South America 2023

April - May 2023

After our South East Asia exploration we headed to Columbia to start our adventure in South America with family Kristy and Brad to celebrate their retirement! Read more

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South America 2023
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- Apr 2, 2023, 11:03am
- 🌬 4 °C
- Altitude: 30 ft
- Netherlands South Holland Lisse Keukenhof 52.269859, 4.548152°16’11” N 4°32’53” E
Day 1
Amsterdam
April 2, 2023 in the Netherlands ⋅ 🌬 4 °C
We had a week in Amsterdam after our south east Asia trip. We will miss Amsterdam and our friends. We had a smooth ride to the airport, and we are looking forward to our trip to South America. Joining us will be be Craig’s brother and sister-in-law. We will be celebrating his brother’s retirement!Read more
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South America 2023
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- Apr 3, 2023, 3:31pm
- ☁️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 8,816 ft
- Colombia Bogota D.C.Bogotá D.C.Sede A CUN sede E CUN 4.593938, -74.0719754°35’38” N 74°4’19” W
Day 2
First Walk in Bogota
April 3, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
After our eleven hour flight from Amsterdam, we landed in Bogota and settled into our accommodation. Afterwards, we took a walk around historic Bogota and admired some great historic architecture. More to come!!!Read more
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South America 2023
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- Apr 3, 2023, 6:35pm
- ⛅ 13 °C
- Altitude: 8,698 ft
- Colombia Bogota D.C.Bogotá D.C.Sede A CUN sede E CUN 4.59462, -74.0716034°35’41” N 74°4’18” W
Day 2
Dinner @ De Una Travel
April 3, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Enduring some jet lag but the central historic area of Bogota is charming. We are having our first dinner in Bogota at De Una Travel. Right off a pedestrian only small street composed of historic buildings.

Dinner and drinks were tasty. The food took to long but we enjoyed our entrees. We are jet lagged and it’s time for some shut eye!Read more
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- Apr 4, 2023, 10:40am
- ☁️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 8,816 ft
- Colombia Bogota D.C.Bogotá D.C.Sede A CUN sede E CUN 4.593837, -74.0720454°35’38” N 74°4’19” W
Day 3
Breakfast with the Bowmans
April 4, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Kristy and Brad arrived around 5am. After some much needed sleep we enjoyed breakfast at a local cafe & bakery.

Our South America adventures have officially started!
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- Apr 4, 2023, 11:21am
- ☁️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 8,681 ft
- Colombia Bogota D.C.Bogotá D.C.Sede N CUN Congreso Nacional de Colombia 4.598113, -74.0754174°35’53” N 74°4’32” W
Day 3
Walking Tour and the Gold Museum
April 4, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
After everyone had woken up, we had breakfast right around the corner. After breakfast we walked around the historic town center. We had visited the fantastic Gold Museum. The museum featured collections of early gold, silver, and Platinum works from the indigenous people of Columbia. There were also exhibits explaining the process for crafting different gold pieces.

We had signed up for a walking tour of Bogota, which featured the main sites of the city. The weather was overcast but was sunny towards the end of the tour.

It was a fun first full day with everyone!Read more
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- Apr 5, 2023, 1:57pm
- ☁️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 9,964 ft
- Colombia Bogota D.C.Bogotá D.C.Monserrate 4.605022, -74.0554814°36’18” N 74°3’20” W
Day 4
The Views of Monserrate
April 5, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
After our morning coffee at our Airbnb, we headed to the base of Monserrate to take the tram up to the lookout points overlooking the city.

We learned the Monserrate is a mountain that dominates the city center of Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia. It rises to 3,152 meters above sea level and is a popular tourist attraction - we were in quite a line for a weekday afternoon.

Our visit to Monserrate was an unforgettable experience. We took the tram up the mountain and were rewarded with breathtaking views of the city below. The tram ride itself was an adventure, as we ascended at a steep angle and watched the cityscape unfold before us. The sign on the tram said capacity was not to exceed 80- There were violations - Lol!!!

At the top of Monserrate, we explored the beautiful church and gardens. The church, dedicated to El Señor Caído (The Fallen Lord), is a pilgrimage site for many Colombians.

The weather was sometimes sunny or overcast. It was nice that the rain held out till late afternoon.

One of the highlights of our visit was dining at one of the restaurants on Monserrate. We enjoyed delicious Colombian cuisine while taking in the stunning views of Bogotá. We found a family operated eatery with a great menu. The service was very friendly and the food was tasty. Brad and I had the beef steak with fries, Kristy had the arepa (a ground corn treat), and Craig had a traditional Colombian chicken soup.

