TRAVEL | Cup of Glo

Hello again, this post is long overdue. We were lucky to spend about a month in Colombia this summer and we have so much to share with you. We experienced music & food in three very different cities: Medellín, Cartagena and Bogotá. .

We’ll begin by giving you a visual tasting:

Bakeries line the streets of downtown Bogotá. Shelves piled full with warm and delicious homemade empanadas and bread.

A light and blissful maracuja crepe.

Vibrant homes near Medellín.

Inside the Totumo mud volcano near Cartagena.

La bandeja paisa, a typical breakfast in Medellin. We ate the meat-free version.

A classic topped with fresh manchego cheese and pepper.

Cartagena is a beautiful city that has worked to preserve its architectural history.

Dinner on Cartagena’s historic Plaza San Diego.

Colombians know how to make a pizza: thin, crispy and topped with fresh basil.

Vegetarian restaurant in Cartagena served veggie stacks as an appetizer.

Fresh mango juice with coconut milk.

Mark enjoying his fresh mango juice.

Avocado, spinach, mushroom and pepper wrap in Bogotá.

Enjoying a cup of Colombian coffee 180 meters below sea level in Zipaquirá’s Cathedral of Salt.

One night while wandering through the streets of Cartagena’s Walled City, we heard Cuban music and were instantly drawn to La Vitrola. We enjoyed a few drinks, carpiriña (me), piña colada (Mark) and listened to some of the best live Cuban music on earth. La Vitrola is a food and music lover’s haven.

We even got to hang out with La Vitrola’s incredible band.

Like I said earlier, we have so much to share still from the trip. We will be posting a vegan ceviche recipe and a Colombia inspired playlist in the next few days.

Thank you for reading,

Gloria & Mark

There was lots of exploring, brunching, book finding, schmoozing with amazing writers and sharing coffee & tea with friends.

Out & About in Chicago

1. Met my close friend, Leona for brunch # 1 at a really cute diner called Jam n’ Honey. They had fresh jam and Nutella on every table, this was testament to their delicious food.

2. Leona is also a yoga teacher, we had so much fun nerding-out about yoga stuff together.

3. Life-changing coffee from Intelligentsia.

4. One of my favorite AWP panels was NPRU Kidding Me? Hosts and producers from This American Life and Radio Lab spoke about the connection between creative writing and writing for radio. It was really cool to be in the same room with so many voices I listen to during the week. I am NPR obsessed, so this panel really got me excited about writing and storytelling and well, life in general, AND, to make things even better(and to make me want to jump out of my seat with joy) Rebecca Skloot was a guest on the panel. She spoke about documenting stories while writing the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (which, if you haven’t read, I highly recommend). I was besides myself. I attended many panels at AWP on everything from translating to poetic forms, but this was by far the most memorable.

5. Brunch #2 at m. henrietta.

6. Blackberry blisscakes from m. henrietta.

7. Went to hear Margaret Atwood(one of my favorite authors)speak on the craft of writing in the gorgeous Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University.

8. Tea at Argos. I had Gemaicha and a vegan matcha muffin(you may be noticing a green tea trend).

9. It was so windy! Shaking in my boots while waiting for the train.