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in this vicinity it would be worthwhile to visit the Museum of Modern Art and the Archaeological Museum, all within walking distance of the plaza.

This sector of the city also houses a splendid collection of churches and chapels which date back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. However, after the destructive earthquake of 1785, several had to be rebuilt and the original versions were forever lost to history. The current architectural designs, though, are just as inviting to discover.

On the outskirts of the city a traveler can also choose to explore a couple different natural areas like the Laguna of Guatavita and Chicaque Park. These areas provide hiking trails with an abundance of high altitude flora and fauna to observe. A visitor may find it hard to believe that a bustling city with roughly 8,000,000 inhabitants is in such close proximity.

To the north of the city sits the small Muisca indigenous community of Zipaquira. Although the town itself is appealing with fine examples of colonial architecture, the salt mines which lie underground to the west are the main attraction for visitors. These mines house the world's largest underground cathedral which was excavated from the mineral deposits and opened to the public in 1995. Its unusual intrigue certainly merits a visit.

Although the capital city offers much more than can be mentioned at this point, visitors will find it to be an inviting environment with friendly and hospitable Colombians who are willing to point a tourist in the right direction. Some other popular urban areas worth traveling to are Medellin in the heart of the more tropical coffee region; Cali in the hot valley of Cauca; the white, colonial city of Popayan; Pasto with its guardian volcano Galerias; and the city of parks in Bucaramanga. Around all of these major centers lie pleasant little towns, each with their own particular charm, and each destination promises to offer something different than the other.

One other urban area worth mentioning in some detail and noting on your itinerary is the Caribbean coastal city of Cartagena, certainly the most famous tourist destination in Colombia. Cartagena of the Indies, as it is formally called, should not be missed. Listed as one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, Cartagena is home to over a million inhabitants who are largely of Afro-Caribbean descent.

Cartagena has a rich history as the Caribbean's busiest port city. It is most noted for its Old City district which is protected by a huge

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