Well, we are here in Colombia and with jet lag, altitude adjustment, and attitude adjustment behind us, we feel as though the journey has begun. So far, the altitude has not been a real issue, other than occasional shortness of breath, but our (my?) attitude adjustment took a little longer. Stories of express kidnappings, the re-emergence of paramilitary groups in the jungles, government warnings, etc. had affected me more than I realized.
It took a morning graffiti tour with the charming Yuli to set me straight. This young woman, a native of Bogota’s “dangerous” south end, gave our group a passionate and informative insight into the political and social power of graffiti.
According to Yuli, Colombia is not nearly as violent as it once was, but there is still a long way to go, and government corruption, police brutality, unequal access to education, a staggering level of poverty (minimum wage is just under $300 US a month) and the bottomless international demand for cocaine and heroin continue to hold the country back from the peace and opportunity that its citizens so desire.
The Monkey on the Back refers to the drug habits that bedevil the local residents, most of whom are homeless. Interestingly, there is a symbiotic relationship between the homeless population and the graffiti artists, who tend to paint in the middle of the night. The homeless residents stand watch for the police and the artists share food and companionship.
Yuli talked about her neighbourhood, and how it is not perfect, but most of the citizens are not criminals, they are simply “humble people“. The graffiti below portrays some of her neighbours, including the stalwart abuelas (grandmothers), who help raise Colombian children while their parents work long hours.
Until very recently, graffiti was illegal in Bogota and graffiti artists were constantly on the lookout for police. Today, Bogota ranks as one of the top three cities in Latin America for street art, but it has been a sometimes bloody path. A young artist, Dilan Cruz, was murdered by police in 2017 as he was taking part in a protest. The resulting outrage and street protests over his death helped to ignite change in government’s acceptance and encouragement of street art and while there is still a lot of illegal political art to be found, there is also government-sanctioned pieces that are notable for their artistic beauty.
A memorial to Dilan Cruz.
Yuli told us a horrifying story about the “false-positives“, which happened between 2002 and 2008. During the armed conflict between government and guerrilla forces, soldiers were offered bonuses and promotions and benefits for the guerrillas they killed. In order to inflate their body count, they lured thousands of young men away from their desperate poverty with promises of work. These civilians were then murdered and presented as guerrillas killed in combat. They have determined that there were at least 6402 innocent men killed, with numbers possibly as high as 10,000.
Raoul, a father of one of the military troops who expressed concerned about this practice, and then “disappeared“, was determined to obtain justice for his son and find answers. He drove around the country in protest about the military tactics, and then set up shop near the main plaza with a photo of his son. Although he never received any justice, he kept attention on the issue. Raoul died of Covid in 2021.
As disturbing as these images are, they also embody the dignity and determination that Colombians possess as they move toward a better future for themselves. Much like Mexico, you wonder how they unravel the knotted threads of corrupt government, police, military, paramilitary, and drug cartels with so much money and power at stake. Still, much has been accomplished, and we honestly feel quite comfortable here. You can sense a shift.
At first glance, Bogota is not a beautiful city. There are pockets of great beauty, mixed with gritty, crumbling areas, abandoned buildings, Soviet-bloc apartments and desolate streets. The neighbourhood we are staying in, La Candeleria, is one of the city’s oldest and most interesting areas of the city. This is where most of the main attractions can be found, and its hilly narrow streets create fascinating sight-lines.
The Chorro de Quevado is one of the oldest areas in La Candelaria; it is thought to be where Bogota was founded. This square is flanked by an ancient church, a narrow cobblestoned street, and a cafe.
And, of course, not all graffiti is political. Bogota’s streets are a visual treat, with high quality street art at every turn.
Cycling is huge in Bogota. Every Sunday, major thoroughfares are closed to allow Bogotanos and tourists safe and unfettered cycling. We missed this because of weather, but a big chunk of the population get around the city on two wheels, and bike rental shops are plentiful.
Bogota has a wealth of museums; the most notable being the Museo del Oro, offering more than 35,000 pieces of gold from the pre-Hispanic era. We both felt the same way – should see it, but meh…once you’ve seen one shiny gold piece, you’ve seen ’em all.
