Bogota

[AlexG32]

Hoda,

I don’t want to seem insensitive, after all this is your post and it’s a shame that in the year 2002 racism still and in my opinion will always exist.  I haven’t been to Bogota since I was a in my early teens.  What  I remember was going to Unicentro and I remember the driving there being much worse than any other city in Colombia.  I had a family member who lived there and he picked me and my luggage up on a 100 cc Kawasaki.  Needless to say that was one unique experience and also realizing that he would have to take me back to the airport in a couple of days for my flight to Cali.

I apoligize for my nostalgic look back at Bogota, my question is besides the unfriendly reception you received upon entering the Hotel, how were the Hotels services?  I am getting married in Cali in August and will travel to Bogota soon after.  If you wouldn’t mind letting me know about room rate, internet service there and also proximity to the embassy.  All else being equal would you recommend this Hotel or for that matter does anyone recommend a hotel in Bogota with proximity to the embassy.  Thanks in advance….  Question hoda if the two of you who are of ebony skin tone were discriminated against so blatantly, did you happen to see any interracial couple while you were there?    

[FredFresno]

... in response to Bogota, posted by AlexG32 on Jul 20, 2002

Another possibility is
 Casa de huéspedes Doña Flor
 Carrera 44C #22A-16
 011-57-1-269-74-36

When I stayed there in November I received a "master bedroom" (room and bath) and breakfast for COP50.000 per night (then approximately $21 per night).  Certainly the ammenities weren't as nice as the hotels where I've stayed in Bogota, or where I stay in the US when my employer is picking up the tab.  However, unlike some budget travel, I didn't feel like I was below my accostomed standards at home.  Doña Flor only speaks Spanish, but it doesn't sound like that should be a problem in your case.  

Her place is 4 blocks from the embassy, so you'd have to have a pretty good arm to chuck a stone from there to the embassy gate.  Still, she'll probably feed you well enough that the walk will do you good.  There are a couple of Internet Cafes across from the embassy at the corner of Diagonal 22F (Avenida de la Esperanza) and Carrera 45.

I've shilled for Doña Flor before.  Believe me, she's not cutting me in on a percentage of that big $21 per night :-)

I was shown the lobby of the Tequendama, and one of my prospective cuñadas, a lawyer, told me with pride of the time that she was the speaker at a series of public addresses there.  It sounded a little like San Francisco's Commonwealth Club.  I'd love to have stayed there, but I suspect that my future travel to Bogota will be more in economy mode, and that lodging will be chosen more for proximity to family than for prestige.

[AlexG32]

... in response to Re: Bogota, posted by FredFresno on Jul 20, 2002

Thank you very much!  Just the type of detailed information I needed.  I no longer have family in Bogota and the embassy has moved since the last time I was there as a kid.  Is unicentro still around there in Bogota?  I remember it being large and also having two levels with more of an American mall feel and not the open airy designs that we see in Cali.

[FredFresno]

... in response to Thanks for the heads up!!!!, posted by AlexG32 on Jul 20, 2002

Unicentro is still there.  It's a US-style mall a good bit north of the Embassy area (I'd say 20-30 minutes by taxi, and probably longer by buseta.)  Salitre is a US-style mall (3 floors) a good bit closer to the Embassy.  It's 6 or 8 blocks as I recall; a straight shot west on Avenida de la Esperanza.  I believe the locals usually take a buseta, but I also believe there's a cicloruta all the way through, so you could hoof it.  The Maloka Science and Technology Center is across the street from Salitre.  From my perspective it's more kid-oriented, but it has an IMax theater and is a pride of the locals (they say it's the biggest IMax theater in Latin America.)

Santa Barbara is the closest I've seen in Bogota to your description of the malls in Cali.  My recollection is that it's also farther north, and east into the foothills area.  I usually haven't had to find things in Bogota on my own ;-)

There's a tourist guide called "Bogota, Guía Turista: 2.600 metros más cerca de las estrallas".  It's bilingual; the first half of the book is in Spanish and, if you turn it over (top to bottom), the other half is in English.  I suspect it's hard to get in the States, but it's all over the place in Bogota and an excellent way of trying to find places to see and things to do while in Bogota.

[AlexG32]

... in response to Malls, posted by FredFresno on Jul 20, 2002

Thank you very much for all the information!  Ever since Hoda’s unfortunate experience in Bogota there has been a negative backlash of the attitude and mindset of all Bogotanos.  While in Colombia, I will try my very best to give you all a daily report on the day to day experiences.

[Wayne1]

... in response to Bogota, posted by AlexG32 on Jul 20, 2002

Stay at the Casa Franco B&B.  4 rooms available at a stones throw to the embassy gate.  About 50.00 a night. Very nice lady in an American standards B&B  I can give you their # later if you like.

Wayne

[AlexG32]

... in response to Re: Bogota, posted by Wayne1 on Jul 20, 2002

Wayne thank you very much for the info.  We plan on being in Bogota as little as possible.  We have planned our honeymoon in Cartagena, Baranquilla and Santa Marta.  My fiance told me that there are really great deals right now being offered in this area due to the VERY LIGHT tourist travel.