Hitchhiker's Guide to Bogotá
Presented by Mr. Wolfer’s Period 3 Class
Hitchhiker's Guide to Bogotá
We live in an era of change. Every day, we witness the modernization of our city. How can we slow down and see beyond the high rises and shopping malls and find the amazing hidden treasures that celebrate the traditions and cultures in Bogotá? How can we learn more about the neighborhoodswepassthrougheveryday?
The Year 7 students went on a quest to answer the question: How can we design an innovative travel resource that illustrates the evolution of neighborhoods in a way that enriches and connectstravelers’understandingoflocalculture?
We hope you use this book to explore and learn about our fascinatingcityandliveyourbestBogotálife!
TableofContents
Chapter1: Restaurants
Chapter2: Experiences
Chapter3:Shopping
Chapter 1 Restaurants
CHAPINERO ALTO - BOGOTÁ
About the Neighborhood
Chapinero Alto, known for its incredible food scene, with a variety of options for every taste and budget. Ranging from a affordable arepas to more upscale brunches, lies Salvo Patria a restaurant full of quality and color, never failing to satisfy your belly . Originally a rural area, Chapinero started to get attention as the city expanded from it's historic center, and it's population grew. During this time new infrastructure started to take shape, such as roads, public transportation and utilities, this attracted a very diverse population including artists, students, working class and even the more affluent. Today, Chapinero Alto is considered one of the most vibrant and trendy neighborhoods in Bogotá, home to a diverse mix of people and a astounding gastronomic scene. The neighborhood now balances a mix of modern development , historic charm, art, and culture. Chapinero Alto is also known for it's rich and divers cultures, traditions and celebrations, ranging from LGBTQ + pride events to artistic exhibitions, and food festivals.
HOURS
12:30–4 PM, 6–10:30 PM
Restaurante Salvo Patria, Weekdays hours
10:30 - 12:30 PM
Restaurante Salvo Patria, Saturday Hours Closed Sunday
Mandatory to Reserve for better function Sources Instagram
Coppa hecha en casa
Salvo Patria is a inviting restaurant, that offers a notable dining experience, with food that contains quality and celebrates Colombian culture
Chuletón
As soon as I set foot into Salvo Patria, I was welcomed with a vibrant feeling of home and comfort, with a beautiful natural vibe that conserved a memorable moment. I was later greeted with exceptional service and pleasant staff, who told me about the restaurant's origin and history, including how the restaurant was founded in 2011 by Juan Manuel Ortiz and how it was originally an artisanal coffee business that later became a restaurant inspired by the diversity of Colombian produce. Later, I met the owner, a delightful man who was open to giving me any information needed. He told me how Salvo Patria represents Colombian culture through their food, since they use rich local Colombian ingredients such as cereals and meats to create extravagant dishes full of flavor. I also learned that Salvo Patria has a base of quality and to preserve Colombian traditions, maintain Colombian identity, and represent Colombian culture with pride and excellence. Next up was the food, where I fell in love with the rich native Colombian ingredients and their flavors, with remarkable dishes bursting with flavor, like the Pecho de angus braseado. With Chapinero Alto experiencing constant modernization in the past 6 years, the neighborhood has rapidly grown in population, with gentrified buildings and rising prices becoming frequent. Salvo Patria has seized the opportunity to attract the growing community and offer them a notable dining experience. Now, Salvo Patria is a successful restaurant with frequent customers, never tired of the tempting food.
PHOTO
By: Santiago Marulanda
Mesa Salvaje, the restaurant I visited, is located in Chapinero Alto, a trendy neighborhood in the north of Bogotá. This sector of the City, East of the Carrera Septima, was mainly a residential are for students and people working close to the center of the City. However, in recent years, Chapinero, started to become a gastronomic destination. With unique and artistic cafés started to rise in this sector. Chapinero is now a very lively part of the City, both during the day and night. This sector is also characterized by its diversity. With the growth of tourism in Bogotá, international travelers also visit this sector, looking to discover the varied scene and unique and original restaurants it has to offer. Some of them are featured in international travel guides.
Chapinero originally got its name from the colonial times. Chapinero was then located in the outskirts of Bogotá. There was a shoe shop, where they sold chapines, shoes with wooden soles. People then began calling the area Chapinero, as a reference to the shoe shop.
Mesa Salve is a wonderful restaurant/cafe with beautiful gardens and cozy interior. The food is incredible as well as the coffee and to my surprise the place is vegetarian, but if they hadn't told me I wouldn't have noticed.
Hours
Monday to Friday:
8:00 A.M-9:00 P.M
Saturday:
8:00 A.M- 8:00 P.M
Sunday: 8:00 A.M- 6:00 P.M
By:SantiagoMarulanda
Address:
Dg.55#4-14
By: Santiago Marulanda
As soon as I opened the door of Mesa Salvaje, I could smell the incredible aroma of Colombian coffee that brought me back to a morning at my house. The restaurant had the perfect balance in between beautiful green gardens and cozy interiors.
Eventually, I asked for permission to take pictures of the place and if I could interview a staff member. They happily agreed and gave us a complementary coffee and a delicious watermelon juice. Minutes later, it was when we met Pedro, a barista that had worked at this restaurant since it opened six years ago. He told us about the owners, and how they have shown people that vegetarian food doesn't have to boring vegetables. Besides being vegetarian, the place was able to combine modern foods with classic Colombian plates and incredible Colombian coffee. He also mentioned how proud they are of their high quality fresh food that attracts foreigners from all around the world. Examples of these are, varied fresh fruits, delicious arepas and obviously the incredible coffee. Pedro also told us about Mesa Salvaje's clients and how people from different places and cultures eat at this restaurant. We saw exactly what he meant because while we ate we saw foreigners, families, students, and people who simply lived nearby all in the same place.
