#Hostel Bogota

[chaletnz]

Getting in the Steps in Cuenca

After the trek I had a bit of a lie down as I was tired and sore having done a 2 hour walk on not much sleep and a semi-fractured (but healing) ankle. I needed laundry done so I found a nearby place with good reviews called Gringo Laundry and went to drop off my bag of dirty clothes. They couldn’t get it done today, and I couldn’t find another one open so unfortunately I resigned to doing laundry in Bogota after the desert trip. I’d have just enough clothes to get me through. My early afternoon consisted of a walk through the historical city centre of Cuenca which was lovely, the weather was perfect. The streets seemed to have a lot of old buildings that were still intact and even renovated. The central cathedral La Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepcion was truly a sight to see. It was huge but located in the middle of the busy town and had other buildings surrounding it making it difficult to get a good photo of it. I did a spot of people-watching in Parque Calderon which was so lively with perfectly manicured gardens. The whole city seemed very clean, the tiles all tidy and even on all the pedestrian areas. I got the impression that the city dedicates a lot of time and funds to a clean image with constant upkeep. I went for a late lunch at C4 where I had an iced vanilla latte and a chicken and vegetable empanada. It was a nice place to sit and only cost about $5 for the whole lot. Once refuelled I walked to San Francisco square and stumbled across some market stalls where I bought a magnet, as well as a fountain and some signs saying Cuenca with the city backdrop for nice photos. Everywhere I go I like to buy a magnet and the Cuenca one caught my eye immediately, the shopkeeper asked $4.50 and I thought oh no way this is Ecuador not Western Europe mate! I got him down to $2.50 and then I scraped together all my change which was $2.25 but he refused to take that, instead having me give him a $5 to break. Must’ve really needed that 25c… I found the cute little flower market that Edison recommended as they sell a red beverage there which is apparently very healthy and made from some of the flowers we’d seen in the National Park so I got myself a cup to try. He said it tastes awful but I didn’t mind it for 75c! I wandered down to the main market for a look around but it was dead this late in the day. I did find the stress smoothie stall and decided I’d return in the early morning to try it. I walked all the way back to the hostel to change my phone and rest my legs a bit before heading back out for dinner. I’d chosen a Mexican place called El Santo which had good reviews and was one of the first tables sat for dinner. I ordered a chicken quesadilla, mashed potato flauta, and a margarita. The meal was good and the bartender had poured generously so I emerged from the restaurant feeling a bit drunk. I walked around a bit more to see how the Calle Santa Ana looked lit up, there was a gathering of about 50 police officers in the square so I felt very safe. As I’d hit over 20,000 steps today I had earned a cake dessert and bought a nice looking (but a bit disappointing) Oreo cheesecake to eat back at the hotel before going to bed.

[okayhaneul]

     art was kind of everywhere in bogota. haneul saw them on the pillars in the airport and throughout the streets on the way to the stadium. each piece he came across was so compellingly different in its own way. the bodyguard had severely underestimated this city’s power to capture his attention, that was for certain. but now that he was aware of its charms, he wanted to experience more. during a smoke break the other day, a hotel staff member mentioned that the downtown area was the best place to find the most incredible art. immediately, he made a mental note to go there with his girlfriend. to most of the world, han radiated an aura of absolute disinterest — but he felt the most comfortable showing that he cared when he was around her. 

    before the two made their trek to la candelaria, they of course had to grab coffee at a local cafe by the hotel. having authentic colombian coffee was definitely something to knock off his bucket list. the beans were so fresh and they provided a very balanced, silky cup of coffee. han took bigs sips of beverage as he walked alongside seonhwa, the two venturing deeper into the city at a leisurely pace. soon enough, there was art all around them: on the hostels, in the park, covering the shipping containers. everywhere. a half-smile etched into his features as he took a look around. “ apparently, the art goes for miles. ” haneul informed her as he threw away his now empty coffee cup. digging in his pant pocket, he pulled out a half-empty box, plucking a cigarette out from inside to place in between his lips. “ how about we just walk around, see which ones catch our eye. sound good, jagi ? ” he muttered the words through parted lips, patting himself down for the lighter as his dark gaze looked over at his girlfriend.

꒰ ♡ ꒱ — @offleurs​​​ !

