March 25, Bogota, Colombia

Usual start to the day. Like yesterday the morning is cool with clear skies. It will warm up!

I headed for the National Park. I did not get too far and I caught the Good Friday procession. Marching bands, crucifixes and the stations of Christ. It is Good Friday. A huge crowd of followers.
Further along the way stopped and went up the office tower Colpatria.

They have an observation deck on the roof, about 200 metres. 50th floor? 48 by elevator and then the last 2 by stairs. Great views! The Calle 7, the main pedestrian street in the centre is very distinctive.

It took about 1 1/2 hours to get to Park. Very nice... lots of people around but still no where as busy as the centre! Nice break away from all the loud speakers flogging their goods!

A huge park with tennis courts, football fields, street hockey arena and lots of grass to sit on! There is a river running through the park but is very small and completely bricked off!

Wandered back. stopping for coffee along the way. The coffee is amazing where ever I go. GMA or Juan Valdez seem to be chains with great coffee. The coffee is good, but not the 'experience' I had at the first place! They serve with some flair!

The street is still busy at night, but no where near the number of people as in the afternoon or last night. Most shops are closed...early but I guess it is Good Friday.

I just got into a burger place just as they closed the door. This burger had to be at least 5 inches high and this is the one with the fewest number of items included! Good but too much....lots of sauces, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, ham...






March 24 Bogota, Colombia

Up at about 7, which is a sleep in for me.... and I even showered before having coffee! Not like me, but breakfast is not until 8. Simple breakfast but good. Eggs done in a mini frying pan with a small bread and of course lots of coffee. They already have me figured out.

The hotel is a small one, with small bed room but very nice and clean and the staff are good!

Out to get a coffee.... at the place I went yesterday and then to catch a walking tour of the historical centre. Very nice, but did not really go that far. into the Bolivar Square, then over to the Palace but could not get too close as they had it blocked for a while for some reason. Up the street a bit past 2 churches, already! It has only been 20 minutes. Past the Theater Colon. This is just one of several that are in the city. Walked by an art gallery which had an icon on display, La Lechuga. Solid gold and covered in emeralds.

What a place, entrance to the art gallery was free and then on the way out the security guard gives you a 200 peso coin as a souvenir! (about 10 cents). Apparently most of the places are free to enter.
I spent the rest of the day just wandering around the old part of the city. The buildings are beautiful.... old colonial and some newer modern ones!

The streets are packed with people.....it is a pedestrian street. Lots of street shows... magicians, jugglers,
actors, statues, junk food, drinks, mobile coffee places and the list goes on.....

I had 'perro' for supper! Perro means 'dog' but as in hot dog. It was from one of the vendors... actually pretty good.. lots of cheese and mustard and probably good that it was slightly dark so I could not see the colour of it! They seem to be very pink!


March 23, Bogota, Colombia

After arriving at 7 am I found that Canadians get a "special' line up... this is to pay for fee... I guess Canada must charge Colombians a heavy entry fee! Seems to be the situation.... reciprocity agreements! Oh well, I paid my fee, got my Platinum Card and off to hotel. The hotel is situated in the historical centre of the city. Beautiful old colonial style buildings. I got directions to the Tourist information centre just of Bolivar Square. What a huge beautiful square!

Typical Spanish with municipal offices and churches on the square. There are also Parliament buildings. Great place, but yet again too many pigeons.

I go my city map and some info and then asked where the best coffee was! Just down the street....turns out it is a Barista School where they train baristas! And supposed to be world famous! What a great way to start my visit in Colombia! At a coffee shop! The very young waiter helped as there were too many decisions to make. First decide how the coffee was to be made.... French Press, siphon, cone drip filter plus several other methods, and then I had to pick my beans! Wow! I had filtered, which is a Melitta like cone that sits on the cup. He first wet the beans and then poured the water in. The coffee was excellent...smooth and tasty! I will be heading back there!

Then walked around and down the main street, Calle 7. I ended up in the Independence square which also had a planetarium. I went in. They had a star projection show on so sat through that. They did an excellent job of the presentation. They showed the various constellations... Should have had this earlier for the desert! They also have a museum which is completely interactive with many different presentations going on. It was all in Spanish but could pick up on some of it. The kids and even adults where enjoying it very much! Well worth the visit.

Then back to hotel for nap.

Out again at 6 as there is a festival going on with many displays, plays, and music going on around the city, much of it free. Tonight I went to a lighted Terra Cotta Warriors display in the parliament building! Amazing show but very busy with people. Just interesting to see the warriors and horses in colour and lit up!
Dinner and a walk along the street. Lots of people on the large pedestrian streets with performers and sellers every where....very busy! Great just to walk and watch people.

Off to bed!