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Getting to know Bogotá - first impressions

Until recently, I never knew Bogotá. I had to go there 10 days ago to register my Colombian wedding with the French embassy.

True, I only spent a week there and I'll certainly not claim to know the city. But 7 days are certainly enough to give me FIRST impressions - for what they are worth and here are my first impressions of the city. Remember that I can try to compare Bogotá with Barranquilla and that, obviously, those are subjective first impressions:

1) After the heat and humidity of Barranquilla, the weather in Bogotá was certainly a welcome change.With day temperatures of 27/28° C, it sure was something I appreciated.

2) I was impressed with the green spaces throughout the city. I'm not talking about "Parque Bolivar". Each barrio appeared to have its own green spaces. A welcome change from Barranquilla which sorely lacks green spaces for kids to play.

3) I also noticed how car drivers didn't overtly use their horn. In Barranquilla, you just can't drive without using your car horn. Bogotá was so quiet in that respect.

4) I also noticed how fewer motorbikes there were. A ratio of 10 to 1, I'd say. I have nothing against bikes, but it definitely struck me how fewer bikes there were...

5) Cachacos are definitely different from the costeños in terms of personality. They're certainly more "reserved" and less "open" than the costeños. But, at the same time, I found them to be extrememy helpful and friendly. They sure are proud of their city and the few ones I met really went overboard to be helpful. I'd say that they are more reserved that the Costeños but, at the same time, they are certainly less superfical than the Costeños if only you take the time to get to know them (and ask for their help).

6) I was also surprised to see how much cheaper things were in Bogotá compared to Barranquilla. Seriously cheaper. Not only food and clothes, but lots of other stuff as well.

7) Of course, the cultural diversity is a welcome change from Barranquilla which, let's admit it, scores a 1 on a 10 scale for culture and diversity.

All in all, I was certainly most pleasantly surprised with Bogotá - and so was Nelly who had not visited the city for 20 years. If I didn't love and miss the sea so much, it's certainly a city where I'd love to stay and work.

I'll spare you the "obvious" pixes I took of Candaleria, the museo del Oro and so forth. However, here are two pixes of the things that struck me:

People actually queing whilst waiting for a bus. It's a welcome change from the free for all in Barranquilla...

Photobucket

Wow! A waste-litter bin which people actually use... In Barranquilla, it would be removed overnight to be sold on the following day for scrap metal;

All in all, a very nice and superlative city. I certainly wish I had more time to discover it.

By Darloup on Oct 17, 2009, 20:44 in Friendly Talkzone.

Simon says on Oct 17, 2009, 20:50:

That's a very nice and postive post Darloup. I'm glad you enjoyed Bogotá.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

0 funny, 1 helpful.

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 17, 2009, 20:55:

AntiEverything: I'm sure Elmo soon will post a typical Barranquilla trash can to prove your point... ;-)

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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Robert Jorge says on Oct 17, 2009, 21:08:

A trashcan? Really? Another classic.

"You can not take the barrio out of the girl you really can't." Oneforamillion

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christobeldawg says on Oct 17, 2009, 21:24:

Good post Darloup. I don't know Barranquilla, but Bogota is certainly a city of extreme paradox, in so many ways. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on your visit there. I have spent alot of time there, and enjoy hearing the impression of others visiting there. Have you been to Medellin or to Cali? was wondering, if so, how those cities differered from Bogota, and Barranquilla. I know Baranquilla is on the coast, and a big city, but nothing more. I understand the people talk faster there, and are less reserved than those in Bogota, not much more than that.

traveling hopefully is always better than arriving

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Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 17, 2009, 21:52:

Christobeldag: As I wrote, 7 days is certainly not enough to know Bogotá. But I dare say it's certainly enough to give me enough first impressions. I'm sure that, as you wrote, Bogotá is a city of paradoxes if you spend enough time there to scratch the surface (as with any city). Let's just say that my first superficial impressions were very positive...

No, I've never been to Medellín or to Cali. Not because I didn't want to, but merely because I didn' have the oppotunity to do so.

