Crossing Bogotá from South to North [ENG | ESP]

In my last post I told you what it was like to climb Monserrate Hill on a Sunday morning (here is the [_link_](https://hive.blog/hive-163772/@cristiancaicedo/bogota-from-the-heights-lets-climb-monserrate-hill-eng-or-esp) to the post) to appreciate the city of Bogotá from above. Towards the end of that post I mentioned that that afternoon I walked for hours through the streets, museums and many other places on the only day I was in the Colombian capital from start to finish. In today's post I will tell you what I did during the rest of that beautiful Sunday. >En mi último post les conté lo que fue subir el Cerro Monserrate la mañana de un domingo (acá el [_link_](https://hive.blog/hive-163772/@cristiancaicedo/bogota-from-the-heights-lets-climb-monserrate-hill-eng-or-esp) al post) para apreciar la ciudad de Bogotá desde las alturas. Hacia el final de ese post mencioné que esa tarde caminé durante horas recorriendo calles, museos y muchos lugares en el único día que estuve en la capital colombiana de inicio a fin. En esta publicación de hoy les relataré lo que hice durante el resto de ese hermoso domingo. Upon descending the hill via the funicular and reaching the street, I began walking and found a surprise. Very close to the entrance to Monserrate is the Casa Quinta de Bolívar Museum. Perhaps many already know this, but for those who don't, Simón Bolívar was perhaps the greatest hero of South American independence. Born in Caracas, Bolívar participated in battles against the Spanish army, helping to liberate five countries (six, if we remember that Panama was formerly part of Colombia): Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. The latter even owes its name to the Venezuelan. For some, Bolívar was on par with Napoleon Bonaparte; for others, it's an overrated name in history. But, whatever the case, being Venezuelan and standing in front of what was once his home, I couldn't help but go in and pay my respects. I love old houses, and this villa, with its beautiful garden, also belonged to an important figure in the history of my country. It sounds strange to say, but that afternoon I walked right in the Liberator's footsteps. Where he placed his feet, in life, I placed mine two hundred years later. If I don't show more photos of this place, it's because there's so much to show, and I haven't yet decided whether to show you this museum in a separate post dedicated only to the place, or if it's a better idea to compile the museums I visited in the Colombian capital into a single publication. But since this post is about my afternoon, I'll continue showing you the path I took that Sunday. >Al bajar del Cerro por el funicular y llegar a la calle comencé a caminar y me encontré con una sorpresa. Cerca, muy cerca, de la entrada a Monserrate se encuentra el Museo Casa Quinta de Bolívar. Quizás muchos ya lo sepan, pero para quienes no, Simón Bolívar fue tal vez el mayor prócer de la independencia sudamericana. Nacido en Caracas, Bolívar participó en batallas contra el ejército español ayudando a libertar cinco países (seis, si recordamos que Panamá antes formaba parte del territorio colombiano): Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú y Bolivia. Esta última incluso debe su nombre al venezolano. Para algunos, Bolívar estuvo a la altura de Napoleón Bonaparte; para otros, es un nombre sobrevalorado de la historia; pero, sea cual sea el caso, siendo venezolano y estando frente a la que alguna vez fuera su casa no podía no ingresar y presentar mis respetos. De por sí me gustan las casas antiguas y esta quinta, con un hermoso jardín, además había pertenecido a un nombre importante de la historia de mi país. Suena extraño decirlo, pero esa tarde caminé justo encima de las huellas del Libertador. En donde él puso sus pies, en vida, yo puse los míos doscientos años más tarde. Si no muestro más fotos de este lugar es porque hay mucho que mostrar y todavía no he decidido si mostrarles este museo en un post aparte dedicado sólo al lugar, o si es mejor idea reunir en una única publicación los museos que visité en la capital colombiana. Pero como esta publicación es para contarles de mi tarde, entonces seguiré mostrándoles el camino que tomé aquel domingo. https://images.hive.blog/DQmXsom8hY3mbSXUKw71H4a2LgVKETV9K99FYhiw8rbQTrX/20220904_121402.jpg | https://images.hive.blog/DQmRG8NEomRuvJ8rEsrokBzjHGD3yP6Xur9D7JXNm67DHxA/20220904_122243.jpg --- | --- https://images.hive.blog/DQmbtWRDKZUceeayb7fjFbWCNSbp32KMCvvBnx5LEU1VRjS/20220904_115824.jpg I had no clear direction, so I started wandering around and came across the National Museum, which boasts an impressive collection of treasures—which I'll also show you in another post—and then decided to walk south to see Plaza Bolívar, the city's nerve center and a must-see any day, but especially on a Sunday morning. Shortly before arriving, I came across the colorful facade of Bogotá's City U, loved by many and hated by just as many. Do you think it's pretty or not? >No tenía ningún rumbo fijado, así que comencé a dar vueltas alrededor y me encontré con el Museo Nacional, que cuenta con una impresionante colección de tesoros - que también les mostraré en otra publicación - y luego decidí caminar hacia el Sur para ver la Plaza Bolívar, centro neurálgico de la ciudad y un panorama para ir cualquier día, pero especialmente un domingo por la mañana. Poco antes de llegar me topé con la colorida fachada de la City U de Bogotá, amada por muchos y odiada por tantos otros, ¿a ustedes les parece bonita o no? Bogotá's Plaza de Bolívar is a vast block surrounded by some of the city's most important historic buildings. The Congress of the Republic, the Cathedral of Colombia, the Bogotá City Hall, and the Palace of Justice are the most notable for their size and architecture. Furthermore, especially on weekends, the square hosts various events, exhibitions, popular markets, and street performers. A visit to Plaza de Bolívar is a multifaceted experience in itself. As a recommendation—although it may seem obvious—be very careful with your belongings. In most of Latin America, large crowds of people mean the possibility of being robbed (or ripped off) in some way, and Bogotá is no exception. The area didn't strike me as particularly dangerous in terms of violence, but I still recommend being vigilant when walking through the plaza, downtown, or the Candelaria neighborhood. At that moment, after entering the cathedral, I decided to walk north along Seventh Avenue. My hotel was about 12 km from the place, and if I had planned to walk the entire distance, I probably wouldn't have done it. But little by little, as the afternoon progressed and I continued walking, I found myself getting closer and closer. I passed by the National Museum again, entered the Museum of Modern Art of Bogotá (whose initials in spanish are a curious acronym, MAMBO), and passed by Enrique Olaya Herrera National Park.