Cali in the Heart

The category Mira Vé Colombia includes articles that lead to «Cali in the Heart«. My wife was born in Santiago de Cali. For this reason, I dedicate this category to my beloved wife. Her family roots are in Santiago de Cali and throughout the Valle del Cauca district in Colombia.

Ay, Cali! The Branch of Heaven, where the sun always shines and the rhythm never stops. Here, the heat is carried in the soul, and people need no excuse to dance, sing, and celebrate. From the morning, when the aroma of pandebono and oatmeal mixes with the cool breeze of the valley, to the night, when the city lights come on to the rhythm of salsa and reggaeton, Cali in the heart is more than a phrase, it is a feeling that is lived on every corner, in every smile, in every dance step.

Every nook and cranny has its own story, every corner its own party. Chicken sancocho and Cali empanadas are the soul of the table, and there is nothing more traditional than a valley steak with rice, plantains, and salad, while enjoying a cold lulada. But it’s not all about the food, because when we talk about Cali, we’re talking about a town that dances and sings with all its heart. Cali salsa is our hallmark, moving to the beat of life, with feet dancing to the frenetic rhythm and arms in the air, as if there were no tomorrow.

Here, the Cali Fair is much more than an event, it is a never-ending celebration. The parade, the atmosphere, the concerts, the dancers in the streets, the cars full of people enjoying the salsódromo of life. And if it’s December, needless to say: the streets are filled with lights, music, joy, and that contagious energy that only we Cali people know how to convey.

Cali is also the birthplace of Petronio Álvarez, the festival that brings together the best of the Colombian Pacific, with drums, marimbas, and an explosion of sounds that speak of the African heritage of this land. But it’s not all salsa and Pacific, because reggaeton is also heard, vallenato is also felt, and everything merges into a continuous party, where those who don’t dance are left behind.

The people of Cali have something special, an overflowing joy that knows no gray days. It doesn’t matter if it’s Monday or Saturday, there’s always room for a party, a chat, a laugh, and a good party companion. Here, life is festive, full of flavor and rhythm, and there’s no doubt about it: in Cali, every day is a party that never ends. Cali in your heart is something you carry inside, because being from Cali means being part of an eternal party.