The prettiest place on earth Emblase de Penol.

Game over, folks. The jury's decided.
The lake next to Guatape, Colombia, an hour east of Medellin, is the prettiest place on earth.
If you can't get in touch with me, it's because I moved there.
The lake is called Emblase de Penol, and it's a combination of every New England lakeside retreat, tiny hamlet or isolated fishing hole that you've ever dreamed of.
And it never snows. And it's always springtime. And it's never hot, or dry, or windy or anything other than perfect.

This view shows a small part of the lake. The rest is equally spectacular.
You'll want to be a boat person to enjoy life on the lake fully. Or a fisherman. Or sailor.
Or maybe you'll just want to spend your time visiting the impossibly cute town of Guatape, population 5,600.

In Guatape, you'll find every house and shop decorated with its own emblem declaring some part of its occupant's personal history.  We're going to start this tradition in our Coconut Grove neighborhood, though Guatape has been doing it for more than 100 years.

Luke and I pause in a town square, full of locals hanging out in the cool evening.

Christmas decorations stay up for about six weeks, which keeps spirits light.

Luke's in the spirit!...

 And hugs a burro...

Above the town towers El Penol, a 656 foot tall block of unmistakable granite.  Here's the ladders/stairs going up a fissure in the side. (photo credit to Wikipedia)

Here's the rock's shadow looking down after a 755 step climb up.  (photo credit Luke)

                      (photo from Wikipedia)

 After climbing up, Luke and school friend Simon are rightly proud.

And once back down, they deserve a ride into town in a three-wheeled tuk-tuk.  Another innovation that we need back in the Grove.

By the way, a lakeside home costs $100,000.  Let me know if you want to go halfsies with me.  I'm serious.