Finally, the reason I chose this place to represent Colombian culture is not only just because, but also about the experience and other plates.
By: Santiago Marulanda
overview of the neighborhood
Mesa Salvaje is located in Chapinero Alto. The neighborhood is known for being very diverse, and having a lot of cultures and expats. Chapinero is usually known as a trendy neighborhood, and has gotten more popular in recent years. It is generally considered to be safe, but in bogota you should always be careful. Chapinero is an expat-friendly area, along with Usaquen and La Candelaria.
things to do in Chapinero Alto
recommendations
Chocolate-chip cookie
Mora cheesecake
Pumpkin pie
Pancakes
Tostada pesto
by Rya Vaill Hessee
about Mesa Salvaje
This is a vegetarian restaurant, where they also have vegan options. you can get nreakfasts, lunches dinners, and desserts there. They also have things to do while you wait for your food, like pottery and board games.
Monday-Friday
8:00 A.M-9:00 P.M. Saturday
8:00 A.M-8:00 P.M. Sunday
8:00 A.M-6:00 P.M.
Colombian culture
Colombian culture is notable here. The owners have both lived in Colombia for over eIght years, and they serve Colombian dishes, such as bowls with chicken, bell pepper, and with Colombian spices also lots of dishes involving colombian-bought goods. In the opinion of the owners, the neighborhood changing has positively affected the restaurant. They are able to have more customers because more people want to live in the neighborhood, and therefore they have grown a lot. However, it negatively impacts them because goods they import are now more expensive due to inflation.
my experience gentrification
extra info
Something I learned from my interview with an owner, Casey, was that the restaurant are a very tight-knit community. They shared info with each other on a whatsapp chat, such as recipes and tips, places to buy ingredients, and cheap ways to get imported goods. And since she was open during covid, shes evolved personally.
When I first found mesa salvaje, I was astounded. I had been looking for new apartments in the city, and that was the neighborhood me and my family were mostly looking at. We stopped there for lunch and we liked it, because they had a lot of american and colombian foods, they are in walking distance from my house, and they serve fast. since then it’s been a party/celebratory place.
This is the outdoor seating area of the restraunt, where you have a great view, a lovely layout, and a safe space.
bibliography
tripadvisor
chapinero alto info
tripadvisor-mesa salvaje
This is one of my personal favorite meals- the tostada de pesto.
This is one of my personal favorites- the papas bravas
These are some of the drinks they sell here. they sell lots of types of chais and lattes, as well as sodas, lemonades, and natural juices.
-OPENINGTIMES
M-F
8:30 AM–4 PM
CHICO NORTE
LAMULLERA MENU
La Mulera Cl. 97a #9-91, Bogotá, and it is a restaurant.
SAT-SUN
9 AM–4 PM
THIS A COLOMBIAN STYLE RESTAURANT THAT HAS AMAZING FOOD, THIS RESTAURANT MAINLY SERVES FOOD FROM THE ANDINA REGION. A FEW DISHES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED IS LA BANDEJA PAISA, AJIACO AND MUCH MORE
Neighborhood
CHICO NORTE
WHAT HAS CHANGED
Theareahaschangedquitea bitsinceitusedtobewheat fieldsandhadmanytraditional housesinthearea,butnowitis filledwithmanyheadquarters ofcompanies.
WHAT IS IT KNOWN FOR
Knownforit’smanyofficebuildingsThe historyofChicoNorteisthatitbegan constructionin1950.ThewordChicocomes fromtheMuiscawordchicú,whichmeans ouralley.Duringthecolonialera,thisarea wasgrasslandsfilledwithwheatcrops.
WHAT AREA CELEBRATES COLOMBIAN CULTURE
Thesmallareathatcelebratescultureisthe restaurants,astherearemanytraditional restaurantsacrossfromeachother.ther.
You hear the lively rhythm of Colombian music, the thump of people’s feet hitting the floor, the cheers of joy… this is Colombia! What am I talking about?
Well, la Mullera, of course! the embodiment of La Region Andina, with lively music and traditional food. when I walked into the restaurant and was greeted by the smell of traditional colombian food someone greeted us and took us to a table, the interior was well decorated with drawings and pots reflecting the Colombian part of the restaurant. As soon as we sat down the waiter handed us the menu recommending their most famous dishes and drinks, they all sounded mouth watering.
When they heard we wanted to do an intervew they were happy to do so so we asked the waiter what was the most reccomended food and dishes, they told us the bandeja paisa is the most recommended but that he likes to recommend other dishes sinceeveryone knows about the bandeja paisa. the neighborhood evolving has affected this business quite positively as many more people have started eating there compared to before which is good for the business.
PHOTO LIBRARY
Step into Bogotá’s hidden gem, where history meets creativity – La Concepción, home to one of the city’s oldest buildings, now surrounded by stunning graffiti murals. Experience old architecture and vibrant street art in one unforgettable spot! Chicheria Demente is located in a neighborhood called La Concepcion, it is one of the old neighborhoods in Bogota but it is just now getting the recognition it deserves, the neighborhood goes between Cl 72 to Cl 69, and la Caracas to Cr 17. Chicheria Demente's address is Cl.69#15-8. The neighborhood contains more than 100 year old houses as well as knew businesses.
Demente Chicheria
Lately the neighberhood has started to spread in popularity, as are moving in and placing their small businesses everywhere, bu restaurants, that is something that drew Chicheria Demente to L they wanted to be the only restaurant in the area. Something th neighberhood is known for is the very old and famous cathedral, Iglesia de la Concepcion, this cathedral is very beautiful, as oldest ever made in Bogota, it was started in september 1583 an oldest building in all of Bogota. Another thing that is very common and popular in the neighborhood, are all the murals graffitied onto walls. There is a variety of them, some very detailed and beautiful, that you wil to stop staring at!