Instead, we began our museum hopping with the National Museum, where we were pleasantly surprised to discover that senior rates in Colombia also apply to non-nationals. This outstanding museum is housed in an old penitentiary, and features archaeological pieces, indigenous and contemporary art; spanning Colombia’s history from pre-Hispanic to contemporary.
Our museum/gallery highlight was the Botero Museum. Fernando Botero, one of Colombia’s most famous artists, is best known for his paintings and sculptures that depict people and animals in exaggerated, almost cartoonish size. His painting of La Familia portrays the subjects with faces as devoid of expression as the bodies are distorted. His sculptures are equally voluptuous; many of them are found in the parks of Medellin, his hometown.
Botero also does his own interpretation of famous paintings. Da Vinci might not approve of Botero’s Mona Lisa, but at least Botero’s version does have a twinkle in her eye.
The art gallery adjacent to the Botero Museum featured a number of contemporary Colombian artists.
Antonio Caro Lopera’s Colombia sign is both a condemnation of consumerism and perhaps a sly nod at the country’s most notorious export.
Lotera’s Todo Esta Muy Caro sign ( Everything is Very Expensive) speaks to both an aspirational lifestyle and an acknowledgement of the rising cost of living.
Luis Caballero Holguin is an artist whose work reflects Colombia’s bloody history and his art combines homo-eroticism and violence.
Bogota’s main plaza is flanked by the cathedral, palace and municipal buildings, with the usual round-up of vendors, foot carts and small attractions. This being Colombia, there would definitely be a small boy playing with a ball, and a young man walking rather listlessly with a llama, hoping for excited children to pester their parents for a ride.
And finally… today we played chicken with the weather ( it rains most days, with a cloud cover and holds steady at about 17 degrees), to head up to Cerro Monserrate, the mountain that looms over Bogota and is reached by funicular. At the top is a church where devotees make pilgrimages every Sunday, and on a clear day apparently the view is breathtaking. This was not a clear day, but still, the funicular was fun.
We enjoyed our time in Bogota. It is definitely a city that is transforming and there is plenty to do in the city and in the surrounding area. We missed a lot due to weather, but it set the stage nicely for Colombia and we look forward to all that lies ahead.
Tomorrow we leave for Villa de Leyva, a small town about 3 hours north of Bogota. There will be hiking, and more wilderness and we’re looking forward to getting out of the big city and discovering another side of Colombia.
Leaving Ourselves Behind 
So wonderful Ginny, Thanks for sharing. Big hello to both of you. Safe travels 🙂
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Thanks Rob – so far, Colombia is different than I imagined and so much more.
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Wow, back on the road again! We’re excited to read about this latest adventure of yours. You certainly got your fill of art on your first stop – fascinating!
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Thanks, Heather. It does feel great to be back on the road. You are having a new adventure of your own!
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Hi, Ginny and Steve! Great to travel with you again. Thank you for a fascinating post!
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Thanks so much Shelagh. I was feeling so nervous about this trip – not sure why, but it feels good to have found our travel feet again.
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Excellent post and photos! I was last in Colomiba around 2006 and it was still dangerous but so beautiful, such wonderful people with so many challenges You will learn a lot there, stay safe and enjoy your time there!
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I imagine the Colombia you experienced will not have been that different from what we will experience. The people are lovely – I am so curious to see as much as we can.
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Lovely seeing the world through your eyes and commentary, enjoy your travels my friends !
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Oh thanks Laurence – we sure will!
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You’re back in your happy place – travelling, and trying to connect as best you can to the places you go, the things you see, and the people you meet. Always something interesting to read – I’m looking forward to your next post!
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I am in my happy place! As someone said a long time ago, “I like myself better when I travel.” The trick is to bring these lessons from the road back home.
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Wow you guys totally amaze me, reading your blogs which are so professionally done is a treat. Please stay safe and we look forward to another update of your new adventure. Hugs
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Thanks so much Sharon! Are you and Tony back in Mexico?
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Yes we are since October 15th. Been to Guanajuato and going to Guadalajara in Feb. both have had bouts of colds/flu but on the mend now. Enjoy your new adventure. Keep the blogs going
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Are many of those on the streets from Venezuela? There were a lot when I was there three years ago. Very sad.
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I don’t know about Venezuelans in Bogota – I know the situation there is dire.
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Love the graffiti and your ideas about feeling safe and curious in this country that is blessed with abundant natural beauty and battered by so many human injustices…yikes there’s lots to explore on so many layers. Stay safe and open to what others have to share about their land and culture.
