Friday, January 18, 2008

Bogota

A parting shot of one of our many friendly wake-up callers, at your service from 230am to midnight, on the lovely Isla de Providencia.


This afternoon, we arrived in Bogota, happy and rested after spending the week on Providencia, one of Colombia's northern islands. We enjoyed several good dives and many great meals (perhaps the most notable of which involved a fish called esposa vieja, or "old wife" - when we get home I'll post a photo of her rather intimidating teeth) [DONE! See la esposa in the 1/17/08 posting.]

Lots to fill in when time and internet access permit. For the moment, we are heading back out in search of helado. Buenas noches!

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Friday 1/18/08
Providencia - San Andres - Bogota

- sadly, we leave heaven for parts north
- happily, I get to ride in the bed of the pickup truck again
- having learned lesson re: separating play from work, we pay no attention whatsoever to English Setter as he goes about his work
- "Where are your tourist cards?" "Erm, they kept them at San Andres..." "They should have given you a copy." "Erm, they didn't..."
- seat assignments don't actually matter on planes that seat just 14 people
- And then, "Where are your tourist cards?" "Erm, we weren't given a copy..." "They should have given you a copy before you left for Providencia." "Erm, they didn't... but we really wish they had." "Okay. Buen viaje! Please come again!"
- Colombia has miles and miles of coastline, and lots of natural reserves; wish we had a lot more time

- Arrive in Bogota in mid-afternoon, find a secure taxi, head to hotel
- Amazing and rather alarming (no pun intended) security measures in place at the largest businesses
- Private security, police, soldiers everywhere
- Xmas decorations still up
- Highly targeted selling
- Wandering the safe parts of the city
- People still smoke??
- Bogota Beer Company and the giraffes

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Colombia is so verboten that no images of it come to mind. Except from the movie "Jewel of the Nile" where there are mountains, rickety, painted buses with chickens onboard and tangled jungle undergrowth along the roadside. And lively music and lots of food. Please enlighten me!

Be well. love you, g