Colombia is such a HUGE and diversifed country that, at the of the day, I"ll probably need many years to know and discover all its wonders - if I ever get the opportunity to do so.

I never knew where Barranquilla was until I met Nelly. It's certainly NOT a city that I like very much, but it has become a city that I HAVE to like if only because my future lies there.

I certainly enjoy the costeño mentality and being on the Coast near the sea. At the same time, I'm painfully aware of its shortcomings as a "big" city.This is why "discovering" Bogotá was so nice and such a welcome "change".

Barranquilla,although the 4th largest city in Colombia, isn't such a LARGE city after all. It's an anarchic city which requires a lot of "adaption". Its attractions are less from obvious as, apart from Carnival time, it has very little to offer from a "tourist" point of view.

What I like about it is the "mentality" of the costeños (very friendly, albeit superficial). I love the mix of peope you meet there: Barranquilla was the historical gateway to immigration in Colombia and I like the mix of races and cultures you find in the city.

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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theflatline says on Oct 17, 2009, 22:00:

Papaya,

Bogota had a few mayors that fought to make it a good city. Because, let me tell you, 20 years ago, it was a fucking nasty place full of rude people, and now it is the most progressive city in Colombia, while the coast has pretty much remained the same.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 17, 2009, 22:08:

Mafioso,

Since we both appear to agree that Bogotá is now a nice and progrssive city, what is your point exactly?

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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Simon says on Oct 17, 2009, 23:04:

I can't wait till they build the subway in Bogota and expand the airport. Then it's really gonna kick ass!

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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Robert Jorge says on Oct 17, 2009, 23:05:

Darloup, I have to say I love your tag-line. It is the way I live my life.

"You can not take the barrio out of the girl you really can't." Oneforamillion

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Bill Turley (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 18, 2009, 05:48:

Hi Darloup Too bad you didn't get the chance to visit my finca. To me Bogota is too much of a CITY as I am a country boy at heart and spirit and while I could also enjoy life in the 3 cities I lived in here in Colombia ( Bogota, Chia and Cali) I like my fresh country air and NO traffic

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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scumbuster says on Oct 18, 2009, 06:33:

Bill. isn’t Chia pretty small? If its the one I am thinking about. All entrances to the town have an arch with stained glass? Seemed like a nice quaint little town!

Tomas Jefferson “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”

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CrazyGringo says on Oct 18, 2009, 06:48:

Ummm. Chia is a small city but not as small as Cota. But no, there aren't any stained glass archways going into Chia..... jajaja

CrazyGringo

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scumbuster says on Oct 18, 2009, 06:55:

I saw them somewhere in my travels.. jajajaja

Tomas Jefferson “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”

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gamm2 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 18, 2009, 07:02:

Thanks for the post Darloup! After a year and some in Bogotá, you reminded me that Bogotá really is a cool city! I have to make sure I keep taking advantage of everything and don´t get stuck in my own little neighborhood. For example.... drink coffee and watch TV on a Sunday morning - or go to the ciclovia.....

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Bill Turley (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 18, 2009, 07:30:

The Archways are at the entrances to the town's central square.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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webmanco says on Oct 18, 2009, 07:37:

Nice review. Some history, Cali used be known where its citizens where the most civilized in Colombia, not anymore, Bucaramanga used to be La ciudad de los Parques, not anymore. Bogotás has improve a lot on both accounts.

Bogotá citizens learned a lot to be more civilizice thanks to Mockus an ex-mayor in Bogotá.

that first picture of Darlop was taken on calle 63 the street that leads you to Iglesia Lourdes in Chapinero.

The best of Bogotá is that there are not too many sapoooooooooooosss, jajaja

No hay extremo cierto o verdadero, porque los extremos opacan, enruedan, (lavan cerebros) verdades. Yotas

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scumbuster says on Oct 18, 2009, 08:39:

Thanks Bill. I thought It was in Chia.. Just had them in the wrong place.

Tomas Jefferson “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”

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tropicalshirt says on Oct 18, 2009, 15:32:

I enjoyed reading your post Darloup.

