My first day in Bogotá

Greetings from the Casona del Patio Amarillo (the House with the Yellow Patio) in Bogotá, Colombia! I arrived safe and sound last night at around eight o’clock and settled into my hotel room about an hour later. The Casona del Patio Amarillo is a quaint Bed and Breakfast located in a quiet neighborhood in Northern Bogotá. My room is fairly large and has cable television, a small wooden armoire, an electric shower nozzle (for hot water), and three single beds. The room also has a great view of the yellow patio and the lush, green mountains that rise up alongside Bogotá.

My trip went well and I had no significant problems getting through customs, receiving my luggage, or finding a ride to the hotel. The issue of my tourist visa did resurface though while having the customs official stamp my passport. The length of my stay did seem to raise some red flags but the issue was fairly quickly resolved when I explained that I would have a work visa within a matter of days.

During my taxi ride from the airport to the hotel, I had a very pleasant conversation with my driver. We had a lively discussion on Colombian politics, corruption, taxes, family values, and the challenges of married life. He especially lamented the fact that Colombians pay such high taxes and yet receive so little in return in terms of public services. He complained about political corruption and how it has left the country with a legacy of dilapidated schools, roads, and hospitals. However, it did seem to cheer him up a little to learn that, while perhaps not to the same degree, similar problems exist even in the United States. He especially appreciated knowing that Boston had a not so fabulous roadway system and that the power and influence of the mafia (mob) was an issue that local Bostonians knew all too well.

Today I woke up early and had breakfast in the hotel. For those of you that have expressed interest in hearing about the more mundane details of my life in Colombia, today I had scrambled eggs, coffee, and a croissant for breakfast. During breakfast I made a plan for the rest of my day that includes stopping by the IOM office and looking for a two-bedroom, furnished apartment for Maggie and me.