• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
FREE REPORT
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE
*No spam: We will NEVER give your email address to anyone else.
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
Live and Invest Overseas
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
No Result
View All Result

Travelling In Bogota, Colombia

Live And Invest Overseas by Live And Invest Overseas
Jul 03, 2011
in Retirement/Living
0
View of Bogota with mountains in the background
209
SHARES
3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Finding The Charm In Bogota

A couple of months ago, friends in Panama City told us about their recent visit to Bogota. You’ve got to go see it, they told us, your next trip to Colombia. It’s worth the trip, they assured us.

Driving the 45 minutes from the airport to our hotel the night we arrived, I wondered. We must be passing through the not worthwhile part of the city, I told myself. Block after block after block of low-rise near-tenement buildings covered with graffiti, trash floating around the streets and the sidewalks, everything dark and dreary.

It reminded me of some West Baltimore neighborhoods (I grew up in Baltimore), except, in Baltimore, the buildings, while rundown and often filled with homeless drug addicts, are architecturally interesting. These buildings were more reminiscent of down-at-the-heels parts of Belfast. The IRA terrorists believed to have migrated to this town must feel at home. We also saw a couple of Irish pubs.

We came to Bogota in part on our friends’ suggestion, in part because we had a couple of meetings–early morning at the U.S. Embassy, then across town for another appointment. We stopped for lunch in a very local-style eatery…wandered around a couple of shops…tried to get the feel of the place.

Despite the warnings, the people in Bogota were as friendly and polite as those we’ve encountered in Medellin. But their city is horribly depressing. We criss-crossed it and couldn’t identify a single interesting or redeeming feature.

For this Bogota scouting, we engaged a driver from the hotel. Lief and I are cavalier travelers, but we thought it wise to hire someone who came, at least, with the endorsement of our hotel rather than relying on random street taxis. Alfredo delivered us door-to-door then waited for us just outside. I don’t know if this was really necessary, but it made for efficient travels. Total cost for having Alfredo at our service for the day was less than US$50.

After our final appointment, late in the afternoon, I suggested we take a detour on the way back to the hotel to see the old town.

“We may never be back here,” I said to Lief. “So far I haven’t seen anything I’d go out of my way to return for. While we’re here, we should see the historic district.”

Across town again (Bogota is a big, flat city spread over about 650 square miles), this time, finally, to arrive at something worth seeing. While modern Bogota is urban sprawl defined, old Bogota is the most impressive and extensive collection of Spanish colonial structures I’ve seen. Nothing in Nicaragua, Panama, Guatemala, or Ecuador compares. The old town in Bogota is most reminiscent of old town Quito, but many times bigger and, though hardly gentrified, more welcoming.

Still you have the litter. The graffiti. But in Bogota’s old city you also find, finally, color, history, and charm.

There are museums, cafes, churches, bookstores, a massive library (dedicated to Gabriel Garcia Marquez), several universities, an expansive plaza, and many miles of picture-book colonial structures.

Thanks to the universities, you also have in this part of Bogota a concentration of university students. They’re everywhere–in the cafes, in the plaza, on the street corners, coming and going, chatting and texting. Their presence gives the place a friendly, vibrant feel.

I’m a sucker for interesting old buildings and quartiers. For me, few things are as charming or romantic.

Now we have a reason to return to Bogota.

Kathleen Peddicord

 

Comments

Tags: 'Colombia''Travel In Bogota'
Share84Tweet52
Previous Post

Travelling In Bogota, Colombia

Next Post

On The Idea of America

Live And Invest Overseas

Live And Invest Overseas

Live and Invest Overseas is the world's savviest source for top opportunities to live better, retire in style, invest for profit, do business, and own real estate overseas. Established in 2008, the Live and Invest Overseas' editors and correspondents have more experience researching and reporting on top opportunities for living well, investing for profit, doing business, and owning real estate around the world than anyone else you'll find.

Related Posts

Toledo, Spain.
Retirement/Living

Why You Shouldn’t Retire Overseas

by Kathleen Peddicord
April 11, 2021
0

We speak every day about all the good and compelling reasons to think about launching a new life in a...

Read more
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Where Are The Cheapest Places In The World

April 9, 2021
Doi Inthanon National Park when sunset, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The Top 10 Best Places To Live In Asia For Retirees

April 8, 2021
San Pedro Beach, Belize

What I’ve Learned From Living 6 Years In Corozal Town, Belize

April 7, 2021
The Marble Temple, Wat Benchamabopit Dusitvanaram at sunset in Bangkok, Thailand.

Culture Shock In Asia

April 6, 2021
View of Carvoeiro at sunny spring day, Lagoa, Algarve, Portugal.

Portugal: The Best Place To Live Is Also One Of The Safest

April 5, 2021
Tuscany landscape at sunrise.

Comparing Best Lifestyle Options: The Americas Vs Europe Vs Asia

March 29, 2021
Next Post
a bald eagle in front of a united states flag

On The Idea of America

A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we'll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today.

Start Your New Life Today, Overseas

how to retire overseas

LIOS Resources


  • New To LIOS
  • Ask An Expert
  • Media Center
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs

Quick Links


  • Best Places To Live
  • Best Places To Retire
  • Finding A Job Overseas
  • Real Estate

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE report: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2021

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe

© 2008-2021 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Countries
  • Budgets
  • Archives
  • News
  • Events
  • Bookstore
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Members Area
  • Contact Us

© 2008-2021 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

WANT TO RETIRE OVERSEAS?

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we’ll immediately send you a free report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE in style overseas. Each day you’ll learn about the best opportunities for international living, retiring overseas, offshore diversification and asset protection, and investing in real estate around the world.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.