Colombia is a colorful Latin American country located in the northern part of South America. It is a country filled with ancient history, remarkable architecture, and culture. Before visiting Colombia, I didn't really know much other than the fact that the Cartel still exists here and people try to smuggle cocaine in and out of this country. Obviously these are all just generalizations based off of what we've seen in the movies and heard about in the media. Arriving in Bogota, the capital of Colombia, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was nothing how I expected it to be. The lush emerald green grass fields and the steep mountainous terrain caught my attention as we descended into the airport. If you are visiting during the summer months you can expect the weather to be very temperamental. Most days consisted of cool/chilly temperatures with high winds and light rain. In the late morning/ early afternoon, the sunshine would provide some warmth, but definitely not enough for shorts and a tank top! ACCOMODATION IN BOGOTACASA DANN CARLTON HOTEL & SPA Location: Calle 93B N 19-44, Chapinero, Bogota, 110010 Cost: Superior Twin Room $80 per night (breakfast included) Hours: check in time is 3:00 p.m. Website: http://www.hotelesdann.com/casa-dann-carlton/ TOP PLACES TO EAT IN bogotaIf there was one thing I was most surprised about, it was the food! I tend to be a very picky eater while traveling and I tend to stick o what I am familiar with, but, Bogota offered so many different varieties of restaurants that it was always the part of my day I looked most forward to. We started each morning with our amazing breakfast buffet offered at the Casa Dann Carlton Hotel & Spa. Not only was this buffet included with the stay, but it produced nothing short of mouthwateringly deliciousness. The buffet ranged from pastries, to sandwiches, to meats, to omelettes, to salads, and much, much more! Aside from the amazing breakfast buffet, there were literally restaurants and cafes on every street corner in Bogota. I can assure you that no matter what type of food you are craving, you are bound to find something within a 1 mile radius. Below, I will provide the name of each restaurant we ate at during our stay in Bogota! TOP THINGS TO DO & SEE IN bogotaMonserrate If you are visiting Bogota, then going up to the top of Monseratte is an absolute MUST! If you are in the city then taking a taxi shouldn't cost too much. Once you arrive at the location, you can purchase your ticket at the booth. You will then be directed to a room where you will wait to enter into the gondola. The ride takes about 7 minutes to reach the top of the mountain. Aside from the phenomenal views, they also have a spectacular church along with a restaurant and bathroom facilities. I wouldn't recommend coming here if you have any fear of heights because it can be a little overwhelming once you reach the top. Plaza Bolivar This is probably one of the most touristy attractions in Bogota and you will understand this the moment you step foot into the plaza. Between the hoards of birds, peddlers, tourists, and locals trying to sell you little knick knacks, you will find yourself completely surrounded by nothing other than the chaos of the wide open plaza. Don't get me wrong, the views are phenomenal, and the cathedral is breathtaking, but it's almost impossible to enjoy the actual beauty of everything while beggers and and vendors are pestering you every chance they get. Museum of Gold If there was one place I was really looking forward to visiting it was the Gold Museum...and let me just say this - I was super underwhelmed. I had envisioned massive crowns and jewels dating back centuries to the times of emperors and royal rulers! Instead, all we saw were small artifacts hidden behind glass walls. The museum itself was relatively small. We only walked around the first floor until we found ourselves bored and hungry. The cost of admission is close to nothing so it makes sense once you realized what you paid for. In my opinion, I would skip the museum and check out something a little bit more interesting and time consuming. Usaquen Flea Market Usaquen is located in the North of the city and once was its own separate town. That was until the 1950’s when it officially became a part of the city. This charming city has a square, a church, cobblestone streets and colonial houses. Plus restaurants, bars and a flea market. The Usaquén Flea Market was my favorite of the many things to do in Usaquén. I This is no ordinary flea market filled with crap made in China. The stuff here is the real deal. Colombian artisans sell their gorgeous, high quality homemade pieces. This is the place you want to go to to shop for souvenirs. You can get everything from hand knitted sweaters, jewelry, leatherwork, soap, shoes; you want it, they’ve got it. Bring cash and don’t be afraid to bargain, just don’t bargain too much. Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá This was my absolute favorite part of the trip. If you have the time, and the money, you should definitely consider visiting the salt cathedral. This underground masterpiece is found in a town called Zipaquira, which is about 1-1.5 hours way from the city. You can easily rent a private driver for 4 hours and pay about $60, which isn't too bad if you are splitting it amongst other people. It's well worth it to be in the convenience of A/C and also be able to stop as frequently as you want. The entrance to the cathedral is about $15.00 but I can assure you it's well worth it. When you first enter the cathedral you are greeted by a light show on the roof which welcomes its visitors by displaying the many different flags of the world. As you walk further, the air cools, and you arrive at the first station of the cross. The Salt Cathedral has four sections to it: the fourteen stations of the cross, the dome, the naves, and the information center (also where you can find a little gift shop.) There are a lot of stairs, so be prepared!
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AuthorWest Coast blogger with a love for traveling and adventure seeking. Archives
July 2018
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