Colombia is the 65 foreign country I’ve visited. Yes, I heard all the warnings, but I’m from Detroit and what’s the last good thing you’ve heard about Detroit? That being said, the Uber situation, at the airport, in Bogotá, is true. Ignore the drivers, waiting just inside the terminal door, at arrivals. Uber drivers are not allowed to pickup in front of the airport. You’ll have to walk with them, to their car. Once there, you can’t hire them, using the Uber app. The Uber driver in the terminal wanted $20.00. The taxi I took (the line of cars is directly outside the terminal) was 40,000 Colombian Pesos ($10.00) and I could pay with cash or my credit card.

The immigration process at the airport was really easy. I had already filled out the needed form, online, (24 to 72 hours) before my flight. While getting my passport stamped, I was never asked to show the document. Before leaving the baggage area, my luggage was screened. It took under three minutes. I then exchanged $40.00, exited the airport, and got in line for an authorized taxi. It was about half past midnight, when I finally made my way across town to the IBIS Hotel Museo. My late night arrival, to Bogotá, was not an issue. My hotel was a different story.

Once at the hotel, I remembered that although I flew out of Dallas, the day before, and landed (after midnight) the following day, my hotel reservation wouldn’t begin until 4:00 pm. I had completely forgotten to make an extra reservation. The hotel staff quickly handled my mistake. After traveling from Tampa to Las Vegas, back to Tampa, then after a few days, Tampa to Rapid City, (visiting my 50th US state), then Rapid City to Dallas and on to Bogotá, I guess it was time for me to forget something. The next morning, I had breakfast, at the hotel, then walked across the street to The National Museum of Colombia. My admission was free, because I’m over 60!

Like most museums, The National Museum of Colombia (Museo Nacional de Colombia) is closed on Monday. That’s the perfect time to shoot your b-roll, around the outside grounds, of the museum. There are less people and less worry about having your camera out. You can also make the short walk to the Bogotá Planetarium and Plaza de Toros de Santamaría (although the bullfight ring is currently closed). If you’re up for it, there’s a metro station directly across the street from the National Museum. There are also several bus stops up and down the road. I had no problems with using Uber, from the hotel.

The Museo Nacional de Colombia has you exit down the hallway towards their gift shop. There’s a small cafe just outside, next to the exit gate. I exited and turned left. There was a restaurant directly in front of me. I crossed the street, went in, and took a table for one. I ordered and five minutes later, the restaurant was already packed. By the time my meal arrived, there was a line of people waiting to enter. That wasn’t my first Asian restaurant experience, in the city. As you walk out of the IBIS, there another Asian restaurant, just across the street. There were also a few nearby fast food places, bakeries, and convenience stores.

Bogotá sits at 8,660 feet above sea level. As a reference point, Denver sits at 5,280 feet above sea level. I was warned to bring altitude sickness meds. I didn’t, when I remembered that my Peace Corps site, in Ethiopia, was higher. I had one day of feeling yucky, but it quickly went away. I also didn’t listen about the dangers of Bogotá. Santa Fe, part of downtown, is known for its Tolerance Zone. The area has several blocks of nightclubs, strip clubs, brothels and bars. All vices are legal. Although I was staying downtown, I saw none of this, during my stay in Bogotá.

So, while the stories of robberies and kidnappings are true, there are also a lot of foreign tourists in Colombia. I felt perfectly safe. But that said, I’m 67. You’re not going to see me out at the clubs, drinking or doing drugs. Tourism is now big business, in the country. Last year, close to six million tourists arrived, representing a 24.3% increase from 2022 and a 173.6% increase from 2021. I was seated at a cafe and the guy at the next table asked his friend, “Where are the Americans?” I replied, “I’m right here!” We had a good laugh at that. I sure that in spite of the many travel warnings, US tourists will visit.

Before traveling on, I decided to book another hotel, closer to the airport. I found one located in a Free Trade Zone, in Bogotá. The trade zones are geographical area, inside Colombian territory, where industrial activities of goods and services are developed under special regulations. I jumped at the chance to check it out. Once there, my Uber driver had to drop me at the gate. The hotel was the first building, on the other side of the security checkpoint. I went to the guard’s window and explained that I was a guest at the hotel. I had to handover my passport, which was taken to another guard, a few feet away. I followed the guard with my passport, in spite being told to stay at the security window. The second security officer looked at the passport and walked over and scanned his ID card. The gate opened and I made my way to the hotel.

Travel sites are full of complaints about this hotel. It’s too far from the airport. You have to use a taxi service from the hotel. There’s no place to eat and the hotel’s dining is bad. OK, that last one is true, for their dinner service. Still, the breakfast and a lunch (that was somehow free) were OK! Did I feel safe in the Free Trade Zone? Absolutely!

So far … I love Colombia. I keep saying it’s because I’m from Detroit. I’m a few days away from my 49th anniversary of Air Force Basic Training. So, being from Detroit is probably not it. Bogotá is simply fun! XOXO—GGT