[laura-apexart]

Day 25: 8.1.23 

Tonight is a full moon and rainy rainy day here. 

Claustro de San Agustín photojournalism exhibition El Testigo

Takes place in the Devenir University “a biocultural project engaging in the process of an Amazonian territory becoming a university.” Like most of the museums or cultural spaces I’ve visited, this one also has an incredible courtyard in the center lush with plant life.

There are two massive videos on the ground floor filmed in the Amazon rainforest, the orientation of the indigenous communities toward centering plant life -non human centric understanding of the world and learning through experiences, fieldwork, physical engagement, an oral tradition of story telling vs western focus on knowledge desire to catalogue and classify and record and document.

On the second floor is the exhibition of photo journalism which are incredibly poignant and sharp

Powerful.People holding up photos of family who has gone missing or were killed. Images of the cemetery. Military men using a person's shoulder to prop, rest their gun on.

Video of men in hazmat suits digging up bones from unmarked trails in the jungle.  

A young girl, maybe 6 looking through a shattered windowpain -her eye lining up with the bullet hole. A room of photos focusing on protests and demonstrations In simon de Bolívar square.

The Devenir University is located in the complex of Municipal/government buildings with lots of -Military on guard —I hear music/drums and sounds familiar from the military Parade music and when I leave the building, I follow the sound and see that the military marching band is practicing and this seems more interesting than the military parade itslef because I like watching their bodies shift from rigid and uptight to relaxed and resting in between sessions. I also like the formalism of their bodies against the backdrop of imposing marble buildings.  I want to film but don’t out of fear that I’ll get stopped or yelled at and am feeling too tired to handle that. 

In the late afternoon I have a Craft Beer Tour with Tasting

I am the only one which is funny but also nice because I get to just chat with the Guide–Gabriel who reminds me a bit of a friend-I tell him that this is a tour a would not sign up to take myself but he is a great story teller and very knowledgable and I realize that this is another way, angle, perspective of learning about the history of the city.  

We meet at the Cranky Croc Hostel in La Candeleria neighborhood and opens a bottle of beer for me and asks me to look at the brail number on the inside of the cap–I have the higher number so if we were at the store, he would buy the beer–a game him and his friends and other Bogata people play. He studied language and told me that when studying English his class was asked if they wanted to learn British or American phonetics–they chose American. 

Grew up on caribbean coast of Colombia and Venezuela and we spoke a bit about the politics of moving between both countries and the tensions. 

He also told me a story behind one of the indigenous ceremonial fermented drinks of Bogota first? made by the Muisca originally called Fatcqua but now called Chicha made of (apple, sugarcane, (spit) water and corn) —when the spaniards came the Muisca thought they were gods because they had guns which were like thunder and so they gave the colonizers whatever they wanted and they drank the Fatcqua and werent used to the corn in their bodies/diet and ran to the bushe with  diarirhea–and the Muiscas yelled Chicha Chicha–and the spaniards thought that was the name of the drink but really it was Diarrhea.

We talked about the culture around eating mombe as a social activity and the “Circle of Words”–emphasis on the oral tradition here, how information is transmitted through storytelling and not written down (which makes me acutely aware of this  process of listening to the guides, trying to hold what they say while having an experience, knowing that I must write it down, that much of what I write will omit certain details and maybe even botch up histories and facts etc and limited perspective.

[gillflynn]

i let loneliness rot inside my bloodstream

it coddled an infestation that will stay permanent

brick by brick, i made a mental game that no one has the map too

in my bed i miss all of my memories. From

parking lot conversations to hushed whispers in Trigonometry. i plan a trip to Bogota in which i take multiple trains and settle in dirty hostels

I think my bedroom wall is speaking to me low at night. It’s telling me to come home.

I forget to text you back and I forget the color of your eyes. But What’s it matter anyways. The bathroom tiled floor seems like the most comfortable place on earth these days.

jan 3.23

[beautiful-world-travel]

Bogota

Bogota, the capital city of Colombia, is a destination that should not be missed by any traveler. Located in the Andes mountain range, the city offers stunning views, rich cultural experiences, and a vibrant nightlife. Despite its reputation as a city with a troubled past, Bogota has undergone a significant transformation in recent years and is now a safe and welcoming destination for tourists.