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Nice to hear from you Cindy! Are you and Bob travelling this winter? This is such a fascinating country and once again, so much to learn and try to comprehend.
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Oh hooray, you’re back!! You always find and share your journeys that spark our interests. Thank you! We have really loved the street art everywhere we go. Looking forward to the next leg.
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Deb! I’m starting to feel the travel juices going again – it’s a good feeling. Big world out here, isn’t it! Ahem…we are watching for more photos from your travels. :>
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We have a story for you and can’t really do any posting at the moment. You will love it. Maybe a FaceTime at some point?
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I wondered if something was going on. Yes, we would love FT. We’re not sure what the wifi situation is in Villa de Leyva, but as soon as we know, we’ll be in touch. I’m intrigued.
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So happy to hear from you.. I love the graffiti, such talent and insight. Travel safe.
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Hey Nanc – we never did get that phone call in. I’ll be in touch soon. And yes, we stay safe.
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Hi guys! Your blog is always so very interesting and educational. Love the beautiful and colourful pictures, Ginny. I’m travelling with you in my head! Lol. Can’t believe how brave you both are when we are hesitant to go to Mexico after recent events there. Looking forward to your next post.
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I wasn’t so brave this time, Joan – I was quite nervous and of course began compulsively reading articles about “Safety in Colombia”, with varying degrees of bad news. But now we’re here and we’re just keeping our wits about us, and it’s all good. Much more good than bad. Plus, we’re back home by 9:00 pm each night!
Go to Mexico – just stay away from Mazatlan for now.
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You guys are such adventurers!! Love reading your blogs, thanks for sharing
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You’re back! Colombia is not more dangerous than other South American countries. Be cautious, don’t flash money or phones and you’ll be fine. Looking forward to more posts! Maggie
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Thanks Maggie – nice to hear from you! I agree – common sense goes a long way, and the country and its people are wonderful, and we’ve been here less than a week. I hate to think we would have missed this.
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I think your travel bug began in the 60’s with that trip to Florida. Your travels in your latter years is quite remarkable, especially your blog and photos are expressive. Have fun, be careful, healthy and safe. Dez
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Oh yes, that fateful Miami trip! Thank you for reminding me.
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Hello! Thrilled to see this post this morning! What a way to wake up! Hung on every word & pic! Wonderful descriptions! Like a lot of your friends have mentioned “can hardly wait for the next one!” Safe travels friends! We just got home a couple of days ago from a fun time in PVR, strictly weather, relaxation &….food!! Nice to get away & reading your post is motivation for more!! Big hugs. Xoxo
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Linda, I thoroughly enjoyed all your PV postings – it looked like you had a wonderful break, and your photos were fabulous, as always.
Are you thinking of another winter trip or have something else planned in the future?
Hope to see you two one of these days.
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Excited to journey with you two through Colombia, and anxious to hear your impressions. Enjoy!
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Hi you two! So far, so good – Colombia is so beautiful and the people so lovely. I struggle with my sad little bit of Spanish and they are endlessly patient, although I did make someone at the bus station laugh (kindly).
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Great stories and fascinating pixs!!
Love Columbia!!
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I’m glad you liked them, Danielle! So far, I love Colombia too – a month won’t be enough. After this we are on to Ecuador and Galapagos and we were going to Peru, but because of the situation there, we are now going to Chile – where you lived, right? Really looking forward to that part of the trip.
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Love your writing Ginny, and the photos of your travels! Am forwarding this to my cousin who lived in Bogota for some time – am sure he will enjoy it.
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Thanks Christine and thanks for forwarding to your cousin. Unfortunately, our weather was not the best, which meant we missed out on a few things we were hoping to see and do. Bogota definitely deserves a second look.
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Always so wonderful to follow you on your journey. Big hug to you!! xoxo
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Thanks Junita – so glad you are following me again! Big hug back! xoxo
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So glad to see you’re back doing what you love. We missed your fabulously written blog and the great photos so are looking forward to more instalments of your adventures. Keep enjoying life xxx
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Thank you Julia! We are SO happy to be on the road again. We’re only in Colombia for a month before we head to Ecuador, and it’s not nearly enough time. Huge country and so much to see. We’ll have to come back.
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