Vibrant Colombia

In Bogota, Colombia, we walked the streets, observing Spanish colonial architecture mixed with colorful, flamboyant modern buildings. We tried some delicious and unusual fruit, which included mangosteen, lychee, red dragon fruit, and yellow dragon fruit. We also got a picture in the city square with a llama.

The art scene in Bogota was thriving and unparalleled compared to every other city we were in. There are many art museums: we visited the Gold Museum and the Botero Museum. Fernando Botero is a Colombian art collector and painter, known for his oversized portraits.

The streets were filled markets selling beautiful handmade jewelry, mochila bags, a fermented maize drink called chicha, and more. I spotted several people carrying art canvases tucked in their arms. On so many street corners I saw many painters selling their work. I bought a large piece of art for our future home, and for my uncle, I bought an idyllic landscape painting from a kind, loquacious old man who only spoke Spanish.

We were only in Bogota for four full days, but we fell in love. There is a grittiness and life to Colombia that we didn’t observe anywhere else. The city dwellers seemed boldly themselves, strong and unabashedly self-expressive.