One fun fact about Bogota is that you cannot buy beer or liquor
till 3pm Mon through Sat but 10am on Sunday’s at the market.
Bogota is the capital of Colombia high up in the Andes
Mountains at about 8000 feet and is the largest city of Colombia. With the rich
cultural life, beautiful architecture and a charm that swirls, along with the
high altitude winds and clear blue skies. This is an energetic city with a
great variety of activities from museums, the Cerro de Monserrate, Salt
Cathedral in Zipaquira (just north of Bogota), flea markets, and old town of
Candelaria where most attractions can be found that will transport you back to
the 16
th century.
Supermeats, La Comida de Los Heroes, is a restaurant with
Spiderman and other superhero’s as a theme. There is even a gigantic Spiderman reproduction
hanging down from the ceiling, and comic wallpaper to add to the enjoyment of
your meal. The main meal attraction is they have the best and juiciest meat. If
you order the Mixta, you will get to sample several different kinds of meats,
including Chiguiro (the meat of the Capybara a specialty of Colombia) not to
mention the superhero size. You will not leave hungry it did run $18,000 pesos
($9US) but worth it.
Bolivar Square started as a public market, then a square for
public punishments, then became a beautiful main square of the capital
surrounded by the most prestigious buildings of the city (The Justice Palace,
the Primary Cathedral, Capilla del Sagrario, Capital National and the Lievano
Palace).
Primary Cathedral of Bogota is the biggest cathedral of
Colombia and one of the largest of South America, built between 1807 and 1823.
El Carmen Church honors one of the most popular Virgin Mary
representations in the country, “La Virgen del Carmen”. It has a impressive and
symbolic appearance with its red and white stripe effect that can be seen from
quite a distance. In fact, that is what drew me to it from several blocks away.
It was too intriguing for me to return another day to see. I had to make a detour.
Jardin Botanico – Botanical Garden is the largest botanical
garden in Colombia and well worth the visit. You should plan on spending most
of the day mornings during the rainy season. My personal favorites were the health
herbs, orchids, roses, and experimental sections. It is a exceptionally large
park with easy walking pathways also stroller and wheelchair accessible. It has
four public restrooms scattered about the park. It is just off the J6/K6 bus line
at only 1400 pesos. Be sure to show your ID if over 60; I got in free, which
saved me 2700 pesos.
Bogota Graffiti Tour
This walking tour of Bogota’s Street Art features eight
street artists but the city has many more. Be sure to bring a sun hat,
umbrella, sturdy walking shoes and of course do not forget the camera. The tour
guide is a street artist himself; Crisp has many stories to tell about the
other artist and the history of Bogota’s street art. I did take Crisp advice
and walk down 26
th to see some more and was impressed.
Personally I much prefer the street art to tagging/graffiti
crap that is found in many of the cities of the United States.
The Street Artist featured on this tour were Stinkfish
(Bogota, Colombia)
http://www.stink.tk,
Shaday (Bogota, Colombia)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shadayart,
Pez (Barcelona, Spain)
http://www.el-pez.com,
DJ LU (Bogota, Colombia)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juegassiempre,
Bastardilla (Bogota, Colombia)
http://bastardilla.org,
Toxicomano (Bogota, Colombia)
http://wwwflickr.com/photos/toxicomano666,
Rodez (Bogota, Colombia)
http://www.flickr,com/people/rodez,
and CRISP (Sydney, Australia)
www.facebook.com/Crispstreetart
Salt Cathedral
Catedral de Sal de Zipaquira is a bit touristy but worth the
trip. I took 2 buses to get there for 1400 peso, and 4000 peso each way and
with my ID got in for half price. After having lunch, the total cost of my
visit was less than 35,000.pesos.
My tour guide spook English and Spanish, but the signs in
the caverns were in both English and Spanish for everyone.
The tour took about two hours, and the guide
left us at the bottom so we could shop, eat and take our time going back up. It
was easy to find the way back out and we then had a chance for other photo
opportunities without being rushed.
The town has several nifty little restaurants and street
food at remarkably affordable prices; my lunch ran 5000 pesos.
Something I have noticed as I have traveled this last year
and a half. The differences between the United States and all the Latin
American countries; in the way they treat their buildings and the way they
treat their families are linked. 
In the Latin American countries, the older buildings treasured,
repaired, rebuild, or restored, valued and kept for hundreds of years. The new buildings
built next to the old including the past as an important part of the future.
This is the way they value their parents and grandparents with multiple
generations living in the same household, helping, supporting, caring, valuing
and loving each other. 
