Frailejón Ernesto Pérez, the beloved Colombian cartoon character and perhaps the most famous frailejón in the world, was created in 1922 to educate the public on the importance of environmental protection. Learning about this character through my fellow Fulbright ETAs spurred my enthusiasm for thim as well as for seeing frailejónes in real-life.
Frailejónes can be described as succulent plants with thick trunks that resemble short palm trees. At first glance, I thought they looked like a wooly cactus!
My first experience with a frailejón was on a hike with other Fulbright ETAs. These folks were buzzing with the anticipation that we might see one of these plants. My fellow Fulbrighters told me about their love for Frailejón Ernesto Pérez, a famous Colombian cartoon character, which spurred their eagerness to see these plants in person! When we finally came across the frailejónes , everyone's excitement was contagious. During subsequent hikes, I have taken, such as the one shown in these photos, I maintained feeling excitement every time I came across one!
