Last year I was in Colombia watching images on the news of my hometown being ransacked and burnt. I was a mixture of emotions, from anger to sadness. From my adopted home in Colombia I could see from an outside perspective what was happening in my country. I was embarrassed and angry: a minority of the population was causing panic in other countries, making them heighten their security warnings for my beautiful home and even go as far as to advise against travel there.

The National University's Bogotá campus, known fondly as 'La Nacho,' is Colombia's biggest university and widely known for its frequent protests and radical leftist graffiti.

Most tourists will spend their entire time in Colombia within the confines of its major cities, many limiting their escapades to Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena. This is a mistake! While you will get a dose of Colombia's unique culture via its cities, these are modern cosmopolitan centers and their inhabitants' lifestyles are eons away from the traditions of the past. Fortunately, for a taste of what I call the "real Colombia", you need only venture  a bit outside the city to find it.