Colombia: A Primera Vista

Today is my fifth day in Bogota.  So far, the culture shock I've been experiencing makes me feel alive with curiosity, awareness, and disbelief that I'm actually here.

In the past couple of days I've just been settling into my room in the apartment, and sorting out registration and transportation to my Spanish classes that start next week at the Universidad Javeriana.  I took a Spanish placement test on Monday, and should find out later this week which level I placed into. 

My first trip to a Colombian grocery store happened on Sunday night after I arrived.  Personally, I think the grocery store is one of the best places to learn about a new culture.  I actually kind of expected most of the grocery stores to be small privately owned markets, but to my surprise, the grocery store we went to was a target of sorts: Exito, everything you could ever want or need in one convenient location.  Right off the bat (probably as expected),I noticed that the fruit is not only amazingly delicious, but HUGE!  I bought mangoes, oranges, pineapple, and an avocado the size of a small melon!  To my surprise, I found out that they sell soy milk here, of all different brands, and its really good.  Also, most of their milk is de-lactosed, and can be stored at room temperature until opened (which is also the standard in France).  


So far, I've been out to lunch twice.  Lunch is clearly the biggest meal of the day here.  Both times I ordered from a set menu and received: freshly squeezed/blended up fruit juice, soup, salad, a main dish with meat, starch, and vegetables, and everything is finished off with a very small serving of a desert.  Very filling, super yummy, and cheap! (around 8000 Col. pesos. = $4.50 USD) Check out the lunch I had on Tuesday:

I took the bus for the first time yesterday.  I was fortunate enough to be accompanied by a family friend, Yolanda, who showed me the ropes.  The buses are all privately owned and operated, not government-run.  Therefore they do not have a set schedule and they're all different colors and sizes.  They have small signs in the front window that are hard to read indicating their destinations.  It costs 1400 Col pesos ($0.80 USD) to ride, and you have to hold on....tight, wherever you can!  They're packed and the drivers are erratic as is the traffic.  You also have to know your stop and when its coming up because it is neither displayed nor announced.  


Yolanda also took me to the "La Candelaria" district of Bogota, which is the oldest part of the city.  It holds the famous Plaza Bolivar, the Supreme Court, and many museums, libraries and universities:

Parque de la Independencia

Iglesia de la Candelaria

On the way to Plaza Bolivar

The Cathedral

Mayor's House/City Hall

My Llama friend

After checking out La Candelaria, I went to dinner with some family friends at an awesome restaurant called Andres Carne de Res. The restaurant is located in Bogota's trendy La Zona Rosa district (also called La Zona T district).  The restaurant has four floors, each with its own stage and dance floor with live salsa bands playing.  The restaurant apparently turns into a club Thursdays - Saturdays.  The atmosphere is pure fun and the food and drink is great (they have a huge menu):