Salsa is Cali’s lifeblood. This is a city that’s as hot as the weather, passionate as the salsa and spicy as the chilis. Cali is a city that sizzles after the sun goes down, holding the seat as Colombia’s salsa capital. Cali is one of the world’s most famous cities for salsa. By day, Cali reminds me of walking around in West Hollywood. By night, the city’s a buzz with salsa clubs. Of the most famous, Tin Tin Dao is the hottest spot.
I went on a Thursday night, and was intimidated by the costumes, fancy foot work and swaying hips that belonged in an episode of Dancing with the Stars. I tried my best to absorb the rhythms, but I ended up looking more like a pop-locking chicken.
A little bit about Cali’s history:
Cali is rich with history, passion and modernism. Before the days of civilization, much of South America was inhabited by indigenous tribes; Cali was no different.The lands were used for slave-holding and agriculture prior to Cali’s independence in 1811. Most of the land was utilized for agricultural purposes: plantations, cattle farms or mango fields. More recently, sugar cane and gold mines have been an integral part of Cali’s resources.
Location
According to the world atlas, “Colombia is positioned in the northern, southern and western hemispheres. It is located on the northwestern corner of South America and bordered by Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Central America and the country of Panama and by the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
My observations about Cali?
Hot days, hotter nights, party, party, party. Top it off with beautiful exotic women and more fake boobs then in California.. really. Not my scene, but glad we had the experience.
Lainie Liberti is a recovering branding expert, who’s career once focused on creating campaigns for green – eco business, non-profits and conscious business. Dazzling clients with her high-energy designs for over 18 years, Lainie lent her artistic talents to businesses that matter. But that was then.
In 2008, after the economy took a turn, Lainie decided to be the change (instead of a victim) and began the process of “lifestyle redesign,” a joint decision between both her and her 11-year-old son, Miro. They sold or gave away all of of their possessions in 2009 and began a life of travel, service, and exploration. Lainie and her son Miro began their open-ended adventure backpacking through Central and South America. They are slow traveling around the globe allowing inspiration to be their compass. The pair is most interested in exploring different cultures, contributing by serving, and connecting with humanity as ‘global citizens.’
Today Lainie considers herself a digital nomad who is living a location independent life. She and her son write and podcast their experiences from the road at Raising Miro on the Road of Life.
