Bogota day 7

 Good Morning!

Today will not be a repeat do nothing day. Today is a big biking day in Bogota, so this morning I will be collecting a bike and join the masses biking. Here is a little information about Sunday biking in Bogota.

There’s a cycling revolution happening in the streets of the Colombian capital every week. More than 100km of roads are closed to motor vehicles during the event called Ciclovía and are flooded by people of all ages on all kinds of bikes. Little girls on barbie-coloured trikes share the road with stylish teens on urban bikes, handicapped people on handbikes or laughing moms with prams. Everybody moves in an orderly fashion and just enjoys the moment. The weekly event takes place every Sunday from 7 AM to 2 PM and is now a firm part of Colombia’s culture.

My plan is to get a  bike and join the masses riding this morning. Later in the day, I will go to see if I can get a ride on the cable car up Monserrat where there is a panoramic view of the city. I am not sure about this, it may be sold out for today.

Later.

I did get a bike this morning and enjoyed riding with the masses. I used 2 of my 4 rides before arriving at base of Monserrate. Colombia is playing Argentinal later today in the finals of the Americas cup in soccer. A lot of people wearing yellow soccer jerseys, blowing the plastic horns (vuvelas). Many businesses decorating with the Colombian flag colors, Red, Yellow and Blue. 

Before walking (hiking) up to the funicular/cable car station to go up Monserrat, I stopped for a morning salpicon. Before arriving the funicular/cable car station,  I also stopped to buy beef skewer for a pre lunch snack.

There are not bike stations close to the cable car station, so I had to walk way more than I wanted to and much of it up hill. I had to stop a couple times to catch my breath.

Arriving at the station, I first had to wait in line to buy a ticket, then moved to next larger line to board the funicular.

They really pack people in both the funiculars and cable cars. I was surprised how many people were on top when I got there. It was really a crowd.

From the top of Monserrat you have a panoramic view of most of Bogota, but not all. For a couple reasons, Bogota is huge and it wraps around Mnonserrat. Never the less, the view is spectacular.   

I rode the funicular on the way up and the cable car on the way down.

So what is the difference? The cable car is like what it sounds, a cable car.

The funicular runs on tracks. In this case the car is pulled up with cables.

I used my last couple rides for the day going back to the hostel. I would have used the electric bike on both segments, but I was worried about running out of time. I did get an electrical bike for the last segment. Much needed. I was tired.

Later in the afternoon, I stopped for my last evening meal in Bogota. Chirrizo sausage with chips, guacamole and pico de gullo and of coarse a side of beer.

Overall a great last day in the Colombian capital, Bogota.

PS. Colombia lost to Argentina.