when the band played in my room (at least that's what it sounded like thanks to the glassless windows), or sometimes because of a lot of aguardiente with the hotel team in a local bar.

With this in mind, I'll keep it short this time and invite you to spend all the more time marveling at the photos.