Big in Bogota

Here we are in Bogota, and what a dramatic change from Cali! Bogota is at a 2800m elevation (around 8000ft!) and much colder than Cali. The altitude causes shortness of breath when you walk and also headaches. It´s either that or we are both really out of shape! The area is very lush and green, with a little more rain than other parts of the country. We are in the northern part of the Andes mountain range and it has a distinctly European feel, like Switzerland or Austria but without the clean air!



Discovering the ´bouncer´ with mummy

The neighbourhood where we are staying is in the northern part of Bogota, and our host is the lovely Flor, who has been taking care of families from Canada for many years. Nearby we have many restaurants, churches and parks set in amongst very quaint streets. Things can get a little noisy at night but generally it is a nice location. We are close to a couple of shopping malls and here we can get access to cafe latte, and the internet which seem to be our favourite pastimes!



Chillin´ out with baby girl

Our main task in Bogota is to get Canadian and US travel visas for Charlotte so we can head home. Thanks to Flor the Canadian visa was easy, Charlotte had to pose for some more pictures and this time it only took one attempt although this was not her most flattering pose! The US visa was a different story, and the ONLY reason we need this is because we travel back through a US airport. The US embassy in Bogota is HUGE, and when we arrived there were literally hundreds of people waiting for documents. It was very daunting and with many, many lines of people I honestly didn´t think we would be out of there for a couple of hours at least. Security was very tight with many gates and checkpoints. Fortunately Flor knows her way around and we seemed to get into just the right line. After about an hours wait our documents were processed and we were set to return in the afternoon to collect Charlotte´s visa.



Pretty in Pink, and taking a nap at the shops

Having collected Emma and Charlotte we returned in the afternoon to collect the visa. After the big build up I gave Emma about this place it was completely deserted on our return. We collected our visa, and after a few questions from the consular staff we were all done. Now all we have to do is go to Delta to change our flight, easier said than done. After much negotiation we have a return flight booked for next Monday, with an overnight layover in Atlanta before we get home on Tuesday. Not the best solution, but it does mean that we can hook up with my sister, Sarah, who is coming across from Charlotte to see us. Little Ellys can be the first to meet his new cousin!

So, we have a few days to kill here in Bogota. We will use the time to see the best of what Bogota has to offer; the Gold Museum (finally!), changing of the Presidential Guard, Salt Cathedral, botanical gardens, a trip to a coffee plantation and a nice treat for me as I go and catch a soccer game on Sunday. Go Millonarios Santa Fe!