Getting There:

The easiest way to get to Bogota is by air. El Dorado International Airport is located about 15 kilometers from the city center and is the busiest airport in Colombia. Flights to Bogota are available from most major cities around the world.

Visa Requirements:

Most visitors to Colombia do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. However, it is always best to check with your embassy or consulate to confirm the entry requirements for your country.

Accommodation:

Bogota offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit all budgets. The city has everything from budget-friendly hostels to luxurious five-star hotels. It is recommended that visitors stay in one of the central neighborhoods such as La Candelaria, Chapinero or Zona Rosa to be close to the main attractions.

Things to Do:

Bogota has a wealth of attractions to keep visitors busy. Here are some of the top things to do in the city:

Visit the Gold Museum: The Gold Museum is one of Bogota's top attractions, with over 55,000 pieces of pre-Columbian gold artifacts.

Take a Graffiti Tour: Bogota is known for its street art and graffiti, and taking a tour is a great way to see the city's vibrant street art scene.

Explore the Historic Center: The La Candelaria neighborhood is Bogota's historic center, with many colonial-era buildings and narrow cobblestone streets.

Visit the Monserrate Hill: Monserrate Hill is a popular spot for panoramic views of the city. Visitors can take a cable car or hike to the top.

Try Colombian Cuisine: Bogota is known for its delicious food, including empanadas, arepas, and bandeja paisa.

Safety:

Bogota has come a long way in recent years in terms of safety, but visitors should still take precautions. It is best to avoid carrying large sums of cash, not to wear expensive jewelry and to be aware of your surroundings, especially at night. It is recommended to use registered taxis, and visitors should avoid wandering into unfamiliar areas alone.

In conclusion, Bogota is a city that should not be missed by any traveler to Colombia. With its rich history, stunning views, delicious food, and vibrant culture, Bogota is a destination that will leave a lasting impression on any visitor.

[thoseouttakes]

I had a friend at the hostel. Bogota Colombia

[jahonnan]

Esto es un detalle especial para mis más fieles seguidores, los que ya han vivido este tipo de experiencia conmigo saben de que se trata, los que aún no, pónganse pilas que el aforo es limitado, un detalle Exclusivo para mis fans, en el centro histórico de Bogotá Así que si están en La ciudad no duden en hacer su reserva, los veo este sábado 25 de septiembre. . . . . . #meetandgreetgoals #party #candelaria #djset #musica #bogota🇨🇴 #centro #patrimonio #choperia #food #snaks #live #exclusive_shots #elrompizaje #experience #reggaemusiclovers #dancehall #tourist #hostel #colombia🇨🇴 #international #travelcolombia #booking #hostales #candelaria #turismo #reservas https://www.instagram.com/p/CUFXzkTLNmq/?utm_medium=tumblr

[paolaclavijophotol]

[tinyhousegiantjourney]

Bogota Travel Guide for First Timers

We all know that Colombia has a dark past, so it may not seem like the paradisal vacation spot, but the country’s reputation is beginning to change. Traveling to Colombia is no longer dangerous and with the vast amount of cheap flights available from the USA, it’s a great choice for northerners looking to dip their toes in South America. This past fall, I took a short trip to Colombia, spending…

[dynamischreisen]

Max, Tag 1:

Das war ja wieder klar.

Wie immer hatte ich viel zu viele offene Baustellen, die ich selbstverständlich alle selbst aufgerissen habe. Zwei Stunden vor Abfahrt nach Frankfurt hieß es also dann packen. Den ganzen Scheiß, den ich gerade erst mit Hilfe meiner lieben Freundinnen und Freunde zu meiner Mutter geschleppt habe - wieder raus aus den Kisten, in gewohnter Manier im gesamten Zimmer, nein Haus, verteilen. Treppen rauf, Treppen runter. Kaffee. Treppen rauf, Treppen runter. Wie geht nochmal Online-Checkin? Treppen. Raus aus der Tür, Hechtsprung in den Bus und ab zum Willibahnhof. Zug verspätet, war ja klar. Wenigstens noch ein schönes Gespräch in der Sonne und verrückte Schnucke. Wider Erwarten dann sogar rechtzeitig am Flughafen. Scheiße, ich hab noch den Briefkastenschlüssel, den ich vorhin abgeben wollte! Post natürlich im anderen Terminal. Info nicht besetzt, niemand zuständig. Ah, die Cops - da war doch was mit Freund und Helfer - und den brauchte ich ja nun. „Ja da würde ich Ihnen raten, einen Briefumschlag zu besorgen und ne Briefmarke und das dann einzuwerfen“. Danke. Treppen rauf, Treppen runter, das gleiche nochmal. Dann (in göttlichem Schein) der Briefmarkenautomat. Mit triumphalem Blick bin ich also wieder auf die Staatsmacht zu, die sich erbarmte, einen Umschlag rauszurücken. Dennoch ein klarer Sieg der Selbstermächtigung gegen den Staat - oder so. Treppen wieder rauf. Wie ging nochmal ein normaler Checkin?

