IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO COME HOME BUT THIS TIME I WISHED I COULD HAVE STAYED LONGER.
It’s always good to come home but this time I wished I could have stayed longer. That’s the effect Bogota, Columbia had me . . . most unexpectedly.
By happenstance, I choose a hotel as if I was using a dart..I came up with one of the loveliest accommodations as though I had been given a secret number.
B.O.G. Hotel one of the Design Hotel Group, in the perfect location (Carrera 11 #867) and with only 55 rooms, the perfect size. Only 6 years since the property was bought and redone.
Truly, B O.G, is beautifully designed and although some of the rooms are small, the wonderful staff, from reception to servers in the restaurant, made up for that.

WHERE TO GO, WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO EAT???. THAT’S ALWAYS A QUESTION WHEN YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN.
I decided that I’d have a better time if I was with my friend’s sister, Lizette, and I was right . When you go to destinations with a local, you tend to see areas that weren’t in any travel book or itineraries.
Having done some research before I left, I decided that a 40 minute drive out of Bogota would be an addition. I’d see the country side. Although the path was solidified mud and rocks, I overlooked this fact of the 2km (1.6 miles) walk since the contents were so skillfully carved. And at the end of the ‘rooms’, the cathedral is splendid and seats about 100 people every Sundays.

STAYED IN THE CITY THE NEXT DAY.
We went to The Botero Museum, located in the city centre, near Las Candelaria, the historical centre. Fernando Botero, just happens to be my favourite contemporary artist/sculptor in this mansion-turned-museum with flowers dripping from the second floor onto the several arch-ways, entrances to each rooms featuring Botero. The huge bronze hand (by Botero) seems to welcome you in. There are a few other paintings, friends of Botero,- Picasso, Chagall, and more.
As expected, ancient masks, warring objects, jewellery, all made with gold, at the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum). is very worthwhile and a history lesson. There’s a fine boutique where you could leave some pesos. There’s also a highly rated restaurant so popular, it was filled to the rafters. Also, true to ratings, extremely good.
El Cielo (calle 7- #4-70), is the place you’ll want to tell your friends that you’ve been to. It is renown and is probably the best known in Columbia. It’s unfair to compare, but El Cielo uses similar technique to Roses, Spain, late, El Bulli once rated #1 in the world, Bray’ England’s, Fat Duck, and San Francisco’s ,The French Laundry.
Restaurant aren’t inexpensive any longer. Here you have a choice of 8 or 12 dishes and then there’s the pairing of wine which is optional. Without wine, expect to pay $100 for the 12 plate offerings.
For lunches, there are outside restaurants, Masa, and Waffles & Crepes. For another dinner, try Harry’s Bar. (calle 70 #557)

OF COURSE, THERE’S ALWAYS SHOPPING.
Calle de los Anticuarios, is a smallish street with a few blocks of boutiques. If your don’t like malls, this is the to-be place. Go to St. Dom, where the designs are from Columbian fashions designers and beware, prices are high. Still great are the Colombian designs that are chic and up -to- the -minute styling, a few doors away at Julieta Suarez Boutique. On this street you’ll find antique shops, mens wear and housewares.

OF COURSE, THERE’S ALWAYS SHOPPING.
As I mentioned at the top, Lizette found a few unexpected destinations. ReCafe SAS. is for coffee tasting located on the bottom floor of a chic condo. The two women, one owns it, the other is getting her diploma, are both very savvy and their taste buds, obviously are made for this job. After the explanation about coffee, how to brew and roast, we entered a second room where the table was set with for 9 tastings. And you do the’ sip and spit’ as you do with wine. Coffee, in Colombia, is what wine is to Spain, France, Australia etc.

EMERALDS? EMERALDS!
I mustn’t forget to mention emeralds. I wasn’t there to buy but the green of these gems are pure breathtaking.

WHERE TO NEXT?
The days went too quickly. So much was packed into a few days and then I was off to Cartagena. Next newsletter…

Barbara Kingstone is a lifestyle/travel writer BK@BARBARA3.COM #telavivKiosks #israelstreetfood #chicshopsintelaviv #unhappytraveler. #barbara3 #luxurytravel