Andy’s Golf & Travel Diary for Thursday, December 12th, 2013, JTOG Day No. 63
Linking JTOG life with a 4-nigth stay at the Bogota Hilton!
I was up at 7 am, had one final breakfast at the Estelar Grand Playa Manzanillo and Roy gave me a ride to the Cartagena Airport to catch the 9:30 am flight to Bogota. I was emailing Alberto to coordinate the Medellin visit (arriving Monday) and the Golf Channel looking for work in the New Year. I realized Colombia is a golfing country, as I later found Argentina to be. Rio de Janeiro has the potential. Claudia, the flight attendant called me a “tourist” in a cute sort of Colombian accent sort of way. I was on the move again, sadly without Torch. I did find borders are easier to cross via airports in South America than driving through with cars like I did in Central America. Still there was a language barrier at times though the travel seemed to be much easier.
Nancy was my awesome chauffeur around Bogota, no need to rent a car!
Nancy was there to meet me at the airport with another sign with my name on it. With only three nights to discover Bogota, staying at the Bogota Hilton was one of the wisest decisions I have made in the first 66 days of the “Journey to Olympic Golf.” Not only is it centrally located in the heart of Bogota, being there conveniently introduced me to Colombians who through their interaction with me showed be the heart of all the country of Colombia herself.
Yes, traffic is an issue at times in Bogota. Especially so with street closures for the holiday shopping season to encourage residents to come out for a festive atmosphere. Thought it seemed like a short ride from the airport, a quick check-in and I was home in my spectacular room at the Hilton Bogota.
With Colombia’s foremost golf columnist and television personality German Calle Sr.
The next morning I literally walked across the street to meet and interview Colombia’s foremost golf columnist and television personality German Calle Sr. Afterwards I went back to the hotel to catch a ride to Club Los Lagartos for an afternoon round of golf. Later I went to Andres D.C. and enjoyed a memorable night at Bogota’s famous Latin dance club. The next day I traveled a bit south to take a cable car up to Monserrate followed by a tour of La Candelaria, Bogota’s historic district.
Another night of dining and camaraderie with my new golfing pals and sadly it was time to head to the airport and Medellin. I could not have had a better, more meaningful visit to Colombia’s capital city and it all started with the decision to stay at the Hilton Bogota. Please join in my adventure and make one of your own by visiting Colombia and staying at the Hilton Bogota!
CLICK here for Video Interview with Francisca Medina, Front Desk Supervisor, Hilton Bogota.
CLICK here for Video Interview with Paola Lafe Lopez, Concierge, Hilton Bogota.
CLICK here for Video Beauty Shots of Hilton Bogota.
CLICK here to go to the website of the Hilton Bogota.
Here are 57 picture memories from Thursday, December 12th, 2013, JTOG Day No. 63:
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