Colombia Day 4 (I think)

Hi all, starting to lose track of what day it is.  It's been about a week, I'm pretty sure. Today consisted mainly of relaxing. The temp is one of those tropical take-a-shower then need-another-shower right after type of thing.

After napping through a thunderstorm (which came in out of nowhere) we went to San Javier where Elba and Daniela (cousins) live, and took the gondola up to La Ablora.  The gondola is primarily used for transportation over this densely populated area.  The city created housing at the top of this area initially for some olympic event (olympic village) but converted it into housing for the poor.

Gongola (tears all the way home it was so much fun)

Olympic Village

Dips

Back in San Javier:

Just in the sidewalk median

Tamales in Elba's kitchen.  I've had 3 today.

Back at abeula's and abeulo's:

Abuela teaching Nicolas to sew

And Adrian

Hand sewn pillowcase!

And Adrian's hand sewn pillowcase!

We are pretty tired and are getting to bed early.  A long day tomorrow to a lake where we will be hiking up some 700 steps.  We'll see if Oscar carries Joaquin up in the stroller!

Colombia Day 3

Last night's dinner turned out perfect, we had a table in the back, lots of space, and the restaurant to ourselves.  We got the traditional BeniHana show, and the kids loved it.  

On the way to dinner

Today was essentially a travel day.  But after a breakfast of champions.

The kids were amazing and so well behaved, we are so lucky.  We arrived at the airport a few hours before our flight, and when we checked in they suggested we get on the next flight (boarding!) since the weather (rain) was likely to delay the flights throughout the day.  Oscar was very diligent in getting us to the airport early, so we avoided lots of waiting around at the airport.  This Avianca flight was like flying first class, unfortunately the flight was only 20 minutes.   Speaking of Avianca airplanes, lots of defunct planes in various places throughout the city, may kid's park I've seen has had an Avianca jet as part of the playground.

We thought we had an hour or so to spend at the Medellin airport, so we decided to have snacks (empanadas and such), and along walked by Abuelo.  So fortunately we had a very quick flight from Bogota to Medellin and spent very little time in the airports- 3 hours door to door.  We arrived at Oscar's parent's house and the kids could not be more comfortable or happier.  In Bogota Nicolas said he couldn't wait to be in Medellin to hang out with family.  :)

Tonight we have a slew of family coming over to visit.  Pictures to follow tomorrow.

Bogota Day 2

Hi all, second day in Colombia.  Breakfast was delicious - chicken soup, hot dogs, pastries, yogurt shakes. Really!  Strangely, I didn't have any coffee.  We took it easy and left the room at 11 for our adventure of the day.  We had the same driver that took us from the airport to the hotel, Adrian.

Adrian

On our way downtown we went through the expensive part of Bogota.  Apparently ex-presidents live in these apartments.  The road through this area was nice, lots of green trees, grass, flowers.  Passed by a few very nice golf courses as well - very hilly and lots of trees.  Didn't see Camillo Villegas.

There are two ways of getting to the top of the highest mountain in Bogota (Monseratte)- by gondola or by funicular. A funicular is a train that is stepped at about a 75 degree angle since it has to go straight up the mountain.  I do think there are points where the tracks are on a 90 degree angle. So all morning the decision to make was - which way up would make mom most scared.  It was agreed that the funicular would probably be the one where visions of the contraption failing were most horrifying.  So that was what they wanted to do, of course, take the funicular up to Monseratte.

The gondola, or...

the funicular
(the picture is sideways, but this is how steep it is)

As we were in line for the tickets, the last funicular of the day took off.  How about that!  So we took the gondola.  As we sailed up the mountain, we realized this was a much better viewing option anyway.  The tracks went into a tunnel for part of the way and for the most part was under the trees.  We all really enjoyed the gondola, especially Joaquin - for the next hour he asked where the gondola was and if it was going up or down.

