2015 Colombia, Bogota, Plazoleta del Chorro de Quevedo

Whenever I come across a place like this small plaza, I feel like staying put for a while in order to be a part of this community. Here, you can see what a everyday life is like for the people who live here.

This church on one side of the plaza is thought to be the first place where Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiminez stopped to let his horse drink water from a creek and decided to settle in Bogota. Always makes me curious abouth this capital city of Colombia. Wherever you go, pretty much always the capital city is connected by a river for transport and trade. But here in Bogotoa, it's not the case.

Mighty rio Magdalena that links the caribbean port city of Barranquilla and the interior of Colombia and further south of Latin America doesn't reach Bogota at all. Rather it leads to Honda which is well over three hour drive through hilly road even in present time.

Some say it's because of the myth of 'El Dorado' that attracted the spaniards towards Bogota.

 Doesn't matter what kind of questions or answers you might have. It's a wonderful place to sit around with a glass of freshly squeezed tropical fruit juice, just people gazing and enoying the street performances.

Lots of students as it's nearby Uni area, so its vibrant atmosphere makes me go back to the days of my youth.

My couchhost leads me into one of the little alleyways behind the plaza.

Cozy restaurant that she frequents that she wanted me to have a look around.

The tiles must've been sitting here for a quite a while witnessing all sorts of events that happened in Bogota.

Another narrow alleyway at the edge of La Candelaria appears with colourful mural paintings.

According to my couchhost, this area was where the indigenous hid from the Spaniard when drinking Chicha(native maize liquor), as it was banned from 194-1991.

Full of tiny Chicha shops with young students sitting around on small stools are very inviting.

Truely need more than a couple of days in this city. Full of things to do, or not to do and just hang around.

2015 Colombia, Bogota, Weekend

   

Spending a weekend in Bogota gives me a hint of the life of the Boggotanos enjoying their city in a relaxing way.

You could take a bus called Transmilenio or just walk along the one of the busiest streets, Carrera 7, that becomes car free to give away to cyclists, pedestrians and joggers.

There are lots of small stop points for fixing bikes on the way, and watching shoeshine man at work is an interesting sight as well.

  
Around the time when the tummy clock gives a hint of meal time, a sight and smell of bbq meat leads me into the restaurant. It's been a long time since I had pig head meat last. A plate of rice mixed with pork and a cup of freshly cut mango are filling enough.

 

Noise coming from the Centro Cultural Garcia Marquez, so naturally head that way along with a crowd.

Must be some sort of youth band of woodwind, brass and percussion from three different neighbourhood.

Quite a transformation to dance atmosphere as soon as percussion joins in, as their rhythm is heavily influenced by Afro-Caribbean music.