Anyone been to Colombia South America?

[marie3246]

We are heading there for a friends wedding in Oct and while they will be showing us around we don't want to miss any "must sees"  We will be in Bogota and Cali. 

[LLL]

Marle

[WOT?*]

I just messaged a FB friend who lives in Bogota. I'll let you know if she responds.

[karmasabiotch]

There is a regular on the Blended Families board on TB that lives there. You can page her, she's really nice.

[WOT?*]

karmasabiotch - that's who I messaged on FB.

marie3246 - her name on Bump is Tifanico.

[marie3246]

thanks!

[karmasabiotch]

May 20, 2013 13:47:26 GMT -5 WOT?* said:

karmasabiotch - that's who I messaged on FB.

marie3246 - her name on Bump is Tifanico.

I would be scared to be FB friends with anyone from over there.  You know they hate me!    (devil)

[WOT?*]

karmasabiotch - that's because you're a biotch. I'm friends with a select few from waaaay back in the day because I'm nice and sympathetic. lol. Sisters-in-crisis and all that jazz. I just hopped on a few minutes ago for the first time in forever because this post reminded me that BF is out there and I haven't been on in ages to see what the latest crises might be. I haven't been in crisis for at least a week now, and not with PH for ages now that the kids are grown and we don't have to do the custody thing and I have the grands and his wife has to be nice to me in order to see them. At least something good came out of all that. I'm not the #(%&!)#%&_!(%& - ($(%(#%^(^ anymore.   And now I'm think I'm going to hop over there for some amusement before I head back to moving my alcohol to locked cabinets for the home study.  Maybe I should just drink it all instead.

[Jalapeñomel]

Marle is Colombian!

[WOT?*]

marie3246 - you have PM. She wanted some info to maybe narrow her suggestions. There's a lot to do down there.

[Deleted]

There is a regular on the Starting Over board who lives in Bogota.

[Marle]

Hi! I am from Bogota and have traveled to Cali too.

Where is the wedding? So you have specific questions? Would you like to email me?

All I can say for now is be prepared to party like you've never partied before.

[ErinExpat]

I spent a few weeks last year in Cali with DH's extended family and we traveled all over the valley. If I can help at all, let me know.

[marie3246]

May 20, 2013 17:06:44 GMT -5 Marle said:

Hi! I am from Bogota and have traveled to Cali too.

Where is the wedding? So you have specific questions? Would you like to email me?

All I can say for now is be prepared to party like you've never partied before.

Hi! We are going to Bogota for a few days and then going with our friend to her families house in Cali where the wedding is. Apparently they have a summer house in Cali as well, so I don't think we will need help there. We will have some free time in Bogota though to roam around. 

The wedding is here: www.eoriente.com/frameset/inicio.php?username=Casa%20Grande%20El%20Oriente
and we are told that I will need a long formal dress, but that the dress in Bogota is quite different.

What are some things you would wear to go sight seeing/ going out in both Bogota and Cali?
What are the go to sightseeing places in Bogota? 
H wants awesome hole in the wall restaurants to eat. 

Thanks for all your help

[Deleted]

Please don't take this totally off line! I want to know what dress op needs to wear :-). And all about Columbian weddings!

[Marle]

May 20, 2013 19:45:04 GMT -5 marie3246 said:

May 20, 2013 17:06:44 GMT -5 Marle said:

Hi! I am from Bogota and have traveled to Cali too.

Where is the wedding? So you have specific questions? Would you like to email me?

All I can say for now is be prepared to party like you've never partied before.

Hi! We are going to Bogota for a few days and then going with our friend to her families house in Cali where the wedding is. Apparently they have a summer house in Cali as well, so I don't think we will need help there. We will have some free time in Bogota though to roam around. 

The wedding is here: www.eoriente.com/frameset/inicio.php?username=Casa%20Grande%20El%20Oriente
and we are told that I will need a long formal dress, but that the dress in Bogota is quite different.

What are some things you would wear to go sight seeing/ going out in both Bogota and Cali?
What are the go to sightseeing places in Bogota? 
H wants awesome hole in the wall restaurants to eat. 

