Jardin Botanico- José Celestino Mutis

The Botanic Garden is part showcases of flora in Colombia, part conservation effort, part teaching gardens plus a beautiful Butterfly Garden. It is named after astronomer and botanist José Celestino Mutis who also contributed Colombia's first observatory and was fundamental to increasing knowledge in the country.

My favorite parts were the palm grove and the rose garden that had roses that looked so perfect they could only be works of art.

Short Video: Bogotá

Back in the snow, I have over 2, 000 pictures more to publish and tell stories about. In the meantime, I made this short video:

The song is "Volverte a Ver" by Juanes. It's a song about missing someone you love and I think it applies to Bogotá.

Bogotá is unlike anything you'd ever expect. It's a city of 8 million people and it's always alive. These are just some of the beautiful things you can see there.

Ciclovia- Bogotá's Bicycle Lanes

On Sundays and holidays, Bogotá opens up the Ciclovia and closes principal avenues to clear the way for cycling and skating aficionados. We rented two bikes and joined in on the fun. Although the ciclovia extends for most of the city, we stayed in a 8-block area since we were on rentals and I didn't exactly think I could rush back to the bike shop in time.

Nonetheless, we had an awesome time and, since we were around the city's principal Plaza Bolivar, had bonus fun of people-watching.

La Casa de Manuelita Sáenz

"La Libertadora del Libertador"

The former house of Manuelita Sáenz is now the Museum of Regional Clothing. It is an exhibition of typical, historical and modern clothing from all over Colombia. Part of the exhibit is dedicated to the different types of weaving to be found in South America and includes tools and samples.

Manuelita Sáenz was one of the most influential women of post-colonial South America. She was an extremely beautiful and intelligent woman. She was an Ecuadorian who originally supported the war of independence from home. Later, she became Simón Bolivar's mistress and followed him to Bogotá when the government was set here. After she saved his life (multiple times) from the plots hatched against him, he called her "La Libertadora del Libertador."