My recommendation is to order the following plates, La panseta on sandia which is chicharron caramelized in maple syrup with watermelon covered in Ginger Vinaigrette. Another one is the black empanadas with manchego cheese, but don’t be shy to ask, every employee there can give you a recommendation of their own depending on wath YOU like.
PHONE NUMBER +57 320 9373488
LOCATIOnCL.69#15-08
INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK: Chicheria
Demente
Chicheria Demente is a restaurant that was founded in 2017, It has a very unique atmosphere inside of it that is captivating, along with the food, and dishes you probably have never tried yet, it is an unforgettable restaurant.
Demente Chicheria
Chicheria Demente isn’t just a restaurant, it’s an experience. Bold flavors, unexpected twists, and a vibe that makes every visit unforgettable. You won’t just leave full; you’ll leave amazed! I stepped into the doorway and was greeted with a variety of smells, as the kitchen is outside and you are able to see the process of how they cook everything. I got seated in one of the tables in a corner and started to view the place. It had a very unique vibe there, with some interesting but pretty furnishware and if you went at the right hour, some live music. In terms of what to eat, i got advised the most popular plates on the menu, the empanadas negras and octopus, but even if I wanted to order the empanadas, I could only eat the meat and watermelon dishes because they where very big and delicious so I ate them all, but in total, the menu had 62 plates that could be made. Soon after they brought the food, I tried the watermelon with meat, it was a food combination I didn’t expect to be good, but it was. Then the main dish came in meat came in with a hot plate beside it, there I could cook the meat more if I wanted to, but it was delicious, very soft and juicy.
My hidden treasure uses the Colombian culture because all the food it uses is made in Colombia, and harvested or owned by Colombians, not only that the music and furniture of the restaurant make it all come together, and make it be a site to visit, the restaurant puts a twist to the food though, even if it is all Colombian products, the make it in different ways not typical to Colombia, mixing and matching flavours to create something delicious. You can be sure of that because there are always 42 people working there, 17 in the kitchen and the rest are cleaning and waiters, I waited nothing for the food to come, it was basically instant! The location of this restaurant is pretty unique, you would never guess that there would be a restaurant located in La Concepcion, as it maybe not so relevant, but since it is there, people get curious about it, asking themselves questions like, why its far away from the restaurant area? and what is it all about?, that is why Chicheria Demente chose the location, it put an unexpected twist into the whole experience making it more special. I personally had no trouble in getting there as there was a Vallet parking just outside the door.
PARADISE
IS THIS MOMENT
History of la calera Tomas Albarracin
Since I love cycling, I saw this local in which the owner went out every morning and motivated the cyclists in La Calera in La Calera it is a very common thing for cyclists to come here to la calera and bike all the way to the top of el peaje (toll), where they usually take a drink and get ready to go back all the way to Bogotá. This is usually really hard and can take most of your day, not including the risk of accidents that may happen on this steep road. Still, it is a very famous thing to do, and many people enjoy doing it. When I first saw this place, I saw that the owner was standing next to the road and motivating cyclists gong up and going down. Some cyclists stopped on the way down next to him, and he offered them a drink. He also does this every day and goes out at 5 am every day and stands there motivating the cyclists. This is a wonderful idea since it also goes along with one of the most important traditions in Colombia and mostly on this road. Around 5,000 cyclists go up cycling in la calera, almost 5 times the cars that go up this road. It has been very famous to go cycling up that road ever since Egan Bernal won the Tour de France and other cyclists aswell. Although the area is not that pretty around, there are some very pretty views in the mirador and along the whole road.very common thing for cyclists to come here to la calera and bike all the way to the top of el peaje (toll), where they usually take a drink and get ready to get back to the road. This is usually really hard and can take most of your day, not including the risk of accidents that may happen on this steep road. Still, it is a very famous thing to do, and many people enjoy doing it.
Open 7 am - 10 pm,
This business has a very good placing and theme, although the place isnt very pretty, it has this Colombians theme that is seen in many other restaurants in colombia. The workers there work with passion and you can see the restaurant is made with love.
Rating: 4/5
@ultimo_pulmoncito
When I first walked into this great business, I realized very quickly how passionate the workers and owners were, they were helping people around, and they were all functioning around the same thing, which was their specialty, they were focusing a lot in cyclists and working really passionately. It's most common for cyclists that go up to la calera to stop by this restaurant, since cycling is a very Colombian sport that many Colombians practice. There are also some very famous Colombian cyclists from Colombia, like Egan Bernal. The owner, who has watched cycling his whole life. The local is called el ultimo pulmoncito and they offer a lot of varieties of food such as sancocho and other colombian foods. It is always a very nice expirience to ride your bike up there and after stopping by the restaurant, go down to see the views of bog0ta that are always nice. it is a great plan to do this with friends and family.
