http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6138&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6138 Plaza de Bolivar, the center of the old historic section of Bogota. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6122&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6122 Here is what a $18 hotel room looks like in Bogota. Not bad, but a bit too musty. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6126&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6126 I see this car that is completely covered in bamboo, so I go over to see what is inside... http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6129&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6129 It's Juan Valdez himself, selling coffee from a bamboo van! In Colombia, they call a black coffee "tinto." http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6132&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6132 I stayed in "La Candelaria," which is the old historic part of Bogota. There is a small river running through the main street, Avenida Jimenez. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6135&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6135 Street graffiti is very common in Bogota, often covering entire blocks with murals. Here, a woman sells "Lulo," a fruit exclusive to this part of South America. A little like a kiwi, only more tart, most commonly served as a refreshing smoothi http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6141&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6141 Pose for a photo on a llama, or eat an ice cream -- neither of which sounds like a likely offering in the chilly Plaza de Bolivar. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6144&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6144 Buildings surrounding Plaza de Bolivar. Bogota is the third highest capital in South America, behind La Paz and Quito. The elevation of over 8,500 ft keeps the climate on the cool side. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6147&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6147 Incoming military -- I expected to see lots of armed guards in Colombia, but the only guns I saw were on the Brinks Security guards. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6894&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6894 Feed the birds, pesos a bag... http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6150&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6150 The Catedral Primera is the main landmark on the Plaza de Bolivar. Some form of church has been here since the 1500's, but damaged due to fire or earthquake. This building was built in 1807. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6153&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6153 Sweets in the window of La Puerta Falsa, a famous Bogota snack shop doing business since 1816. I sampled the "Breva," which is fig stuffed with "Arequipe," Colombia's brand of dulce de leche. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6156&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6156 The common morning snack is "chocolate completeo," which is a very odd combination of hot chocolate and cheese, served with buttered bread. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6159&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6159 Believe it or not, the cheese gets crumbled into the chocolate to melt. Apparently an acquired taste which I did not acquire. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6162&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6162 Inside "La Puerta Falsa," in business in historic Bogota since 1816. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6165&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6165 Another common sight on the streets of Bogota are these vendors selling your choice of dulce de leche, strawberry jam, cream, or cheese spread between these thin, waffle-like crisps. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6174&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6174 Looking out the window of the Museo del Oro, or Gold Museum onto the plaza. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6195&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6195 The "Museo del Oro" in Bogota contains the biggest collection of pre-hispanic gold works in the world. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6168&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6168 I was surprised to find all the exhibits in the Gold Museum were "bi-lingual," grateful that Bogota does not adopt the philosophy of "speak our language or get out!" http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6171&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6171 The museum exhibits are grouped into three categories, metallurgy (how it was made,) how it was used, and finally the symbolism. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6177&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6177 The museum contains over 55,000 pieces of gold. Here are samples of earrings from the pre-hispanic era. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6180&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6180 Seashells played a big role because of their lime content, which was mixed with the Colombian coco leaves to provide a stimulating effect. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6183&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6183 These long probes were used to dip into the lime containers, then into in the mouth to chew with coco leaves. http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6186&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6186 Funerary Masks, 5th-1st century BCE, from hammered gold http://gallery.taketothehighway.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6189&g2_GALLERYSID=c997e401f539253be4c337cfe83d2998 6189 This gold jaguar from 350 AD is featured on the souvenir posters from the gold museum.