Getting to Know Colombia: A story of loss and discovery

by Raphael Wilkins

A story of loss and discovery which is part memoir and part travelogue. In the wake of losing his wife Mary the author accepted an unexpected invitation to travel to Colombia. This became both a journey through the Colombian Andes and also one through the stages of bereavement. How does a person mourn when their leading emotion is relief? After being trapped by circumstances into caring for, in isolation, a complex and reclusive partner, the author was released by her death but only into disorientation. The chance offer from an old acquaintance led to an exotic travel experience, and a culture and landscape so stunning that everything had to be brought into a different perspective.

This frank and poignant memoir will appeal to people who enjoy reflective travel literature, to those who have had ‘complex’ bereavements, people interested in the reflections and choices of later life, It is for those who are drawn to lose and find themselves through travel to exotic locations. Within the travel book genre, it is the first book of reflective travel writing about Colombia in the previous books have concentrated on narco-crime in the region.

231 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 28, 2025

Reviews

[Nicola Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting To Know Colombia was a wonderful book. It was part memoir and part travelogue which I enjoyed. I was so sad for Raphael due to Mary's passing. He was so honest about his journey with grief.

The cover is beautiful. The mountains and the flowers made for a stunning visual. The colours are great too and work well together.

I enjoyed learning about Colombia too. The country sounds like it so rich with culture and history. The mountain areas sounded very beautiful.

I do hope Raphael that you're doing well now. I definitely recommend Getting To Know Colombia.

[Tracey Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Getting to know Colombia is part memoir and part travelogue that takes you on the author's journey through grief with losing his wife Mary to discovering and exploring Colombia.

This was an interesting and heartfelt read that pulls you into the author's travels and Colombia's history. The authors writing is thoroughly descriptive and makes you feel like you've visited Colombia through his writing while you're reading.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

[Cait's Reading Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting to Know Colombia combines memoir and travel in a moving story of loss and discovery. The book navigates multiple phases and definitions of grief, loss, and bereavement. It considers their complexities and the journey these emotions take.

Following the loss of his wife, the author received an unexpected invitation to Colombia. During this journey, the author sees a new perspective about Colombia through the people he meets along the way.

The emotional journey throughout the book is profound and reflective.

I enjoyed reading the individual stories of the people the author meets in Colombia, the history of the towns, villages, and mountains of Colombia. This book brings a unique, reflective perspective about travel writing and the story of Colombia. We learn about the geography, people, history, food, and culture of the country. We read about vast landscapes and history of Colombia’s people. We learn about then cuisine and culture of the country. The prose paints a vivid picture of the country, almost like we as the readers are there.

This memoir reinforces the important of vulnerability; we share our emotions and experiences. Vulnerability is a sign of growth and evolution and allows us to build connect in journeys unknown. .

I found the idea of vulnerability as a strength a powerful theme of the book. We see how healing and emotional journeys take time. They complex and have many layers and perspectives.

Thank you to Raphael Wilkins & Zooloo’s Book Tours for the gifted digital copy of the book and the opportunity to be a part of the tour! I was provided a copy of this book for free and am leaving an honest review.

[Joanne Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read! It hits so many facets and genres; part memoir, part travelogue, part tour guide and part self-help for the author, this ticks many boxes without feeling like it’s trying.

Colombia itself is presented through the author’s eyes when he returns there in later life following the death of his wife, for whom he has been a career.

The depiction of this country, in itself a melting pot of culture, history and influenced by many civilisations, it’s almost the perfect foil for Raphael who, alongside his travel reflections, also analyses key moments in his own history.

His observations are thoughtful; keenly attuned to his own foibles and idiosyncrasies very self-aware. I liked how he drew on past experiences when in present moments, reflecting both on memories and how things within them had remained static or changed over time.

It’s poignant, yet uplifting at the same time and has certainly ignited a fascination with Colombia in me!