Expiriences Chapter2
Historyofthe neighbourhood
Myhiddentreasure“elmuseodelaesmeralda”islocatedatEdificioAvianca,Cl.16#6-66 piso23,SantaFé,Bogotá,Cundinamarca,itisnearaparkcalledParqueSantander,a popularareaforvisitors.ThisparkwaspreviouslyknownasPlazadelasHierbasduring thecolonialtimesastraditionalherbsweresoldthere.Ifyoulookatoldpictures,you cannoticethatthebuildingsaroundtheparkusedtobesmallhouses.Thisneighborhoodis recognizedbecauseofitshistoricrelevance.accordingtoseveralhistorians,thatis wherethecitywasoriginallyfounded.Thisneighbourhoodalsocelebratesculture becauseitshowcasesColombia’setnicity,inTheparquesantander,youcanfindtheEl MuseodelOroyelmuseodelaesmeralda,whichshowcasethehistoryofcolombian indigenousancestorsthroughtheircraftsmadeoutofgoldandthepreciousstonesuchas theemeraldwhichdisplaysourgeologicaldiversity..Bothmuseumsgivesusprideas Colombiansandexploringthemissteppingintoamagicalexperiencefullofamazingleyends. WecanalsoseeColombianarchitecturealloverParqueSantander,suchasElPalacioSan Franciscoandthreecolonialchurchesknownas:SanFrancisco,Veracruzylatercera.On thenorthwesterncornerofthepark,thecity´sfirstchurch,knownaselhumilladero, wasbuiltin1538anditwastherethatthefirstmasswasheld.yearslater,itwas replacedbythecurchofsanfranciscowhichisnowtheoldestchurchinbogota.
Howtogetthere?
EdificioAvianca,Cl.16#6-66piso23, SantaFé,Bogotá,Cundinamarca
Socialmedia
IntheQRcode,youcanfind theirlinktree,whichis whereyoucanfindtheir Facebook Instagram TikTok Tickets website
Whatshouldyouexpect
Amazinglearninggeologicalexperience
LearnmanyindigenousColombianlegends
Livetheexperienceofbeingaminerinsidea emeraldmine
Myadvice
Duringmyhiddengemexperience,ifound manythingsthatiwouldrecommend
BuytheVRexperience,it'sanamazing additionthatiswortheverypesoand somethingIenjoyedalot
Getsomesouvenirsfromtheshop, theyareverybeautifulanda reminderoftheexperience
Don'tforgettolookoutthewindows andenjoytheviewofBogotáfroma 23rdfloor
overview
Ilovedthisexperience!It wasa5/5starsforme, everythingwasperfect andIlearnedalot.I reallyrecommendgoing andlivingsuchanamazing Museum,pleasevisitas theirmissionistoshare thecolombianculture
Assomeonewholovesmuseums,ElMuseoInternacionaldelaEsmeralda wasamuseumthatIwillneverforget.Theshininggems,theinteresting facts,theinteractiveexperiences,everythingwasperfect.Aswe walkedintothemuseum,weweremetwithabeautifulentrance,full ofemeraldsinsmallexhibits,atreewithemeraldsforleaves,aview ofparqueSantanderona23rdfloorandatableshowingaproudtitle ofColombiabeingthe#1inqualityofemeralds.Wewalkedintothetour andstartedwalkingthroughthemanyexhibitsasweweretoldthe originofemeralds,howtheyformed,whytheywerepreciousandmany otherfactsthatmademyjawdrop.Afterthatwemovedontoadark roomwithdimlight,thelegendofhowemeraldsformeddeepinthe earth,don'tforgettolistentothislegend,itwasfascinating.After thelegendwemovedontoadarktunnel,thewallsfloorandceiling wererock,weseemedtobedeepunderground,inanemeraldmine.We passedexhibitsofemeraldsbranchingoutamongstoneandthe differenttypesofstonesthatcamewithemeralds.Watchingthe emeraldsalreadyfeltamazing,butbeingabletoholdastonethatmay holdoneinsidefeltlikeamiracle.
Afterleavingthetunnel,wemovedbackintothemainroom.Afterseeing somemoreexhibits,wemovedontothevirtualrealityexperience,after puttingtheglasseson,Ienteredawholenewworld,accompaniedby moreminersIgottoexperiencemakinganamazingdiscovery,findingan emeralddeepunderground.Thenwewenttothestore,eventhoughwe boughtnothingIgottointerviewsomeonewhoworkedthere,Ilearneda lotabouthowtheirexperienceworkingtherehadbeen,andthey explainedtomehowtheirjobwasarepresentation,asymbolof Colombianculture,showcasingtheamazingvarietythatourcountry hastoofferandthebeautyofemeralds.Gentrificationhasmostlybeen anegativeaspectfor“ElMuseoInternacionaldelaEsmeralda”because itremainshiddenona23rdfloorwhichpreventsitfromgettingmore customersasit'slessopentothepublic,ifyoutakealookatelMuseo delOro,itsmorepopularbecauseitsonthegroundandpeoplecanknow aboutitjustfromlookingaround.MymomwhohasbeenlivinginBogotá for50yearsdidn'tevenknowaboutElMuseoInternacionaldela Esmeralda,showinghowhiddenitis.
Just a short drive from the city, this amazing trail offers a perfect escape into nature. As I hiked through the beautiful walk, I realized how lucky I am to be able to have this hike so close to my home. And to be so lucky as to be able to have the conditions to hike it. Created in November 2023, this hidden gem is a symbol of change in the neighborhood. Although that art of the city has not been affected by gentrification, the trail has had significant change.
Las Moyas
A few years ago it was a very unsafe place. But then Live Happy came and made it an accessible and safe place.
Located in Rosales, a neighborhood known for restaurants and housing, Las Moyas stand out for being a unique place in the neighborhood and for its stunning beauty. The breathtaking hike is an incredible part of our culture and doesn't let you forget it. There are Colombian flags everywhere and local flora that shows you what an important part it is of our city.
Instagram: @ecoguardianes
TikTok: @ecoguardianess
Live Happy Phone: 3112251452
Address: Transversal 2 Este #78-93
Rosales, Chapinero, Bogotá
Quote from hiker
I feel tranquility. It makes me forget about my worries
This hike is just a short drive from Bogotá. The trail offers a refreshing escape into nature, with beautiful greenery, refreshing mountain air, and stunning horizon views.
