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| SPOTLIGHT | | Tropical
beaches and jungle, Wildlife, natural heritage and sun-kissed islands. |
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About Villa de Leyva:
Villa de Leyva:
Also called Villa de Leiva, this colonial-era town is a short distance
from Bogotá, and a popular day trip northeast of the capital. It's also
a popular weekend excursion, so during the weekend, the streets, restaurants,
places to stay and shops are crowded.
The
town was founded in 1572 as Villa de Nuestra Señora de Santa Maria de Leyva
and looks very much now as it did then. Cobblestoned streets, red-tiled roofs,
balconies and private courtyards retain the heritage.
Getting There:
Created a national historic monument in the 1950s, the town is a popular
attraction and home to artisans and many famous Colombians. Refer to this interactive
map from Expedia to see the bus route from Bogotá to Tunja, the capital
of Boyacá, and then by colectivo, past some intriguing landscapes like
these badlands to Villa de Leyva. The trip takes about four hours.
Places to Stay and Eat:
Hospedajes include hotels and hospederías
ranging from the very modest, and others like the Hostería Los Frayles
to the very expensive and un-missable Hostería Del Molino La Mesopotamia,
a hotel in what was once an old flour mill. See this photo of the 400 year old
converted flour mill.
You can also elect to stay in a finca or farm.
Make sure you make your reservations early for weekends in season and for major
holidays.
Restaurants offer local favorites, fast food choices and international
cuisine. There are also vegetarian restaurants, and if you trust your stomach,
try some of the offerings for typical fast food snacks from street vendors. Look
over some of the choices.
Try a local favorite from a pastry shop. Besos
de mi novia are a meringue and cake confection that melt on the tongue.
Things to do and See:
Villa de Leyva is a surprise to many who expect
to see dense forests and mountain ranges. The road from Bogotá travels
through pretty, green valleys before turning at Tunja into a drier climate. It's
a marvel to visitors how many varied ecological and climatic differences there
are in the country.
In town
The cobblestoned streets are
difficult to ride on, but lend themselves to strolling to see the colonial architecture
of white-washed houses with their wooden shutters, doors and balconies.
The
balconies are worth studying. There are differences between them, but they share
the characteristics of wood, usually painted green or a dark color, decorated
with plants, hanging pots and flowers. Bougainvilleas and geraniums are a colorful
favorite. Many of the front doors are massive, with carvings related to the original
owner's occupations or status.
Take a look at the courtyards. Built in true
Spanish tradition, they offer masses of plantings, fountains and shady nooks to
escape the heat. Some of these contain art galleries, so be sure to browse the
local artisanry.
Villa de Leyva's most distinct feature is the huge cobblestoned
plaza in front of the parish church. The Plaza Mayor is the largest of its kind
in Venezuela.
This list, in Spanish, of Villa de Leyva attractions and
city map gives you a thumbnail photo and description of the churches, civic buildings
and museums housed in some of the buildings around the plaza.
For a view of
town and the surrounding area, take the steep and rocky path up the statues of
Jesus, arms outstretched to protect the region.
Take a horseback ride around
town. It's easier than walking the cobblestones and you'll get a better idea of
what transportation was like centuries ago.
If you like pottery, visit Raquirá,
where the pots are handthrown by the women of the town. | |
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Top Beaches |  |
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Carmel Beach | | Carmel Beach, for one,
is a tranquil cove of blue water bordered by soft white sand and cypress-covered
cliffs (the tides are deceptively strong and dangerous, so be careful if you chance
a swim). | | |
| Hermosa
Beach | | Have fun with volleyball, paddleball
or beach ball, while creating a golden tan or toning up. Surfboarding, skateboarding
or boogey boarding are all here. | | |
| Long
Beach | | As you drive along the coast
of Long Beach, don't be fooled by the sight of the bright pastel islands just
off shore; far from natural, they're actually oil-drilling platforms in disguise. |
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| Surfrider
Beach | | Surfrider Beach here was the
surfing capital of the world in the 1950s and early 1960s, as seen in the Beach
Blanket Bingo movies of Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon (the surf is at its
best in late summer). | | |
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Malibu | | Malibu, at the top of the bay
twenty miles north of Santa Monica, is a whole other world, its beach-colony houses
owned by those famous enough to need privacy and rich enough to afford it. |
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Zuma Beach | | Five miles along the coast
from Malibu Pier, Zuma Beach is the largest and most crowded of the Los Angeles
County beaches. | | |
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Point Dume State Beach | | Adjacent Point
Dume State Beach, below the imposing promontory of Point Dume, is a lot more relaxed. |
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| Pismo
Beach | | Just outside San Luis Obispo,
on Pismo's 23-mile stretch of prime beachfront, flip-flops are the shoes of choice
and surf wear is the dominant fashion. It's all about beach life here, so bring
your bathing suit, your board, and a good book. | |
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Ocean Beach | | Ocean Beach, six miles
northwest of downtown, rivals Pacific Beach in its surfing and party atmosphere,
although Ocean Beach has a more down-to-earth, bohemian feel, and is replete with
excellent secondhand music shops. | | |
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La Jolla | | A more pretentious air prevails
in La Jolla, an elegant beach community just to the north that mystery writer
Raymond Chandler once described as "a nice place - for old people and their
parents." | | | |
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