22 Hours in Bogotá, Colombia
Colorful keychain pom poms jump up and down to the rhythm of a Spanish melody. The pom poms are gifts for my nieces I attached earlier to my tiny backpack while exploring the mountain view of Bogotá. The keychains and I are not leaving Bogotá till we have absorbed every part of the city.
I am solo in the middle of a packed dance floor and I let the music take my body over. Looking up to the sky I realized that I have a little less then three hours in this exhilarating country. A rare wave of uninhibited freedom took over. It is exhilarating to dance and know in only a few hours you will be in an entirely different country, 1,000 miles from every person that is surrounding you.
Earlier in the day I arrived at the airport to drop my big backback off at the airport locker and packed the essentials into my tiny backpack. My camera, wallet, passport, snacks, phone, notebook and a phone charger/ battery pack. I took an Uber and was dropped off by the gold museum. The sun was bright and I decide to explore Bogota from the sidewalks and narrow streets. I got an Arepa de Queso (cheese stuffed corn cakes) for breakfast. Bought an apple from a fruit seller in one of the colorful neighborhoods and took in the street art.
As I walked I heard that the view from the top of Bogotá was a wonderful way to see the city. So I took the Telefèric to the top. I ate a late lunch of Ajiaco (potato chicken soup) as the sun went down.
The transformation of the city was dazzling with Christmas celebrations in full expression. The lights took over the expansive landscape. A mass and music took over the speaker system. Families attempted to take selfies and their laughter filled the chaos.
Taking the Telefèric at night felt like I was returning to a different city than I had left. I stopped by The Bogotá Beer Company and shared a conversation with an Oregonian. I had time to burn because I opted out of staying in a hotel. Instead of stark white sheets and a universal remote I was spending every moment taking in Bogotá. I traveled to Andrés Carne de Res. It was described as a Theme park/ Night club/ Steak house. As I entered I went to the dance floor. There were several to choose from. Couples pressed against one another, co-workers encouraging others to let loose and single men sitting at the near by tables desperately wanting to dance but not sure who with.
Between dancing I was eating and drinking (mostly water). I got a personal plate of steak, sausage and chips. I made wonderful friends who made sure I got safely into an Uber. We drove off to the airport and I had 20 minutes to myself after going through security. My next stop was about three hours away in Cancun, Mexico. I boarded and fell asleep right away, eager to take on my next adventure.
