Bogota

We arrived in Bogota at about 1:30 in the morning after piecing together a free ride, a por puesto (mini-bus), and a bus from Rio Claro. Once again, we were at altitude accompanied by a constant drizzle...brrr! One more cold stop before heading to the much anticipated Colombian islands of San Andres and Providencia.

First shocking impression aside, Bogota has turned out to be a really enjoyable city. While you don't want to be walking around late at night, during the day it's a bustling center for business, university students, tourists and everyone in between. There's loads to look at given the interesting mix of architecture ranging from ultra-modern to colonial. The free museums and the many cafès, parks, and plazas yielded a wonderful way to spend a couple days.

Yesterday, we made our way around a few of the museums...the Military Museum, Museo del Oro, and the National Police Museum. We found the latter to be the most impressive. It had rooms featuring their anti-narcotic, anti-kidnapping, and anti-guerrilla forces. There was also an entire floor dedicated to the drama of Pablo Escobar, the Medellin drug cartel, the Cali drug cartel and how the police force finally took them down. There was even a ceramic roof tile soaked with Pablo Escobar's blood.

Last night, we took a ride up the teleferico to Cerro de Monserrate, a mountain bordering the city. We were able to catch a clear view of the city's lights and rub elbows with Colombia's high class over a couple drinks at a swanky, pianist accompanied restaurant.