Blogs from Bogota, Colombia, South America - page 5

This is the hardest blog I've had to start yet. This is my last entry from South America, though far from my last entry. The adventure has only just begun. I found myself in the most unlikely of situations. I went to Mancora, knowing it was my paradise from 2 long, and yet so short, years ago. I left after 8 days, believing that I couldn't find whatever it was that I was looking for in such an atmosphere: partying everyday with little else to do but laze around. But when I left, as I sat at the bus station, I craved it. I was closer than most of you will ever know to turning around. The bus was late, as usual, and I gave it 5 minutes. If it wasn't there in 5 more minutes, ... read more

As all big cities, Bogota initially overwhelms and intimidates the visitor with its hustle bustle, higher prices and unending city landscape. We chose the Candelaria or old section of Bogota, where museums, government buildings and cobble streets predominate. Our hostel, Anandamayi at a higher price range for $67 a night was clean, quiet and restful environment for a sick wife. Upon arrival, Amei was now hacking, coughing and displaying all the symptoms of a bad flu. It was the perfect place for a sicko, so we chose three nights in order for Amei to recuperate. The trooper that she is, we were able to still get out and view of few of the Bogota sites. The first and surprisingly really impressive was the Museum of Gold. Fine crafted gold jewelry, adornments, mask and more are displayed ... read more

...greeted us as we walked out of the Bogota International Airport after flying in from New York. Wives, husbands, lovers, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles & friends turn up to welcome anyone returning to Colombia so it seemed like a cast of thousands were there! And waiting for us were the soon to be married Angelica & Juan along with Angelica's dad Alvaro. As we didn't touch down until 9.30pm they took us straight to our apartment, arranging to pick us up today. Before Angelica & Alvaro arrived we went for a walk only to discover about four gun toting soldiers and half a dozen police in some sort of an operation not far from our apartment. Bogota is definitely a VERY interesting place; holes in the roads and footpaths, crowded old buses belching fumes all over ... read more

Last weekend was a 'puente', which is basically one of many long weekends here as everybody was given the Monday off work. A group of 8 of us rented a finca, which is a basic villa outside of the city and is something many Bogotáns have for weekend retreats, especially as land in the countryside here is cheap. It was in a place called Guatavita, which is a large lake in the mountains about an hour and a half outside of the city. It was pretty stunning as you can see below, and is unbelievably similar to somewhere like Lake Windermere. The finca itself was a very basic, with only just electricity to have light, but definitely no TV or computers! We were in an extremely remote area, surrounded by nothing but fields and the occasional ... read more

Day 203 Tuesday 1st May Today started like yesterday with a late breakfast and then hitting the streets looking at the shops, but today the temptations was too strong and I have brought a few things. A few of the shops in town have weaving machines and actually produce the fabrics in store, and then create a whole range of clothing. We bought a few items too many for our backpacks but are hoping to try and mail stuff home when we get to Bogota. We also took a walk down to the bus terminal and checked out the bus schedule for our journey tomorrow. The café we dropped in at yesterday was so good we decided to stop at again, and whilst there a bunch of guys approached us and asked if we would do ... read more