Bogota day 4

 Good Morning!

What am I doing today? I have no idea. Something will come to me after breakfast and coffee.

Stay tuned.

OK, I have a plan. I am going to head back to the Candelaria area. There are a couple churches I want to see and whatever else I can see on the way there and back.

After spoiling myself yesterday with the electric bike,  I couldn't bring myself not to use one again today.

Maybe I mentioned before that Bogota has an extensive network of bike paths. They are either one the road seprated by curbs or on painted pathways on the wider sidewalks.

The first bike station I stopped at was across the street from some of the University of Columbia buildings. This is a very typical look for many ofthe buildings around Bogota.

It was also across the street from the Parque Nacional Enrique Olaya Herrera. I had seen this park 2 years ago when on a bike tour of the city then. 

A large part of the park is occupied by the Emberá indiginous people. Refugees from their home region in Colombia

Most of the residents originally come from Chocó, a region in Western Colombia bordering the Pacific Ocean. The region is one of Colombia’s least developed and most impoverished areas. Yet, the main reason why the Emberá came to Bogotá is  the continued violence in rural Colombia.

I continued into Candelaria with my 2nd electric bike of the day. Once I was parked close to my destination. I looked for a fruit stand to supplement my breakfast. What I found was a small shop that specialized in fruit salads and fruit drinks. I ordered the basic fruit bowl. It was pretty big and really inexpensive, about $2.50 usd.

After my fruit stop, I had to continue on foot. I used 2 of my 4 ride limit getting this far and had to save my last 2 rides to return to the hostel later in the day.

My destination for the day was a red and white church. On the way I past by this church that was also red and white. Inside I tried to take a picture, but was reprimated. It is OK to take picures, but not when a service is in progress. There was a service in progress. I was at the back of the church so I did not interfer with the service. The interior was also quite ornate.

The next church I came to was very old. I entered through the side door before even seeing the church from the front.

A communion was in progress, so I just sat at the back. When communion was complete and most of the parishener5s had left, I was able to take a picture. 

My 3rd and final church visit was to the Santario Nuestra Señora del Carmen. The red and white church that was my destination. This is a pretty famous church that is on the recommended places to visit in Bogota.

The interior of the church is primarily also in the red and white theme.

Mostly complete,. some edits to do later today.