Getting to Popayán via Bogotá

We spent time in Bogotá, the capital, before going to Popayán. After ten days in New York and ten days in Bogotá, with all the crazy traffic and congestion, we are now enjoying the peace and quiet of our little place in the Andes mountains near Popayán.

Big buildings in Bogotá. Sunny, warm, 63 degrees. We were not expecting how expensive Bogotá is for some things (like apartment rents over USD$1,200 monthly.) In Popayán there are center city studio apartments for USD$250 (and that price includes utilities and satellite TV!).

In Bogotá there are shopping centers much more modern than anything we have seen in the USA. The shopping centers are huge indoor malls, some with four floors and underground parking garages. Lots of American stores like Columbia (sport clothing), North Face, Victoria’s Secret, etc. There is a lot of money in Colombia. With the escalators in the background, the polar bears playing musical instruments. December is a big deal in Colombia.

We went to a movie. No senior citizen prices. There are two seating prices. The cheap seats cost $12,500 pesos or about USD$7.00. There is fast food: popcorn, hot dogs, nachos, etc., but there is also a sushi bar with a variety of fresh fish sushi and choice of wine. 

Here is the line for buying tickets. Those are 55” LED flat screens above with all the movie information. All tickets issued by computer, with assigned seating. Ushers show you to your seat. At the time of purchase you are shown a screen with all theatre seats, and you choose tickets from seats that are available.

Here is the “lobby” of the theatre with the flat screens in the back. There are eight movies (eight rooms). The floors are immaculate.

Right next to the movie theatres were fast food places. This one is “gourmet” with candle light on the tables. In the upper right of the photo is a flat screen TV with a soccer game.

Time to leave the big cities behind. It's about an hour flight from Bogotá to Popayán.