Hours Tuesday to Sunday
Entrance: 6-8
Going down: 10:30
Address: Transversal 2 Este #78-93
Rosales, Chapinero, Bogotá
Advice
Bring food
Go early, or the sun will be very hot
Bring steady shoes
Wear a lot of sunscreen
When I first got to Las Moyas all I could think about was why am I here? My energy was low, and I just wanted to go back to bed. But as I hiked, my energy kept increasing, and I was loving the experience. The plants were beautiful and made me feel so calm. When we got to the second kilometer, I couldn’t wait to get to the last one. When I got there, the view was amazing. You could see the whole city from there! Everyone was so nice and made me feel so grateful that I have that place. When I interviewed the rangers, they told me all about the trail and about their own little family with the other workers. As I got interviewing the hikers, they all told me about the same thing. “I feel that we are human, and it is also necessary sometimes to return to nature. To get out of the city and the routine” I also loved all the Colombian flags and was happy to see native plants during the hike. When we hiked back down and got the start of the trail in the neighborhood, I marveled at how stunning the buildings were. They were old brick buildings, and it made me happy that not all the city has been affected by gentrification. In my opinion, in makes the hike even better, because you feel so far from the city even though it is so close.
Trail Trail Trail
Las Moyas Las Moyas Las Moyas
In the beautiful barrio of San Felipe, between the color and creativity in boutiques restaurants and art studios, there is a beautiful art collection called la bodega. The area started getting populated in 1930 and soon became a famous place to live a long time after Alejandro Castaño comes in the area and starts the change because the place used to be a residential neighborhood where big families lived in their houses, but eventually the kids grew up and moved to other places so for the elderly it was too much to take care of with the neatness of the gardens and the big houses cleanliness. So they sold their houses to move to smaller, easier apartments to manage. The houses got sold to people who collect art and people who make art also some clothing stores, restaurants, and jewelries have opened up.
Barrio san felipe
The neighborhood is known for its exquisite restaurants, its gorgeous boutiques and shops but most importantly its immense artistic features like art studios and collections. The biggest cultural celebration of this area is its art, especially when it is arts week in Colombia when la bodega gets opened to the public and tourists go to admire the art go to the shops and try the amazing food in the place.
La Bodega
+57 310 call here 239 1188
La bodega is the private art collection of Alejandro Castaño, on normal days this place will be closed to the public but on special occasions it is opened for people to see all the amazing art. The art is mostly from Colombian artists, with some exceptions. This place is the reason why this neighborhood went from resisdential to an art neighborhood here is a quote from the owner “In 2009, I created this place, and it was the first space in the neighborhood made for art. of the art started in this neighborhood, and it transformed to an art neighborhood
Advice
To make a visit you should call this number +57 310 239 1188 it depends on the occasion on the hours it will be open to make sure to call and see when you may book an appointment.
The doors were opened, and I felt like I was in another dimension, there were so many paintings hanged that I could barely see the walls. I looked at the thousands of paintings that were on the 3 large floors, and every different room revealed an amazing surprise. One of the surprises was on the second floor in the last room in a corner I opened the door and I saw a cinema to project clips and movies of art Alejandro (the owner) said “When this place becomes a museum I will project clips of art for the different art collections I will bring” Then we went to his lounge and he explained allot about the neighborhood’s evolution and how much this place has changed with the time. Then we did was go and see an art studio, where the artist explained how he did his oil painting and what inspired him. Finally, after this breathtaking experience we went to the pizza shop in the neighborhood which was exquisite to finish our visit.
Colombian culture is a giant part of la bodega because in this art collection a big majority of the pieces are about something in Colombia one of the paintings for example said “Todo esta muy caro” Which means everything is very expensive this painting wanted to speak up about issue that there is in Colombia, so that people become aware and there is a change for the good.
The neighborhood evolving has helped the business positively and here is a quote from the owner saying why “People used to be scared to come at first to this place because it was below the Caracas and there used to be a rumor saying that all the good things were above the Caracas, but now there has been more artists, shops, and businesses coming to this area so it has helped people realize that this place is good and now many more people come here”
OCREGALLERY
OcregaleriaislocatedinChapinerocentral
ChapineroCentralisahistoricneighborhoodbecauseitservedasakeyroute betweenBogotáandnorthernColombia.Itwasestablishedin1812byworkersin variousindustriesthatsuppliedBogotáwithessentialgoodslikefoodand clothing.
Despitebeingworkingforjustthreeyears,OcreGalleriahasseenpositive changes,intheyreneibhorhood,attractingmorevisitors,andimprovingthe street'sappealwithnewbusinesses.
Chapinerocentralisknownforitsrichandvariedhistoryshowninits architecture Ithinkthatanareathatcelebratesculturemightbethegalleriessincetheyare supportingtheartcultureofColombiaandshowthebeautiesandcultureof Colombiatotheoutsideworld.
OCREGALLERY
Calle70A#5-67Bogotá,Colombia
Ocregalleriaisanartgallerythatspecializesinmoreaffordableartfor peopletoenjoy.ItisalsopartoftheAlelihomedecorteamwhichis composedofacafé,afurniturestoreandthegallery.
“Ocreesunespaciocálidoparaacercarmáselartealaspersonas,para aprender,conocer,miraryvertodoeltalentoquehayenColombia.Yque noseintimidenanteelarteporquenoconocennada,esmuycostoso, peroOcretienepreciosrazonablesyprocuranayudarasusclientes”ElsaPombo-
OCREGALLERY
AssoonasIsawthegallery,Iwasopeneduptoagorgeousplacefilledwithcultureandcolor.The neighborhoodoutsideisstillabusyChapinerojustlikeintheoldtimes.Youcanseeoldhouses,that havebeenmaintainedfromtheirbeautifuloriginalcondition.Theneighborhoodhaschangedquitea lotfromitsoriginalform,withitsnewbusinessesandtraditions,asexplainedbyElsa,theGallery owner.
