Bogotá impressions

For now, this is my last day in Bogotá—I will return in a few weeks' time for my descent towards Ecuador. Tomorrow, I head north to Villa de Leyva by bus. These last five days have been intense. I've been mainly wandering the streets with no particular destination. La Candelaria has become my favorite district: the graffiti, the rugged building walls with their saturated colors, the wooden signs with hand-painted lettering for local shops and cafés, the silence and laid-back rhythm, the little-to-no traffic, and the sight of the Andes in the east casting a shadow over the neighborhood.

Some demonstrations have been taking place during my stay. The protest "Salud sin EPS, porque la salud es un derecho" brought thousands to the streets, wearing masks, singing, and dancing as they slowly moved across the city's main arteries. As I was passing by, I was absorbed by the masses; people hugged me, gave me flyers, and encouraged me to sing along. The crowds were mainly composed of women and young students, alongside several unions and hospital workers who made an incredible, deafening noise, reverberating against the skyscrapers of Carrera 7.

All over Bogotá, you can find street vendors with small stands selling beverages, sweets, and other goods. Almost every single one of them has a mobile phone available for national calls. Prices vary between 150 and 200 pesos (around 0.10 EUR) per minute, regardless of the network operator. It's incredibly handy when you are traveling without a mobile phone.

I've enjoyed the pedestrian Calles where street vendors sprawl their towels and sell all sorts of things. I would simply lean against a wall and absorb the vibrant life: the greetings between friends and neighbors, the regateo between sellers and customers, the food stalls with tropical fruit juices and sweet snacks, the tamales, and savory crêpes.

Some of the must-sees I've covered were the celebrated Museo Botero—I was expecting sculptures but came to realize it was mainly about his paintings, worth a visit nevertheless, has it has host one of the biggest art donations —and the cable car up to Monserrate, which offers some impressive views of the valley with its sprawling metropolis. I know I've missed a lot, but I will come back soon.