Getting to Know Bogotá
November 19, 2018
We’ve been living in Bogotá for nearly 3 weeks now and I feel like we’ve been able to get to know the city more. I’m starting to see what it’s like to actually live here and not just be a tourist here. Although, we’ve gotten up to some more tourist things too.
My Spanish still sucks. It takes more confidence than I have in me to learn and then speak a new language at other people. I’ve tried several fruits that I’ve never heard of before. I’ve also tried some amazing local cuisines and some mediocre foods as well. Highly recommend Colombian tamale, arepas con queso, Cuajada con melao (cheese with jams or sauce), and chocolate con queso. I was not a fan of Changua (egg, milk, and bread soup) it was like french toast before you cook it plus it had cilantro in it which I hate. I also didn’t like the the arepas de choclo which is a sweet corn cake.
Most of the new fruits I got to try are all thanks to the Paloquemao market in Bogotá. We went on one of those Airbnb tours because I wanted to try their “experiences” that they advertise to me aggressively and I thought it would be a great way to get an inside look into the market.
John and I are always happy to explore on our own, but it was cool to go on a tour with a real Bogotano! Plus it was just John and I on the tour, so our guide personalized the tour to what we wanted to see and try. I can’t vouch for all the Airbnb experiences, but this one was awesome and felt authentic. I always shy away from tours because I think they can become commercialized and a bit homogenized. I don’t want the polished tour with someone reading from a script.
We also got to learn about how important the market was and is for Colombia. Colombia’s violent past pushed many farmers to the city and markets like Paloquemao made it possible for them to still have a life and make a living.
I’ve also been making it my life mission to try as much coffee as possible. From Juan Valdez to small local roasters, I’m getting a lot of good coffee!
I really love the food in Colombia. It’s all really filling with fresh ingredients and tonnes of queso. I’ve been cooking at home a lot too since we have such fresh fruits and veggies available to us. Buying groceries here is so reasonable and cheap. We just can’t get this level of produce in Canada. I’ve been told all the fruits and veggies in the markets are available year round. Bogotá’s seasons do not change and then they get stuff from the surrounding tropical areas as well as the desert!
enchilada made by me! 
Cream soda/bubble gum drink 
arepa con queso 
tamale 
Chocolate con queso! dip that bread in the chocolate too! 
Chocolate con Queso 
Changua 
We made it to the top of Bogotá to Montserrate. We got to go up on a dramatic gondola and then explore the top of the mountain. They have a church, a market, and lots of food at the top. Oh and an incredible view of all of Bogotá. The city is BIG. Like the biggest!
Cuajada con melao 
Coca tea 
Other than eating everything and a few adventures I was able to send out my Wayward Letters last week, explore my neighbourhood more, and have a travel anxiety freakout that I’ll talk about in a separate post.
Thanks for reading!
~B~