The transport and other Bogotá, Colombia General Tips

Favorite Thing: In Bogota and in fact all of Colombia, there are no bus stops. (this was in the 80's l am sure it has changed.) You simply put your hand out it does not matter if the bus is full or not. The driver wants your fare. You can get different types of buses, the cheaper ones which at that time in the 80's the money did not exsist in my currency. Your better off taking the nicer ones where your not trampled on. Beware of pick pockets. Colombia is a very poor country. Lots of children and adults beg on the streets or try to sell you flowers or fruite or whatever they can get their hands on. You will also find that the bus drivers drive really fast and play salsa music. It can be scary driving because they pay no attention to traffic lights or stop signs. If your driving, don't do anything illegal otherwise you will have the cops after you, and the only way out of that is to hand them money discreetly. Bribery is a way of life in Colombia. Don't drive unless you feel very comfortable. Also when you stop at traffic lights all of a sudden your surrounded by people trying to wash your car, or again sell you something. I had the window opened one day and my elbow was sticking out of the car and my watch disappeared in seconds.

Fondest Memory: Mad crazy salsa music at 8am in the morning. The city is alive with the beautiful sounds of Latin American music. Colombians know how to cook delicious meals and the coffee is probably the best in the world.

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Favorite Thing: I really love this view, it was taken from my apartment in the early morning.


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Favorite Thing: I am not sure what the water is like now. However l when lived in Bogota in the 80's. I got really sick because of the water. I did take precautions but because l was a vegetarian and ate mostly salads, whenever l ordered salads they were washed in tap water. I was really ill for weeks on end. Better off buying bottled water and using that brushing your teeth. There are parisites that get into your tummy, which are called amibas l think that is how its spelt. They cause havoc especially if you have a few drinks, its like a disco party in your belly and once they get in its very hard to get them out. Not very nice. Make sure you have a hepatitis A injection to prevent this.


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Favorite Thing: Bogota is 3000m above sea level. I found myself having dizzy spells and headaches and nausea for the first month l was there. If your climbing make sure you have plenty of bottled water and eat enery rich carbohydrates.


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Favorite Thing: Make sure you skin is covered from dusk till dawn try to cover yourself around the dusk time. I know this can be hard especially if the weather is good. However the mossies come out in their millions so its a good idea to use insect repellent. I always had a newspaper handy for swatting those annoying mossies, besides its hard to sleep with them buzzing around you. If your travelling into the heat take a mossie net with you. They dont supply them in hotels. Although its a lot to take with you, if your fair skinned you need as a lot more protection. Nets can be bought in stores through out bogota.


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