April 09, 2005
Hasta pronto, Bogota
This will be my last post from Colombia. I leave tomorrow with sadness in my heart. I made good friends during my five weeks in Bogota, people who helped me understand the way they live, the way their city works; people who taught me how to appreciate Colombian rum and gallina campesina. I'm amazed that one is able to establish such strong connections in such short period of time, that one is able to learn so much about a city and its residents in just over 30 days.
I'll miss the morning chats with Irma and her colorful commentary about the news in El Tiempo. I'll miss the cafe perico at Juan Valdez, the ride along Avenue Caracas at a TransMilenio window seat. I'll miss Marta, the dear friend who made this experience so much richer to me. I'll miss my walks along Carrera 9, my day with the National Police, the streets of Candelaria, Botero's gorditos, arepas for breakfast and ajiaco on cold days. I'll miss my creaky bed, the books by Santiago Gamboa, the Sunday afternoons of Spanish tapas and sangria with Mauricio and Luz Maria. I'll miss the people of Ciudad Bolivar, folks who welcomed me in their humble homes and scraped the can to offer me a fresh, strong cup of coffee. I'll miss Forney, Adriana, Jairo and Oscar, and I wish them luck in their fight to keep the dump from taking up a swath of the green mountains in southern Bogota.
If you've been reading my blog, you will know that taxi drivers are not my favorite type, but I think I'll miss them as well. They taught me to never let my guard down, never reveal too much to a stranger, for you never know what they want from you.
This is my last post from Bogota, but this is not adios. This is simply an hasta luego.
Posted by Fernanda Santos at April 9, 2005 12:21 PM