Wheniwalkedinsidethegallery,Iwaswelcomedbythekindandwarmownerandherassistant,who askedusifwewantedatouroftheirgallery.Iobviouslysaidyestogetthefullexperienceofthe galleryinallofitsglory.
Theownerwasgladtoanswerallofourquestions,shegaveusadescriptivetouraroundhergallery. Therewerebeautifulartworks,allcreatedbyColombianartists,eachonerepresentingadifferenttype ofculture.Theownertoldushowherbusinesswasoriginated,hermombeingherinspiration.She tolduswhateachpieceofartworkmeantforeachartistandwhyshehadchosentodisplayit.You couldtellshelovedherjobandallthatcamewithit.
Fromthestartofourvisit,weweretreatedkindly.Thishiddentreasureofagalleryissuretoimpress touristsandevenlocalslookingtolearnaboutColombiancultureinBogotá.AskforElsaorLorena. TheywillteachyouallaboutColombia!
OCREGALLERY
Chapter3 Shopping
Yidios
Hakim AntiguedadesTeo Dueñas
FineArtesanal
LateChocó
EloyRosas
Handicrafts Bodegafloral
Don
Cabrera La
Bogotá has a lot of amazing places, but the best ones are always hidden. Cabrera is a neighborhood located between the 92nd and the 85th street. This neighborhood used to be full of old houses and buildings but these were slowly demolished in order to make room for new and modern homes. During this process, not only did the homes change but also the people who lived in them.
What to do?
Cabrera went from a neighborhood who almost everyone could afford to one exclusive to people who wanted luxury and magnificence in their homes. Once you go to Cabrera, you will be amazed by all the things you can do. Among the great parks, and a whole lot of surprising stores, some of the best restaurants in all of Bogota are located in or right next to this neighborhood.Wok,Cacio y Pepe,Gamberro and a lot more exquisite restaurants are located in this area, so when you come here be sure you don't miss any of the amazing experiences you can have here.
ChocolatesForma ySabordeRosas
Address:Cl. 90 #53 # 12, Chapinero, Bogotá
Vino Espumoso Prosecco Azul
Muñeco Oso Pequeño Rosado Bruma de atmósferas
The display was full of colors, the fragrances were heavenly but the best thing of all was how they arranged the bouquets. The entire Don Eloy shop was full of shelves covered with beautiful, fresh flowers that looked and smelled amazing. Not only did the employees receive us with a warm welcome but they also offered us a seat in a place where we could observe all of the different colors, sizes and textures all of their flowers had. Don Eloy is a flower shop located in the neighborhood of La Cabrera, in this flower shop you are not only buying flowers but you are also helping a community that works hard in order to give all of the Don Eloy chain shops newly harvested flowers every day. They grow their roses in a ranch located in Bojacá, Colombia. This place is where all the magic happens because over there is where the roses are planted and grown. All this work is to sell them but also, these flowers transmit a message of community and love which is what the owners wanted when they founded this flower shop. Flowers in Colombia are very valuable because Colombia is a place where you can grow many types of exotic plants, fruits etc., that is why nature in Colombia has always been admired through time. It is a place where nature is its most stunning feature. The neighborhood has evolved from beautiful big houses to wonderful modern buildings increasing the customers for this outstanding and unique flower shop, Don Eloy.
Chapinero Alto Bogota
Teo Dueñas Antiguedades, where I went to do my interview, is located in the neighborhood of Chapinero Alto. This neighborhood is known for its luxury and comfort. This neighborhood offers you and the people of Bogotá luxury properties, and restaurants. Finally, Chapinero Alto is a fancy and comfortable neighborhood where a lot of business and money activities happen in the city. It's a busy place that makes up a big part of daily life in Bogotá. My hidden gem is located exactly in Cra 4a No 66-19, Bogotá.
Chapinero Alto was lived by indigenous people before the Spanish arrived, and named Bogotá, Santa Fe. As Bogotá grew, areas like Chapinero were transformed. Indigenous lands, were used for agriculture and for urban use, and that lead to the displacement of the remaining indigenous communities. Like a lot of Urban areas, Chapinero has experienced a lot of gentrification, which makes the neighborhood more expensive to live in. Also, Chapinero is known to become a cultural area, known for its arts, and many restaurants. And yes, Chapinero celebrates many cultures but also celebrates a lot of the Colombian culture in various ways. For example, there are areas where they host cultural events, festivals, art exhibitions, and art exhibitions that represent Colombian traditions, music, and Colombian gastronomy.
“Every piece of furniture is made with effort and really well handmade” - Sandra Dueñas
The Business
About the Business: Antiguedades
Teo Dueñas is located in Cra 4a No 66-19, Bogotá. It is a hidden gem full of rare and unique antiques and pieces of furniture that are handmade by the owner. Each piece is unique and special, made with fresh wood. Come explore and admire these amazing pieces, so one can enter your home, and make it special.
