Sandra’s brother Andres came to Medellin with his new girlfriend Johanna, and we decided to all go to Guatapé together for a weekend. They arrived on Friday evening and briefly visited our flat before we went for an Indian dinner at Mercado del Rio.

Early Saturday morning we left for Guatapé, a few hours drive from Medellin. We stayed in a B&B just before town. It had an incredible view of the water from its back yard, and a giant net for relaxing in.

We spent the afternoon wandering around town, enjoying the vibrant colours and the 3D murals that decorate many of the Colonial towns around here. Guatapé is the most tourist-filled town in Antioquia, and has plenty to entertain including breweries on the waterfront.

On Sunday morning we all made the trek up the 800 steps to the top of the famous rock spire. Last time I’d been up here it was pouring rain, so the merely cloudy skies this time were a relief, and they couldn’t hide the stunning views of the lake meandering among the mountains. It was a beautiful weekend and a great time for me to get to know Andres better.

If we’d been thinking more clearly, Sandra and I would have taken a bus back to Medellin and let Andres and Johanna leave for Bogota directly from Guatapé, but instead Andres drove us back, adding a few hours to his long, long drive.