In Bogotá, it is incredibly rainy and cold. There. That’s out. And that’s the end of it. After all, as a born “Dutchie”, I am used to a good portion of cold. Brrr! But now I have been living on sun-drenched Curaçao for 16.5 years. Very hot-pfff. In short: it is never good, or: I am just a nag. Or both. Anyway: This Happy Grouch went on a short city trip to Bogotá with her family, for the first time. The travel period was a midweek in the Easter vacation.
Knowing Colombia only from sunny Medellín, I understood that I had to dress different for Bogotá. So the heels, shirts and skirts stayed at home; the fleece sweater, jeans, sneakers and socks were packed. And that turned out to be a very good decision. Because in Bogotá, surrounded by mountains, there is a lot to see and discover. And for that you need practical clothing.
I stayed with my family in a lovely, pleasant, fairly small hotel (“Hotel Jazz Apartments“), located in Parque Virrey; a beautiful residential/work/walking area in one of Bogotá’s many parks.
As far as I am concerned, this is a lovely part of the immense metropolis; a nice park on our doorstep, well-maintained, orderly, lively but also quiet, with the shopping street, coffee bars and restaurants within walking distance. AND thanks to the rain, everything was beautifully green and in bloom.
It is definitely an area for the well suited residents, with its many exclusive stores, restaurants and…. dogs. Oh, those dogs! In large numbers you see them walking with their dog walkers or owners, not infrequently dressed in “doggie designer clothes”! It is a wonderfully cheerful sight.
After a good breakfast from the small,- but surprisingly extensive & creative buffet in the cozy hotel (with its simple but nice rooms and very nice beds!), we went for our daily cup of cappuccino to the Illy Bar around the corner.
From there we set off on a beautiful walking route through the park, past bright flower-stalls, to the long shopping street. Small stores and eateries alternated with upscale designer stores and exclusive restaurants.
Once you arrive in the heart of the shop & dine area (approx. 20 min.walk), you will find 2 medium-sized shopping malls of the more exclusive kind: Andino Mall and El Retiro Mall.
What stands out there is that -in addition to the usual shops- there are public craft and art exhibitions. Bogotá is proud of its local products and artists, which is very nice to see. Prices in these malls range from quite pricey to quite affordable. These are -except for the lunchrooms- no cheap malls, but in other parts of the city you can find them.
In the afternoon, it was a delight to visit the many restaurants. Cheap and expensive eateries alternate here. For people with special dietary needs (like myself), the selection in such a metropolis is a bit disappointing, but the quality is usually good to very good. Even in the small eateries.
It is highly recommended to visit the historic district of La Candelaria. Not because it is so much more beautiful there, but because of the historic buildings, the narrow alleys, and the unique atmosphere. La Candelaria can be reached by taxi or Uber; the trip took about 45 min. Taxis are very affordable, but do pick a licensed company (with taxi numbers & plates).
One disadvantage is that it is a lot more crowded and touristy, with an abundance of similar stalls with salesmen. The salesmen are nice though, and leave you alone as soon as you tell them you’re not interested. Something else that was unfortunate was the fact that we were not allowed to enter the Museo d’Oro – the Gold Museum. It was in the late days of the Corona pandemia, and our son had only a recovery,-but no vaccination certificate. That wasn’t a problem anywhere, just in the Gold museum. But that was soon forgotten after a visit to the large, cozy square with its terraces and a remarkably talented street musician (the conservatory was nearby; lucky us!).
After visiting La Candelaria, we walked on to downtown Bogotá……very overwhelming! And not necessarily in a positive way. But of course that remains a matter of taste and feeling. The traffic is extremely busy, and there are many people, cheap stores and fast food restaurants. The friendliness of most people you experience further afield in Bogotá (& Colombia) is significantly less here. Realize, you are in a metropolis, with the frenzy, crowds, traffic chaos and stress that comes with it.
I was soon completely fed up, but we could only find a taxi for the way back after a long search. (Public transport is also well organized there, but we deliberately chose taxi transport that day). Tired but satisfied, we finally drove back. We spent most of the evenings in the hotel after visiting restaurants. It was very convenient that there was a Starbucks across the street, for a late after-dinner espresso….
After 5 wonderful days, we said goodbye to the friendly hotel staff, and traveled back to our sunny little island. With a little regret in our hearts…. We would have liked to have seen a bit more of this large, diverse city with all its sights, but in itself Bogotá is very well suited for a short city trip.
We are happy with our visit to Bogotá, and have fond memories of it, as well as the wonderful, innovative Medellín. Colombia continues to surprise us, and we would love to explore it further!
Travel date April 2022
Written by Niki