Infolgedessen ab nach London, aussteigen und auf den Shuttle warten. „Sorry, can you call a Shuttle for me? The sign says it has to be called after 8pm.” “No worries, just wait there.” 20 Minuten vergingen, der Anschlussflug nur noch eine Stunde, aber knappe 5 Kilometer entfernt. “Excuse me, when will it arrive? It is getting a bit late.” “Yes why don’t you call it then?” Danke. Alles knapp, aber gut gelaufen. Vergleichbares dann in Bogota. Knapp, aber gut gelaufen. Nach Schlafphasen, auf die selbst Christiano Ronaldo stolz wäre, dann endlich da.

Das Umfeld des Flughafens in Lima hat mich schwer an Uganda erinnert. Das konnte ja heiter werden. Zum Glück kam aber mein Retter Patricio, um mich abzuholen. Ein wahnsinnig netter Kerl, der gleichzeitig der Cousin eines Kumpels aus Kassel ist. Die Welt ist ja bekanntermaßen sehr klein. Gemeinsam ging es dann also nach Miraflores, ein sehr schönes, urbanes und irgendwie dennoch ruhiges Viertel im Wechselspiel der Hochhäuser und Kolonialbauten. Wir haben uns super verstanden, selbst das Wetter spielte mit. Er wollte also Surfen gehen. „Ja mach du mal, bis dann irgendwann.“ Moment, eigentlich ganz geil. Naja, erstmal Fisch essen gehen. Der war vorzüglich. Mit dem Kellner eröffnete ich tatsächlich auch direkt ein nettes Gespräch, trotz meiner nicht vorhandenen Spanisch Vorkenntnisse. Es lief ja Champions League und Fußball sprechen bekanntlich alle. „Es la Liga del Peru ääääh finito?“ Irritierte Blicke. „Äääh observar el Futbol domestico… es possible?“ Irritierte Blicke. Exit Kellner. Zugegeben - Gespräch war etwas viel gesagt, aber jeder fängt mal klein an. Jedenfalls ab zum Strand, leider kein Patricio. Scheiß drauf, du warst seit Jahren nicht Surfen und das auch nur einmal, nutz die Chance! Also Kram plus Lehrer gemietet, mit Hand und Fuß verständigt, das war wunderbar. Jetzt sitze ich mit schweren Armen, Jetlag und 6 Kaffee intus im Hostel und genieße etwas Zeit für mich. Eine Einladung für die Kneipe habe ich auch schon. Die werde ich auch wahrnehmen. Was tut man nicht alles, um etwas länger wach bleiben zu können…

[roccinan]

Do you have headcanons for everyone after the Bank Heist? Where do they live, are they all together or separated into groups like after mint heist, are they still doing heist jobs etc?

Hi anon! Not in particular, but now that you ask, I have some old and new ones. I think they'd all separate into groups and never talk to each other again LOL, but every 2 or so years, Sergio gets postcards from everyone else. Since they all have immunity now, there's no reason to hide out in various parts of the globe.

I think Denver and Monica (and Cinci) would literally move to Denver, Colorado and be a picturesque nuclear family nobody would suspect. Denver's English is probably Not good, but Monica's likely fluent enough.