Hours
Monday-8:30a.m.–5p.m. Tuesday-8:30a.m.–5p.m. Wednesday-8:30a.m.–5p.m. Thursday- 8:30a.m.–5p.m. Friday-8:30a.m.–5p.m. Saturday-8:30a.m.–5p.m. Sunday-Closed
Antiguedades Teo Dueñas Experience:
A few weeks ago, I found myself wondering around the beautiful neighborhood of Chapinero in Bogotá. As I was walking past nice restaurants, and graphites, I noticed something fascinating where I knew I could do my interview. I got attracted by the fresh wood smell, so I went to see what it was. A very kind woman called out to me, and asked what I needed help with, so I explained to her what I was doing in the unit and about the interview I had to make. I really liked how each piece of furniture was really well organized. I asked her (the daughter of the owner) about the history of the shop, curious, and how this old store maintained itself through all the gentrification, and new aspects of the neighborhood. She told me, that the store was very well maintained since 1967, and how they adapted to gentrification and new things, by using things that were newer to them, for example, social media. She told me about how she created an Instagram account to help her father’s business grow. Not only that, but she told us how today the neighborhood is packed with business and luxury. But that with gentrification, it had become more expensive, making it tough for small businesses to be very successful. She also said that this type of furniture represented Colombian culture because many of the furniture items are handmade by the owner and the family, highlighting traditional Colombian craftsmanship or artisanship.
Antiguedades Teo Dueñas
Usaquen
In the past time, many indigenous people, the Muisca tribe, used to live in Usauqen and the neighborhood was previously considered a city. The area of Usaquen has changed a lot over the years, going from a place that everyone considered a city and was full of Indigenous, into a small neighborhood that now celebrates the culture and history of Colombia. On the streets you definettly see more higher class, something that was definitely not seen before but does resemble the changes and the expression of the people that are now there. This neighborhood, Usaquen, has changed a lot, but it is still known for engaging in the rich history of Colombia, specifically Bogota. Usaquen has become a place full of tourists enjoying the diversity and art of Bogota and learning about history.
Fine Colombian Handicrafts is a business that focuses on making handmade products that target the positive image of Colombia’s beauty and art. This business is a place to show bogota and tourists that Colombia is more than what it seems to be, selling purses, pins, backpacks, etc.
“I am a sociologist, historian, and I have been a teacher for 20 years, and I am finishing my tenth book.” (Owner of the store)
Have you ever wanted to go to a place where you see the exact representation of Colombia? The beautiful neighborhood of Usaquen is what you need. When I entered Fine Colombian Handicrafts, I took a glimpse of how much color and culture there was from the moment I walked in. The embracement of art and culture was phenomenal. When I entered I was offered bags, pins, vases, mats, and so many more amazing and beautiful hand-pieces of art. Colombian was hidden between every single object inside the store. For example, many bags were colorful and made from wild cotton and natural fibers. Apart from this, many indigenous groups make the vases in bags that are now sold to tourists and mean a lot to the history and culture of Colombia. My store represented Colombia because it was full of the vibrance of Colombia, try to take away the image of the bad and old Colombia known as the drug age. My interview started great, being very well welcomed. The owner of this store, a worker that has been selling for over 7 years now, is passionate about changing Bogota’s image from a drug dealing country into a diverse and culturally rich community. This store sells things that area handmade, reflecting the Colombian culture. Overtime, Bogota has changed. More tourists are coming, meaning they want to explore the culture of Colombia. However, many places in the neighborhood have become places for high luxury, distracting the audience that targets these cultural places, causing a negative impact for the buisness and buisness’s similar around the area of Usaquen.
The beauty of Usaquen
Chíco was constructed in the 1950s, and it holds a lot of culture. Now it has become an upstate district with several embassies and parks. It is located in Chapinero in northern Bogotá. The neighborhood once was full of colonial houses, with big gardens on the outside, mostly one level. Now, you wouldn't recognize it. It is path for businesses and progress. Way before, when the power depended on your last name, the Saiz family owned Chíco, then it was divided into Chíco Grande, and Chíco Chico, and passed to be the property of Don Pepe Sierra. From there Chíco started to be the neighborhood we know today, and this was over 100 years ago, in 1920.
Chico
Now many colonial houses, are being demolished to create new social areas, intercourses, and a lot of office buildings. Now there's a new place that is especially designed for the use of the people, and that's good. It's easy and accessible and that's why it's so popular.
Chíco is known for its safety, it's a great place for kids to grow up, it's a good place for everybody. Adults can go to the mall and several restaurants and cafés. There are also coworking spaces, and offices. For kids there are toy shops like Miniso, there are delicious desert places, and very big, well taken care of, parks. The building are big and have social areas for everybody.
From Mexico, from La Guajira, from El Putumayo, from the Middle East, from all over the world, people work to get this done, meanwhile curing themselves. What they do is truly extraordinary and that's why this place is so special, and shines like a true gem.
“They do a fair, called Eva fair, and I like being there because it generates culture in my neighborhood, and that's important, it all creates education.”
Cra 9a, Building El Cedro
Cra 9a, Building El Cedro
Instagram @YidiosHakim
Instagram @YidiosHakim
WhatsApp +57 323 439 0728
Email Yidioshakimdesign@gmail.com
Email Yidioshakimdesign@gmail.com
WhatsApp +57 323 439 0728
Monday – Saturday 8 Am — 5 Pm
Monday – Saturday 8 Am — 5 Pm
Experience Yidios Hakim
My experience at this place was amazing. I was treated politely and they left me breathless. The straps pass by a lot of hands, from The Middle East, to Mexico, to The Putumayo, to The Guajira, to this store. These straps are not only work, people are inspired to make them, they like it. This experience was truly awesome, where I learned a lot, and I could empathize a with Colombian cultures, and know better other cultures. I met with Michelle, the founder of Yidios Hakim, and she told me her story. She was part Lebanese, yet how she lived in Colombia, she never lived fully her culture. When she went to Spain to do her career in journalism, she ate the food her mom used to prepared. And watched every detail from the furniture in her grandmother house, she experienced her culture from a different perspective. She wanted to be a journalist because she wanted to express her full self, her culture, everything. She thought of a better way. She started thinking how could she place all her different cultures, and peoples opinion, and self, into an object. And that's how the straps appeared. They are beautiful, made to represent each culture. Each piece has specific colors, and all have some charms. These charms represent something important in the life of humans, like nature, animals, and the good luck eye, the companies' logo. They are made by women deprived of liberty, men in rehab from drugs, and all are hand made, each piece is unique, because each one shows a part of them.