Before we heading down, Kristy led us to a path that led to a gate - she’s an excellent tour guide…😅!

As we descended back down the mountain on the tram, we enjoyed the commanding views of Bogota’s cityscape. It was a highlight of our trip to Bogota, Colombia!Read more
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- Apr 5, 2023, 8:10pm
- ☁️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 8,406 ft
- Colombia Bogota D.C.Bogotá D.C.Lago Gaitán Zona T 4.666353, -74.0543534°39’59” N 74°3’16” W
Day 4
Brad’s Retirement Dinner
April 5, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
After resting up some from our day of exploring Monserrate, and visiting some museums we headed out to dinner. Our Uber picked us up and we went across town. It was a 30 min car ride and our driver ran red lights almost hit a pedestrian but anyway we made it to our destination.

We arrived at Andres Restaurant in Bogota to celebrate Brad’s retirement, and were greeted with Carnival inspired performers dancing and a woman defying gravity while swinging from ropes above. The atmosphere of the restaurant was fun and high energy.

The decor was eclectic and entertaining with many of those spaces filled with brass and percussion players and costumed dancers, all performing. The service was great and provided by a staff that did not lack personality.
We had a marvelous evening of food, drink, and costumed performers.

We arranged for the entertainers to come to our table and congratulate Brad. They sang and danced, and even gave Brad a sash with the colors of the Columbia flag. I believe the text on the sash said “Welcome to Earth” or something like that…lol!!!

Overall, it was a wonderful way to celebrate Brad’s retirement and we all had a great time at the Andres Restaurant.

Andres RestaurantRead more
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- Apr 6, 2023, 10:49am
- 🌧 16 °C
- Altitude: 8,720 ft
- Colombia Bogota D.C.Bogotá D.C.sede I CUN 4.601108, -74.0684364°36’4” N 74°4’6” W
Day 5
To the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
April 6, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
Today the four us hired a taxi and visited the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, an underground church built inside a salt mine and made entirely of salt. The cathedral is located about 600 feet underground in a former salt mine in Zipaquirá, just outside Bogotá.

It was an amazing experience to see the Roman Catholic icons carved out of salt and the enormous floor-to-ceiling cross illuminated with purple lights.

The Salt Cathedral has a fascinating history. Initially, miners prayed in a small sanctuary built inside the caverns where they would pray to the Virgin of the Rosary of Guasá, the patron saint of miners, to protect them from toxic gases, explosions and other accidents. That first sanctuary was built in the 1930s. After extracting salt, the miners left in their wake a vast network of grottoes, pits and passageways. Retired mining engineer Jorge Castelblanco says most exhausted mines are simply abandoned and sealed up. But Zipaquirá's miners and church officials persuaded the Colombian government to convert the empty spaces into a church in 1953.

It was an unforgettable experience to visit this architectural wonder and learn about its history.Read more
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- Apr 7, 2023, 11:37am
- ☁️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 8,717 ft
- Colombia Bogota D.C.Bogotá D.C.Egipto Museo Botero 4.596672, -74.0727394°35’48” N 74°4’22” W
Day 6
Last Day in Bogota!
April 7, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Today was our last day in Bogota and it was Good Friday. We were lucky enough to witness a procession leaving the Primatial Cathedral of Bogotá on Plaza de Bolívar. We followed the military precession that entered the cathedral to lift and take out the important religious artifacts for their route through the square and town. It was a beautiful sight to see the faithful walking together in prayer and reflection.

Kristy and Brad had the chance to take pictures with some lamas. They were so cute and friendly! It was a great way to end our trip. We spent the rest of our time waking around old town before leaving for the airport.

Overall, our time in Bogota has been unforgettable. We've made so many memories and experienced so much of the local culture. I'm sad to leave but grateful for the time we've had here.

Until next time Bogota!!!Read more
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- Apr 7, 2023, 4:55pm
- 🌧 16 °C
- Altitude: 8,350 ft
- Colombia Bogota D.C.Bogotá D.C.San Pablo El Dorado International Airport 4.699125, -74.1415724°41’57” N 74°8’30” W
Day 6
On Our Way to Buenos Aires
April 7, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
We made it to the airport but we had some hiccups with Uber - we made it nonetheless. Going through immigration was smooth and easy. The four of us had a nice stop at the Latam Lounge before it was time to board our plane.

We boarded our plans - goodbye Bogota!Read more
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