Colombia Demystified

Exactly two months ago today, I arrived at Bogotá's El Dorado International Airport with no concrete sense of what to expect. Friends and family were divided in terms of their reaction to my decision to venture off to what has unfairly been perceived as a crime-infested land of drug lords and narcoterrorists. While there is a list of destinations I have yet to check off, I have travelled extensively enough (76 cities in 26 countries, to date) to say that Colombia's capital is really no more dangerous than any other city to which I have been.

Cerro Monserrate

Perched over 2,600 metres above sea level and home to approximately 8 million people, Bogotá is a thriving metropolis that boasts a plethora of world-class cultural institutions (75 museums and nearly 200 art galleries), shopping centres (well over 100, with many more on the way), and gastronomic indulgences (arepas and obleas, oh my!). It is a city that is so vibrant, so colourful, and so eclectic that one visit in no way is sufficient to thoroughly appreciate the rich history and culture of Bogotá, yet in the short time that I was there, I felt privileged to have had that rare glimpse into the everyday life of its people, and I write this today in the hope of encouraging others to experience first-hand the marvels of this fascinating Colombian capital.

Caldo: traditional Colombian soup made with
eggs, potatoes, and cilantro
Arepa: cornbread, typically pan-fried and stuffed with
cheese, mushrooms, chicken, or other filling

While travel articles pop up every now and then that make an admirable attempt at dispelling the myths related to the dangers of travelling to Colombia, those articles are, sadly, very few and far between. More often than not, media outlets have a tendency to report on the problems that afflict this South American nation, opting for the sensationalized version of events and depicting a rather dramatic image that is subsequently adapted to Hollywood blockbusters and ingrained in the minds and imaginations of impressionable outsiders.

As a born and bred Canadian, in a country known the world over for its peace-keeping efforts, I have travelled to various parts and seen plenty throughout my adventures, and I can honestly state that not once did I feel unsafe or in danger during my stay in Bogotá. Of course, to be fair, there are neighbourhoods and pockets within the city that one would be apt to avoid, and It is accurate to say that one would be prudent to keep a low profile at all times (although, quite frankly, this is a commonplace rule that applies to any tourist travelling to any part of the world), but all the perpetual warnings associated with travelling to Colombia should really be taken with a grain of salt.

La Candelaria

The reality is that this country has worked hard over the years to try to purge itself of its negative reputation, and the truth is that this reputation is not only unfair, but also quite unfortunate, because the situation in this country has improved tremendously in recent years and because its people and its culture have so much to offer to those who are receptive to discovering the unspoiled beauty that is Colombia.