Ciclovía los domingos

entire kilometers of roads are often closed so that people can run

A Sunday is a traditional day in Colombia. Depending on the city, people tend to do similar things. For example, in Santa Marta, I used to go to mass with my mom, dad, and sister, then we would go to eat arepa de huevo, which is typical of the region, and then to the sea near the airport or to Minca, which is a mountainous area, and we would swim in the river with its icy water, in those streams.

In Bogotá and Medellín, Sundays are experienced differently. In these cities, entire kilometers of roads are often closed so that people can run, go out with their families, with their dogs, ride bicycles, and more on the streets with the security of police presence in some areas.

This is what I mean when I say that the quality of life is better in Colombia than in other countries. I don't say this because I'm Colombian, I say it because it's true. Nor do I mean simply allowing roads for people to exercise on Sundays; I mean experiencing it firsthand.

The energy of the people, the juices, the fruits, the music, the dogs, the families, everything has an atmosphere worth experiencing.

Colombia is a fantastic country full of problems. That's the best definition (excepto los domingos). It's as if on Sundays the country puts its problems on hold. You don't see many issues. There are no people asking for money on the streets, there are no thieves (I imagine they also take Sundays off). The chaos diminishes noticeably, and magic appears. Everything seems to flow. When you come to Colombia, you can experience what I'm telling you firsthand.

That's something good to highlight.

The plan for Sundays is to go to the bike path, have breakfast at Crepes & Waffles, then go to a shopping mall to walk around or buy things, then have lunch, followed by eating ice cream, and finally going to the movies. That's the ideal plan for Sundays for all Colombians, and that's what I mean when I say the quality of life is superior. A Sunday is sacredly family-oriented. Oh! I almost forgot, you have to go to mass.

In Santa Marta, Sundays are different. There's no bike path there, but what people do is go to mass and then go for a walk to the beach or to Minca. They have lunch at the beach, have a few beers, and then return home around 5pm-6pm. Almost nobody works on Sundays.

What I mean by this is that Sundays in Colombia are traditional. They're family-oriented, and that's why Colombia is such a valuable place to live. People are very close-knit.

Come Monday, everything will be different. The chaos returns. But on Sundays, magic happens. Love appears, and everything flows naturally. Families, dogs, sports. It's as if Sundays remind this country of what it can be until Monday arrives, and well, it's time to work and return to the natural chaos.