Manila travels the world, maybe takes part in some small heists here and there and hooks up with guys that resemble Denver, but eventually meets someone who joins her globetrotting; she thinks about Denver, but refuses to contact him for her own sake (and even though he denies it, Denver thinks about her too sometimes)

Benjamin buys a farmhouse in rural Spain and settles there as a local legend LOL The random Pakistani technicians and that one doctor all become rich. And lots of people leave 1 star reviews for the Bank of Spain

Sagasta and co. probably hold an awkward memorial for Gandia before going back to their normal lives; this is probably the last time the government ever calls on them. Alicia and her baby go on to become normal civilians.

Helsinki dumps Martin like a day after the ending of vol. 2 LMAO He starts hanging out with Marseille more and realizes Jakov has had his eye on him all long; then marsinki get together uwu Sofia is also there. I like to believe they get a beach house somewhere in Greece and open a little hostel just for the heck of it; sometimes Martin stops by without invitation

Martin shacks up with Bogota in the actual Bogota. They live as roommates, then friends, then best friends (Santiago never replaces Andres but he becomes his own category entirely in Martin's life), and sometimes they fuck even though Bogota is totally straight. They're crazy so they continue doing heists that get bigger and bigger in scale until they have to flee the continent- next time Sergio hears from them, they're somewhere in Hungary

(Also Martin does share his gold with certain organizations in Argentina, and he repatriates whatever is left of the artifacts from the bank to their respective peoples- I say whatever is left, because he just stood there and let the military bomb all the artifacts he was making a speech about 5 minutes ago in canon like ??)

Lastly, serquel return to Palawan with Paula and Marivi. They stay a few years before it's time for Paula to start school again, probably because Martin showed up without invitation and volunteered to teach Paula, and serquel immediately went NO. In the end, they probably return to Palermo and settle in the monastery (that Andres willed to Sergio), and live back and forth between there and Palawan

The only time everyone (alive) united was for serquel's wedding

Lastly, I can't decide if it's funnier for Rio to randomly end up hanging by Helsinki/Jakov's side or by Martin/Bogota's XD

[starting-with-a-taco]

Colombia, we made it. With entry requirements easing in the last month or so, we were able to enter on a health declaration form only without tests or quarantine - which we were grateful for!

Many travellers say you shouldn’t need to spend more than a night or so in Bogotá, due to its business, safety and smog but we wanted to give it a chance. Staying in the touristic district of La Candelaria, we explored this area - full of BBCs’ (Bogotá Beer Company) bars, museums and restaurants selling their famous Colombian arepas and empanadas.

Arriving in the morning after an overnight flight, we checked into Ulucaho Hostel, and at £8 a night it was a steal! Later that day, we visited Fernando Botero’s art at his museum and were lucky to find some Monet, Picasso and Matisse pieces in their too. Having found an Irish bar (classic) selling draught beer, we stopped for a couple before trying some arepas from a hole in the wall cafe. Archie loved his cheese and chorizo arepas so much, he went back a couple of times after that!

As mentioned, Bogotá gets a bad rep for its safety, but with police and their dogs on most street corners we felt relatively safe and did not venture out when it got dark.

Sunday’s are a popular day for family outings to the museums, it seems. Bogota has a museum for pretty much everything and we hoped to visit the Gold Museum (unfortunately reservation only) and Police Museum (who exhibit some Escobar bits) but was unfortunately closed due to the pandemic.

Having not had much luck with the museums, we decided to try some traditional Colombian cuisine and visited False Door, a restaurant that has been open for centuries. Archie had the ajiaco chicken soup, served with corn and Courtney had an envuelto mushed cheese and corn served with rice and avocado.

The one thing Colombians can do well and we absolutely love them is a Menu del Dia (menu of the day)! Most restaurants have a 3/4 course menu and drink available for a very low price (£2-4). We tried a couple of veggie places on a couple of days and the didn’t disappoint. Quinua y Amaranto was our favourite - mushroom soup, cheese and leek tart with a salad and cheesy carrots, quinua pudding and a herbal tea all for £3.

Having spent 4 nights here, it’s time to move onto the coffee region, on our way to Medellin. Starting with Salento…

[allovertheworldblog]

The Emerald men of Bogota

I discovered this phenomenon by simply walking along the street one day in Bogota.

I couldn’t avoid it, literally. 

The phenomenon I speak of is The Emerald Men of Bogota. 

They hang out on a main street in the city, near the Department of Agriculture. They come to chat, to catch up and of course to buy and sell emeralds.

