Living in Bogota - More Western than you would think

Right now I'm sitting on the loveseat of our very European feeling studio apartment. It's about 3:30 in the afternoon, we've just finished lunch, and I'm still sipping my glass of wine. Not that Colombians are wine drinkers; we are. That is one of the aspects of Spanish culture they have not kept. They generally stick to their Rum, spirits, beer and coffee. They generally start their days later, eat lunch in the middle of the afternoon, and have supper when some Canadians are heading to bed. They party hard, cherish their coffee, and are constantly seen walking the streets

This blog is solely based on first-impressions, but Bogotá Colombia is also one of the fairest skinned places we have been in Latin America. The percentage of the remaining indigenous population is minimal compared to other countries and many Colombians are direct descendants from Spain. There are of course still many darker skinned Colombians, however, there are also many more that resemble Shakira's skin tone, who holds are regular spot on the airwaves as a matter of national pride.

Not to mention that Bogotá is a very developed sprawling metropolis city of 9 million. Shopping everywhere, big bulk sized grocery stores, 24 hour drugstores with aisle after aisle of beauty, skin and hair care products. Coming here from rural Ecuador, is night and day.

In many aspects, it no longer feels like we're in Latin America, compared to almost every other place we have been so far. Then again, I suppose this is what happens when you steamroll a Spanish colony with globalization. It feels like sprinkles of Latin American flavour in a Western city. Practically anything you watch on TV in Canada you could see on TV here. There is of course a ton of Latin, Salsa, Rumba, and Reggaeton music, but there is also an extraordinary amount of English North American music. You can buy John Frieda from the drugstore, and a giant bag of Lays and Betty Crocker from the grocery store. There is hot water from the shower at your disposal around the clock (although still not from any other tap), drinkable tap water, and internet that functions at Western speeds (although perhaps rural Western).
They have also imported Western notions of beauty and "fit". In rural Ecuador, almost all men have at least a bit of a ponch and most women are full-figured. No one seems to mind. In fact, the rule for clothes seems to be the tighter the better, at any age. And men have absolutely no problem taking their shirt off regardless of their size. However, you also have very little Western influence (compared to most other parts of the world). There are little to no advertisements whatsoever, aside from beer bottles and companies, and the only times I saw TVs they were playing football games. Here however, being "fit" is very much a trend, as it is in the West. They have managed to popularize it however with Ciclovia every Sunday (many of the main roads around the city close to cars and open up to cyclists, rollerbladers, skateboarders, and joggers, along with the grandstand aerobics class in the middle of an intersection. But the style still reflects a strong Western influence.

There are a few things that this country boasts however. One of which is the clearest Spanish accent of any other Spanish speaking country in the world. This, combined with the Intensive Spanish classes Cena and I started on Monday, mean that we can actually clearly understand people on the street, radio announcers, and the TV. It doesn't just sound like background noise anymore as it did in Ecuador.

The second and perhaps most important, being their coffee. Colombia is reputed for having some of the best coffee in the world, and it's absolutely no lie. But I'll come back to this crucial feature. Other than this however, our 12 km 4 hour walk around part of the city Sunday revealed that while the city itself is beautiful as it ressembles various Spanish cities, most of it is littered with trash, graffiti, and police. Not to mention that Bogotá is apparently the 9th most densely populated city in the world, just behind Chennai, India and just before Shanghai, China. This means that at rush hour, the streets are mad. And not just for cars I mean. I have honestly never had to walk through that many people in my life, other than on the floor at concerts or festivals. But here in Bogotá it's the norm. Even doing some grocery shopping after class at around 1:30pm the streets are absolutely filled with people.

Cena and I are very happy to be here taking Spanish lessons. To have our own apartment with hot water and internet, the possibility to further explore the city and its culinary gems and food carts, along with the travel opportunities later on to other parts of Colombia. I do miss Ecuador though with it's markets, it's simplicity, it's beaches and music, and can't wait to keep travelling North. The one big saving grace is Juan Valdez. (Along with the access here to fabulous international beers that I miss from Europe)

Juan Valdez is essentially Colombia's Starbucks, except a thousand times better. Not only is the coffee affordable (about 1,50$ for a small cappuccino), but the coffee is strictly 100% Colombian. However, the biggest difference between Juan Valdez and most corporate coffee chains, is that the shops are not owned by investors but rather by the 560 000 coffee-growing shareholders. Oh, not to mention the coffee is fucking delicious. One of the best cappuccinos I've had in my life. However, as it directly aimed to replicate the success of other coffee chains around the world, it does eerily ressemble Starbucks.