Day 3 in lovely Bogota, COLOMBIA began partly cloudy and ended with a heavy storm! The sun did peak out here and there but the cloud cover gives a mysterious Andes feel to the whole thing.
More pictures from my hotel room.
That's an astronomy dome back there.
These buildings are Luzelena and Roberto's complex. They live in one of those condos up there!
One of my favorite exotic fruits from down there. This is a guanabana. Pronounced with the stress on the second 'a'. In English it is called a soursop, but i don't like that word so i use the Spanish one.
It may look like a giant bumpy avocado on the outside but it has a semi-sweet milky pulpy inside rife with seeds. It makes EXCELLENT juice. After you add just a little bit of sugar it is by far my favorite juice i had down there. There were lots of other good fruits like uchuvas, pichates, and more, but i didn't seem to take any pics of them!
Luzelena and Roberto posing in front of their metroplex!
Their building's landscaping.
Today's trip - Chicaque. This is a privately owned natural area, but it is run like a National Park. Quite a pleasant area as well. It is a preserved cloud forest just 30 km from central Bogota. It is mostly urban development until suddenly we entered farmed areas and then Chicaque.
I thought this was a staircase we had to go up but as it turned out not. I have no idea where these went!
Not sure what this sign says but i deemed it artistic!
Approaching the entrance.
Left side....
...right!
The other side. Down the stairs we go!
"HI!"
Luzelena starred in "Woman of the Clouds!"
Lush plant life abounds!
I felt like i was in an Indiana Jones movie at times!
Signs to the refugio. You'll see it soon.
The trails and roads were slippery. Luzelena actually fell and hurt herself. It is a steep path down.
Bamboo.
Lots of trees and plants. Don't know the names so just appreciate the beauty!
Close-up of the trail.
"You are here"
Foxgloves are in California. They are not native, but they have them there too!
Then around a curve comes to light the lovely cliffs that reminded me a bit of Yosemite.
Tree tomatoes. I tried and didn't like!
"The refugio" i declare!
Ok. THAT's what a refugio is. Basically a large building that has a restaurant and some rooms to rent. Also has some museum rooms. Very nice.
Luzlena and Roberto.
With her cousin.
With me!
Yes, that's a peacock in the restaurant. Hope they stay out of the kitchen!
Peacock outside (where they belong!). This one did a little dance for us.
I got a lot of this place on video. So no more pics after this. However, we took a jeep back up and i had the bumpiest ride i've ever experienced in my life!
We had to rush back to the city to go to a party. Luzelena's mother (Regina) had a friend having a huge birthday party and i got to go!
After getting lost in northern Bogota we found the house. We entered and immediately went to the third floor, where of course there was a giant pyramid on the roof! Turned out the guy was a famous producer of Latin American films. There were famous actors there as well. I was just someone who fell off the turnip truck. I didn't know any of those people!
The house had an incredible staircase made of cast iron and glass. The walls were mirrored. It was wild. A video is below.
The mirrored walls of the staircase.
I guess i did know somebody at the party! I tried to stay close since my Spanish was less than perfect.
We got treated to superb bellydancing! So impressed was i that i had to take out my camera and take a few videos.
The birthday boy dancing with the girls.
Oops! I wanted a picture but got a short video instead.
Turns out this is the only photo i got of Regina the whole time i was down there even though i had lunch with her at her house and saw her center!
