I'm hesitant to post my experiences. Latinas lurk on lwl and pl. Probably less so on 2 Gringos. And my amiga works on the internet. But, I have some observations that may be useful, and I owe it to the board to contribute.
I was recently in Bogota for a week. Not much time, but I viewed it as a reconnaisance mission. I've been communicating with a woman i met over the internet for a year and finally decided to head down for a visit.
First impressions. The city is very modern and clean. At least the north, never ventured to the south side. In fact, i felt safer in Bogota than many American cities.
I walked all over the Zona Rosa at night, rode the Transmilenio buses, and never had a hint of trouble. My lasting impression is that i could live in Bogota.
For a budget option in the north, La Casona del Patio Amarillo is a good bet. About $17 a night, very clean, basic. Good, helpful staff. However, they would probably not be amenable to "guests", if you are so inclined.
I cannot really recommmend writing or communicating with someone before you go. This turned into a one woman trip. Accordingly she pretty much determined my agenda for the time I was down there. We became friends over the internet. She is a great person and we remain good friends. Unfortunately, there were no physical sparks, on her part as well as mine.
She had to work some nights, so I was able to head off to the Zona Rosa by myself. It can be a bewildering place. I enjoyed Charlotte's, good mix of people, good music. I finally got to try out my salsa, HA HA!
Another time, I stumbled into one of those hole in the wall bars. Really good guys, they were giving me shots of Aguardiente, I showed them how to make a real caipirinha. I left without my $2 umbrella, and they chased me down the street to return it.
Me and my amiga took a bus out to Zipaquira and el Catedral de Sal. Personally, I found it somber and gloomy, but the countryside is beautiful and peaceful. Also, Monserrate is a must do. It's a really spectacular view from there. Note: Not only Gringos wear shorts. I saw plenty of Colombians wearing shorts on Monserrate, but was told they were mostly paisas showing off their strength.
Most people are very high on Uribe. Finally, they have a President who is serious about handling the guerillas. There is a movement in the Congress to amend the Constitution, so he can run for reelection. If the government can restore peace, there is going to be a serious appreciation in real estate values in Bogota and the rest of the country.
Something to think about.
I admit, I was worried about going down there. Just act sane, and it's a piece of cake. To anyone on the fence, buy the ticket. You'll be glad you did.
