Have You Ever WALKED on the Path Upward to Monserrate, in Bogota?

Robert Jorge says on Jul 4, 2007, 23:09:

Hey goin_south. I heard about people waiting to rob people walking up to Monserrate too. I am sure it has happened in the past, but I wouldn't let it stop me from walking up if I were so inclined.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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goin_south says on Jul 4, 2007, 23:41:

jejee... so inclined. Are you drinking Caldes por su perspiraccione? jaja

Colombia es

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 4, 2007, 23:42:

my husband do it all the time, everytime we go to Colombia he goes to Bogota and climb monserrate, he even made a video from the begining of the walk all theaall the way up, on Sundays it's very safe lot of people going up by foot and it's more interesting than the cable car, the only thing is that you have to be aware of pickpockets, lot of them up there :(

engage brain before opening mouth

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goin_south says on Jul 4, 2007, 23:44:

thanks, kat1.
I will wear pocketless pants.
I only want my novia pickin my pocket ;)

jejee.. I bet you could relate... she can!
She did it, in Studio F, at Sante Fe mall...
but, I was more than happy to let her hand in.

Colombia es

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 4, 2007, 23:54:

The only time I buy in Studio F is for clothes for my daughter, is the same clothes they sell here but overprice!!
My favourite clotthe shop is in Villavicencio, although we also have studio F there so my daughter goes shopping there. specially for jeans.

engage brain before opening mouth

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goin_south says on Jul 5, 2007, 00:12:

kat, nothing is overpriced,.... when you're .....in Love!

Colombia es

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goin_south says on Jul 5, 2007, 00:13:

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/2007/03/warning-bogota-is-stunning...

This is the lady on travelweekly, (she's from the UK) who warns of the dangers of Bogota and the walk to Monserrate.

Colombia es

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 5, 2007, 00:34:

on a week day it can be dangerous because hardly people go at there and it's very quiet , but Sunday's is pack with a lots of tourist.. i find it very safe on a sundays.

did you know that thee is a very nice restaurant at there called San Isidro I 've never been in it but people tell me it's good.


yeah wait, have you got teenage kids? :)

engage brain before opening mouth

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 5, 2007, 00:39:

btw going-south the lady on the article is just being ironic :)))

engage brain before opening mouth

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goin_south says on Jul 5, 2007, 00:59:

I think she's being moronic.

Kat1, you ain't readin my posts.
Yes. My gf and I had a grand dinner at the San Ysidro Restaurant!
Es Incredible!
And, another colombianita like yourself, who is going there soon, and I jus spoke with her yesterday and she said the same thing; her dad told her to go on a Sunday afternoon, if she wanted to walk up to Monserrate.

So.... nice to have a lil consensus.
I want to keep my Good Luck In Colombia streak intact!!

Colombia es

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Cerealkiller says on Jul 5, 2007, 02:30:

I did it once and never again, you have to make sure you have your hands in your pockets all the time, the whole place reeks of piss...UGH...just not worth the hassle.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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gringoloid says on Jul 5, 2007, 05:13:

kat: yes, studio F is a nice store, but they do not have clothes for women with a 'huge rack'.

good luck to women trying to find clothes in Colombia if they have a large chest and very small waist and hips.

I have to order things in from bebe and victoria secret for my novia.

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webmanco says on Jul 5, 2007, 06:15:

I had been several times up in Monserrate, I do not believe is as dangerous as described, best times to go are Tuesdasy and Thrusday early in the morning, many people do it, some times I start going up at 5:30 in the morning and some people are already coming down.

The thru is to be pickpocket you need to be either drunk, sleep or giving papaya.

If going on Sunday is better to start climbing up before 6:00 am other wise it would be a river of people coming up when you are going down. Many prefer to go up walking and getting the Funicular on the way down.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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aztec says on Jul 5, 2007, 06:18:

"did you know that thee is a very nice restaurant at there called San Isidro I 've never been in it but people tell me it's good."

