COL: Bogota Downtown
Bogota, Colombia
Bogota is the vibrant capital city of Colombia where colonial-era architecture blends seamlessly with modern urban life. Sitting at an altitude of 2,640 m above sea level, it's one of the highest capital cities in the world. The elevation gives Bogota a cool, refreshing climate that remains pleasantly consistent throughout the year.
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COL: Bogota Downtown <YOU ARE HERE!>
COL: Zipaquira Salt Cathedral and Guatavita Lake Tour
COL: El Dorado International Airport
COL: Avianca VIP Lounge @ El Dorado International Airport
TRY: Turkish Airlines TK800 (Business)
TRY: Turkish Airlines TK208 (Economy)
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Let's start with La Candelaria, the historic neighbourhood of Bogota. At its heart lies Plaza de Bolivar, the main square of the city that hosts the iconic statue of Simon Bolivar, a revered Venezuelan military leader who played a pivotal role in securing independence for several nations from the Spanish Empire.
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| The statue, sculpted in 1846 by an Italian artist named Pietro Tenerani, is the first public monument in Bogota. |
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| It was a pity that the Primatial Cathedral of Bogota was closed when my BFF and I were there. |
Casa de Nariño is the official residence and administrative office of the president of Colombia.
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| The public is allowed to take photos of and with the guards. |
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| Thanks to the President Gustavo Petro, the plaza in front of the presidential palace is now accessible to the public. |
There are many museums in La Candelaria, one of which is Museo del Oro (lit. Gold Museum). The entrance fee is only COP 4,000 (~S$1.25).
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| I wonder what's the net worth of over 55,000 items housed inside the museum. |
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| Is that a yoga pose? |
Tercer Milenio Park is a large recreational space not far from Plaza de Bolivar.
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| It's reported that the park is underused, primarily due juvenile delinquency issues. |
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| There are numerous street peddlers lining the perimeter of the park. |
La Candelaria is generally safe to explore during the day, but you may want to exercise caution when wandering around after sunset.
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| Visto Centro de Moda Mayorista Internacional offers a wide range of wholesale goods. |
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| That was the only church that we managed to enter during our stay in Bogota. |
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Carmen is a stunning example of Florentine Gothic architecture that was built in the early 20th century.
I don't have any photos to show, but I had the opportunity to try TransMilenio, one of the largest bus rapid transit systems in the world. As of 2024, the system has 12 lines that span nearly 115 km. Anyway, here are the last few photos of La Candelaria that I have.
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| It looks like a war museum, doesn't it? |
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| "Butterfly, my butterfly, wait for me don't fly away~" |
As mentioned in the previous post, I stayed at Chapinero, which is one of the more affluent districts of Bogota.
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| The square was alive with the fluttering wings of countless birds. |
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| In the Colombian flag, the ratio of the yellow to blue to red stripes is 2:1:1. |
Strolling around Chapinero at night turned out to be quite pleasant indeed.
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| Chapinero is regarded as the LGBTQ+ hub of Bogota, known for its inclusive and progressive atmosphere. |
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| At Carulla supermarket, I stumbled upon the truly addictive coffee-flavoured Coca Cola. |
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| Avenida Chile features features a cinema dedicated to showcasing independent works. |
I shall dedicate the last part of this post to Andres Carne de Res. Founded in Chia in 1982, the brand has established itself as a prime destination for diners, drinkers and party-goers.
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| The Chapinero outlet spans five stories and features 11 distinct dining areas |
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| The bustling establishment can accommodate up to 3,300 guests. Wow! |
Have a closer look at the eateries we visited in Bogota:
- Andres Carne de Res (Latin American)
- Juan Valdez Café (Latin American and Western)
- Origen Bistro (Latin American and Western)
- Wok (Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian)
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