Things I found out on my first visit to Bogota
I've just got back from three weeks in Ecuador and Colombia which included 2 days in Bogota. Here's some info which I found out which may assist other first time visitors in addition to the other useful info on this thread.
When I travel I prefer to draw cash out of the local ATM machines because (1) you're sure to get genuine notes and not forgeries and (2) you generally get a decent rate of exchange and don't get ripped off by a bank or money changer. I carry a supply of US dollar notes as a back up for when I can't get to an ATM at the airport.
On arrival at Bogota I looked for an ATM in the arrivals hall. None, only a couple of cambios. I went up to the counter and asked in my very limited Spanish where I could find an ATM. The girl behind the counter said there wasn't one and another tourist changing money at the counter confirmed that there were no ATM's at the airport. So I was obliged to cash some US dollar notes. 2030 pesos to the dollar.. not a great rate. However, when I left Bogota 2 days later, after checking in I went to the departures area on the second floor and discovered several ATM machines representing just about every bank in Colombia. I can't believe that the cambio girl didn't know this and the set up is obviously the way it is to force visitors to use the cambios. I also discovered that it is not necessary to be a departing traveller to access the departures area on the second floor. The security posts at the top of the stairs were all unmanned and it was easy to go up and down unchallenged.
I asked a taxi driver how much into town and he quoted me COP 14K. However, he switched on his meter which started at 25. By the time I got to my hotel the meter showed about 260. I assumed this meant COP 26 K but when I asked the driver to confirm how much I should pay him he said COP 15K. I later discvered that all taxis carry a conversion chart which translates the amount shown on the meter to COP. However, one or two tried to charge me the "amount" shown on the meter.
Incidentally, another taxi driver checked the COP10K note I gave him and said it was a forgery. On closer inspection I found he was right. So, check all notes you're given very carefully. The genuine ones have a distinctive water mark.
I was staying near the financial district and looked on my tourist map for Carrera 15 which, according to a number of posts, is where some MP action is. My map didn't show Calle 104, which is way down the road past Zona Rosa, but Carrera 15 was shown as being quite close to my hotel. But it was a short street and the nearest corner was Calle 24. I strolled down to the corner of Carrera 15 and Calle 24 and found myself in the middle of a mongering area. The area covered about 3 or 4 blocks and every building was either a house/hostal with three to five scantily clad girls outside or a pub or a night club. These all seemed to be operating even though it was only about 3.00 pm. However, beware. One of them ("Bananas") had a very persistent tout who tried to get me to go inside. I declined but he gave me a card on the back of which was a price list for drinks in the "club". Needless to say the prices were outrageous. I walked around the area and found a really cute looking girl who spoke no English but was quite happy to take me to a room inside for COP40K. She handed 20K to the "receptionist" and kept the other 20K for herself. Her performance was quite enjoyable and she had a lovely face and body. I was considering giving her a tip but before I could do so she blew me a kiss and waved goodbye. Clearly she felt she had already been adequately compensated for the services rendered.
[size=-2][b][u]EDITOR'S NOTE[/u]:[/b] [blue]I certainly hope that the author or somebody else will post a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please [url=http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/announcement-reportsofdistinction.php?]Click Here[/url] for more information.[/blue][/size]
Great Idea - Interactive Map
I think it would be great to have a city/street map of Bogota where guys could go in and annotate where they were able to meet girls. Either bars, brothels, clubs, massage parlors, malls or street action. There could even be a way to link icons on the map from/to reports filed by board members. Of course, if the folks running the board aren't able to do this, maybe one of us could provide a scanned map to someone here on the board who could annotate it and post it. It wouldn't be interactive, but would serve the same purpose of orienting people to the area. Thoughts?
Rodeo