My favourite South American city

love South America and I think that every country has something very special to offer. But when it comes to deciding which my favourite place is, Bogota beats them all. The city is full of contrasts like all South American cities, and it can be chaotic at times. But, what really stroke me about this city was its people, very friendly and full of energy. Bogota’s weather and outskirts are unbeatable, a bit like the Peak District or Scotland, but with a fantastic temperature of 17 degrees Celsius (62 Farenheit) all year long. Restaurants are excellent in Bogota, as well as its bars and clubs. They are full of “beautiful” people, and I really mean beautiful. People are also very well educated in general. The city is massive, a bit like London, and I didn’t feel it was more unsafe than London is. Also, the new bus rapid transit system has greatly improved the quality of life of the people of Bogota. The city also has great museums and shopping centres. I just attended the Bogota Theatre Festival and I can honestly say that it had a wider a bigger offer of plays than Edinburgh Festival! What else can I say? I loved Bogota and I cannot wait to come back!

Great for: Hiking/Camping, History/Culture, Theatre/Music, Nightlife, Budget Travel, Family Holidays

Last Visit: April 2006

9 May 2006 | A Yahoo! User

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Enjoying Colombia

I personaly like everything about the city, but like any large city avoid area of the main part of the city. Don't flash large amount of cash or go to bars or clubs that are not well known. avoid traveling to mountainess area and travel by air when going from one major city to another. Bottom line use common sense and you will have wonderful time in Beutiful Colombia

6 June 2005 | polohf

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Colombia-The GOOD News

January 10, 2004 In late November and early December, 2003 we spent two weeks in Colombia, mostly in the capital city of Bogotá. We have two pieces of advice. (1) Be careful. (2) Ignore everything you see in the movies and in the mainstream media. WARNING: It is our duty to inform you of the dangers involved in traveling to Colombia. Your decision to travel to Colombia should be made with a full awareness of the risks. There is also great danger in traveling to the Holy Land, yet thousands take that perilous journey every week by balancing the risk with the rewards. Only you can make that decision. Please visit the US State Department web site and read their information but take it with a grain of salt and then read below. (By the way, The State Department is in Washington which has a higher murder rate.) We will begin our journey by confessing that we are biased. We have family in Colombia and most of them have lived there all their lives. They go about their daily activities at work, school and play with little regard for the dangers that might frighten or terrify most Canadians and Americans. I must admit that in my first visit to Bogota, I was intimidated by the awareness of just where I was. We stayed with a family member for 15 days and I often watched out the apartment window on the 11th floor or strolled in the park out front and watched small kids at play at dusk or after dark, or a group of young men playing a noon-time game of soccer. I watched lovers on park benches oblivious to everyone and everything around them and an old couple sitting in the afternoon sun feeding the pigeons. I was amused by three policemen across the street. Two washed and polished their shiny new pickup truck daily while the third played with, what seemed to be their mascot...a young terrier pup. In fact, passersby stopped often to pet and play with their friendly pooch. People strolled, window shopping or people-watching, others rushed to catch one of the thousands of racing busses. Teenaged boys gathered and checked out the girls on their way home from the near-by college. One might guess you were in Anytown, USA....but it's Bogota, Colombia. Whether it's Bogota, Baghdad or Boston people everywhere strive for normalcy and find it in whatever way they can. This is South America. There is a love of life that is hard to find anywhere else. To borrow a French expression...they have a "joie de vivre" that even the French would be hard-pressed to demonstrate.

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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I'll be there in two months

That city is beautifull, people is excelent and food is delicious

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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give Colombia a chance

an amasing place, sure it is a little unorganized but the people are great and the parties are also great. I recomend a great restaurant(rumbeadero) called "El Humero" in a small town north of Bogota called Chia. a little recomendation go on the down-low try not to show you are a tourist so people don't take advantage. I love colombia

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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No other place like Bogota in the world

Bogota is an excelent place to visit... You find a lot realy good places to visit, to enyoy and to have fun!! We are great people and do not worry for wath is said about security problems, is like every other mayor cities in the world...

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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A surprise Latin City

The people from colombia is very friendly with the foreigner. There are a lot of restaurants and attractions. It has a beautiful and grenn mountain. The new public transport named Transmilenio is good and cheaper. With $25 you can eat very well. And you can buy good clothes at good prices

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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THE BEST PLACE ON EARTH

Everything great... beautifull women, great places to eat and enjoy

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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greatest place

The greatest place to travel in the world and I have been to europe asia africa and all of the americas

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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Colombia,great country to visit !!

I was surprised when I arrived there,it was a breathtaking experience,I think is one the must beautifull cities in the world,I felt like I was in some part of Europe.The food was great,the shopping exellent,and so many thing to do in there you defenetly have to go back again and again.The reality of Colombia is way different from what we see on t.v or read on newspapers,I also had the oportunity to travel to other small towns outside Bogota like Zipaquira to see the famous Salt Cathedral and it was incredible experience, I never encouter any security problems at all;the only tip I can give is make sure you find somebody that knowns where to go like a turist guide or if you have friends there even better,by the way people in Colombia are so welcoming and friendly where ever you go they will try to stuff you with tons of food so be ready to gain some weight but it is defenetly worthed......

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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