Colorful Columbia - the adventure begins

 

We got up at around 3 a.m. and finished packing and all the other odd jobs that need to be done before we leave, such as feed the cats, and make sure they have enough food for the next 24 hours. The Carmel car came on time at 4.30 am. And we had a chatty driver and a very quick transit to JFK. Check in was at the gate so we were able to proceed straight through security, stop in a lounge for half an hour, have a coffee and go to the gate. Boarding was already under way and seemed to be a sort of ‘at will’ arrangement. The doors of he aircraft shut at abut 6.45 a.m., 10 minutes before scheduled departure time which was amazing, and we were in the air by 7.05 am. Pretty nifty timekeeping and perhaps a factor of our being on a very early flight to Bogota with Avianca. Although it was an Airbus there were no screens so no movies, but we had exit row seats, and it was reasonably comfortable.

On arrival the formalities were very quick and efficient and after a few minutes wait we found our Friendly Planet guide, Armando who welcomed us and drove us to our hotel and made sure we were checked in and comfortable before leaving us and agreeing to return at 7.30 a.m. next morning.

We settled in and then walked the short distance to the Central Cervicherria Restaurant where we had a nice meal of ceviche and grilled fish. Then it was back to the hotel via the Oreo Square!! 

Where there were great celebrations with many candles and sparklers for the eve of the Feast of the Assumption which fell on the next day and was a holiday. Back at the hotel we fell asleep quite quickly.