Wood

Another place we saw to show you how they are using the wood in the design of everyday life in this beautiful region of Armenia.

The wood that looks like bamboo is called Guadua. It used to make a lot of things including walls and floors. They move it aside and they get a flat material with nice random cracks.

Cafe

Coffee is obviously the most important topic of the region. And there are some nice places to go and discover how to grow coffee.

The region and the plantations are quite beautiful… Everything is so green!

I liked very much this cup’s design in enamel. Unbreakable for the drinks of the workers who have to go and work far from the farm.

However, we went to a place that was quite disappointing: they didn’t explain well what happens to the coffee seeds once you picked it up. Except when you drink it. I give you the address in case you don’t find anything or to advice you not to go I suppose. Recuca.

Botanical garden of Quindío

Very nice botanical garden close to Armenia, in Calarcá to be more precise. It looks like a jungle as it is more in a natural state than usual botanical gardens. They also have a beautiful place with butterflies.

This is the coolest bean I have ever seen: you can even sort your waste!

More information about this place, find out here.

Salento

Salento is a beautiful village on the top of the mountain which deserves to be seen.

The architecture is playing with the colours, and I have never seen so many different types of doors. It was quite inspiring to be honest.

In Salento, you can find many craft markets, restaurants, and you have the possibity to go up the mountain and see the whole village from above.

More information about Salento here.

Armenia

Doing a bit of tourism for a couple of days.

This region of Armenia is quite amazing. They have interesting colours on the architecture. The hotel where we were, interesting mix of colours.

If you are interested in the hotel, it was very clean, beautiful, and quite cheap for the region: Mi Monaco.

National Museum of Bogotá

The National Museum is quite nice to see the history of Colombia and to understand its origins. Worth having a look, and plus it’s free.

What I liked in terms of design were those funny faces made by the indigenes.

La Calera

Yesterday, we went to a place called La Calera, a village in the mountain close to Bogotá (16kms). It was a fight between the red and the yellow, with the brown being the judge. From Spanish…

Girasoles (Sunflowers)

I was happy taking pictures of sunflowers I bought in the flower market today. Well, I am a bit upset because I tried to negociate and I did. But another woman we met afterwards managed to get 3 times more flowers for the same price. And she was white like me! Grrr! I still need to learn!

Just training in photography as light in the living room was amazing. The light of Bogotá is amazing (when it’s sunny) at around 4.30/5pm. Just before the sun goes down.

Pielroja

THIS POST IS NOT AN ADVERT FOR A BRAND OF CIGARETTES.

I wanted to show you one of the most beautiful and typical logo of Colombia: Pielroja‘s. It is very simple, extremely well thought and gorgeous. Inspired by indigenous design, Pielroja is also part of Colombia’s culture. It is quite a strong tabacco, like Gauloise is France. As well as Coca Cola, it hasn’t really changed, generation after generation.

Sandra Pazos

Sandra Pazos is a Colombian designer who inspires herself from nature. She takes photos of nice plants and print them on objects like pillows or chairs. Very simple but nice result.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/SandraPazosRegalosConDiseno