Bogotá – the last days

I have arrived in Houston safe and sound, well safe because to tell the truth I am a bit (a lot?) tired. Yesterday I left for the airport in Bogotá at a little before 5am – flew to Panama at 7 am, Panama to Houston at 10am, arriving here at 2:30, made it through passport control and customs by 3:45 and taking the super shuttle - arriving at my daughter’s right at 5pm. Long two weeks, long weekend of the first communion, long final day of travel, bad food on all the planes, no sleep and well TIRED.

There are two more, final, major places we saw in Bogotá that I wanted to show you. There are many small places, impressions, experiences that I could share but I have moved on and I can’t tell you everything. YOU have to go there then we can compare.

Last Friday we went to the Parque de la Sal. (park of the salt) This place is unbelievable. Outside of Bogotá about 1 hour drive is a large, underground salt dome that for the past 300 years or so the Columbians, first the Indians, then the Spanish and now the modern Columbians, have been harvesting salt for cooking and industrial purposes. They continue to extract salt on a massive scale and estimate that there is another 500 years’ supply. When they had completely removed the salt from one section they created a church, almost 1000 ft underground – I will just show photos – it is so awesome. All the carvings, the crosses, and the pillars are of salt.

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On the way back to Bogotá we stopped at the second wonder – It was a very good restaurant but utilizing old Spanish settlement. The restaurant was very good but the buildings and the donkey race were the best. Yes a donkey race. I am not sure how the riders were chosen but they were fellow diners. Again photos for the story.

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My Spanish is even weaker than my Portuguese but I think El Portico is ‘The Patio’ (a space between two buildings?) We enjoyed ourselves totally during this trip to Panama and Columbia and would recommend both these countries as a vacation destination.

Next – Houston and Painting the town RED.

Bogotá: Museo Botero

I have talked many time about finding little gems – unexpected enjoyment when traveling. Found during our museum hopping several days ago, the museum in Bogotá honoring Fernando Botero is one of those gems. I hope you enjoy these photos of his work as much as I enjoyed seeing them for real. There is now way, of course, you have to see art first hand to really enjoy.

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and my favorite – no way would you think to see in a small hidden museum…

Salvador Dali, 1904-1989, Bust Retrospective of a Woman.

Friday Shoot-out - Extra

I almost didn’t do the Bogotá entry – just wasn’t sure I could come up with interesting photos (still not sure I did) and I was thinking of showing you the most beautiful underground subway station I have seen. Still seems the thing to do so here is…. The Madrid Underground

When traveling Camillo and I often visit the local subway. We figure out how the buy the tickets then ride out – going further than we would be able to on foot and at a much better price than a taxi.	The station of entry in central Madrid was nothing special - but we just wanted to see a different section of the city.
	When we finally decide to go to the surface, we get off the train and go up to see what we can see. This time we saw the most beautiful station ever – the blue lights depicts the Iguaçu falls in Brazil. There were three levels underground trains (lines that crisscross) plus a train station on the surface with inter city trains.

Madrid is a beautiful city, but the Chamartin subway station is a destination in itself. You could go anywhere in the city by subway, maybe having to change lines several times (Paris is the same way) but if your feet hold out – take the subway somewhere – any direction, then walk back on the surface – The rewards is worth your effort.

[don’t try this in Rio de Janeiro]

Friday Shoot-out – Bogotá: Transit for the Masses

As promised I will do this weeks assignment on the city I am in on Friday – Bogotá, Columbia

The travel books tell you that Bogotá has 300 KM of hike and bike trails but I have yet to see one.  And in comparison to the size of this mountainside city that is not really very long or very useful as an transportation option. The city does not have a subway system but does have special double length busses that runs the length and breath of the city, including on the inside lanes of the freeways. There are pedestrian crossovers and covered designated stops for the exclusive use of these busses. Yesterday, we were museum hopping in an older section of town and the number of people on foot and the congestion of small private busses/private cars/ taxis was – well IMPRESIVE.

 

In the downtown area – my sampling - the preferred mode of transport were the small busses is all colors, blue, red, green, olive, black and multi colored – and by foot. Even the riot control police where on foot.

Bogotá has a tightly monitored and controlled law that limits the use of your private car. Kurt and Kybran cannot use their car on Tuesdays and Thursdays. So like this morning the two girls are walked to two separate schools  and picked up on foot each afternoon. They live in an area close to  Kurt’s office and to both the schools. Rain or shine, warm or cold this is the rule.  

Even with this limited use law for private cars, the traffic is a horrendous mess, parking is limited and expensive, and  pollution hangs like a gray cloud over the city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bogotá, Columbia – Museo del Oro (The Gold Museum)

I will tell this story only in Photos; please click the ‘view full album’ below then click slideshow.

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As in most museums you are not allowed to use flash, I had some problems with blurring.  The contrast between the modern setting of the museum and the ancient artifact was very striking.