Travel Treasures: One day in Bogotá, Colombia

I actually wanted to publish a bit more about my Brazil stay but since I couldn’t cope with the lack of  internet, server change and different time zone (and giving work shops during the day – not to forget:-), I have decided to go straight to write about my Colombia trip and will take then vacation and a blog break.

I have been traveling to Bogotá after my stay in São Paulo for another workshop and had one day off before heading home. So what do you do in just one day in a city with a 8 million population? My travel behavior has changed a lot in the past two years. I am not even trying to see  as much as I can but concentrate on really small things. Like going to a market,  a specific area where I am strolling for a few hours or I just linger in a café watching people.

After promising to be prudent, I finally hired a taxi driver that day and went first to La Candelaria, a historic neighborhood in downtown with still some Spanish colonial style.

I have visited there the Botero Museum with painting and sculptures donated by Fernando Botero still in life, as well as works by artists including Monet and Picasso from his private collection. He is considered the living artist most recognized and quoted in Latin America. Botero depicts women, men, daily life,  and the natural world in general, with exaggerated and disproportionate volumetry, accompanied by fine details of criticism, irony, humor, and even ingenuity. You always recognize his work. Don’t you?

I so much wanted to visit an artisan market but they take place the weekends. Anyhow I managed to visit some galleries where the main craftwork of Colombia is gathered, truth be told they were very touristic places. But still, since artisan works are my passion, it’s been nice to learn about their handcrafts.

The Vueltiao hats are made out of cane that grows in the region. I even could think of hanging them at the wall. Here goes another pic.

Same cane and loads of colorful bangles. Perfect for gift giving!

Those are Arhuaco backpacks made from pure new wool from the mountains of Sierra Nevada de Santa Maria. The woven symbols are sacred to the artisan tribe and does represent their spirituality.

In the afternoon I moved on to Monserrate which offers superb views at a 3.152m height and is probably the main symbol of the capital due to its religious nature, and Sanctuary that is visited by thousands of people and pilgrims, since 1640 when it was founded. You can go up by cable railway or by funicular, and the experience is so much worth it.

I enjoyed my short stay, met really lovely people over here and who knows, I might be back next year…