Bogota - without the altitude sickness!!

June 2008. Bogota, Colombia.

I don't know much what to say about Bogota. The capital city deserves so much more time than the few days I was able to spend there - while I enjoyed lots of what this magnificent City has to offer a traveler (and with family!), I also missed so much of its diverse mash-up of all of Colombia's culture, arts, and food found here due to the brevity of my visit.   So for more proper commentary sprinkled throughout the post, I defer my words here to that of fellow traveler and friend, Matt Morrison - I only asked for his raw thoughts on the place.

Fog over mountain over coffee. Central Range (locally known as Cordillera Central), Colombia.

On the Central Range, a fog-laden mountain valley along the road from Cali to Bogota. Colombia.

Receding mountain fog on overland approach to Bogota, nestled in Colombia's Eastern Range. Colombia.

Another view of the Eastern Range, on approach to Bogota, Colombia.

"...Bogota was a strange combination of rich and poor. There was extremely affluent areas mixed in with people who need to choose which bills to pay. ...there was a strong reminder of how Bogota used to be (extremely crime ridden) in that every house is heavily protected by locks and gates. However I felt pretty safe there."

Tiny sliver of the valley plain that is Bogota, Colombia.

Another sliver of the city, at night. Like it goes on forever... Bogota, Colombia.

Another favorite photo - Bolivar Sqaure, skirted by la Catedral Nacional. Bogota, Colombia.

Colombian flag, cathedral, rainbow, Monserrate - view from La Candelaria. Bogota, Colombia.

In colonial style - la Casa de la Moneda - the old Mint in la Candelaria. Bogota, Colombia

So it's not just in the U.S., folks. Bogota, Colombia.

Escopetarra - "guitarifle' - from National Police Museum. Bogota, Colombia.

From rooftop of National Police Museum - orginal art & view of Monserrate. Bogota, Colombia.

I've forgot the artist and the title, yet it remains one of my most favorite paintings ever - Judgment Day; and its enormous. Note one of first-ever painted images of the female Succubus demon, bottom-right. Bogota, Colombia.

Main stairway entrance to Biblioteca Nacional - very democracy-themed. Look close... Bogota, Colombia.

Fernando Botero's many works were characterized by a style that has been often mimicked, but never duplicated, and often with a political glint. Here, a pictoral jest at a particular lady of means, and the aristocracy in general. Botero Museum, Bogota, Colombia.

An early draft of work supposedly incomplete. The style clarifies later.. Botero Museum, Bogota, Colombia.

A haunting yet jovial musician, playing. Botero Museum, Bogota, Colombia.

A clear political slant - finished after the documented massacre of peasant workers' assembly. Botero Museum, Bogota, Colombia.

Pueblo after an earthquake. Botero Museum, Bogota, Colombia.

House thief. Botero Museum, Bogota, Colombia.

One of my favorite Botero pieces - his Reclining Venus. Botero Museum, Bogota, Colombia.

Another favorite of mine - quirky smile & all. A fine study of Botero's prowess in his own style. Botero Museum, Bogota, Colombia.

Amazing study in the style of Botero. Botero Museum, Bogota, Colombia.

Aside from Botero works, the museum also included some works by his collaborators and visiting artist-friends.  Here, one of my own all-time favorites by Picasso - self-portrait.

"In [the city]... are so many beautiful parts. The old national cathedral next to the government buildings; that square is really cool. There's also la Candelaria and some really cool public places (the library, fields, etc.) that you can just go and chill.
What was strange is the weather and the temperature. It's a city in the mountains and it's either raining or not raining. It felt as though it were fall all the time."

The lone window-washer. I don't know the cathedral's name.. Bogota, Colombia.

Spectacular column inside 17th century Museo Iglesia de Santa Clara - a la colonial Baroque. Bogota, Colombia.

Barrel-vaulted ceiling of the same Museo Iglesia de Santa Clara. Bogota, Colombia.

One altar of la Iglesia de San Francisco, the oldest Church in Bogota. Colombia.

Rare and exclusive; an after-hours visit to Cerro de Monserrate brought me close and personal with the statue of Fallen Christ. Monserrate, Bogota, Colombia.

Catedral Nacional, seat of the Archdiocese of Bogota, and main church for the President and all Colombia's big-wigs. Plaza de Bolivar, Bogota, Colombia.

Pre-Colombian ceramic-work, showcased in el Museo de Oro. Bogota, Colombia.

More ancient Andean ceramic-work. Museo de Oro, Bogota, Colombia.

More art from el Museo de Oro, this time really of gold. Shadowed human figure serves as the ephemeral model.  Bogota, Colombia.

One of very few self-portaits; I look simply dashing.. I mean I like the sculpture - like the 'invisible hand' concept gone wild. Botero Museum, Bogota, Colombia.

"Overall the city of Bogota is slightly strange because it is a very old city with a lot of history that is struggling to keep up with contemporary problems, stressed by the economic situation of the world and South America."

Thanks, Matt!   Count on this: I will certainly return to Bogota, and with my camera once again at the ready.

The photos laid out heretofore are taken with an Olympus Stylus 1050 SW

 
These works by Tim Paez are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License