Thanks for all your help

Aw I'm jealous! Places like that are the ideal place for a nice wedding in one of the most beautiful settings in the world. You'll have lots of fun! Be ready to dance and drink. Maybe they'll take you to el parque del café which is about the only themed park in Colombia but the theme is coffee. So, it's really authentic.

So, Cali is warm. Get a long dress but something for like summer for the wedding. Almost everything else goes there as far as clothes as long as you're comfortable for summer. In general, women in Colombia are all dressed up all the time. They never go out in pjs or yoga pants. You will however see them in tight or revealing clothes.

In Bogota it's not warm but it mostly depends on if it's sunny or not. On a sunny day you can be easily at 77 degrees; but if a big cloud goes by it'll easily drop 15 degrees immediately. So, dress in layers that are easy to put on and off. At night it'll be between 40-50 degrees, sometimes a little less especially if it rains. Jeans and nice tops with a nice jacket (that you can take off easily) are your go-to even at night. No sneakers unless you're actually exercising.

I'd recommend not going out completely alone when you are sightseeing in Bogota. It's a big city; and one where the muggers are especially alert and smart. So your experience will be better if someone drives you around. If you are on your own, always be alert. Don't take anything of a lot of value with you; CALL a taxi cab, don't go on buses by yourself. Don't take a lot of money at one time and try to put it in different places (not all on your pocket or purse).

Places to go in the city:
Museo del oro
La casa de la moneda (big Botero colection)
La plaza de Bolivar

At night: la zona rosa
El parque de la 93
La zona G
A lot of these places have great restaurants and great places to eat drink and dance.

For a venture a little out of the city: Sopó, Chía, Cajicá; are small towns close to Bogota to go eat good authentic food. "Andres carne de res" is a very recommended place but usually packed.
Try to find "San Jeronimo". It's a small place with the best real fruit ice cream around in cajicá. And in Sopó is the main Dairy manufacturing company: Alpina.

Going to Monserrate would be great but I don't recommend going alone the two of you hiking. It'd be better to take one of the rides. There is a great restaurant up there for dinner, the "San Isidro", open only at night. If I had to pick one restaurant to go to, it'd be that one because of the food, service ( which is usually not great anywhere else) and experience. But make sure you go with other people. There will be a ride to go up the monserrate mountain giving you a stunning view of the city; and they greet you with a wonderful hot drink. Another option would be to go to some place in "la calera" which is also up a mountain with a great view.

PM me if you can think of anything else you'd like to know. You won't regret going.

[Marle]

May 20, 2013 20:23:17 GMT -5 @missusbee said:

Please don't take this totally off line! I want to know what dress op needs to wear :-). And all about Columbian weddings!

Traditional Colombian weddings are usually a catholic ceremony. All white with white decor and flowers. The reception is usually a huge party. Lately the trend is to do a "carnival" kind of thing with masks and all. You can expect lots of dancing and drinking. People dress up quite a bit for weddings. So, a formal dress that is not hot since its in Cali. Bring on all the sparkle or bling you want. This is the place for it.

[ErinExpat]

I second the Parque de Café. It's awesome! If you have the opportunity to go, should visit.

[marie3246]

May 20, 2013 22:45:01 GMT -5 Marle said:

May 20, 2013 20:23:17 GMT -5 @missusbee said:

Please don't take this totally off line! I want to know what dress op needs to wear :-). And all about Columbian weddings!

Traditional Colombian weddings are usually a catholic ceremony. All white with white decor and flowers. The reception is usually a huge party. Lately the trend is to do a "carnival" kind of thing with masks and all. You can expect lots of dancing and drinking. People dress up quite a bit for weddings. So, a formal dress that is not hot since its in Cali. Bring on all the sparkle or bling you want. This is the place for it.

Thank you so much for all of your help My friend has shown me some pictures of weddings recently and they look like so much fun. She did show up the masks and said that while the weddings start at 5pm, they will go at least until 3am I am so excited! My friends family is very well off and she just told me we will have a driver while we are there, so that does make me feel better about safety. I will check out the places you listed, thank you!