Bogotá has a living colonial legacy that I can breathe every time I walk through the cobbled streets of Chorro de Quevedo. For me to observe its colourful houses and have lunch at my favourite restaurant, Nativa, it has become a tradition every time I visit my city. La Candelaria makes me travel 200 years back, in my own time machine to imagine life at that time.

La Candelaria today is an exquisite street gallery for graffiti artists, who give us their skills through their stunning murals, full of cultural and protest meanings. You have to go and see with your own eyes, because only that way you will fully appreciate their context. My favourite: Guache, an artist who enhances the beauty and authenticity of our peasant and indigenous people. A unique and real combination that I love to see again and again. For a time Bogotá was known as “Santafé”, but Simon Bolívar got rid of it and left it only as Bogotá, which its indigenous original name: Bacata.

Bogotá also has an enormous indigenous life, which started due to migratory processes linked to forced displacement in the 1940s and 1950s and later due to urban expansion in the late 1990s. Today there are still fourteen indigenous councils, among which are the Muisca de Suba, Muisca de Bosa, the Kichwa and Uuitoto among others. In addition, the last decade has seen a migration of the indigenous group of the Emberá Katío and Emberá Chamí. They can be found in the Parque del Tercer Milenio, selling their beautiful traditional necklaces. If any of you wants to buy their product, I recommend the Instagram account of Nober Siagama, and the one who inspires me with skills, authentic product from the Emberá Chami community.

ICONS OF OUR HISTORY

It is worth remembering that Bogotá has had very important characters in the history of the country, such as Antonio Nariño, who was the one who linked the process of the enlightenment of Europe with our independence project, through the translation of the rights of men.

• 

• 

• 

Let us also remember Policarpa Salavarrieta, an extraordinary woman born in Guaduas, who spent most of her years of struggle in Bogotá. Her memorial is located near the Universidad de los Andes, there, I had the opportunity to observe it during a recent city walk with my sister and little nephew Matito.

• 

Policarpa Salavarrieta, has been known through the years as “La Pola”. In fact there is a TV serie which I recommend you to watch, also called “La Pola”, if you watch it, you will understand the spirit of this brave woman, who resisted the injustices of the Spanish crown until her death. This is an incredible Colombian production, with the drama and romance genre that all Colombians love to watch, combined with the veracity and authenticity of a well-told story.

Unfortunately, history would unleash terrible endings for these heroes, in a period known as “La Reconquista”, when they were tortured and then killed, during an era that would only bring back later more hatred and revolution.

In honour of these heroes of history, a neighbourhood called “Los Mártires” was founded in Bogotá.

• 

Bogotá, the city of graffiti and intellectuals, the center of great universities and schools of thought. Bogotá, a giant city of ideas in the making, where students, peaceful people and artists come together shaping its future . Come and have a look.! ❤️

With Love Jenny

🙏