Since I am spending so much time in South America, learning Spanish is a priority for me so that I can get the most out of my time here and can really enjoy meeting and talking to the people. In fact, my initial reason for coming to Colombia was to take Spanish classes. The word in South America is that Colombians have the easiest accent and they speak the most slowly and clearly. In fact, movies dubbed into Spanish usually use Colombian actors and call centers for Spanish-speaking countries usually employ Colombians so people from all over South America can understand. (Does that mean that Indians speak the best English???)
Once I got to Colombia, I had to decide where to actually spend some time and take classes. After a day trip to the small town of Villa de Leyva, I knew I had found my spot! I was immediately charmed by this small town and its people.
Villa de Leyva is located about 4 hours north of Bogota. With a population of 8000, it’s a small town, very safe, and easy to get to know and call “home.” In 1954, the town of Villa de Leyva was declared a national monument, and accordingly, this colonial town has been preserved in its entirety with cobblestone streets and whitewashed buildings.
Most towns in South American have a central plaza, usually with the town’s main church and other important buildings lining it. The plaza is usually the center of the town’s social scene with people gathering outside to talk to neighbors and observe the goings-on. Villa de Leyva is known for its 120m x 120m plaza – one of the largest in all of South America! Pretty impressive for such a small town!
Villa de Leyva was a charming place to spend a week. If you find yourself in central Colombia, make a point to visit!
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