Greetings board,
Hope all is well with everyone....
Paty and I just returned from Bogota....
We brought Paty's son to live with us in NC...
We arrived the day of the President's inauguration....
We didn't notice anything different on the streets except a few more
troops....
Later at Paty's moms house we heard the news about the attacks....
Overall...no problems....
Security at the embassey was tighter than normal....the street in front was closed and there were several foot patrols of troops across the street....
paper work processed fine...VISA in one day...(second appointment)
Left for NC the next day....
We saw Pedro el Escomosa in the airport in Bogota....My stepson got his autograph...was on the same flight as us to Atlanta....we spoke to him and his wife there...
Immigration was very rapid in Atlanta...less than 5 minutes....
It's very interesting to see the US through some one else eyes for the first time...Juan's eyes wide open....saying WOW.... 
we've got him enrolled in an ESL school here....No other Spanish speaking kids in Class....He's learned that one other little boy there speaks one word in Spanish....si....Juan asked him if he pees in the bed at night....SI....Juan is laughing hard in the retelling of the story...the kid has balls... ...
Looked at strata 4 housing in the north of Bogota...Calle 170 Ave. Septima (approx) Nice apartments 3/2 for about $20,000...
I think it would be wise to be careful there now....
We never advertise our trips or locations....short duration...low key...
I would think that it would be far easier to formulate a take down plan if the daily routines could be watched, studied....
Went to the country side for the first time....
Cahica and Zipaquira....Countryside beautiful....lunch at Cahica...
Lots of greenhouses for flowers....the Mountains right there....Lots of Euchaliptis (?) trees and also Pines....Countryside very green...lots of OLD stonework...reminds one that the area has been lived in for hundreds of years....
Visited Zipaquira and the Salt Cathedral...hills very green and beautiful...sky blue...Andean music being played outside the cathedral...cathedral very impressive....beautiful day...
I was a little nervous...but with the family....first time outside the city...lots of cars and people....rode the bus...not sure that I'd do it again....not right now anyway...
My brother in law wants me to go to Buga to visit the rest of the family.....no way,,,
Bought several Ranas(?) and hammocks in Zipaquira...prices 10% of the cost in the malls in Bogata....
Wishing Hoda well with new bride in the US....
Hello to Pete E.
Hello to Nelson and Lucy...
Dean
