Day 2: Bogota

Angelina and her fruit sous chef

Weather: mild to perfect

Up very early. Try just about everything on the breakfast buffet (included) in order to be more selective the next few days. Nothing is particularly special.

Four Seasons pics:

Breakfast buffet: many choices

DB has arranged a tour with a market visit plus looking at local handicrafts.  Angelina is a few minutes early. It turns out she is going to be with our tour on Wednesday. Good thing: she is terrific. Easy to understand, very knowledgeable on local artists, history of Bogota and Columbia, and went to the 2022 Venice Biennale. 

And off we go:

First stop of the day, easily 20 minutes from the hotel, maybe more

In front of the market is a flower market. Colombia exports a huge amount to the US and Asia.

At the front of the market we stop to get some coca tea and pastries

a local version of horchata made with corn instead of rice

a avocado variety we aren't familiar with

the veggie version of an ice cream cone? maybe a turnip

Now the fruit tasting: first the selection

then the sorting by "family" of fruit

Many tastes: no way THB can keep track of what is what

Pics from elsewhere in the market, there's more tasting to be done!

guava jelly with mild local cheese

pork with rice cooked inside 

this serving is $2

THB did not taste this guy

smoothies made with our fave fruits

smoothies essential when THB puts hot sauce on his meat empanada 

Time to move on (if we can, THB is stuffed)

Next stop: A New Cross, a couture shop for men and women clothes and hats

DB and THB model some apparel choices

DB catches THB having a "sure, okay" moment and THB outspends DB on clothes. 

And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife

And you may ask yourself, "Well, how did I get here?"

Next stop after the last stop: Maria and Fernando Cano's house and Maria's pottery studio

Maria Cano

work by Fernando Cano, a well known photographer: Sisters

Pics from around town:

There is a ton of graffiti and some good looking murals

very hard to get perspective, are those two guys working on the wall behind the last of the brick wall?

Just the right accessory for the person who wants to be very Covid safe

And just the outfit to go with

THB and DB are getting hungry or just planning for the future: Colombian chocolate: excellent

Another ATM stop, and Angelina leads THB through the ATM process to a much larger withdrawal, 900,000 pesos. Back to the hotel, snack on an apple and cheese brought from E-ville, pita chips, water, and a small taste of the chocolate, $2 total. 

The most unusual fire extinguisher THB has seen in a hotel room (or anywhere)...will it work?

Meeting our tour compatriots:

Downstairs at the Four Seasons, the tour assembles around 6:30. Huge aperol spritzers are distributed, which almost no one takes more than a few sips, and people start introducing themselves. Pretty much everyone has taken a trip with Carlos the tour leader before. THB and DB appear to be the only ones who haven't. THB thinks there 19 tonight, with Carlos and his tour co-leader and niece, Maria-Luz, that makes 21 for dinner.  Apparently one couple is missing, to join the tour tomorrow. 

After a short happy half hour, we load into a huge luxurious bus and slowly wend our way to Harry Sasson Bar and Grill, a huge (HUGE!!!! room for many hundreds) restaurant and a pre-set menu. Carlos had warned the group that a lot of food would be served and so it was. THB goes slow and steady. We are at one end of a long table with Carlos and Maria-Luz. Somewhere a little after 9pm the group boards the bus for the return to the hotel and THB  thankfully sleep for 8 solid hours.

Room for 100s in the restroom