"If we were to translate vallenato to English, it would roughly mean, “born in the valley,” which refers to vallenato’s roots coming from the Caribbean region of Colombia."
Month: September 2025
Bandeja Paisa – Colombia’s Flavor on a Platter (Cuisine Spotlight)
"Flavorful, unique, and made up of different food groups, ‘Bandeja Paisa’ is a conglomeration of the best of Colombian cuisine, and specifically of the Antioquia region."
From the Caribbean to the World – The Journey of Salsa (Cultural Spotlight)
"If you’re walking in any city in Colombia or in most parts of Latin America and you start to feel the rhythm and the beat to some up-tempo music that sounds as if jazz and ‘son cubano’ had a baby, it would be known to the world as ‘Salsa.’"
Where Spring Never Ends – Exploring Medellin, Colombia
"Medellin, a bustling metropolis of over three million people, has a popular and well-known nickname, “The City of Eternal Spring.” I can say for certain that this particular nickname is well warranted and appropriate given the moderate temperatures and humidity that make up the day and night here."
Bachata Breakdown – History, Rhythm, and Soul (Cultural Spotlight)
"The most important thing to be aware of when dancing Bachata is to watch your steps and make sure you’re moving seamlessly with your lady or gentleman partner in tow."
Walking in the Wright Brothers’ Footsteps in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
"Any traveler including myself would not be able to do what we love and explore our own countries and the wider world without those people. Thus, it was special for me to visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in the Outer Banks region recently."
Churrascaria Unleashed – A Brazilian Meat Marathon (Cuisine Spotlight)
"While the ‘Fogo de Chao’ churrascaria or steakhouse is a very popular chain in the United States, Brazil, and around the world and whose name carries weight for being the most popular or the most expensive churrascaria depending on who you ask, there are more options out there than just this particular place. If you are going to really enjoy the churrascaria, you have to try out a few of them in where it all began: Brazil."