The Hamster Races of Colombia

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Due to the popularity of my picture of the hamster line up, I have decided to put up more pics so you can better understand this, one of Colombia's great mysteries.

As my sister said best,
"Don't keep all those hamster pictures to yourself."
Very well, I'll share...

So, it starts out that you see a lot of people standing around in a circle, in Bogota, in the Center. Naturally, you go to check it out. When you see these adorable hamsters, of course you have to smile, and nudge up closer for a better look, and to try to figure what the heck is going on.

After a few goes, you get the gist of it. The hamsters stand there huddled together, for Bogota is a bit chilly, and also maybe they're a big nervous...their big performance is to come. Which will be chosen?

What you have to do, is put your money on the bowl that the hamster is going to enter. How do you know which one? Just go with the hunch you feel in your chest, just go ahead. There you go, good. You put 100, 200 or 500 pesos, and you can win about four times as much, perhaps 75 cents if your are feeling really lucky, and brave. But I don't know, that's a lot to wager, 500 pesos, which is about 25 cents.

Then, once people place their bets, the hamster is chosen--sometimes even two of them at once! When it's two, it's kind of funny, one goes first, and the other follows close behind, very close, as in with their nose up the lead hamsters butt, for all I can discern...too bad I didn't get a pic of that. Next time...

Well, the hamster goes and chooses the bowl, and somehow I'm always wrong! But, I've never been a very good gambler. I remember when I went to the Monte Carlo in Monaco France, a pretty famous casino. After blowing a few euros in the slots there, I went back to the grocery store, because I was having better luck there. At least there for my euros I was getting grapes and stuff.

So, if you ever find yourself in Bogota, just go to the museum of gold, and near there, you'll find these hamster races, and if you're feeling luck, well, do you, punk?

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