Gentrification
My business has been affected by gentrification positively, even though Mich has mixed feelings. It has been influenced positively because the neighborhood changes have brought more people into the neighborhood, and the business has continued growing. Yet, the owner believes that the old houses shouldn't be abandoned and destroyed because it takes away culture from our home.
Scan Me!
To learn more about the people who make this wonderful straps.
Neighborhood Yidios Hakim withMadelove
Chapinero
Chapinero is the prettiest neighborhood in Bogotá with its beautiful landscapes, but the most beautiful of it all is the flowers in the Bodega Floral. Chapinero is located in the north of Bogotá where it was inhabited by the Muiscas for a long period of time, the citizens then started to build their homes there, and it quickly got more and more populated. Before the area got populated there were little to no buildings, there were a lot of grass areas and mountains.
Nowadays, the city has many buildings, little grass areas and many streets ruining the nature. Although the neighborhood has gone through a lot of gentrification, it is worth it because the neighborhood is most known for its beautiful architecture.
Bodega Floral
Rating:
“Our flowers are the freshest ones on the market”
Cra. 13a #86a92, Bogotá
Hours: Address:
MondaySaturday: 8 AM6 PM. Sunday is closed
Overview of the Bodega Floral:
Bodega Floral is a wonderful experience because there is a wide variety of flowers to choose from. These flowers will be the perfect gift for anyone, especially because some last up to several months so that special person will have the prettiest flowers always.
Bodega Floral Colombian Culture
One of my favorite parts of Bodega Floral is that they have Colombian culture within their flowers. This is because all their flowers are grown in Colombia, including Medellín, Armenia, Manizales and more. Having flowers growing in so many parts of Colombia is ideal because every flower needs to grow in a different climate for them to be in the best shape they can be for you. This makes sure that you get the best flowers possible in each purchase.
I was attracted by the aroma, which immediately woke up my senses. Then my eyes were captivated by the colorful and beautiful flowers. The place was so breathtaking that I had to go take a look. The second I walked into the Bodega Floral, I was greeted by the employees, which already made me feel welcome. The air was filled with the sweet perfume of the roses. The deeper I walked into the store, I admired the colorful bouquets and the vibrant colors of the petals. The owner approached me after a while with a welcoming smile and asked me if I needed any help. I told her how amazed I was with the flowers, and she kindly explained the story behind the flowers. I was so in love that I bought a few bouquets, and they very kindly gave me a discount. These flowers are still alive to this day, so I advise readers to go and experience this memorable adventure
The Neighborhood
La Candelaria is known as Bogotá's Historical neighborhood. It was named for a chapel in the early days of Bogotá, it is also famous for 16th-century Spanish colonial architecture, including its stone roads, houses, and balconies. La Candelaria is also known for its landmarks such as the Gold Museum, The Botero Museum, and many more. Nevertheless, this shows how La Candelaria Represents Colombian culture from its beginnings in 1583 to the famous museums that display its culture from art or its resources that have been part of the culture from the start like gold which represented the sun for the indigenous people like the musical.
Gold Museum
La Candelaria
Even though la Candelaria is a very famous neighborhood, it has had its fair amount of changes over the years.Most of the shops have left, the virtual selling method and have started to sell more in present is all thanks to tourism. This is because La Candelaria hosts some of the best experiences in Bogotá, for example, the gold museum, ghost site tours, and many more. Thanks to this high increase in tourism, rent has gone up in the zone and has caused locals to have to move out.
Opening-Closing hours Monday-Sunday 8am6pm
Misson and goal
Because Late Chocó is still such a small business, it has two goals: first, it wants to become international. This means being able to sell to other countries through its online store. Second, it wants to keep supporting the Chocó community with its chocolate, which it can only buy from them.
Where did it come from
Late Chocó is an initiative that rose from the great need to generate new value for the cocoa that has been produced ancient by black communities, victims of the armed conflict and affected by illegal mining activities, in productive ethnic territories in the department of Chocó, with access to specialized markets.
My Experience
Visiting Bogotá, Here is a hidden treasure no one knows about. It is called Late Choco, and it has the most delicious cacao I have ever tried. It is located in la Concordia Square market which is situated in Cl 12c # 1 -40, Bogotá. As I arrived at La Concordia Square market, I pushed through the glass doors and found everything from plants to chocolate. As I kept walking, I found a warm and welcoming stand that said Late Chocó, this beautiful stand had anything from chocolate truffles to 100% cacao powder. When I asked where was the company founded they said in El Chocó When I asked what was special about El Chocó they said that it produced the most delicious chocolate in the world and that there were 2 reasons why they bought their chocolate one was the incredible flavor and the second was that el Chocó was facing hard time thanks to all the armed conflict and that they wanted to support the families that are struggling there. They said they did this to support the cultural heritage that the place had to offer so that was the inspiration for their f flavors like Mestizo, Choco al 85, and many more. Everything and the ingredients come from Colombia to keep the heritage, they told me. After listening to their heart-warming background I decided to taste the truffles they had. As i tasted them i was completely in shock because of how well they where made mixing elegance and culture in one bite. And there and then i knew they werent there to sell chocolets they were there to spread culture.
Photo Gallery
Thank you to all the collaborators that helped us create this amazing project! We hope you liked it!