I tried to photograph this phenomenon from across the street so as not to cause a stir.

Sometimes people got in the way.

At lunchtime I go to a restaurant beside where they all hang out. The restaurant is offering an executive menu, soup, main course and dessert, all for a reasonable price. One of emerald men comes in for something to eat. He seems impatient, telling the waitress to hurry up. He finishes his steak in record time, not bothering with anything else on the plate.

On his mobile phone he tells the person on the other end where he is and for them to hurry up. I imagined he was talking to his wife. 

He wasn’t, it was an emerald seller on the other end. The seller comes to the restaurant. 

The man who ate his lunch quickly is trying to act like he owns the place. He seems to be pressuring the seller to accept less than he thought he could get for the emeralds that he has in a white folded up page.

They leave the restaurant, no bargain is struck. 

Later two men trying to do a deal meet outside the window that I’m sitting at. Again, the deal doesn’t seem to come off, but the men part on good terms, shaking hands.

Later I go to the Police Museum for a tour. I was stopped by a policeman speaking excellent English earlier in the day. 

He told me I could do tour of the police museum, and it was for free. 

Later in the day I was walking near the museum. 

The policeman who earlier told me to go the museum is passing by. He says, “you’re here for the tour?”.

I hadn’t planned on going but do. It turns out he’s giving the tour, through faultless English, albeit with a US accent, the influence of media. 

This was a common feature of many of the Colombians I met who spoke good English, they had US accents. 

Maybe it was because they had teachers who were from the States, I don’t know, or maybe from watching American movies.

The tour was pretty good. They’ve all sorts of displays from a robot vehicle that they use for bombs

to an array of various guns, including a pen gun made in Colombia.

In the basement is a display on the narcotics war that Colombia has fought, including smashing the Medellin and Cali cartels.

(Fourknocks?)

On the way back to the hostel I stop by a stall on the side of the street. I buy two wafers that are the size of side plates. In the middle they put topping of your choice, I go for dulce de leche or arequipe as they call it in Colombia, and peanut.

The following day I buy a copy of El Tiempo newspaper. 

There’s more FARC related news. 

The Minister for Defence is on the cover heralding a victory. It’s left to the Minister for Defence to report the murder of maximum FARC leader Victor Julio Suarez or ‘Jojoy’ as he’s more better known, as the recently elected President of the country is in New York at the UN. 

There are many photos of him meeting the singer Shakira, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and Bill Gates for some reason.

The newspaper has 11 pages of coverage on the story. 

There are quotes from all those involved in the story down through the years, from former Presidents to former hostages.

'A blow to the heart of FARC’ is former president Pastrana’s take on the bombing that resulted in Jojoy’s death.

Former Presidential candidate and former hostage, Ingrid Betancourt says: “I have to say it’s a ray of hope for Colombia, and that it’s the end of a long night and for me the end of a nightmare”.

Another former hostage, Consuelo Gonzalez says, “Jojoy was the one who kidnapped me and caused my family so much hurt”.

The same newspaper has business pages whose content is provided by the Wall Street Journal. The Irish economy is the subject of a half page article.

An Israeli girl who’s staying in the hostel comes back from Montserrate, one of the hills which Bogota is in the shadow of. 

She’s had her camera stolen by a sneakthief. 

She seems very matter of fact and calm about it.

Montseratte is accessible by funicular railway or cable-car. 

On Sundays it’s packed with tourists and locals alike. 

Likewise a nearby hill with a statue of Jesus attracts many visitors on Sundays. 

I was in the streets near my hostel that lead to the hill with Jesus on top on Sunday when I saw big queues of people. 

I couldn’t figure out what they were waiting in line for. The queue snaked around a few streets. 

Then I looked up and saw the pilgrims climbing to reach the statue.

Later I go to the planetarium, which features the largest dome in Latin America. The dome isn’t open, but some displays are. 

One of the displays features gifts from US President Richard Nixon from 1972 and '73. 

It’s pieces of moon rock and small Colombian flags that were flown on the moon by US spacecrews of the Apollo landings.

The road that I walked to reach the planetarium, one of the main carreteras of the city is closed to vehicles every Sunday from 07.00 to 14.00, to give the cyclists a chance to cycle freely. 

