| Page Views: 404 Last Visit to Bogotá: - | Jumping around Bogota! by jumpingnorman - last update: May 11, 2009 |
| Entrance to Saltmine, Zipaquira, Colombia |
French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt was miraculously rescued in mid-2008 from her captors without a shot fired after being held since February 23, 2002. Because of these notorious kidnappings (and stories of druglords and gangs), Colombia is not a very favorite tourist destination despite the myriad of interests one can find in the beautiful city of Bogota.
So, I decided to go after seeing a TV special (Latin 5 Takes? on the Travel Channel) on the Zipaquira Salt Cathedral which is built into the walls of a salt mine nearly 600 feet into a mountain.
I hired a private sixty-year-old experienced driver "Meet my very kind driver who helped me jump around Bogota!" to bring me safely to the mine which was in the outskirts of Colombia. At the entrance I found the statue pictured here and I bought a representation of it made in salt along with a twelve-apostle sculpture in the subterranean shops. |
| Bogota Cathedral, Colombia |
|  | La Catedral I am pictured here in front of the Bogota Cathedral located on the Plaza Bolivar which is a good example of colonial religious architecture.
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| Cerro de Montserrat, Bogota, Colombia |
| | That White Cathedral on the Hill I also had my driver bring me to the most famous peak - the Cerro de Montserrat at 3030 m. (10,000 ft) and a favorite with Bogoteños and tourists who go there for the spectacular views.
The church which has the statue of the Señor Caído Fallen Christ, is claimed to be a place of miracles. The top is accessible by climbing hundreds of stairs or by the cable car (which I decided to take instead! Much safer and quicker!)
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Yaqui Thu Sep 3, 2009 22:28 UTC
GReat intro photo of that fabulous statue. The Bogota Cathedral is so stunning! I bet stand out! The saltmines sound fanscinating! Wonderful page! | JLBG Mon Jul 20, 2009 04:57 UTC
Jumping at such a high elevation must be a bit hard! The Zipaquira Saltmine and the cathedral are outstanding! I never heard of that place. I wonder why Bolivar has a Piazza and no Bulevar. I would love Bulevar Bolivar! | LoriPori Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:27 UTC
I'm pleasantly surprised with Bogota. It would not be a place I would think of visiting actually. The saltmines must be something to see & we also plan to see the saltmines near Krakow Poland next year. That is one funky hat you're wearing Norman. | Sharrie Sun May 31, 2009 03:36 UTC
Yep, I went to the saltmine in Poland as well. Wow, if a guy who speaks the language & yet don't feel safe here, then I can imagine how I'll feel if I venture here! I did have the urge to venture though... I'll need to look for a bodyguard! |
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