Santa Marta: A Family Reunion

When my dad was 16 years old, he was sent to live with his cousins in Colombia. Whenever I ask why he was sent there, he says, “I got into trouble.” The troubling behavior is still unknown to me, but I do know that he has never forgotten his time in Colombia. He looks back on his adventures there fondly and tells stories of getting into even more trouble with his Latin American family.

After moving to Panama, I knew it would be special if we could all revisit the place my dad talked about so often. In March 2024, my family met Jon and me in Santa Marta, Colombia. To greet us, Ana Elisa, Alfredo and Marta Stargardter met us at the airport. They became our local tour guides for the area.

These stops were among my favorites:

In Town - Shopping for mochilas, Parque de los Novios, El Rodadero, Ikaro Cafe for breakfast, Aqua de Rio for lunch

Day Trips - Playa Los Angeles, Tayrona National Park, La Victoria Coffee Farm

Check out some photos from the trip below and Jon’s blog from the same trip!