Tag Archives: chapinero
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Posted on 25. Jul, 2011 by Colin.
SUMMARY: Pics and video of the church and mass in Plaza Lourdes.
Alternate Title: Church and Mass in Plaza Lourdes, Chapinero, Bogota
I occasionally attend Mass at Plaza Lourdes. It’s a big beautiful church in Chapinero at Calle 63 with Carrera 13. In my opinion, it’s the most beautiful view in Bogota.
The plaza’s known for drugs and violence and gays. But inside the church it’s all about Jesus, except when armed gangs take the priest hostage as they did in 2009. Across the street is an office that pays entitlements to displaced Colombians. One day they got angry at what they thought was the government cheating them. Why they took the priest hostage I have no idea, but there was a standoff with riot police all day … Read more
Continue Reading
Enrique Peñalosa and Congestion in Bogota
Posted on 16. Jul, 2011 by Colin.
SUMMARY: Description of congestion in Bogota in the context of an eye-opening, visionary speech by urban development genius and mayoral candidate Enrique Peñalosa.
Alternate Title: My Official Endorsement of Enrique Peñalosa for Mayor of Bogota
Congestion in Bogota is unreal. Latin American capitals are known for chaotic traffic and poor infrastructure. Combine that with sky-high immigration to Bogota of displaced persons from Colombia’s armed conflict, and you have an amazingly crowded city. … Read more
Continue Reading
My 2nd Time Bribing Cops in Colombia
Posted on 22. Jun, 2010 by Colin.
SUMMARY: Short dittie about my 2nd time busted smoking weed on the street with The Mick.
This story happened within a day or two after I published the story on my first time bribing cops in Colombia. Although that story occurred months before publishing it, I shied away from writing up this one because I would’ve felt like a dumb shit and a loser for having essentially the same story happen twice.
I quit drinking for over six months in Colombia. Toward the end, I started smoking weed every day all day to get by. That habit stuck after a month in the States and returning to Colombia in January. My smoking started to stink up the apartment building, annoying the neighbors. One day one of them said something about it to me and I decided not to smoke in the apartment anymore. … Read more
Continue Reading
Sorreros: How to Move in Bogota
Posted on 14. Jun, 2010 by Colin.
SUMMARY: Pictures of a sorrero, a cart guy, helping me move from my Chapinero apartment.
Continue Reading
Limpiezas in Colombia: Social Cleansing
Posted on 06. Mar, 2010 by Colin.
SUMMARY: I discuss social cleansing in Colombia, which Wikipedia defines as “the elimination of ‘undesirable’ social elements, such as criminals, homosexuals, and the homeless.”
I’ve heard of police and military carrying out extrajudicial killings of thieves and indigentes. The issue came up after I noticed a significant difference in the streets around 7 de agosto, which is usually crawling with indigentes… Read more
Continue Reading
Chapinero Alto in Pictures
Posted on 18. Oct, 2009 by Colin.
SUMMARY: Profile and pictures of Chapinero Alto, the affluent area of Chapinero, the coolest neighborhood in Bogota, Colombia.
Continue Reading
Bogota Zombie Bums
Posted on 29. Aug, 2009 by Colin.
SUMMARY: I describe panhandlers, bums, and drug addicts in Bogota, Colombia.
Readers Attack – ‘Get the fuck out’!
My second hate comment, from “Julian”:
Please get the fuck out. dude, seriously, you’re the only piece of walking trash in that beautiful city,
My first reaction to this comment was: Wow, he doesn’t know this city at all!
Continue Reading
Chapinero in Pictures
Posted on 05. Aug, 2009 by Colin.
SUMMARY: Profile and pictures of the coolest neighborhood in Bogota, Colombia: Chapinero.
Continue Reading
1st Vallenato Party in Bogota Colombia
Posted on 29. May, 2009 by Colin.
SUMMARY: Description of my first time seeing a vallenato band. After the party I decide to go back to AA.
There was a party at a bar in my Chapinero neighborhood. I got there and found Guillermo, the owner’s brother. We started talking shop. We drank beer and rum. Guillermo served in the Colombian military and was sent with the United Nations to Israel, Beirut, and Egypt in the early 90s. We talked about Colombia’s war against FARC, which we both agree will come to an end within ten years. All the while we got smashed… Read more
Continue Reading
My First Paisa in Colombia
Posted on 17. May, 2009 by Colin.
SUMMARY: I get drunk and go to Plaza Lourdes to get high, where I meet my first paisa from the Antioquia subculture in Colombia.
Alternate Title: My First Run-In with Cocaine in Colombia
I met my first paisa last week. I’d heard of paisas from a guy who worked the graveyard shift at hotel in La Candelaria. He was from Medellin, the land of paisas. He told me they’re Colombia’s crazy culture – street-smart, involved in crime. Hot-headed people, quick to pull guns… Read more
Continue Reading
