The City of Eternal Fall

In Panama, every day is 85° and sunny. While I love the weather here, I learned to brace myself for seasonal change in New England. I miss the gradual decrease in temperature, the crunchy red leaves, and the switch from tank tops to sweaters.

Last November, Jon and I went to Bogotá, Colombia for a long weekend during our first year in Panama. We spent a few days there and loved the feeling of the city. The restaurants, culture, and weather made me excited to return.

Bogotá is the city of eternal fall. The city is in the Andes mountains, so the weather stays the same all year. From January to December, it is crisp in the morning, warm in the afternoon, and chilly in the evening.

This year, I was accepted to present at a conference in Bogotá with my friend and fellow teacher, Ann. I was so excited to visit again. We spent five days in the city — mostly attending the conference — and took time to explore our neighborhood, Chapinero.

Chapinero is my favorite neighborhood in Bogotá. It is full of beautiful, cheap cafes and restaurants. There is good public transit, and it sits just north of one of Bogotá’s most famous peaks, Monteserrat.

Two trips to this city have me hooked. I kept saying, “I want to live here!” If you’re lucky enough to visit the city, I recommend staying in Chapinero and checking out some of the stops below.

These stops were among my favorites:

Culture - Botero Musem, Library, Plaza de Bolivar

Activities - Mount Monserrate Cable Car, Andino Shopping Center, Botanical Garden

Food - Cafe Bar Universal, Arbol del Pan, Cantina y Punto, Casa Lelyte