The take-up is surprising with cyclists of all ages and fitness levels taking advantage of the weekly road closure.

[globetrotted]

Gestern war ich nicht nur beim sightseeing sondern am Abend mit ein paar Leuten aus dem Hostel beim Feiern. In einem Club der sich über 4 Stockwerke erstreckt und (ich glaube) 14 liebevoll nach Mottos gestaltete Räume/Dancefloors hat. Mit Getränke Flatrate für gerade Mal ~18€. Sollte man sich auf keinen Fall entgehen lassen wenn man in Bogota ist! Der Club heißt Theatron.

[sarakuper]

Filandia; a gem in the coffee region

Stop #12, February 19-22

Oh Filandia, we came to love you so fast! 

Filandia is a beautiful and quaint coffee town smack in the middle of the coffee region. The buildings are colorful and kept in wonderful condition. The town is surrounded by rolling lush green hills with magnificent mountains in the distance! We’ve enjoyed so much coffee here and are starting to understand that the coffee we drink at home is not as great as we thought! Even though the best coffee in Colombia gets exported, and we definitely drink it in the states, its not even just about the beans, it’s also about how it’s prepared! Many local coffee shops are starting to sell the best stuff right here in town, and they offer several ways to prepared your coffee. Sean and I have stuck with the traditional way and have yet to get so fancy with it, but we will soon :)

We arrived on Wednesday and walked around the quaint town. It immediately reminded us of Jardin, except smaller and with fewer people and tourists. On our way to the hostel we walked through a bunch of elementary and middle school students leaving school in their uniforms. It was so cute and made me a bit nostalgic! We enjoyed coffee and a snack at the edge of town overlooking the mountains. We walked around the town some more, wandered into their very many and very cute shops, and finished the night with dinner and a very, very highly rated restaurant that is mentioned every single time someone talks of Filandia. The hype got me very excited for this place, especially because a vegan blogger raved about it too (suggesting its vegan!). I was so disappointed in this restaurant :(. The yucca croquettes with their spicy jam was delish, and Sean said he loved the Colombian hot dog he ordered (which looked more like sushi). But when my falafel dish arrived and I want to put some on my fork, the falafel ball was so hard that my fork didn’t pierce it, and it went flying onto my lap with the thick layer of hummus. I’ve surprisingly eaten so much falafel in Colombia that has been the best I’ve ever had, and at this famous restaurant it was so over fried, it was difficult to get on your fork. 

(did you know bananas grew upwards!?)

On Thursday we went Barbas Bremen Natural Reserve to see the howler monkeys. We got picked up in a Willy’s Jeep from our hostel to head to the finca. After a brief introduction of the area and some coffee, our guide Alejandro led us into the jungle. We heard the monkeys from afar, and before we knew it we spotted 5 of them. If fact, we even saw two of them mating! These monkeys howl so loudly, its unbelievable! We were able to stand and watch them for quite some time before continuing the beautiful hike.

The rest of the day was spent at Cafe Cultivar, a cafe that quickly became our favorite hangout in Colombia. The views on their patio overlooked the lush fincas and hills surrounding town, and the few foods we tasted were absolutely delicious. I brought my laptop, and Sean and I spent a few hours there eating, sipping coffee, and working. I spend a lot of time on job applications and getting other stuff in order while Sean worked on stuff for the business he’s starting when he returns to the states! At night we went out for tacos, but within 30 minutes after eating the taco I had a very strong craving for pasta, and so we went out for a second dinner. To be fair, the tacos we had were small and more like appetizers….  :)

On Friday we planned on hiking to a double water fall that many people speak of, sharing that the walk there is very beautiful. But honestly, we loved our time just sitting at coffee shops, walking around, and enjoying the view. It rained most of the day, so instead of the hike we just hung out. Just before sunset we walked to The Mirador for a 360 degree view of town and all the fincas, and at night we went to TukTuk, a Vietnamese restaurant. I essentially ordered a plate of veggies, but they were seasoned to perfection! Also it was an absolute HUGE portion, I’m surprised I even finished half. I love when restaurants have delish veg options!! 

