Bogotá Brain Dump: Numbers, Humidity, and Unexpected Coffee

okay, so. bogotá. where do i even start? i landed here after a ridiculously convoluted series of flights - involving a layover in… well, that's not important. let’s just say the gate agent had a lot of opinions about my carry-on. these numbers keep popping into my head: 3587923 and 1320213771. what do they mean? honestly, no clue. it's like the universe is sending me cryptic clues to find the best empanadas. which, by the way, i'm on a dedicated quest for.

The weather here is… something. the temp is hovering around 18.35°C, feels like 18.67°C, and it’s a humid 93%. i just checked and it’s… breezy, layered, a bit clingy - you know? definitely not a 'sunbathing on the beach' kind of weather. but it's the kind of air that makes everything smell faintly of coffee and exhaust - a surprisingly comforting combo. the atmospheric pressure is 1018, which i think is normal? and the ground level is 856m, adding a little… something… to the air. i feel like i'm constantly at a slightly elevated state of awareness? or maybe that’s just the altitude.

I’ve been wandering around La Candelaria, the old town. it’s a labyrinth of colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, and street art everywhere. someone told me that the best way to navigate is to just get spectacularly lost. i’m taking that advice very seriously. seriously.

There’s this one tiny cafe, tucked away down a side street, that serves the strongest coffee i’ve ever had. seriously, it’s like liquid dynamite. i heard that the owner, a woman named Elena, roasts her own beans. she’s got this amazing energy, always chatting with everyone, and she's a font of local gossip.

“Don’t trust anyone who offers you a tour of the city for less than $20. They’ll take you to all the tourist traps.” - Elena, cafe owner

I’m trying to embrace the chaos. i’m avoiding overly-planned itineraries and just going with the flow. the neighbors seem… resilient. they’ve got this rhythm to their lives that's completely different from anything i'm used to. if you get bored, Medellín is just a short flight away - apparently it’s all about vibrant nightlife there. i'm not sure about the nightlife part just yet, but i’m definitely intrigued. I saw a street artist working on a huge mural - incredible stuff. check out some of the local art scene here: Bogotá Street Art Guide.

I found a surprisingly cool vintage shop in Usaquén - tons of old clothing and quirky souvenirs. It's the kind of place where you could spend hours just rummaging through the racks.

apparently, someone told me that the best arepas in the city are at a hole-in-the-wall place near Parque de la 93 - but i haven’t found it yet. i'm definitely going to keep searching. and i’m also going to try and decipher those numbers. maybe they’re a code? maybe they’re just random. who knows? this whole trip is a giant question mark, and i’m loving it. i'm considering trying a Colombian cooking class - maybe I'll finally unlock the secrets to making a proper arepa. You can find info here: Airbnb Experiences in Bogotá.

Anyway, gotta go find more coffee. and maybe that empanada.



I’m thinking of checking out some of the museums later - the Gold Museum looks pretty intense.