Bogotá, Colombia,
A Modern and Vibrant
City
Bogotá — officially
named Bogotá, D.C. (D.C.
for "Distrito Capital",
which means "Capital
District"), formerly
called Santa Fe de
Bogotá, is the capital
city of Colombia, as
well as the most
populous city in the
country, with 7,033,914
inhabitants (2007).
Unofficially, the number
of inhabitants is
believed to be more like
10 million.
Bogotá and its
metropolitan area, which
includes municipalities
such as Chía, Cota,
Soacha, Cajicá and La
Calera, had an estimated
population of 8,244,980
as of 2007. Bogotá's
altitude at 2.660 metres
makes it the
third-highest major city
in the world after La
Paz and Quito. In terms
of land area, the city
of Bogota is the largest
in Colombia.
The altitude means it is
cold.
The average daily
temperature is about 20
Celsius, the night
dropping down to the 12
Celsius and lower in the
winter months. Everyone
was wearing a coat, day
or night, and the shops
sport all sorts of
winter attire, like
being in Toronto,
Canada, in the fall.
Bogotá was originally
called "Bacatá" (which
means “planted fields”)
by the Muiscas.
It was the centre of
their civilization
before the Spanish
explorers colonized the
area, and it sustained a
large population. The
European settlement was
founded in August 6,
1538 by Gonzalo Jiménez
de Quesada and was named
"Santa Fé de Bacatá"
after his birthplace
Santa Fé and the local
name.
"Bacatá" had become the
modern "Bogotá" by the
time it was made the
capital of the New
Kingdom of Granada,
which was then part of
the Viceroyalty of Peru,
and later of the
Viceroyalty of New
Granada.
The city soon became one
of the centres of
Spanish colonial power
and civilization in
South America.
The streets of the
northern section of
Bogotá are similar to
those in Rome or Sicily,
wide boulevards, wide
sidewalks, four to seven
storey building housing
residential apartments
or offices and retail
shops below.
Outdoor cafes and
restaurants are common
along many of the
streets of the north
part of Bogotá. American
franchises like Dunkin
Donuts, Baskin & Robbins
and Citibank are common,
though unlikely you will
see an American or other
foreigners around or
English spoken.
Traffic is horrendous at
any time of day. Even
though Bogotá has a
restriction on vehicles
circulating during
morning (6:00am to
9:00am) and afternoon
(4:00pm to 7:00) pm rush
hours, the streets are
bumper to bumper
traffic. Amazingly,
though it moves with
fluidity and no traffic
accidents to report for
a Friday afternoon.
There certainly is a
lesson there for drivers
in Costa Rica!
One thing "Bogotanos"
love is shopping and the
"rumba".
From small retail shops
to large shopping
centres, Bogotanos or "rollos"
as they are commonly
referred to, have a
tremendous selection to
choose from, many
comparing it to Miami,
like the taxi driver who
gave us a tour often
referred many parts of
the city to, but
admitted had never been
to Miami.
The "rumba" is a
Colombian term for
partying. And Bogotá has
a lot of places to
party.
From the upscale "Parque
93" to the area known as
Santa Fe (the old
section of Bogotá) to
the Chapinero and every
corner of the city there
is a party going on and
there is no set hour for
closing, a one club
manager told us, 6:00am
is the official closing,
but we are not going to
through people out.
All types of
entertainment is
available at the Parque
923 - outdoor cafes,
discos, all types of
restaurants, live music,
concerts and night clubs
(adult entertainment).
In the Santa Fe (old
Bogotá) and Chapinero,
two places we visited,
the entertainment is
more on the seedy side.
Police presence in those
two areas was very
prominent, keeping a
watchful eye on the
rumba but not
interfering unless
required.
The downtown or
financial core has
soaring skyscrapers.
On the surface, Bogotá
is seemingly untroubled.
The violent crimes and
kidnappings reported in
the media appear over
exaggeration of a
thriving society with a
rising middle class and
some of the best health
care and universities in
South America.
At no time did I feel
unsafe, even walking the
"15" from the "100" and
in the dark. However,
travellers should
exercise vigilance at
all times.
And in Bogotá you can
find some great bread,
not to mention some of
the most beautiful women
in the world! |
