Leaving Bogota

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Sitting at the Bogota Airport waiting, waiting, and waiting for our flight.  Had I known there was a flight every half hour I would have re-booked us, but I found out too late.  Well, I've learned my lesson.  Walter dropped us off at the airport around 3pm and our flight does not leave until almost 5:30.

We gathered our things early and left the hotel in search of Casa Terracotta.  We were not interested in the religious museums or the giant fossil, of which we have many in the states. No it was the house made out of clay that held our interest:

Besides from being the biggest piece of pottery in the world, Casa Terracota is a matchless work of art: It merges not only architecture and design, but also all the arts and crafts known. This happens because its designer—Colombian architect Octavio Mendoza Morales—believes that they are all key tools in the process of creating innovative spaces, where alternative standards of living can take place; friendly lifestyles not only for the building’s residents, but also for their surrounding community and environment.

Among other things, architect Mendoza’s philosophy suggests that “inhabiting a place” does not only imply occupying its interior spaces; because, he states, it also has to do with a harmonious coexistence between the people and both the building and those nearby—regardless of the fact that they are other humans, animals, wilderness, or rural or urban communities.

Thus, his construction system and its corresponding beliefs invite us all to adopt groundbreaking dynamics that transform the whole concept of what we usually call “architecture”: starting from the mere act of designing and building a space, and ending with how we make it a home to live in. This way, he states, we are able to create stronger bonds between structures, people and nature. 

Being the first to arrive, we had the place to ourselves.  What a hoot!  It was time to get back in the car for the long journey back to Bogota.  Walter made great time getting back to the city and somehow we even managed to avoid the rain.  Lots of cyclists today.  All over the hills plus Bogota closes down a few streets to traffic on Sundays and holidays.  It was great to see.  One thing these guys like to do is hitch a ride up to the top of a mountain and bike down.  We noticed the other day that a guy with a bike was on the back of a motorcycle -- we couldn't quite make it out -- now we know!  

Made it back to the city by 11:30.  Walter dropped us off at the Usaquen Flea Market only open on Sundays.  Patricia walked around with us -- the place has some very interesting art and handicrafts.  Geoff spotted a massage chair and I hopped right on it.  My neck had a really bad kink.  Wow!! Greatest 12 minutes of my life.  This gal knew her stuff.  It was time for lunch, so Patricia escorted us to Crepes and Waffles (very popular here) and we said our good-byes.  Ordered tuna and it came covered with cheese, of course!  Everything comes with cheese and usually pesto -- if I didn't know better I would think we were in Italy!  The guy on the plane really knew what he was talking about.  

Finished lunch, walked around some more. Stopped into a cafe for our, usual afternoon, coffee.  Enjoyed our drinks as we watched the chefs perform their craft. It was soon time to meet Walter and head out of town.

So here we are with about an hour left.  See you in Cali.


Next time... Exploring Cali