Bogotá

Directly after the tranquility and fresh air of Cocuy National Park, I somehow ended up in the sprawling city that is Bogotá. The capital of Colombia is surrounded by mountains and located at a fairly high altitude. The city of 8 million plus inhabitants is actually quite inviting and beautiful. To fully appreciate the sprawl of Bogotá I took a ride up a cable car to the top of a nearby mountain and a church called Monserrate. From this vantage point one can truly see the expanse of concrete, medal, and brick that extends as far as the eye can see.

What started as a compact city has expanded further and further out into the valley as hordes of people from the surrounding countryside flocked to the capital for work. The unfortunate masses that failed to find decent jobs are now etching out an existence in the outlying slums.

Although the views from Monserrate were revealing, I needed to get inside the city and feel the pulse of different neighborhoods. To accomplish this, in addition to walking and taking buses around the city, I found a company that offered bike tours. This seemed the perfect way to explore while learning some Colombian history. The tour was great and the guide very informative. He talked about the history of Colombia, the ongoing war between guerrillas, paramilitaries, and the Colombian government, and the symbology behind certain national landmarks and buildings. We carefully rode through the congested streets, avoiding cars and pedestrians while trying to take in the sites as my senses were overloaded. We visited markets, landmarks, parks, libraries, and the main university campus. We viewed graffiti with both a political feel and an artistic appeal. The tour showed the participants a unique picture of Bogotá and was a perfect way to spend the day.

Between the views from Monserrate and my exploration of the city by bus, bike, and foot, I was able to get a good taste of the Colombian capital. Bogotá surprised me with it´s quant streets filled with restaurants, its large presence of universities, and the diversity of its neighborhoods. Unfortunately, my temporary visa was going to expire soon and the time had come to leave Colombia. I felt a slight sadness to leave such a great country, but also an excitement from the knowledge I had many more adventures ahead of me.