PBH / colombia (travelguide, pictures) / post

Just returned from Bogota

Thanks for the help on the previous post regarding ATM's and money exchange.

Got back last night from a short trip to Bogota.
Had heard good things about Colombia from business associates in Panama decided to check it out for myself.

Very good trip, friendly people, impressed with Bogota, really did not know what to expect, stayed close to Zona Rosa, one night at Hotel Charlotte, one night Embassy Suites(needed a quieter hotel).

Bogota much nicer than I expected, a lot more parks and open areas than Panama City.

I know a lot of members don't want to see the word get out on Colombia. Bogota reminded me of Costa Rica 15 years ago and Panama City 5 years ago.
Both, at the time, were considered off the beaten track and possibly dangerous.

My first trip to Panama(5 years ago)was very similar to this weekends trip, not many gringos. Go to Panama now and the hotels are full of Americans looking to buy condos(apartments) and live the good life, which from what I can tell is buying a condo or house in a gated community(that is 90% gringo) and hire the locals to be your maid and gardener. I hope Colombia doesn't follow in their footsteps.

One question.,
When in Bogota just about everyone I talked with told me to check out Medellin. What does Medeliin have to offer over Bogota?

Thanks.
CDY

I need to drastically improve my language skills, got in a cab and asked the driver to take me to the Embassy Suites Hotel, ended up at the Swiss embassy.

By cdy on Feb 19, 2007, 16:52 in Friendly Talkzone.

Waterdawg says on Feb 20, 2007, 07:38:

To funny ! .. " need to drastically improve my language skills, got in a cab and asked the driver to take me to the Embassy Suites Hotel, ended up at the Swiss embassy. "

.. How did you like the Embassy " Suites " and how much did they hit you up for ???

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jelsaad says on Feb 20, 2007, 07:49:

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your trip to Bogota. It is, indeed, a fantastic city -- cosmopolitan,modern, friendly, and safer/cleaner by the day.

Medellin is lovely, too -- albeit in a slightly different way. Medellin is about half the size of Bogota, but the natural scenery is more beautiful. The city is also a bit cleaner and better oranized. Newer infrastructure, some cool modern arhcitecture, tremendous nightlife, and perfect weather. If it's women you're after, Medellin has some of the loveliest of any city in the Western Hemisphere.There are great museums, day-trip excursions, and an altogether pleasant/artistic vibe to the place.

That said, Bogota is definitely more dynamic and international. Medellin is perhaps prettier and more 'pleasant".

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JMCana says on Feb 20, 2007, 09:04:

Keep it quiet Yes, keep it quiet about how good Bogota is. I do not want other people from my country coming here and spoiling it. :-)

I came, I enjoyed and moved to a small town outside of Bogota. Except for one slight problem, it is a wonderful place.

For me Medellin is warmer.

And as for your Spanish, well, I have a few similar stories, but it is fun learning a new language.

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