Bogota

On January 1st, we took the bus to Bogotá. The first bus that actually arrived at the destination on time, which was most likely due to the date. But at least there was a bus to Bogotá on New Year's Day. Initially, it wasn't easy to leave the desert, but thanks to a friendly Colombian TukTuk driver, we were able to catch our bus in Neiva (90 minutes away from our accommodation).

In Bogotá, we rented a really nice apartment and spent the first full day there.

On day two, we went on another Free Walking Tour. It took us past the Gold Museum to La Candelaria, the historic old town of Bogotá, where we got to try Chicha. Chicha is a traditional alcoholic drink in Colombia made mainly from fermented corn. We had already tried it in Medellín and confirmed that it doesn't taste very good. We then continued to Plaza Bolivar, where the Justice Palace and the Parliament are located. That's where the tour ended. There aren't many sights in Bogotá. However, the tour was still very good because our guide told us many interesting details about the history of Bogotá and Colombia and did a really good job of conveying them.

After briefly visiting the Presidential Palace, we treated ourselves to an Ajiaco for lunch, the typical potato soup from Bogotá. It contains potatoes, corn, and chicken. There are also capers, avocado, and rice. We really enjoyed the soup.

In the evening, we followed a recommendation from many people in Colombia. We visited the restaurant Andres Carne de Res. Besides the food, entertainment is also a focus here. There is live music and different dancers and musicians who go from table to table. Later in the evening, the restaurant turns into a club with a dance floor that was well used by the guests. The food was good but very expensive for Colombian standards. However, you pay more for the ambiance and entertainment. It was definitely worth a visit!

On our third and for now last day in Bogotá, we wanted to go to Monserrate, the mountain from which you have a view of the whole city. Since we were a bit late, we had to wait quite a long time in line for the cable car. But from above, we had a nice view of Bogotá. Fortunately, the weather cooperated. On top of Monserrate, there is a small market with souvenirs (some very unusual ones) and a large collection of restaurants. After a meal in one of the restaurants, we went back down the mountain with the funicular (when you buy the tickets, you can choose whether to take the cable car or the funicular. We used both). Then it was time to pack as we had to go to the airport at 5 am the next morning for our flight to the Amazonas.