Bogotá Bites & Mountain Heights

It was funny to hear the rhythm of the city with the same tone as the TransMilenio hummed; my stomach was hungry with a different tune. It is the place to be and I loved it -lots of people, lots of shops –lots of noise and smell of the food being sold on the streets. Traveling with Eli and Antonio was a bit irritating as they could not relax and take me out of life; Eli and Antonio were always on my back to keep an eye on me.

“Monserrate is a must,” Eli said as he always looked around and around when he had a plan. Monserrate? That is something I was interested in finding out.

Monserrate it was, then. People paddled toward getting onto a cable car as the city turned smaller by the minute. There we stood – at the top – a breathless Kathleen whispered, “Sheer madness.”. Bogota spread out like a lustrous carpet of light and colors, stalking through streets and buildings as far as the eye could see. The cold and refreshing breeze of the mountains conveyed the noise of the city, just a low hum rising from the bustling streets.

Eli was looking significant on the bus as I turned to him with a wild smile. Why don’t we bypass the usual spots and look for a local restaurant for some lunch?

Eli nodded and raised his eyebrows in turn, but no longer looked displeased or threatened. Antonio would always be the over-cautious one, he mumbled something about safety but Eli a him a nudge to let him know Antonio’s worry didn’t matter. “I think we need to have some real Bogota food for our adventurous friend,” he said.

The quest took us down winding alleys with what seemed to be parched stone floors, past intriguing murals, and the occasional hard-to-find coffee house. It was at this point that we chanced upon a busy restaurant that had the distinct smell of sizzling chorizo and fried plantains in the air. A fragrant bandeja paisa was served: a big heap of rice, beans, pork, and a share of fried plantain topped with a fried egg. I experienced pleasure with every bite, and the blending of Colombian flavors was simply delicious.

We bid Taku farewell and promised to keep in touch. Our bellies were full and our hearts content as we said our goodbyes and headed for Eli’s hometown. The bus moved out of Bogota as the engine ground through its gears.

It was true that Robert’s partnership with Eli and Antonio had been fraught with some difficulties, but love was at the center of it. But here was a city that offered those true experiences; a taste of adventure climbing Monserrate, the feeling of discovering a hidden restaurant, and unbelievable flavors.

The stopover in Bogotá had been a nonstop travel experience, but it had whetted my appetite to see more of Colombia. The Colombian excursion had just moved to another phase, starting with Eli and I am looking forward to a new chapter in the Colombian experience from a small town.

Thank you for reading!