I had an absolutely delightful day walking around Bogota. It is a city unlike anything I had seen before. It is a huge city of more the eleven million people but unlike Panama City there were few buildings taller than 15 stories. It's as though Bogota was stunted in its urban development 30-40 years ago. I read that in the later part of the 20th Century, Bogota struggled with political violence and social unrest. It seems now that it is enjoying a period of peace. Leaving my hotel on a Saturday morning, the streets were pretty quiet. I was immediately struck by how grungy the city felt. I saw a large homeless encampment in a park near here with what looked like families of indigenous people living in improvised structures. As I walked, I began to become aware of the mulitplex of textures and patinas that surrounded me. Buildings of various ages blended together into a landscape of angles and materials. Glass, concrete, brick, stone, stucco, and painted surfaces all showing signs of years of weather and wear. Graffiti and other street art was everywhere. As it approached midday, the city started to take on a festive buzz. Food vendors, performers and artists lined the streets. There was too much to look at all at once so I took refuge in several cafes along the way. This is a city that loves coffee (my kind of place) and there was a variety of cafes to choose from. From upscale boutique coffee houses to grungy hipster hangouts to simple street carts. I tried them all which resulted in me being a little over caffeinated. I made my way to the funicular station to go visit the El cerro de Monserrate. The funicular is an impossibly steep railway that runs straight up the mountain side pulled by a cable. The rail cars are designed in a staggered (stair step) angle and passengers stand in 6 small compartments. It's a thrilling ride and at the top the train is pulled through what feels like a vertical tunnel. The Monserrate is a 10,341 foot (3,152 m) bluff that overlooks Bogota. It has a 17th century cathedral at the top but it is also a park with restaurants, shops and more cafes. It is a good place for people watching with families and tourists taking selfies and enjoying the view. I could feel the both the caffeine and the elevation when walking the steep trails. After plunging back down the mountainside in the funicular, I walked down to the Plaza de Bolivar, the historical capital center. It too was a hive of interesting activity. I really enjoyed the narrow streets of colonial buildings and blocks of colorful street art. By the time I got back to my hotel, I had walked a little more than 14 miles. It was getting dark and I was hungry. Time to go find something interesting for dinner.