Bogota

The urban face of Bogotá

Finally today, the streets of Bogotá feel a little more peaceful, with less traffic and a slightly lower smog level. Those who were able to leave the city to spend Christmas with family in their hometowns have done so; the shift towards workplaces is limited, and there's a festive atmosphere even in everyday small gestures.

We check out of the hotel and go for one last visit to the José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden in Bogotá, which is not far from the airport. We leave our suitcases at the luggage storage, starting to explore this green space located in the heart of the city. A guided tour is scheduled for 9 am, but it's just us; a kind and passionate biologist takes us around and shows us... typical plants of all of Colombia; in particular the orchids, but there are also wax palms, vegetation of the páramo, etc. We will then visit... the large greenhouses which contain high-altitude plants in a controlled environment, and those that prefer warm climates in a closed greenhouse with artificially humid conditions. We still have time to take a look at the rose garden and then we can consider the long Colombian journey to be over.

One last ride in Uber gets us to the airport, and it's only then that the confusion caused by these intense days begins to crystallize into our first memories. In a few hours it will be Christmas, but it's hot; we're at 2,600 meters, but it feels like we're at sea level. They had warned us that this was a dangerous country, but we only experienced wonderful things. It's difficult to reconcile all these feelings in the contrast between theory and practice, especially considering how much effort we put into the journey; which required a lot of energy, but also gave back even more.

It was wonderful to find a different Colombia, a country still behind our standards, but not necessarily according to the expectations of genuine relationships, proud and finally at peace in its foundations. Or at least, that's what we want to believe, especially since we only experienced it for just over two weeks. A Colombia where its enormous wealth can finally emerge, drawing inspiration from a past of biodiversity, both environmental and human.

To be precise, as if these were headings, here is a summary of the movements excluding international flights:

• 3 domestic flights
• 27 trips using Uber/taxi
• 3 days off-road in the remote La Guajira region.
• 2 days with car rental north of Bogotá
• 8 stops by local bus
• 4 stops with Willy (including a full day at the Eje Cafetero)
• 1 trip on the cable car and one return trip
• 1 day on a boat (full day at Islas Rosario)
• 3 stops by subway in Medellin
• 1 ride in a tuk-tuk (motorcycle taxi)
• ...many kilometers walked on foot...

And that's enough for this trip!