Unforeseen Beauty Amongst The Andes

South American Marvels Exposed

(CBS/Melissa Castellanos)  After your trek up the mountain, a great place to eat some delicious, traditional Colombian food is Santa Clara Restaurant that overlooks a magnificent view of Bogotá. Built in 1924 in Usaquén, Santa Clara Restaurant is a beautiful white house that was moved to Monserrate in 1979.

While I was there, I dined on a scrumptious grilled Caribbean chicken dish with a light tropical sauce that wasn't too sweet or too salty. The entrée came with white rice and black beans, which tasted even better, mixed in with the sauce. For my beverage, I had the Colombiana, a Colombian soft drink that is called "champagne soda."

The Museo de Oro (Museum of Gold) beautifully showcases one of the largest gold collections in the world. The impressive pre-Columbian gold collection, made up of 33,000 pieces from 13 different cultures, once symbolized power held by ancient rulers and prominent leaders in society.

Some of the tastiest food that you can find are from the small cafes or street vendors, such as Arepa, (rice cakes) Almojabanas (a combination of bread and cheese) Pandeyuca, (yucca bread with cheese) Aguapanela, which is a warm tea-like beverage made from brown sugar. Even your average chicken with rice and beans dish is delicious because Colombian sauces are added to compliment the taste. Cacao, or hot chocolate, is much different in Colombia then it is in the U.S. because it is cooked on the stove from a dark, bittersweet chocolate bar. Oftentimes, Cacao is paired with cheese or bread.

While on vacation you have to indulge a little and not worry about your calorie intake, so a sweet treat that is a must-try is Arequipe. It is made from condensed milk and has a soft, caramel-like texture.

Another must-see when visiting Colombia is the Catedral de Sal (The Salt Cathedral), which is located in Zipaquirá, 28 miles outside of Bogotá. The Catedral de Sal is an underground cathedral constructed completely out of solid salt that is located deep inside the mountain.

Colombian miners arduously constructed the mine, which was founded in 3 B.C. and has been extensively worked on for centuries. The mine was officially opened to the public in 1954, but was closed in 1992 for safety reasons; however, a new chamber was excavated 60 miles away and was opened for visitors in December 1995. The Catedral de Sal is 75 miles long and 18 miles high and it has the capacity to hold over 8,000 people.

The Catedral de Sal is open year round, from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guided tours in English and Spanish are available every half hour. Cost for an adult is $12 (USD) for adults, children (4-12) and $6 for seniors. There a group rates available. On Wednesdays the admission is half price, but there are no group reductions.

The Catedral de Sal is pretty accessible from Bogotá. You can take a bus in from Bogota's main terminal or you can take the Transmilienio to Portal de Norte (25, 50, 60, 70 and 100) and transfer to a feeder bus there. This method is cheaper and faster and will get you there in an hour to an hour and a half.

Another option is to take the "Tren de la Sabana" (Savannah train) which leaves on weekends and holidays at 8:30 a.m. from the "Estación de la sabana," which is in the Zona Norte. If you go on a Sunday, you can catch a mass at noon.

Inside you can see The Stations of the Cross that are beautifully carved out of the rock salt as well as a stunning 52-foot illuminating cross. La Catedral de Sal is festively decorated for Christmas mass, which draws thousands of worshipers. The spacious ambiance and hollow caves create extraordinary acoustics, which draws musicians from around the world.

After taking in the sights of Bogotá and Zipaquirá, alas it was time to leave and to head back to New York City. I savored my last sips of the best coffee in the world and said farewell to my beloved aunt and cousins.

During my stay, I had the chance to see the genuineness of the people with their strong sense of faith and generosity, the sense of unity within the immediate and extended family, the respect towards elders, the delicious food and coffee, the love of music and dance and their passion for soccer -- all the perfect ingredients that make for a rich cultural experience. ¡Viva Colombia!