But are you sure about those temperatures of 27/28 degrees? Those people in you photo have got a lot of clothes on...

What I want to know is....

Can I get a tan in Bogota???

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tropicalshirt says on Oct 18, 2009, 15:33:

And that trash can...

"In Barranquilla, it would be removed overnight to be sold on the following day for scrap metal"

You took that photo at night right?

It still there?...

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scumbuster says on Oct 18, 2009, 15:48:

Tropical S. I find I normally am wearing a T shirt in Bogota and I see people with winter coats but 80F, 27C is not common in Bogota. From my experience around 70F, 21C. Not to say that occasionally it isn’t 27C. I just have never been there when it was that warm.

Tomas Jefferson “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”

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johnny2009 says on Oct 18, 2009, 16:33:

No way are those people waiting for a bus. They are waiting for something, if it is a bus, it is a private bus to take them all to a funeral.

There are 19 people there, all of them at the same time have the presence of mind to await a buseta a whole Chevy Astra away from the official bus stop? no way!

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webmanco says on Oct 18, 2009, 18:39:

Yes they were waiting for their regular bus. It is like that always at night at that spot.

Can I get a tan in Bogota???

Yes

No hay extremo cierto o verdadero, porque los extremos opacan, enruedan, (lavan cerebros) verdades. Yotas

0 funny, 1 helpful.

pedro (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 18, 2009, 18:54:

Darloup, good report, thanks.

The one question I have for you is: do your cats hate you for dragging them away from la douce France and leaving them in the hellhole that is Barranquilla?

"this may seem a strange post but it is not...when in colombia men need to be aware that colombia women may try to be seductive and entice a travelling gringo to have sex with them..to be forewarned is to be forearmed..." -- pow wow

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christobeldawg says on Oct 18, 2009, 22:49:

You can get a suntan in Bogota, because of the strong ass equator sun, even when half freezing.

traveling hopefully is always better than arriving

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 19, 2009, 02:03:

Good report Darloup, have you got more pictures?

1 funny, 1 helpful.

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 19, 2009, 14:32:

tropicalshirt: Apparently, Bogotá registered a "historical" 28°C whilst I was there a few weeks ago. It sure was nice whilst it lasted... ;-)

Sapote: I don't really care whether I'm considered as a "cachaco" or as a "costeño" (especially by you). Right now, my new life happens to be on on the Coast and I'm thorougly enjoying it. My post merely tried to convey that I thoroughly enjoyed Bogotá and that I only wished I had more time to discover this wonderful city.

Johnny2009: Yes, as Webmanco confirmed it, those people were actually waiting for the bus... If you're THAT interested, I even have a pix of them boarding the bus...

Pedro: I can't really talk on behalf of my cats, but let's just say they appear to enjoy the Barranquilla climate. Of course, I assume they'll be much happier when, in a few months time, we move from a flat into a house with a proper patio...

Kat1: Yes, I have 365 pixes of my trip to Bogotá, but since these are the "obvious" pix of a first-time tourist, I thought I wouldn't bore the expert PBH posters with a bunch of "expected" landsights...

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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La_Huella says on Oct 19, 2009, 14:57:

Happily it usually is between 10 and 20 degrees here.... perfect weather if you ask me.... fuck anything above 30 degrees, that's only for lazy people who don't wanna work....

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roccatanski says on Oct 19, 2009, 15:10:

365 pictures and the 2 most interesting ones were of a garbage bin and people waiting for a bus?

"A man is defined by his actions, not his memory" ( Kuato-- total recall)

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Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 19, 2009, 15:17:

roccatansky: Absolutely. I'm sure that my 365 pictures of La Candeleria, the Museo del Oro, Montserate and Parque Bolivar would utterly bore you (and others),

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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oneforyourmillion says on Oct 19, 2009, 19:10:

That to me was an excellent assesment of Bogota. Glad you liked it.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 20, 2009, 01:18:

Darloup 365 pix and you post the rubbish can and the people queing , well I can see the irony but that reminds the Tate Gallery in London Lol.

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