Hope someone here can tell me more about this hotel...

goin_south says on Jan 27, 2007, 00:27:

Portena... don't give up. It is almost Saturday morning. and today... you might get some response here. Doesn't your freakin hotel have a website?

From all I have heard, Old Hotels in Bogota are just like,....haunted. There are ghosts of Elmo and all sorts of very frightening sh*t/stuff. Be very careful.

I'D RATHER BE.........IN COLOMBIA :-)).... (No Quiero Conozco Gustav)

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MacGringo says on Jan 27, 2007, 02:34:

hahahahahaha......yeah Galiceto, you don't want to find yourself on all fours, in the middle of the night with a ghost of Elmo behind you!

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rmykita says on Jan 27, 2007, 09:01:

Ok, hotel de la opera This hotel is located in a part of town that is not safe at night. It is very safe during the day, as many internationals call this part home and it is near government buildings/cafes. But come 9 p.m., If I were a non-Spanish speaker I would be in my hotel. The security is high, and the surrounding security is high. However, I would not walk alone around the hotel after 9 p.m. If this is essential for your experience, look somewhere else. If not, then this is great - because you have access to some pretty parts of town, governmetn stuff, cafes, and some real life neighborhoods in the downtown, which are mostly safe during the day...There is very low risk of theft from outside party at a hotel. The concern is with people who work there - and this is a reputable, high-quality place. If you are not going to be having late nights, than this should be fine.

Ryan

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Portena says on Jan 27, 2007, 10:18:

Thank you, Ryan That's the type of information I've been looking for. :) I'd heard the area was relatively safe in the day, but not at night so that left me wondering how secure the hotel was at night given the reports I'd heard that the area turns high crime after dark.

I think the hotel sounds great - probably like staying at a nice place in Washington D.C..

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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Portena says on Jan 27, 2007, 10:23:

To clarify... I mean if you want to go see all the neat and historic places in Washington D.C. like the Smithsonian Institute, Air and Space museum, monuments etc. then you may be in a similar situation hotelwise.

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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Dan says on Jan 27, 2007, 18:36:

what was mentioned about safety is pretty much what I heard. I also heard that it is very nice as it is in the historical part of the city. If I remember right, near Monserrate.

God Bless America!

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Portena says on Jan 27, 2007, 19:10:

Cool I'd rather spend most of my time in the historical areas.

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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Man Tequila says on Jan 27, 2007, 20:05:

It's a nice hotel. La Candelaria, like many places in Bogota is "unsafe at night". You could lock yourself in your hotel, and you would be safe. You could also go out with a group of friends, take taxis, and take some standard precautions, and you'd likely be okay.

Colombia is much safer than it used to be... meaning you need to be careful, but not paranoid. I've been lurking here for a long time -- and folks here either pooh-pooh real dangers (and who can blame Colombians for their frustration with their global image when the country has made so much progress) or seem paranoid about everything (siege mentality). If your friends are putting you up at the hotel, they probably know the score (as a tourist, I think I know the score and don't). I stayed there one night, and the rooms are old-fashioned, I don't think they had cards, or that this matters.

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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Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 28, 2007, 15:35:

Very safe It's one of the nicest places you can stay in Bogota. The neighborhood isn't the safest, in terms of petty street crime, but it's beautiful and fun. In terms of immediate security, Hotel de la Opera is directly across the street from Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Relations, so there's a lot of security presences on the street and surroundings. You're certainly not going to get kidnapped off the street or anything.

The restaurant in Hotel de la Opera is also very good.

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Portena says on Jan 28, 2007, 16:21:

Thanks! I really appreciate the information.

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 29, 2007, 15:22:

Well It's also about a block from the Presidential Palace and the Senate and the Supreme court, so there are ALWAYS vips around.

I really like la Candelaria at night on a weekend. There are a lot of fun bars and clubs around there and it's a totally different feel than the Zona Rosa. Much more bohemian and mysterious. Just don't wander South or West of the palace, or trek too far up the hill into Barrio Egipto.

I once late at night had a taxi driver "accidentally" miss a turn and then try to take us past the palace and down into the former Cartucho neighborhood to "turn around". We made him stop right by the Palace, threw him ten thousand pesos and ran, not walked, from there.

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Portena says on Jan 29, 2007, 17:16:

Any good shops in the area for buying Colombian handicrafts or other momentos? Good restaurants or cafes for lunch or snacks? This is probably already going to be planned by the hosts, but just wondering what I might want to check out if have time to do so.

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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webmanco says on Jan 29, 2007, 18:12:

Portena You seem so worry about safety. When packing your suitcase remember not to put fear in it, that way you will enjoy more your travel and you might get closer to fellow colombians. As usual you need to be careful as in mayor cities in the world. Do not let the label "Third Country" or "Pais en vía de desarrollo" trick you.






Hotel Opera
is a nice hotel. On the same block as Teatro Colon.

There are many foreigners living in La Candelaria, there is even a Hostal Platypus where many foreigners stay, it is cheap. Some people who stay there go even with laptops and expensive gear. I don´t think they believe the area is dangerous but then again I don´t think they go wondering on the streets looking for hot spots, with laptop at hand.

There are many places where to shop for hancrafts, within walking distance you can go to "Museo del Oro" at "El Parque de los Periodistas", right in front you will see some nice hancraft stores, also there are the stores up north on Avenida 15 and 74th near Unilago, one of them is called "El Balay".

If you want to venture downtown Bogota, to a place called Pasaje Rivas, right there you could find better prices, but you need to look for quality as well. Many people will recommend you not to go by yourself. As long as you are not showing off any jelwery or mobile phones you will be fine. Don´t give papaya and get some company.

I don´t know how many weekends you will be in Bogotá, but there are some Flee Markets that you might want to visit, one is behind Hacienda Santa Barbara, another one in Hotel La Fontana, across Unicentro Norte, and a couple less attractive for tourists on carrera 7ma and calle 24, another one on El Eje Ambiental.

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

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Portena says on Jan 29, 2007, 20:26:

Wanted to know what to expect since I'm the type who keeps my commitments - once I say I'm going to the wedding I'm definitely going! It all sounds good. Other people seem to be focused on the dangers of New Orleans where I've had many fun visits (pre-Katrina, so maybe it's really deteriorated since then). Once when I was a teenager I was out at 3:00 am wandering around with my boyfriend near the river and the railroad tracks downtown somewhere. No one bothered us. I guess all the criminals were drunk and passed out. Anyway, don't tell my Mom or Dad - it's one of those big secrets kids never tell their parents. ;)

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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