Waterfall under the gondola

Funicular tracks under the gondola

In the gondola, heading down

At the top of the mountain, Monseratte, there is a cathedral and a very small but very cute tourist trap where we bought some junk.  The views as you can imagine were spectacular.

Population 9 million

 There was a slope on the other side

Shops- about 16- each of which
sold exactly the same things

Bros

Pobrecito

Two restaurants in Monseratte

We didn't opt to eat at the beautiful restaurants, but there was a stand with empanadas and pastries which were scrump-deli-icious.  After an hour of checking out Monseratte, we headed back down and went back to the hotel.  We ordered empanadas, patacones (fried banana tortilla, topped with meat and sauce), avocado salsa, and a plato typico (rice, potatoes, a beautiful avocado, steak).  Naps, movies.  Hung out in the room all day.

Joaquin is still napping at 7 pm - but we are about to wake the boy so we can go across the street to BeniHana.  Will report on dinner tomorrow.

First Days

Hi everyone!  We have been away from San Francisco for a few days now and it's hard to believe that we have just experienced our first full day in Bogota, Colombia.  We are having a great time!  To see Joaquin, Adrian and Nicolas playing in the backyard of Tia Nora's house is just a dream.

Tia Nora's

Friday afternoon Cecilia (Oscar's niece) and I went to Bikram's world headquarters and took an awesome class and took another one Friday morning.   I was so wiped after class, but I took Joaquin to the park with Amparo (Oscar's mom), and apparently took a 4 hour nap with Joaquin afterwords.... :)  Oscar took Nicolas and Adrian to the pier and they rode all of the rides.  Luis and Luella (Oscar's brother and SIL) came by to visit and we had a great evening by the outdoor fireplace and catching up.

Saturday morning we left for Bogota.  We stood on a non-moving line for an hour then another hour to check in.   SO much luggage.  We fortunately played the baby card and got through security quickly.  The flight was only 7 hours, but since it was a daytime flight, no one slept and it seemed a bit long.   Once again played the baby card at immigration and customs, and saved us a good 2 hours of lines.  

We had arranged for a driver from the hotel to pick us up.  As it was ten pm, our driver ordered our drinks and dinner on our drive over so we would be sure to have the burgers and red wine upon our arrival to the room.  Such decadence.  Our room is a two bedroom suite overlooking a swank upscale suburb of Bogota.  A small boutique hotel, beautiful.  Did I mention we have a large king bed, and three twins, all set with Frette linens?  I've never slept so well in my life. 

We got up early and after breakfast in the room, and Oscar's friend Hernan Dario (brother of Gloria, Oscar's cousin's wife's brother, this is how things go in Colombia!) was our caretaker for the day.  We drove an hour north to Zipaquira to visit the Catedral de Sal, which is a Cathedral built into a layer of salt in the mountain.  You walk a long, circuitous path, go through the stations of the cross, and end up in a real cathedral where there is mass every Sunday.  Pictures below:

This is a station, with an exhibit across the chasm

This is a the rotunda ceiling within the caves, amazing

The cross of the cathedral, and final station of the cross

A column within the cathedral, built within the layer of salt

Within the cathedral, a beautiful salt carve

School girls on tour at the Catedral de Sal, I'm sorry, I can not get over how CUTE their uniforms,
especially boots, are!

There was also an amazing climbing wall and park outside of the Cathedral.  Not wanting to pass up challenge, Adrian wanted to climb this wall.  After the leads asked Adrian in Spanish if he was ready, Adrian gave them the two thumbs up and was off.  So proud.

So we then we headed back down south and headed toward Bogota and went to the museum of Gold.  The museum was SF MOMA caliber.  I wish I knew more history of gold - there was so much to see.  Pictures below:

These, we thought were cute/funny:

Bogata is pretty, filled with trees and flowers. They have a train that goes straight uphill to the top of the main mountain of Bogota called Monserrate.  We are going up tomorrow, will let you know how it goes.

View from hotel

Love Bets