Our last day in Filandia was one for the books. After yet another delicious and healthy breakfast we sipped our coffee and took in the beautiful dining room in this hostel. It feels like you’re outside in a very lush garden. Then we packed up our bags (which always takes me 3x longer than Sean) and began our 10k (5 mile) walk to the well-known Aprisco La Espanola. I had read about this place in a few blogs, the few that explored Filandia, and the reviews of this place sounded amazing. It’s a goat farm in the foothills outside town, and they cook up a huge meal (upon request/reservation) with everything fresh from their farm. A priest lives there and cooks there, but I don’t know how or why that’s relevant. We walked for almost 2 hours, but then hopped into a jeep driving by to help us get there a little quicker. The driver was Colombian but actually grew up and graduated from high school in New York! Anyway, he dropped us off 2k from the finca and we continued to walk. 

Upon arrival we walked around the finca and enjoyed the absolutely beautiful surroundings. Not only were the views gorgeous, but everything about the farm was too- the architecture in the buildings, the kitchen, the dogs-chickens-goats-peacocks-and birds, just everything! Of course Sean went straight to all the puppers to give them love and head scratches. The male peacock was running around with the goats and shortly after opened up his feathers. We were confused as to why, because the males only do this when trying to impress a female, but we eventually saw the female he was after in the distance.. and she was clearly not interested! 

Another group showed up and we were seated for lunch by 3pm. WOW, the food, just wow. The soup, which reminded me of the soup my mom makes on thanksgiving, was absolutely out of this world! It was the best soup I’ve ever had (sorry mamma!). I later learned it was made of pumpkin, carrots, celery.. and other fresh ingredients I cannot remember. Everything was truly delish. 

We rode back in another Willy’s Jeep with the people we shared lunch with. An American guy from Michigan just married his wife who is from Colombia, and they live together in Bogota. They married only a week ago, and so they were traveling around with their parents (who where also there) and a friend. They were super lovely people and we enjoyed our time with them. 

Next we are headed to Salento to visit the famous Cocora Valley!

Thanks for reading fam! I think my posts have gotten pretty boring because I haven’t kept them up to date like I’d like to- please don’t feel pressured to read. But definitely check out the photos :)

Love you all! 

[beatvondaeniken]

The story of a trip through Brasil during Covid-19

Dear friends

All went well at the beginning in February 2020. Carnaval was on its height in Rio de Janeiro with the different «blocos», the «Sapucai» - the show in the Sambadromo and the incredible costumes and dances.

Beginning of March then the start at the “Caminhos” language school. Foreigners from all over the world trying to learn the Carioca Portuguese (the one from Rio) with all the typical expressions like “caraca”, “legal”, “puxa-sacos” and also the soft “s” spelt out everywhere.

Unfortunately, the language course took and end by mid-March, when all the schools closed their doors in Rio because of the Coronavirus. Both main citiies in Brasil, Sao Paolo and Rio have been the most affected. Shops, museums, tourist attractions closed successively.

Later public transport was reduced, the buses running between the main cities even totally suspended.

How to continue to travel in these times? Many language school students decided to go back to their respective countries. Only a few of us decided to stay and continue our journey. As a crisis manager, I told myself that I will be confined in Brasil, some kind of hibernation as we are used to in humanitarian missions. By chance, I could hire a car for two months. In the meantime, my girlfriend from Medellin (Colombia) could join me with the last flight from Bogota to Rio de Janeiro. Being confined together makes it easier for the two of us.

Well relatively confined. With the car we were able to drive first to Nova Friburgo. It is the place where many Swiss migrated to from 1818 on because of poverty and hunger in Switzerland. The city itself is nothing quite exiting. On the other hand, there are nice mountains around and a lot of trails to go for.

The next stop: Ouro Preto in the federal state of Minas Gerais. A colonial town that was an important centre for Brasil in the 19th century when they found gold, black (preto) gold.

The restrictions in Brasil because of the Covid-19 were increasing from day to day. We were absolutely not sure being able to cross the state border between Rio and Minas. In most of the cities entrance control have been established. You were not allowed in expect you could prove that you will pass the city without any stop. Fortunately, there was no control in Ouro Preto. Here we are now in an AirBNB apartment (the unique option since all the hotels and hostels are closed).

We will continue our journey travelling to Belo Horizonte and the capital Brasilia, if the situation allows.

Que ficam com beijos (kisses to all of you)