In Bogota!
Friday, August 18th - picking up after Cristina and i got to our hotel in Bogota now. Hotel is a bit small, with narrow winding corridors, feeling like it's been jammed into some space in a building it barely fits in, but the room is a decent size. My only real complaint is it has no AC _and_ the bed only has a thick blanket, no sheets.
After some unpacking and catching up presently we found ourselves wondering about food. We both looked out the window at the street four floors below asking eachother "do you think it's safe to walk out there?"
We could see people casually walking about but then there were also people rummaging through garbage cans. In the end we went downstairs and asked the receptionist, who encouraged us to go out.
As a precaution i emptied my pocket of everything save enough money for dinner, and one ID, not even taking my phone.
The hotel it turns out is not the edge of a few blocks known as the Zona Rosa known for its clubs and night life. What we saw from our window was just a side street just on the edge of the district, the main streets were thronged with people lined up outside clubs or walking between them dressed for a night out. Right in the middle of these crowds, which swirled around them, there'd be beggar women sitting on the ground with a blanket on their lap and sleeping child. But i found neither the beggars nor the club promoters were particularly insistent, desisting after a simple dismissive gesture.
We found a little restaurant that was a step above street food, i got a pork sandwich. Cristina got a churro which came cut into pieces in a bowl and accompanied with some chocolate dipping sauce. She declared it wasn't very good but i thought it was worlds better than churros I've had in Australia or the US, so there must be some amazing churros out there.
At the table next to us were three or four guys dressed like a mariachi band, i later pieced together there's a Mexican themed restaurant/club next door.
We walked around the district a bit more. I saw "I ❤️ BOG" on an illuminated sign which amused me. Normally i don't go in for "i heart [city]" paraphernalia but "i ♥️ bog" is funny. I might have to find a shirt or hat.
And then we returned to the hotel. I was thinking it was like 21:00-22:00 but we realized it was actually around 02:00. Jetlag will do things like that to you!
[Originally posted August 21st]
After some unpacking and catching up presently we found ourselves wondering about food. We both looked out the window at the street four floors below asking eachother "do you think it's safe to walk out there?"
We could see people casually walking about but then there were also people rummaging through garbage cans. In the end we went downstairs and asked the receptionist, who encouraged us to go out.
As a precaution i emptied my pocket of everything save enough money for dinner, and one ID, not even taking my phone.
The hotel it turns out is not the edge of a few blocks known as the Zona Rosa known for its clubs and night life. What we saw from our window was just a side street just on the edge of the district, the main streets were thronged with people lined up outside clubs or walking between them dressed for a night out. Right in the middle of these crowds, which swirled around them, there'd be beggar women sitting on the ground with a blanket on their lap and sleeping child. But i found neither the beggars nor the club promoters were particularly insistent, desisting after a simple dismissive gesture.
We found a little restaurant that was a step above street food, i got a pork sandwich. Cristina got a churro which came cut into pieces in a bowl and accompanied with some chocolate dipping sauce. She declared it wasn't very good but i thought it was worlds better than churros I've had in Australia or the US, so there must be some amazing churros out there.
At the table next to us were three or four guys dressed like a mariachi band, i later pieced together there's a Mexican themed restaurant/club next door.
We walked around the district a bit more. I saw "I ❤️ BOG" on an illuminated sign which amused me. Normally i don't go in for "i heart [city]" paraphernalia but "i ♥️ bog" is funny. I might have to find a shirt or hat.
And then we returned to the hotel. I was thinking it was like 21:00-22:00 but we realized it was actually around 02:00. Jetlag will do things like that to you!
[Originally posted August 21st]