"Sun is shining, the weather is clear, yeah."... Time to experience this ciclovía (car free streets from 7:00 until 14:00 every Sunday) on this glorious Sunday. Great idea and well organised means that it is now a proud aspect of this city's culture. It's a time to show off your bike and your biking skills, including downhill steps and managing not to crash into pedestrians and other bikers on the crowded streets. Something that I obviously recommend every other city to adopt to not only embrace cycling culture but to let the people in general take back the streets.
Some other fun incidents or noteworthy differences in the past few days. Bogota is 2600m above sea level, but no need for an oxygen mask so far. Am intending to do some exercise tolerance tests or maybe even some endurance/ condition training.
The ambiance on the streets is pretty relaxed, with no overt signs of criminal activity or aggression, although my host (Miguel) warned me against using Carrera 13. To exchange money, however, one needs to provide a passport, signature and fingerprint. Methinks they have/ had a problem with money laundering.
Another feature of walking about today was that people were generally quite happy and random acts of kindness seem to happen regularly here. Whether it is donating some of the food you are eating to a begging homeless person or volunteering to organise the ciclovía, Colombian people seem to be in touch with their humanity and demonstrate compassion for those in need.
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