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Published: September 28th 2009
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Heavy traffic greeted us in Bogota, despite that though I just have that inkling that i will like this city, its huge! We got dropped off at the central terminal and took a taxi to our hostel in Candelaria, Destino Nomad. The taxi driver got lost and confused and blamed Lucy for it! He missed a turn and had to go back around again, we told him he was the driver so he should know where to go! Made it and checked in, the receptionist wasnt very friendly, we got nice dorm rooms but i feel its too sterile. Anyhow we managed to get hold of Cath, Johnny and Mary who got here day before us but is not staying here, they are at Hotel Sue 2, so we met up with them at their hostel, i had a snoop around and liked what i saw and decided to move here tomorrow plus my friend Junko is supposed to be staying here too.
We went to a small restaurant with a set meal for 4,000 pesos only, great meal! Then we headed to a bar to have hot alcoholic drinks cause its very cold here. I had the amaretto coffee
which was a mistake, i came back to the hostel, chilled out with some people then tried to go to bed but failed, 6 hours of tossing and turning the sun came up and am wide awake! i took a shower, checked out and walked to Hostal Sue 2. They have a nice comfy bed for me but first I have to see the city, such a nice day it would be a waste to spoil it.
I had a map from Natalia the receptionist, after seeing Junko at hostel Sue 1 I agreed to meet up with her and her English friend Cath for dinner. This city is huge, but I like the vibe here, the Candelaria district where I am at is cool, lots osf students, historic places etc. First stop is Museo de Oro, the collection is cool but got boring in the end, then i wanted to check out the Emerald museum but you pay 8,000 pesos($4) so i skipped it. I purposely lost myself in the city and walked around trying to absorb the enrgy and vibe of the people living here. I got lost bad as usual and though i have a map
I did not use it and somehow found some of the attractions like the street where all the museums are, went at the Money museum, Botero Museum etc. Botero was one of my fave, his paintings are good too of fat people! trying to get home is not gonna be easy, got lost really bad and 3 hours later i found the hostel!
That evening Junko and Cath met us at the hostel, Alex their German friend and a few people from the hostel went out with us for a few beers and dinner, we sat outside in a small plaza and all the beggars came to us asking for food or money. We gave some and they kept coming, so we left and went to a few more bars in this small alleyway. The girls left before midnite and the boys went out some more, then back to the hostel, good night sleep.
The next morning said goodbye to the American dude going home and Alex and I went for a walk around the town, going to places i have not been before, we tried to go on the teleferico but its expensive for us 14,000pesos for
roundtrip, we want to walk to the hill but its shut. So we hang out in the park instead with local Uni students, there was a Presidential candidate going around talking to students, a woman and she looks rich!
Alex and I went to shop for some food and drinks before going back to the hostel, we passed by the Andy Warhol museo. More people in the hostel, after dinner which we cooked Alex and i went with a bunch of people to this place where we can play this unique game where you throw a metal thing to a clay laden target, cant remember the name of it apparently it makes explosions! It was on the other side of town and it was already shut, no more games but the bar is open, we had a look anyway then left and went back to Candelaria, we all went out to a few bars, a reggae bar is where we stayed 1st then to a bar near our hostel. then back to go to bed. My Argentine roomie came back in the AM! wow this guy can party.
The next day the Peruvian chef living in the hostel
cooked up a storm for us we each paid 10,000 pesos($5) for an excellent meal of ceviche and arroz con mariscos, superb!! We had a fire going as well in the patio we sat there while waiting for food passing around a sisha pipe that this French dude brought with him, cool evening, then off to bed, i begged off going out tonite, too tired even Diego the Argentino roomie of mine could not persuade me to go out. The 2 Japanese dudes in the hostel does not interact and always in their computer! Junko tried to chat with them but they are not very social, oh well.
Spent the next day walking around Carrera 7 a long stretch of avenue where they have the Nacional Museum, big Universities and parks, there is one section where they have brownstone houses, really cool. It was drizzling a bit but did not amount to anything, so I enjoyed my walk. In the eve me and Junko went to a Japanese restaurant as we are craving for some, but the place in the small alleyway near our hostel was crap, very expensive and not too good and the beer prices were wrong!
Bogota
Lucy, Mary and Johnny, last nite out with them After our meal we left and bought some pizza slices at a street corner place.
Went salsa dancing with Junko and her friends, Martin her Colombian friend and a Japanese dude, Mark and I tagged along, we took the Milenio bus to meet Martin. We went to this bar where you pay 15,000 pesos for all you can drink rum, vodka, whiskey, but have to pay extra for beer! Martin had us try this potent drink called cabeza de something cant remember, and hooked us boys with local girls to dance with! Great fun, they taught me some steps as if I will remember them. Went home around 2amish and just chilled at the hostel talking with Mark then bed at 5am! Woke up with a sore head and the feeling of wanting to puke, not good...
Sunday there is a lot of flea markets everywhere and the main street Carrera 7 is closed to traffic only bikes, really cool way to walk around and enjoy the city. Lots of police and military as well so felt quite safe to stroll around. All museums are free and if not very cheap entrance, the museums here are cool well
set up, i was impressed. Bogota is now one of my fave city, 5 days here and ready to move on, will miss it, La Candelaria the historical part of town is a nice place to hang out. had a last dinner with Mark, nothing much open and alcohol is prohibited from being sold as it is primary election here today, ley seco says a strip of tape across the booze racks, we ended up in a pizza place had our fill and chilled at the hostel until its time to go. Luisa called for a taxi for me after checking that there indeed is a late eve bus to Medellin. Diego my Argentine roomie played ping pong with me until the taxi came. The taxi charged me 15,000 pesos! But its a Sunday and its late so i did not really care anymore. He warned me to go straight to the counter and to not buy tickets outside, so i did what he said, and bought 48,000 ticket at the taquilla. Goodbye Bogota, I shall miss you..
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AnnaAdventuring
Anna Louise
I enjoyed reading your blog. Wonderful photographs too.