Welcome to Bogota

After 15 hours of travel from Berlin and a 3-hour flight from Havana, our paths coincidentally crossed on Thursday in Bogota, Colombia ;-)

From here on, we continue our journey together. Our hotel in Bogota is very centrally located, right next to the National Museum and the bullfighting arena, so we can easily explore a lot in a short amount of time.

Day 1 - Museo d'Oro, Museo Botero, and Plaza Bolivar

The first night passed by very quickly due to jet lag. As a result, we were the first visitors in the morning at the Museo d'Oro, the Gold Museum of Bogota. For 4,000 Colombian pesos (about 1.30 Euro), you can explore the history of gold on several floors. From early history and the indigenous people of South America to the ancient civilizations, the Spanish conquerors in search of El Dorado, the city of gold, and up to the present day. On the way to the museum, we passed by the regional court, where heavily armed policemen were escorting several defendants chained together in handcuffs. A sight that was quite unfamiliar to us. However, the residents were not impressed by it.

Our next stop was the Museo Botero. This museum houses famous artworks by the most renowned Colombian artist, Fernando Botero. He donated some of his works to the city under the condition that they can be visited by everyone free of charge. In addition to his typical paintings of overweight people, animals, and objects, there are also numerous works by renowned artists such as Dali, Max Ernst, and Picasso on display here.

Directly after the Botero Museum, we visited Plaza Bolivar. This central square is home to the statue of Simon Bolivar, a South American national hero and independence fighter.

Day 2 - Ascending Monserrate and Bogota at night

The next morning also started early, and we had big plans. We wanted to climb Cerro de Monserrate. With an altitude of 3,152 meters, it offers a wonderful view of Bogota and is a popular pilgrimage and excursion site for locals and travelers alike. So we first hiked through the city, always going higher and higher. However, we climbed the last meters of altitude using the Funicular, a funicular railway. The waiting time was moderate and it was worth it. The ride alone is already an attraction, as you ascend the mountain at such a steep angle, through a very long and very steep tunnel, joining in the excitement of the other passengers in anticipation of the arrival.

At the top, it was quite relaxed. You have a breathtaking view of the city and the church bells create a very special atmosphere. Many vendors offer various small items, souvenirs, and gastronomic treats at countless stalls. We couldn't resist trying a coca leaf tea with mint before starting our descent.

For lunch, we went to a small restaurant that we had read about in the travel guide, and we were not disappointed. We didn't know what we would be served, and we understood very little else, but we have almost gotten used to that - and it was delicious nonetheless. In particular, the Ajiaco, a Colombian soup with corn, convinced us. We will definitely have it again.

Our way back home took quite a long time, as we sought refuge under a tarpaulin at a market and had a cup of coffee due to a heavy storm. But after an hour of continuous rain, we decided to continue our way and arrived at the hotel completely drenched after another hour of walking.

When the clouds briefly cleared in the late afternoon, we didn't hesitate and immediately sprinted to the Colpatria Bank skyscraper. It is only 5 minutes away from the hotel, and in the evening, when the employees go home, tourists can take the elevator to the 196m high observation deck for approximately 2.10 Euros. We were amazed because we arrived just in time for the sunset, and the mountains around us were beautifully illuminated. A approaching storm briefly forced us inside, but after fifteen minutes, the security allowed us back onto the roof. This gave us the opportunity to admire Bogota at night.

Next, we will take the bus to St. Agustin, with a day's break in Neiva. Since the bus rides each take 5 hours or longer through the mountains, we have decided to split the journey and give ourselves some rest.