Day 86 - Bogota, Colombia

Time for another city bike tour today. After breakfast we get a taxi way down town to the old town to Bogotravel as Nat found a great graffiti bike tour. We get there 20mins early as it dictates on the website and then proceed to wait an hour and 20 mins before we set off. 

Ready to go. 

After an hour into the tour it is fairly evident that this isn't a graffiti tour at all but a historical tour of the city. Typical South America. Oh well, the tour is actually pretty interesting though so we stick with it. We spend the first two hours within one street of Plaza de Bolivar wondering why we needed bikes in this tour. 

We see the Emerald exchange which spills out onto the street. There are hundreds of merchants trying to do deals all carrying loads of emeralds, wads of cash and those little telescopes for examining precious stones. 

Get a nice easy job as a sweep his mother said. Not what he had in mind!

We set off towards Bolivar Square. The old town is like stepping back into the sixties. It could easily be a film set with the old tired looking buildings and men's fashion that looks like a scene from the Sopranos. 

They do know how to do a cycle path in Bogota though. There is over 350km of dedicated cycle path in this city. Everyone rides everywhere - is great. 

Capitolio Nacional where congress sit 

This is the most famous window in Colombia apparently. This is the one Bolivar jumped out of when escaping an assassination attempt. The guide tells us the story but makes Bolovar sound like a right plonker in how he tried to escape in he window he chose to escape from and his escape route. Surprised they didn't catch him. Must have looked like a chuckle brothers sketch. 

Their 17 rules of independence scribed into the wall. Kind of like their Lincoln memorial. 

The Catherdral of Colombia. 

Palacio de Justica, the court house where Pablo Estoban attempted to kidnap all the magistrates so he wouldn't get extradited to the US back in 1985. Our guide, who lives around the corner, told is it was like a war started as the army tried to rescue them - very scary. Just bought the book Killing Pablo. Think it will be a fascinating read. 

Cathedral of Colombia from across Bolivar square with the monastery on Monserrate mountain in the background 

Congress 

Now the next picture and story is random. They have made a statue of Jesus an official General of the army which is why he is dressed in an officers uniform. And the best bit - they actually pay Jesus his salary every month! Crazy. I think all it does is confirm that Jesus loved skiing (they look like skis over his shoulder to me!). Maybe that's what he likes to spend his money on??

We then visit the market and try some delicious ad very exotic fruit, most of which I have never heard of. 

Most sour fruit in the world. It makes a lemon taste like nothing. 

The sweetest fruit in the world. Tastes just like bubble gum and has the weirdest texture. 

Finally we get a proper fruit! Albeit mini one (and no this is not a life size replica!!!)

All the fruits we have tasted, most of which I have never heard of. 

Tallest tower in Colombia (the left one). 

Next is the coolest part of the tour for me. We visit he old bull fighting arena which us closed to the public but we were able to enter by tipping the guard.  

Bull fighting is now illegal in Bogota as the mayor banned it for being too brutal. 

The best bull fighter of all time. He was killed by a bull so can't be that good!

Trust Nat to find a guy in tight pants' bulge. 

We get a fascinating explanation of bull fighting from out guide who used to go as a child. It does sound pretty brutal. He explains that the seats at the front used to go for $300 each!

Ole!

We then get back on the bikes and pass the Colombian football association. 

We finally get to see some cool graffit. Only 5 hours into the graffiti bike tour! 

 

Looks like Nat's name has been graffitied on the wall. 

A pretty cool monument for everyone that has died in Colombia due to crime. They have drilled little holes in the wall and take a bit of soil from where the person lived and added it to be memorial. Nice touch and a really cool building. 

When in Colombia we had to see how coffee was made. 

Bagging up the coffee. 

Our bike crew. 

That evening we head to Usaquen for dinner. We had a drink here on Sat night but decided to head back as it is a lovely little square and area in north Bogota. It actually used to be a little town until Bogota grew so far north that is consumed it. 

We go for the obligatory few drinks at BBC again. Love this chain of bars. We also meet up with Mark again for a few beers and dinner. 

Nat managed to find a great restaurant called Ambato for dinner. It was like a restaurant in a house. Great food as well. I had the first burger I have had since leaving the UK. None of the stupid rules about not serving them rare here either. Cooked (or warmed) to perfection - more like steak tartar on a bit of bread. So tasty. 

Trying to cover my red face that the light above is not helping to hide. Caught the sun today. Keep forgetting we are ski resort high and the sun is quite strong. 

One of benefits of being out with someone who speaks fluent Spanish is their ability to translate the menu for us as well as correct our mispronunciations. Tonight I find out that the world suculento  which in my Spanish phrase app says it means 'very delicious' actually means "hug". No wonder I have been getting strange looks after every meal when the waiter asks how was it and I ask for a hug!!! 

Back to BBC for a night cap and one last Monserrate beer. Going to miss this beer. It's the first time we have had a really nice beer since New Zealand. 

Time to get our Samba on tomorrow. Next stop São Paulo.