Live. Laugh. Travel.

To the inhabitants of the Sera Nevada along the coastal mountain range of Columbia, money has no value, nor do cars, companies or material objects. To the Sera Nevada people, value is instead placed on the land, which they consider to be their mother, whose womb gave birth to their ancestors 400 years ago. With utmost respect for the soil, weather and the geographical plan of such an incredible coastal mountain region, these native communities navigate like nomads, constantly relocating their crops and villages to allow for the regeneration of their ancient land. They refer to their nomadic wanderings as weavings, with the notion that over time their efforts will weave a protective cloak over the Earth.

Deep within the Columbian coastal jungle, which so valuably belongs to the Sera Nevada people, I climb the 1500 stone steps to the Lost City, Ciudad Perdida. After 3 days of trekking in the company of only two other travellers, our guide and our cook, I climb silently, breathing deeply as we gain elevation to this secret land.

As I walk, the jungle engulfs me from every direction; a thick, purifying entanglement of emerald green leaves. The vibrancy of colour makes me feel as though I could reach out and touch it, smudging each shade of green into the next as if it were wet paint.

I sense the cook’s presence close behind me, a native Arhuaco inhabitant of this region. He is wearing traditional dress, a Hessian sack on his back full of cooking implements and two rubber tyre cut outs strapped to his feet for cushioning.
This man has a rarity about him that intrigues me. He seems to mould within his surroundings so elegantly, just as a baby moulds within its mother’s arms.

As we reach the entrance to the lost city, he stops and crouches down closing his eyes.

“Is he ok?” I ask our guide who glances at the cook and then smiles back at me.

“Yes, he is fine Zoë. He is simply stopping to let his soul catch up”.

Sighing in acknowledgement of his divine actions, I scan the city, and admire his ancestor’s accomplishments. Feeling tired and lost, I suddenly become overwhelmed by an urge to crouch down and close my eyes, for I too must stop and let my soul catch up.