Monserrate

I met Milena Friday morning at the base of Monserrate, and we took the funicular up the mountain.

[from Wikipedia]

Monserrate (named after Catalan homonym mountain Montserrat) is a mountain over 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) high that overlooks the city center of Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia. It rises to 3,152 meters (10,341 ft) above the sea level, where there is a church (built in the 17th century) with a shrine, devoted to El Señor Caído ("The Fallen Lord").

The Mountain, already considered sacred in pre-Columbian times when the area was inhabited by the indigenous Muisca, is a pilgrim destination, as well as a major tourist attraction. In addition to the church, the summit contains restaurants, cafeteria, souvenir shops and many smaller tourist facilities. Monserrate can be accessed by aerial tramway (a cable car known as the teleférico), by funicular, or by climbing, the preferred way of pilgrims. The climbing route was previously closed due to wildfires and landslides caused by a drought, but it reopened in 2017.

After getting off the funicular there was still a bit of walking to do to get to the church. On that path we passed a pilgrim who was praying in front of a statue of Jesus. Further on we saw placards next to various plants listing their names. Having been to the botanic garden in Bogotá not too long ago, and having seen plenty of Joey Santore’s videos, all that came to mind was that Jesus was here 2000 years ago, but the plants had been around for several hundred million years. Maybe we (the royal we) are worshiping the wrong thing?

After coming down from Monserrate, we had a nice middle eastern lunch. But we were just getting started: Milena had arranged to meet two of her friends at Demente Aguardienteria club later that evening. So off we went. Fortunately I had watched a few youtube videos of the basic salsa steps, so I could at least keep up with them. If I remember right we also danced some merengue and cumbia. And if my sister Heather happens to read this - I think you’d like to go out dancing in Bogotá!

[map link]

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Right before I left in the morning the water in my apartment had been cut off. I didn’t know it at the time but today was one of three days in March were the water supply to the building was cut off by the city as part of their water conservation program as Bogotá is in the middle of a water crisis. When I got back home after a long day, ready to take a shower - still no water. I’m told it should be back on tomorrow morning at 8am. Good thing too - Milena has another full day planned for us.