The Other Side of Bogota

I lived in Bogota for almost a year. In that year I rented a furnished apartment. I rented it from a woman named Martha. Every day I went out and explored the city. Below are some of my wanderings around the great city of Bogota. I am Canadian and my customs are often very different than the customs of Colombians. Some of their customs are difficult for me to understand and I assume they laugh at the way we behave at times. We are different in many ways but in many ways we are alike.

Previous to my trip to Bogota I had spent a few weeks in San Andres. I thought that all of Colombia would be the same as San Andres Island. I was all packed and ready go on my trip to Bogota. I was starting a new life. Leaving the comforts of Canada if you were for a very different kind of lifestyle. Check, check and check. Did I have everything? You two suitcases were loaded and I had a carry on and back pack. I also had to have my very large Nike umbrella.

The taxi arrived as scheduled and I was off to the airport. I was living in Victoria, British Colombian and the airport was about 25 kilometers away. I paid the driver his $50 for the ride and tipped him.

I checked in my luggage and waited for my plane to arrive. One night in Vancouver and I would be on my way to Bogota. My night in Vancouver was boring. A few expensive beers at a bar close by and some chicken wings was my dinner that night. As seems the way nowadays, the bar was almost empty. Just me and beer and my chicken wings.

The next morning I was up raring to go. I left the Vancouver airport as scheduled. There was a stop over in Houston and then I would be finally on my way. Everything went fine in Houston in no time I was on my way to Bogota.

I sat in my seat and day dreamed of the life I would have in Colombia. I felt good. I look down at my sandals and my shorts. I had on a tee shirt. It was cold on the plane but I kept thinking I would warm up fast enough when I arrived in Bogota. I looked around and thought to myself that these people going to Bogota were a strange lot. Many of them were dressed like they were going to work and none of were wearing shorts. I thought, hey I'm retired so what the heck.

I stepped out of the plan in Bogota and breathed in the nice fresh air. Fresh but cold! I was also drizzling rain. As I stood waiting for my luggage I looked down at my sandals and shorts once more. I thought to myself, these people must think I am nuts lol.

My lovely girlfriend and her brother met me at the airport. We loaded up all my luggage and off we went to my apartment. My perception about Bogota being cold was so wrong. There were many other things I thought I knew about this city but once again I was proven wrong.

I am currently writing for my blogs and will try and enter my comments here on an ongoing basis.

First posted by Lostgringo on Aug 16, 2008, 05:15. Last edit by Lostgringo on Aug 16, 2008, 05:15. Edit this | History.

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