Preview of Jazzkat6's blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jazzkat6/14/1238139540/tpod.html This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Bogota, Colombia Entry Title: "Bogota Begins" Entry: "To be perfectly honest, I didn't really want to go to Colombia. As the end of my amazing two year MB-vAcation came closer, however, the willingness to follow my friends rather than my most far flung travel desires steadily increased. And so when some close friends decided that Colombia was the place for Spring Break, I obliged. I'd never been there afterall..and you just can't go wrong there. The group would consist of: Hicham...my colorful and controversial Lebanese counterpart. Heloise...The finest that Par-ee has to offer. Gaia...The Italian stallion - ess Marcin....a good friend of the girls...and a new friend to me. Polsky all the way to his bathing suit. To the airport! After so many miserable international flight experiences, I have developed such amazingly low expectations, that the superb 5:15 minute flight from JFK to Bogota seemed like a revelation. Decent seats and on-demand entertainment do wonders for this jaded traveler. So Bravo Delta...you done good. Only issue with the air above Colombia is that it is always bumpy. For the last hour or so, we are stuck in our seats, nothing visible but clouds and distant flashes of lightning. After the bumpy approach, we touch down softly on the grooved Colombian pavement and quickly taxi to one of Latin America's more dilapidated terminals. But no matter. Lines are short and the transportation is waiting. I'll try to forget the fact that a lack of ATM's forced me to exchange twenty bucks...and the cashier took my fingerprints! I sure won't misbehave now. Inside our nice white van, the international refugee all stars head to the hotel, located in the upscale northern part of Bogota. The Andino Royal is located on Calle 85 which is in the center of La Zona Rosa..or La Zona T, named thusly since there is a small collection of hip eateries and shops laid out on two streets that meet in a T shape. The hotel was pretty nice...and the staff was immediately warm. Only problem was their complete lack of organization...which manifest itself during a 60 minute check-in that finally landed Hicham and I in a room that actually had no curtains on the window. Hola...Front Desk Por Favor! We got that fixed with a new room in another 30. At this point, my head is pounding from a combination of jet lag, angst and altitude. Bogota is after all one of the highest cities in the world. And I don't mean Coca. The team wants dinner. I want Bed...so I turn in and they head out for a visit with Mr. T. Hicham is back almost immediately after I have fallen asleep. Apparently, I am not the only one who is tired. In the morning, we awake just in time for a nice breakfast in the lobby and head downtown to La Candelaria, Bogota's historic district. Winding our way through the lush green hills that frame the city, our taxis buzz southward and drops us at el Museo De Oro. Here we spend our opening Bogateno moments enraptured by historic figurines, jewelry and masks. Most importantly, I venture to the basement and find my own gold...a Colombian coffee bar. Two minutes later, I am full with an awesome espresso and the popeye song begins to play in my head - as the concentrated caffeine finds its way into my suddenly bulging biceps. ~I'm strong to the finish, 'cause I drinks black spinach...I'm Ari the traveler man~ Escaping the museum, we walk into the thick of La Candelaria in the direction of Plaza Bolivar, the main square. Along the way we notice a bustling downtown, full of every day citizens...and very few tourists in sight. It's most similar to Montevideo in its authenticity and unique atmosphere...but the steep hills and colorful colonial architecture make me feel like I am in the Santa Theresa District of Rio or the Pelourinho of Salvador Bahia. It's just plain lovely....and even the communist demonstration in the Plaza cannot detract. I will say that it is certainly nice to encounter such a demonstration and not see thousands of anti America/Anti Bush signs. Thank you Barack. As the day wears on, we continue to avoid impending precipitation and stroll through the neighborhood, ..." Read and see more at: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jazzkat6/14/1238139540/tpod.html Photos from this trip: 1. "Communists in La Plaza" 2. "Guards ready for them" 3. "La Candelaria" 4. "Church in La Candelaria" 5. "Helo and Gaia studying our route" 6. "Presidential Guard" 7. "Botero Museum" See this TripWow and more at http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-0159-bd6c-79f0?ytv4=1

• published: 26 Apr 2011
• views: 102