Survival & Maintenance
Dress codes – to Bling or Not to Bling?
Exercise opportunities, tailors, dry cleaners, hair & beauty salons, travel agents, airport transport &, travel tips

Safety is always and issue and it is generally best to avoid being provocative and attracting attention if you are out and about all day. Keep jewellery simple and don’t wear your flashest watch! Having said that, Colombians like to look good and many adopt a preppy but casual style on most occasions. Colombian women are very well groomed and while they may not show up to drinks in a cocktail dress, they will nevertheless have an immaculate manicure and coiffed hair! Trousers and layered tops should get through most occasions – if you are going to a wedding you can go all out; South Americans still don proper, long evening gowns and tuxedos to a wedding unless the location or the invitation specify otherwise.

If you are leaving the city for a hike or drive, be practical, wear good shoes (short hiking boots are ideal) and always have a jacket as the temperature takes a steep decline in the evening and you may find yourself freezing! Furthermore, despite the fact that even during the day it can be cold in some places, there is no central heating in Colombia; a comfy cardie is absolutely necessary even for lounging at home or in the hotel if you are not used to being without full-on heating.

You will also find that dress sense varies regionally like everything else in this enormous country; people in Bogota dress quite conservatively compared to the coastal areas. If in Cartagena or nearby, go ahead and wear colourful prints and sexy bikinis – you will feel at ease!

Exercise Opportunities

Ciclovia - Sundays and bank holidays on seventh street in Bogota – otherwise known to locals as ciclovia. The city is completely transformed on ciclovia day from 7am to 2pm! Seventh street is wiped clear of cars and buses and is at your disposal for running, cycling or simply walking. With the fabulous all-year round spring weather, it’s a perfect opportunity to really see the city and its inhabitants in wonderful sunshine! And, it’s safe. If you intend on driving around on such a day, try to get some guidance on which alternative route to take so you don´t get stuck.

Simón Bolívar Park - The largest park in the city, it has been continuously built on throughout the past few years and is ideal for exercise on a sunny day. It is guarded well and has excellent routes for jogging and cycling as well as places to have a bite when peckish.
Calle 63 No. 57-71

 

Dry cleaners

For the best dry cleaning try Classic dry cleaners. They have branches all over the city; for specific location info go to www.classicdc.com

 

Hair & beauty salons

The quality of beauty treatments in Bogotá is very good – manicures in particular are excellent. Try a french manicure, it´s the real thing – discrete and chic and guaranteed you will not simply end up with pasty white nails!

The chic inhabitants of 89th street go to the fantastic but low-profile Antonio (recently in new sleek premises) for the whole hair-nails-makeup package. Very professional, great service and although expensive for Bogotá, very good value for money. Bridal services are also on offer and he is a master at makeup that shows beautifully in wedding photographs!
89th street, between 11th and 15th.

If at-home service is what you are after, particularly for men, french-trained Constanza Sandoval will come over and cut/shape your hair in the comfort of your home or hotel. She is very friendly and adaptable to her client’s demands.
Mobile Tel. 311 5194521

 

Travel agents

For travel within Colombia, go to Aviatur. They also provide car-hire services.
Avenida 19 4-62 . Tel. 382 1616. Email : .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

 

Pharmacies

If you need anything during the night, call 113 and they will tell you which pharmacies are open in your area. Many pharmacies will deliver to your door, call and ask before you venture out into the night! Droguería Olimpica, with outlets all over the city is always a safe bet.

 

Reliable Airport transport

It is safe and easy to take a taxi from the airport upon arirval as long as you chose the airport taxi cabs and do not just get into the first cab that magically ‘appears’ in front of you! (This is a general rule…)
As soon as you exit the main airport building, turn right and go to the window for taxi service. Here you will be told how much it will cost to be taken to your destination; you will also be given a ticket which you need to hold on to. Right after the window you must join the taxi queue. Don’t worry if the queue gets messy, you always get a taxi eventually and you will be notified when one becomes available and it’s your turn. When you arrive at your destination you present the driver with the ticket and pay the previously agreed amount.

 

Traveller Tips

• Altitude - If at all possible, make sure you have a little extra time in Bogotá so you can properly enjoy your stay once you recover from the jetlag and possible altitude complications. Serious altitude sickness usually affects the elderly but even if you are young and fit, you are still likely to pass out at night much earlier than back home…Don’t worry, it takes a few days to adjust to the decreased oxygen intake.

• Taxis - It’s not very smart to take cabs randomly off the street, particularly at night (no, no!). The safest bet is to call radio cabs – everyone uses them. Some good radio taxi numbers are: 3111111, 2111111 and 6333333 as dialled locally. The vehicle identification card and driver’s name should be visibly placed. Rates are fixed and the counter next to the driver actually denotes units that correspond to set prices. The rate table is usually located behind the driver’s seat. Don’t forget there is a surcharge for taxis called by telephone, those taking you to/from the airport as well as for trips outside the urban perimeter.

• Voltage - Colombia uses 110 volt electricity like the USA.

• Airport departures - Leaving Colombia by plane can be a bit of an ordeal due to the rigorous security measures; it’s really best to go to the Airport very early in order to avoid delays. Four hours before your flight is strongly recommended for your own comfort and sanity; it’s a busy airport currently undergoing renovations, queues are long and your luggage might be searched at some point. Get there with plenty of time so you can enjoy a delicious hamburger from the El Corral store just before passport control.

 

Major Occasions

Weddings & Parties

Weddings in Colombia are a very big deal and much like in the USA can include events in the days leading up to the actual ceremony.

There are two ways in which you might be associated with a wedding: a) you may be ‘invited’ either to the church, the reception, or both or b) you may receive a note of ‘participation’. Participation means we are letting you know we are getting married and would welcome a small gift but you are not (for whatever reason, sometimes the wedding take splace in a very small circle) invited!

Whether or not there is a registry at a specific store, the presents are customarily sent to the bride’s parent’s house and must arrive by the day before the wedding. On the day before the wedding the bride organises the ‘giving of the gifts’ or ‘entrega de regalos’ whereby she spends the whole day making an inventory of the gifts and placing them on display (with the accompanying card next to them!!). One is then usually invited to a cocktail party at her family home that evening where aside from drinks there are a few hors d’oeuvres and everyone can peruse the gifts! Tradition has it that on this night the groom serenades the bride so it can be quite a fun but not necessarily long evening. Make sure you’ve had supper in advance…

There is one woman Colombians go to for fantastic wedding gowns and evening-wear; Olga Piedrahita. For a wedding dress the procedure is of course quite lengthy but for an evening dress it may take about a month – she is usually there herself, very hands-on and open to suggestions and preferences.
Cra 14A No. 82-36. Tel. 6235849

For your cake the best is Miriam Camhi; aside from the classic Colombian
wedding cake (black fruitcake) she has a wide range of cakes to order. All spectacular. You can also have coffee and desserts at her main store. Try the cinammon sticks!
Carrera 9, Calle 80.

 

Comfort Blankets & Clutching at Straws

•  Irish Pub Located in the trendy `T zone`, this pub will definitely remind at least the Brits among you, of home! (Well the New Yorkers and Barcelona-ites, too, in fact!) They have a delicious version of fish and chips, many imported beers and a great selection of local lagers including their own brew.

•  Pomona supermarkets. The very best in supermarkets with fine wines and delicacies from all over the world. Outlets all over the city.

•  Carrefour has now opened stores in Bogotá too and provides an interesting selection of European products that are otherwise hard to find.