Bogota is HUGE! With 10 million people, modern highways, buildings, and public transportation, I almost feel like I am in New York except horse drawn wagons still compete with BMWs, Mercedes Benz´, and thousands of pollution belching buses. The sprawl of the city spreads far and wide over a giant, flat savanna between mountain ranges at an elevation of 8000 feet. To take a bus from one side of the city to the other would be at least a 3 hour journey. It is cold here! And it also happens to be what they describe as winter since it rains most afternoons. Jeans and a jacket are the normal dress code.

I arrived from Medellin with Leydi and Eduardo . Leydi set us up to stay with a friend just a couple blocks from their apartment in the Alamos Norte neighborhood ... a part of the city I would never discover by myself. The main reason I came here was that Elkin (Leydi's husband) invited me to go see the Kraken concert since he's the lead singer. However, there's a lot more to see and do. The Candalaria is probably the nicest part of the city. It is the original city with historic colonial buildings converted into homes, restaurants and bars. The place really comes alive at night. Close to this area is the presidential palace and a number of churches and parks characteristic of all South American cities. While I was here, I met many more friends. Colombians are clearly the friendliest people I've met during my travels so far. New friends Levy and Carolina are going to "introduce" me to their friend Eliana in Cali. It seems like I just keep getting turned over to the next tour guide for each new city. It's working out quite well really. And special thanks go to Carolina for guiding me to the Salt Cathedral in Zipaquira'. Stories will accompany the individual photos so check there for more detail.

So far, so good in Colombia.... who knew I would spend 6 months here. That was not part of the plan ... you know, the one that doesn't exist anyway. Only 12 more days here until I need to get to Ecuador.....