Colombia´s coffee region

A few nights in Colombia´s coffee region proved to be informative and relaxing. The small pueblo that I stayed at in Salento reminded me of my last and best stop of Vilcabamba, Ecuador. However, this was at least twice the size and the tourist bug has already bit this place. Still, Salento and its´people have retained much of their small town feel. I hope that Vilcabamba will be able to do the same in the future.
In Salento I learned all about the coffee making process. And, every traveler I linked up with there was a pleasure to be around. One day I hiked to two coffee plantation, one large and one small, with 2 people from Holland, one from Australia, and another from Japan. We all hiked together several miles throughout the day enjoying one anothers company, the scenery, and the plantations. I still do not drink coffee, however, I love the smell and know the step by step process either by hand or machinery. The best part about this experience, and that of traveling, are sharing travelling experience with all the other travelers on their trek.
Some travellers are young and only beginning their travels and others are several months in to their journeys. Sometimes life friends are made, but often just enjoying the company of cool people for a few days is enough.
I was told by another traveller in Ecuador about someone who was staying in Vilcabamba. We never met up, but oddly enough, there she was in Salento. It´s ironic and really cool to meet people that I have met in the past while travelling in another country. I have also heard similar stories from others. Reencountering people is a unique and fun thing about travelling.
Now I have arrived back in bogota to spend my last few days with my good friends. Since they are the main reason for me coming to Colombia, I figure that it is best to see them while I am still here. This will be my first saturday night in bogota and it should be fun...