Have also had dinner at the restaurant. Food was excellent but I may have been in love with the experience. It was raining that day/evening and it was cold. Would advise taking a jacket. There were very few people in the restaurant.

Don't temp fate. Ride the cable car.

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webmanco says on Jul 5, 2007, 06:22:

Poor people going up Monserrate tempting fate (most of them) just for the sake of Faith.

I am with RJ " I wouldn't let it stop me from walking up if I were so inclined"

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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analyzethis1 says on Jul 5, 2007, 06:27:

Went up on a Sunday and it was too busy for me. Took me longer than I thought (95 mins) to ascend because of so many people. The church was full too so I had to stand for another 75 mins!
I went on a Tuesday with hardly anyone around, in comparison that is, and I made it up in 42 mins! I was quite pleased that I was able to sit this time during the mass. Went again on a Tuesday and I was untouchable (Santa Marta was with me all the way!)

There are two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind we feel for what we receive, and the larger kind we feel for what we give. E.A. Robinson

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aztec says on Jul 5, 2007, 06:34:

I am with RJ " I wouldn't let it stop me from walking up if I were so inclined"

Be my guest. I don't care one whit if you elect to walk up during the week or either at night. Try it and enjoy the excitement. We know you are brave.

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analyzethis1 says on Jul 5, 2007, 06:40:

And yes, I agree with webmanco...go early. We left Mosquera at 4am to be there by 5am. It doesn't smell like stench as CK was referring to during that time of the day...only when it gets hot later the air starts to smell.

There are two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind we feel for what we receive, and the larger kind we feel for what we give. E.A. Robinson

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webmanco says on Jul 5, 2007, 06:42:

Analyzethis1 (woman) is not Colombian and went on a weekday with hardly anyone around.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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webmanco says on Jul 5, 2007, 07:01:

I don´t ask I go, as simple as that. Many people who said is dangerous had never been there, don´t like it, or say so for gossip, hearsay that is a fact. I stick to what I said it is safe to go on Tuesday and Thrusday starting going up at 6:00 am. It might be safe other days a the same hours. But had not been there on different days.

Many people don´t go south of 72 street in Bogotá because had been told it is not safe. The USA embassy advises to stay in hotels from 72 street up north.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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Cerealkiller says on Jul 5, 2007, 08:03:

To the person who asked about San Isidro, it is a lovely restaurant. My parents took me and bf there for dinner, and the food is delicious, the restaurant itself is quite pretty. It is possibly one of the best restaurants ive been to in Bogota.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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analyzethis1 says on Jul 5, 2007, 08:26:

Of course it's not safe going to any place where anything can happen to you especially if you're alone and being a foreigner. Travel 101!

This is just my experience for going_south. BTW, just for everyone's recollection of my vacation to Colombia, did I neglect to share that I had an entourage with me, even when I went outside in front of the house to buy empanadas? I'm not stupid to travel alone in a big city, day or night, weekday or weeknight, let alone be permitted to leave the house alone.

Just use your common sense and, like always, think like a local. If they say jump, you say, "how high?!" :-)

There are two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind we feel for what we receive, and the larger kind we feel for what we give. E.A. Robinson

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analyzethis1 says on Jul 5, 2007, 08:28:

BTW, I got robbed at Candelaria in the museo del Boteo! Go figure!

There are two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind we feel for what we receive, and the larger kind we feel for what we give. E.A. Robinson

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analyzethis1 says on Jul 5, 2007, 08:29:

Because I was left alone for only minutes while my friend, her cousin, her brother, and their housekeeper were having a group photo in another room!

There are two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind we feel for what we receive, and the larger kind we feel for what we give. E.A. Robinson

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goin_south says on Jul 5, 2007, 08:39:

many of us would like to pick yer pocket...jeje, analthyzethisone

Colombia es

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ColombianoGringo says on Jul 5, 2007, 09:41:

I can't remember how many times my dad has told us the stories about jogging up Monserrate when he was young. Thanks, but I'll take the cable car. That reminds me, I broke a brand new camera at the cable car station when I took my kids up to Monserrate last summer.

