La Candelaria in Pictures

La Candelaria is the historic section of Bogota squeezed between downtown and the mountains to the east. The neighborhood’s thin, one-way streets twist up and down in the Andes altitude. All the gringo hostels are located in La Candelaria because (A) it’s charming; (B) it’s centrally located near Monserrate, Plaza Bolivar, and various museums including The Gold Museum; and (C) it’s cheap. There’s a college feel during the day due to the universities in the area including the country’s most prestigious, Universidad de Los Andes.

You may have the impression from my previous posts that I hate La Candelaria. This is generally true, but there are cool aspects to go with the bad. Southeast to La Candelaria, further into the mountains, is a tough little neighborhood called Egipto (Egypt). I heard of a gringa who lived there for a short time; she moved after a gunfight erupted on her street.  Due south of La Candelaria is Los Laches. I’ve heard it’s also tough, but no stories. In between Los Laches and downtown is Parque Tercer Milenio, where there live a tent city of displaced Colombians. And then there is downtown, which borders La Candelaria up until to mountains.

So you have all these disreputable parts of town surrounding La Candelaria, where all the tourist gringos visiting Bogota are. Naturally, some of these neighborhoods’ people – those not so inclined to work – hang out in La Candelaria. They beg, sell drugs, steal, whatever. It’s no more than annoying during the day, but at night it’s a ghost town. The streets empty out. Stick-up kids and other skanks take over. Nothing will happen to people walking in groups, but neither locals nor wise tourists walk the streets alone at night.

Don’t let this dissuade you from staying (or even living) in La Candelaria.  Most people have no problems at all. And it can be really cool! The emphasis on art is evident on every block. La Candelaria is home to some of the best murals I’ve ever seen. I believe that once the city gets a handle on crime, La Candelaria will be one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world.

Enjoy the pics. Jump to the end for the murals.

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July 11, 2009 | Filed Under colombia, most popular 

comments

3 Responses to “La Candelaria in Pictures”

  1. Stuart on July 13th, 2009

    Thanks for the photos, nice to be able to better picture the place.

  2. Les on July 17th, 2009

    Amigo, Donde estan la mujeres?

  3. joe on October 5th, 2009

    ” I believe that once the city gets a handle on crime, La Candelaria will be one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world.”

    yeah, murals blaming the U.S. and pimping for commies will work out real, good real fast….

    Wait, I have an idea, why not invite in the jihadis?

    /sarcasm off

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