Bogota, Colombia...anybody?

[madbrian]

Posted: 9/18/14 at 1:48pm

Just found I will be traveling there for business. For ten days. Looking forward to it, but my first attempt at finding info online has been challenging. Will be staying at the Hilton on Carrera 7. Will be working during the day, but evenings free, plus I am staying over a weekend. I have been trying to learn Spanish via an app called Duolingo, which is terrific. I can translate some written text, but can't keep up with conversational. Any tips/advice/etc would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/18/14 at 4:53pm

Top Things To Do In Bogota

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 9/19/14 at 9:59am

That list is accurate. Bogota (the city) is huge, and we spent most of our time in the old part of town, which was by far the most scenic. Our all-time favorite experience was the salt mine cathedral in Zipaquira, about a half-hour out of town. There are lots of tours there (helpful tourist office near the big plaza in the old part of town), but we took a public bus there that cost all of 75 cents or so. We were shocked how cheap the bus was. On the way back, be sure to stop at the Andres Carnes de Res restaurant, which is on the way back to Bogota. It's one of the wildest restaurants you will ever see. We didn't go to the newer branch in town, which we heard was not as good as the original. If you're on an expense account, you can probably just cab it everywhere.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 9/19/14 at 10:31am

Bogota may be the best place in the world, or at least the West, to learn Spanish. Interior Colombia, and particularly Bogota, are renowned, especially among other Spanish speakers, for dialect.

[madbrian]

Posted: 9/19/14 at 2:27pm

At countless websites I've read about the dangers of the local taxis. A couple of sites recommended an app called Uber that arranges car services. The fares are supposedly a little higher, but I can live with that for the security.

Is anyone familiar with the app?

[Wildcard]

Posted: 9/19/14 at 2:53pm

I use Uber in Los Angeles. It's pretty much private cars that will pick you up. They are rated by previous passengers and supposedly vouched for by Uber for safety

[javero]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 1:34pm

@madbrian, how was the trip?