Back in Bogotá

Coughing and sneezing around the clock has been causing me trouble since Argentina, with an unpleasant cold including a cough. There was also no public testing infrastructure or rapid tests for home use in Uruguay. So I remained vigilant and inquired if anyone in my surroundings was also suffering from cold symptoms. No one.

Aside from that, I was in good health, so I followed my tour plan for my farewell round without hesitation. Only the vaccination status was required for entry into Colombia. Nevertheless, the wheezing and runny nose on the plane (as well as in the dorms of my hostels) was particularly uncomfortable. An older lady next to me on the seat asked me halfway through the six-hour flight if I had Covid. I denied it and tightened my mask over my mouth and nose.

Apart from these annoying side effects, I was looking forward to seeing Bogotá again. After six weeks, I visited the city once more, which had put me to the test with the theft of my mobile phone.

Familiar food, a familiar hostel, familiar streets, loud music coming from booming speakers everywhere, and as I strolled on Saturday morning, a familiar face. Suddenly Molly stood in front of me. I knew the American from my time in Mexico. We first met in early January in Oaxaca, and then again a few weeks later in Mexico City. During our coffee together, we arranged to go to a club because it was Saturday.

Together with Molly, Sahra from Colombia, and Lena from Australia, I ventured out in the evening to the very neighborhood that was notorious as the center of nightlife and crime. Nervously, I kept reaching for my valuables. And after the club visit, in the early dawn, I had to wait some time for the ordered taxi among dubious companions. My mind was much more alert this time, and in the end of the night, I had no special incidents to report. Ultimately, with this party night in the Chapinero district, I closed a chapter that had still subconsciously occupied me.

What else occupied me was the cough that caused concerned looks in my direction everywhere. Then came the moment of truth on Sunday. Entry into the USA required a negative test. For the equivalent of 20 euros, I had an antigen rapid test done at a clinic. I suppressed my cough as much as possible. What followed was three hours of anxious waiting for the test results! After the time had elapsed, I received an email with the request to log in on the clinic's website, and before that, a password had to be created, then download the certificate, all delayed by some stumbling, and in the end, the result: negative!!!

My relief as well as my need to share the news with my roommates knew no bounds. I only had a cough and a runny nose, which had significantly decreased after the club night.

I chose Bogotá as a stop for my farewell tour primarily for cost reasons. So it was all the more remarkable that some loose ends of the journey could be satisfactorily tied up here.

Sunday afternoon, an incomparable hailstorm with heavy rain struck the city, making it clear to me that I could move on.

With a four-hour lead time, I arrived at the airport at 8:30 p.m., the check-in went smoothly, my documents were complete, and even my 'hand luggage' (backpack and travel bag) passed without any problems - mouthwash and deodorant were discarded, but my nail scissors went unnoticed. I was looking forward to my overnight flight to New York City.