Apparently, some religious freaks have been known to do the whole trip up to the church on their knees. It is supposed to be some kind of sacrifice. I must say, that bloody Jesus in the church has always really creeped me out.

Peace,
CG

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Wastelandlive says on Jul 5, 2007, 11:43:

For what it's worth, I climbed it twice. Once on a weekend, once during the week: both times during the afternoon.

No problems... but the woman I was with was definitely feeling cautious, and on the alert. It would certainly be a great place to commit a robbery... especially since lots of people are carrying cameras.

Wasteland

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ecco says on Jul 5, 2007, 13:08:

Hi- I'm planning on going up Monserrate for my first day there as it will be a Sunday and could be the only weekend I'm in the capital. I like the idea of walking it but may end up taking the ride as I've a read a few times about taking it easy when you first arrive. I don't know how much the pollution of the city will affect my breathing either, but I'll be looking forward to it either way.

Are there groups that you can join in if you're on your own? I'm sure I read somewhere on this site about such a thing for some place in Bogotá.

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aztec says on Jul 5, 2007, 13:39:

ecco If you are coming from a sea level city I don't think it wise to attempt climbing on your first day. Some of us even have difficulty climbing stairs on the first day.

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webmanco says on Jul 5, 2007, 13:41:

There are many walking clubs in Colombia, but none had I seen that offer going up to Monserrate. If the person is not used to walking his, her way up, the he, she might be stopping several times before making it to the top, when stopping several times it could take at least an hour and a half.

When climbing up if you feel out of air don´t need to worry too much, even people who do it in less than 40 minutes get the feeling.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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Man Tequila says on Jul 5, 2007, 15:00:

I have heard from many people that Sunday daytime is the only relatively safe time to climb Monserrate for a gringo. Why tempt fate? DG knows of which he speaks.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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ecco says on Jul 5, 2007, 15:29:

Yes I'm coming from a sea-level city. With my breathing I'm referring to asthma- although as far as I know it's only certain cat-fur, sudden change to cold dry weather and possibly certain types of vegetation. But this stuff only happens when I go back to the UK in winter where there are strange trees, cats and other things lying around.

I'll be staying in the Playtpus so maybe (hopefully) I'll meet some others who would like to walk or go in the cable car, which unless I feel amazing I will do to stay on the safe side. Thanks for the comments & advice- I am taking note.

I'm trying to get myself in shape anyway in case I do that Lost City trek- I hear there are lots of steps at the end. To this end every day after work I climb the steps to the top of the building where I work which is 14 floors. The idea is when I can do it without losing breath or tiring I'll take the elevator down and start climibg up again. Not very exciting, and not so appealing now when I then have to go out into the heat to walk home. I'm hoping it will pay off and that I'm not wasting my time :)

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ecco says on Jul 6, 2007, 07:08:

Thanks- I will be sensible. Would be very unwise and silly of me to put my holiday fun at risk by something bad happening on my first day which I could have avoided.

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webmanco says on Jul 6, 2007, 07:13:

"If we develop a bunch of irrational fears, based on high-profile but isolated incidents, guess who wins?"

Smart comment from Slguy

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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Cockney Colombian says on Jul 8, 2007, 08:06:

Walk up... Never.

Walk down on the other hand..

But yeah I echo everyone else who says do it on a Sunday or do it in a group. The latter especially if you're going off the beaten track and walking up the mountainside starting in Parque Nacional

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analyzethis1 says on Jul 9, 2007, 09:10:

"Listen, be safe and have fun! If you just listen and go with a Colombian friend or someone who lives here you don't need to be paranoid or fearful and you can have a good time."

Yes, this is the bottom line GIB...plain and simple! Well put...

There are two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind we feel for what we receive, and the larger kind we feel for what we give. E.A. Robinson

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