The legend

'El Sombrerón' is a legend which has been very traditional and popular in Manizales, a department located in the Andean Region in the centre- west of Colombia. The legend refers to a man who wears a very big hat and also he rides a horse in Manizales’ streets, other characteristics of him is his company, because there are two black dogs located each of his side as if they were his pets.

http://fabulas.info/leyenda-del-sombrern.html

 This creature wanders inside the streets of Manizales with an aspect very creepy and frightening, that is the appearance described by many gamblers and drinkers who have seen him at least once, and it is not difficult to understand why people like them have seen him, because “El Sombrerón” likes appearing to drinkers and gamblers the days which they most enjoy, the Fridays. People say that he appears to gamblers and drinkers because he wants to put them his hat and if he can’t do that, he chases them saying: 'If I catch you, I put it'.

At nights people are cautious because nobody wants to use his hat far for being to see him, however there are a little degree of uncertainty respect of his presence, then some times, drinkers think that this creature is a product of their inebriation state but some gamblers have affirmed that he is a real and creepy creature.

Although those different perspectives about this creature, few people not know the real reason why 'El Sombrerón' wants to put his hat to drinkers and gamblers in order to give them a lesson not to terrorize them, even though some people continue being frightened of him and he also continues wandering in Manizales’ streets.

Click here to listen to the legend.

Profile's characters

"El Sombrerón": He is a terrifying man; his favourite accessory is his huge hat because besides of being his favourite accessory, it is an object very useful for giving lessons to people who waste the time and also... the life.

Drinkers: They are really afraid of "El Sombrerón"  because they are not sure if he looks like the horrific creature that they have seen every Friday or it is just a common person who wears a particular hat has ever seen before.

Gamblers: They don’t explain themselves why the creature attacks also them, because they think that their time is part of a game every time and everywhere, they think that to bet every Friday at night is not bad, it is just for relaxing after a hard journey, but they don’t know that it is good for the creature... the bad characteristic is that he hates that people waste the money and the time always, without take into account  their families or their children.

About the region.

http://www.elespectador.com/vivir/buen-viaje-vip/panoramica-de-manizales-imagen-275781

Manizales is the capital of Caldas department. It was founded in 1849 by colonists of Antioquia.Today is called 'The City of Open Doors' because of the fair that is celebrated here and it is considered as cultural heritage in America.
There are different activities in which you can participate related with extreme sports, tipical dance and taste a vriety of different typical plates, one of them is bandeja paisa. The International Coffee Pageant which is a characteristic feature of its feria is one of the reasons why you would like to visit this city.

International Coffe Pageant/

One of the typical plates: Bandeja paisa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VRXxQH6QPg