Amazonian Candy

Deidi spent a weekend back home, which is near the Amazon. She brought me back some delicious candy made from Amazonian fruit.

Rough translation: This product, promoted by the Institute of Scientific Investigations, contributes to the sustainable development of Amazonian fruit cultivation, of the rural and indigenous communities of the region and to the conservation of the greatest ecosystem in the world. Arazá, a native fruit of the Amazonia, with an exquisit aroma and rich in vitamins, is used in the preparation of juices, sherbets, milk shakes, dairy beverages, ice cream, desserts, cakes and cocktails.

Saludos desde Bogotá

Traffic

Here is some typical Bogotá traffic

Manu Chao - Plaza de Bolívar

The Manu Chao concert a couple of weeks ago was great!

 Getting in from 11th Street was a little tricky.

Fans took over everything trying to get a good view.

Getting in from the Séptima was a little easier but it was a little crowded. (2pm)

And it got even more crowded.

Saludos desde Bogotá!

Facatativá

Just visited the town of Facatativá (or Faca for short). It's just a short drive west of Bogotá. It is famous for  an archeological park called Las Piedras de Tunjo. The best part of the trip is listening to guy hang out of the bus yelling "Faca Faca Faca Faca Faca" over and over again.

 A view of part of the town from the highway.

The main square.

Plantain plant. It is very big. About twice my height.

Indigenous sculptures from the Muisca tribe.

Didi underneath a rock.

Evidently I didn't the memo on the dress code.

The Colombian president's rock. $5 to whoever can name them.

We tried our luck on a paddle boat.

Colombian desserts :)

Fruit salad :)

Facatativá is a very nice town! I liked it.

Saludos desde Bogotá

Summit of the Americas - Cartagena

Greetings!

Didi was lucky enough to be in Cartagena for the Summit of the Americas. The Summit, which is just a fancy way of gathering world leaders to hang out, eat expensive food and ultimately reach no consensus on any policies. All of the heads of states for every country in the Americas, except Cuba who was not invited, and Rafael Correa of Ecuador who refused to come because Cuba was excluded.

Didi took some great pictures. I thought I would share them with you. She even saw Obama's motorcade, as he was staying down the street from her. His motorcade consisted of 30 cars and a trailing helicopter. (and that's without the Secret Service agents that were busy taking in the scenery...)

Here is the CNN news boat. Not really sure why they have one. But it is pretty cool looking. (There are replica pirate ships behind it)

This is where the summit was held.

Do you remember these nice women? They were quoted saying Obama is "cute" and "beautiful." I'm jealous.


That's all for now!

Saludos desde Bogotá!

Downtown

Here are some pictures of downtown.

Downtown is in the background ;)

That's all for now!

Saludos desde Bogotá!

Random Photos

Greetings!

Here are some random pictures from around Bogotá.

 A beautiful day in Bogotá.

Rosales. One of the wealthiest if not the wealthiest neighborhood in Bogotá.

Cool graffiti. Pineapple grenade.

7am on a chilly Bogotá morning.

I don't know what to make of this. If it's real, it's hilarious. Ride your donkeys only on the street. Maybe it used to be a bike.

More cool graffiti.

Panorama of downtown. Bancolombia's (Colombia's largest bank) headquarters is dead center.

A chicken tied to a bench. mmmm lunch!

Greetings from Bogotá!