With thanks to the author and Zoe at Zooloo’s Book Tours for the opportunity to participate in the book tour.

[Rustic_Reads_ Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of loss and discovery which is part memoir and part travelogue. In the wake of losing his wife Mary the author accepted an unexpected invitation to travel to Colombia.
This became both a journey through the Colombian Andes and also one through the stages of bereavement.

How does a person mourn when their leading emotion is relief? After being trapped by circumstances into caring for, in isolation, a
complex and reclusive partner, the author was released by her death but only into disorientation.

The chance offer from an old acquaintance led to an exotic travel experience, and a culture and landscape so stunning that everything had to be brought into a different perspective.

This frank and poignant memoir will appeal to people who enjoy reflective travel literature, to those who have had ‘complex’ bereavements, people interested in the reflections and choices of later life, It is for those who are drawn to lose and find themselves through travel to exotic locations

[Fatguyreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a great admirer of travel writers and am a real lover of travel writing ( my favourite being Michael Palin ), so I'm well versed in the art and my shelves are stocked with lots of wonderful travel books, so I jumped at the chance to read this and I must say, I was impressed.

Getting to know Colombia is a bit different to the books I usually read though. It's part travel book, and part memoir, having been written following the passing of the author's Wife.

It's an immersive, profound read, and covers the author’s travels through the Colombian Andes while dealing with the complexities of mourning and bereavement.

So it's a multi facetted book that's authentic, deeply personal and is sure to resonate with the majority of us who have experienced loss.

It's a profound read, with a great sense of authenticity and the thought, effort and heart put into this is clear to see.

Just wonderful.

5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.

[Kelly Hollingworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting read that is part memoir and part travel writing. The author was invited to Colombia by his friend Melba after the passing of his wife Mary. The journey was both physical and emotional, as he journeyed through the country and his bereavement. I enjoyed reading about Colombia which has always held a sense of mystique and fascination for me. The insight gave me the opportunity to learn about the geography, culture, history and people as well as about the author’s grief process. The journey gave him a sense of accomplishment and helped with his long term choices - providing inspiration and aspirations. I loved that one of his lasting memories was the ambience of the hacienda after such a difficult period in his life. This is a poignant, heartfelt book, bereavement juxtaposed with the joy of travel. I am sure many people will relate in various ways and extents to his bereavement journey. I enjoyed reading and reflecting on my own experiences.

[Jo Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author returned to Columbia after a period of stasis and isolation from caring for his wife and dealing with her loss. I was inspired by his courage to take up the offer of an old acquaintance for a guided tour through the real Columbia, and even more so by their sharing this journey through their descriptive prose.

I went down rabbit holes in search engines to see photographs and views of the places Wilkins described so richly, falling in love with the people and history of Columbia.

I have even more admiration for Wilkins for sharing his bittersweet memories of his life with his wife, Mary, not shying away from those associated with anger and frustration, examining his grief and emotions following such a complex loss. However, it’s never maudlin, and is written with candour and authenticity. It’s quite frankly stunning.

[Ag · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that should be labeled and put into a genre called THIS IS LIFE. The book has it all - memories, loss, love, thoughts, nature, discoveries, self-discoveries, travels, getting to know others, getting to know the world. With so much heart and so much soul. It's filled with empathy and hope. It's complex and vivid. Also, it will send you down the very unexpected rabbit hole of reading about Colombian history.

[Sylvia Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting to Know Columbia by Raphael Wilkins is not a book I’d typically pick up but I am so grateful that I did.

This book is part travel writing and part exploration of the author’s grief at losing his wife. The writing is evocative and descriptive and filled with both heartbreak and adventure.

It was truly a pleasure to read and made me long to explore Columbia for myself.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really was a journey of both grief and travel, and I loved it, the writing flowed beautifully giving insights into both journeys.
The way Colombia was described gave a wonderful feel for the country and its beauty along with the culture, interwoven was Raphael’s own journey after years of being a carer.
A beautiful read