Colombia in Focus Newsletter (Bogota) 11-12

November 12, 2010
Did You Know…
Inside Colombia
Bogotá: The Pulse of Colombia
Washington Flyer Magazine Features the
“Rejuvenated City” of Bogotá
In its November/December 2010 issue, Washington
Flyer features “A New View: Bogotá, Colombia.”
“It’s a weekday afternoon in Bogotá, and I’m on a
mountain…But the real story is that I am here, in the
capital of Colombia, and – other than fearing a twowheeled mishap – I feel safe. In case you haven’t
heard, it’s a new day for tourists in Bogotá…”
•
Founded in 1538, Bogotá – Colombia’s capital city
– is located in the Andes Mountains, 8,660 feet
above sea level.
•
With an estimated population of 7.3 million,
Bogotá is the largest city in Colombia and one of
the top 30 largest cities in the world.
•
Bogotá is Colombia’s main economic and industrial
center. The capital city has been ranked annually as
one of the most influential financial centers in
Latin America, and plays host to a range of
international events and visitors.
•
From museums to historic landmarks, Bogotá has
become a popular tourism destination. A few of the
city’s most popular sites include Monserrate, La
Candelaria, Plaza de Bolívar, the Gold Museum, the
Botero Musem, and the Colón Theater, among
many others.
“…The weather is mild, in the 60s, and it’s like this
year-round: no snow, no heat waves, no seasons and
no air conditioning…The city is broken into sections:
north, central (La Candelaria) and south, with the
most upscale businesses and residences on the north
end. Streets and avenues are numbered, and I
quickly learn that the best way to orient myself is to
find the mountains, always to the east.”
“We pedal through an industrial neighborhood and
down to Central Cemetery. We pass the National
Museum, a gorgeous building lined with hardwood
floors that was once a jail, and the Moorish-style
bullfighting stadium…We pass Plaza del Chorro del
Quevedo, a bohemian spot filled with students from
the city’s many universities…We visit Biblioteca
Virgilio Barco, a wonderful round, brick library
designed by the Colombian architect Rogelio
Salmona.”
To read the entire article, visit
www.washingtonflyer.com/departments/internationa
l-travel/new-view-bogot%C3%A1-colombia
What’s News
Colombia, U.S. Sign Open Skies Agreement
Yesterday, Colombia and the United States signed an Open Skies Agreement, which will expand and liberalize air
transport between the two countries. The agreement will fully enter into force in 2013. Via plane, Colombia is just
two hours from Miami and five from New York and Washington, DC. Avianca, the flag carrier airline of Colombia,
provides direct flights to Bogotá from JFK Airport and Dulles International Airport, respectively. Bogotá’s El
Dorado International Airport is the first in South America for cargo and third for air travel by passengers, making
the it an important logistics hub for business activity and connections to major cities in the region.
Get to know Colombia.
Learn more at www.colombiaemb.org.