Take the Funicular up to Mount Monserrate for an Amazing View of Bogota
Excerpt from the book Soul Searching in South America, part of the Teresa the Traveler Series. The streets got even more dingy as I continued to walk downhill so I turned around to see if the upper part of the city was more beautiful. I noticed a cable car and a funicular (uphill tram) bringing people to the top of the hill overlooking Bogotá. Located at the top was a 17th century church with a shine devoted to "El Señor Caído" or the Fallen Lord. The hill serves as both a pilgrimage destination and tourist attraction. I rode the funicular to the top and checked out the church before browsing through the many shops and cafes. By this time my stomach was so empty t it was threatening to eat itself so I risked some local cuisine.
Since no one spoke English and the menus were all in Spanish, I sat there until a bowl of soup was delivered to the table next to me. I motioned for the waitress to bring me the same and was soon eating my first and last bowl of corn on the cob chicken potato soup. Made from a bowl of potato broth with chucks of potato, half a cob of corn and a chicken drumstick, this tasteless concoction could not induce a starving man to clean his bowl. As I did my best to force at least some of it in my stomach, I couldn’t help thinking that Bogotá might be the place for me to lose that last ten pounds.
I paid my bill which came to $20,000 –Columbian pesos or $10 Canadian. I suck at math and having to deal in currency with that many zeros made my head hurt. I could never live in a country with ridiculously inflated currency.
With a half full tummy I made my way over to the terrace for a breathtaking view of Bogotá. The capital of Colombia is also its most populated city with an estimated 7,304,384 inhabitants. In terms of land mass it ranks as the 30thlargest city in the world and one of the biggest in Latin America. It is also the third highest capital city in the world at 2625 meters above sea level.
Considered one of the world’s most violent cities in the mid-90’s, in 1993 there were 4,352 homicides at a rate of 81 per 100,000 people. Having gone to great
lengths to control the crime rate, in 2007 the number dropped to 1,401 murders for a rate of 19 per 100,000 people. Despite the bad reputation Columbia gained in the 1980’s and early 1990’s, aggressive publicity campaigns and increased security have been put in place. As well, the District Institute of Tourism set the goal of making Bogotá a sustainable tourist destination.
Take me to your Virgin
Across the hills I spotted a huge statue of the Virgin Mary reminiscent of Rio’s Christ the Redeemer. Wanting to see it close up, I took the tram back down and walked to the road that led up the mountain to it. I asked a policeman if it was possible for me to walk to the statue and he said no making slicing motions across his neck with their fingers. Not entirely sure what the policeman meant, I found an English speaking guide and asked him for clarification. He informed me that to hike to the statue I would have to pass through some dangerous areas where I could get my throat slit. Nice! He recommended I find a taxi driver, preferably one recommended by my hotel, to drive me there.
The following morning I did just that. I hired a young private driver named Mauricio to drive me up the long winding road to the top of Guadelupe Peak to get up close and personal with the 15-meter sculpture of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception that stood on top of a small church. Apparently it is a place of pilgrimage for Colombia’s Christian community.
Since no one spoke English and the menus were all in Spanish, I sat there until a bowl of soup was delivered to the table next to me. I motioned for the waitress to bring me the same and was soon eating my first and last bowl of corn on the cob chicken potato soup. Made from a bowl of potato broth with chucks of potato, half a cob of corn and a chicken drumstick, this tasteless concoction could not induce a starving man to clean his bowl. As I did my best to force at least some of it in my stomach, I couldn’t help thinking that Bogotá might be the place for me to lose that last ten pounds.
I paid my bill which came to $20,000 –Columbian pesos or $10 Canadian. I suck at math and having to deal in currency with that many zeros made my head hurt. I could never live in a country with ridiculously inflated currency.
With a half full tummy I made my way over to the terrace for a breathtaking view of Bogotá. The capital of Colombia is also its most populated city with an estimated 7,304,384 inhabitants. In terms of land mass it ranks as the 30thlargest city in the world and one of the biggest in Latin America. It is also the third highest capital city in the world at 2625 meters above sea level.
Considered one of the world’s most violent cities in the mid-90’s, in 1993 there were 4,352 homicides at a rate of 81 per 100,000 people. Having gone to great
lengths to control the crime rate, in 2007 the number dropped to 1,401 murders for a rate of 19 per 100,000 people. Despite the bad reputation Columbia gained in the 1980’s and early 1990’s, aggressive publicity campaigns and increased security have been put in place. As well, the District Institute of Tourism set the goal of making Bogotá a sustainable tourist destination.
Take me to your Virgin
Across the hills I spotted a huge statue of the Virgin Mary reminiscent of Rio’s Christ the Redeemer. Wanting to see it close up, I took the tram back down and walked to the road that led up the mountain to it. I asked a policeman if it was possible for me to walk to the statue and he said no making slicing motions across his neck with their fingers. Not entirely sure what the policeman meant, I found an English speaking guide and asked him for clarification. He informed me that to hike to the statue I would have to pass through some dangerous areas where I could get my throat slit. Nice! He recommended I find a taxi driver, preferably one recommended by my hotel, to drive me there.
The following morning I did just that. I hired a young private driver named Mauricio to drive me up the long winding road to the top of Guadelupe Peak to get up close and personal with the 15-meter sculpture of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception that stood on top of a small church. Apparently it is a place of pilgrimage for Colombia’s Christian community.
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For tips on visiting Columbia CLICK HERE
For tips on visiting South America CLICK HERE
For general travel tips on what to pack and how to plan ahead CLICK HERE
For tips on travelling on a budget CLICK HERE
For tips on visiting South America CLICK HERE
For general travel tips on what to pack and how to plan ahead CLICK HERE
For tips on travelling on a budget CLICK HERE
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Where I Stayed...
Hotel Ambala Cra. 5 No. 13- 46 Bogota, Columbia Tel: 342 6384 – 341 2376 www.hotelambala.com |
How to Get There - Fly to the international airport in Bogota
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