Feature - ONE-DAY STROLLING THROUGH HEART OF BOGOTA by Aditya E.S. Wicaksono

On an early Monday, in the second week of August, the temperature outside the El Dorado International Airport in Bogota dropped to around ten degree Celsius. However, the chilly air in the largest city in Colombia was ignored by the cheering of nine Indonesians who had just landed in the South American country after a long haul of more than 35 hours. They, consisting of five tourist leaders and four journalists, including one from Antara, were granted an opportunity by the Government of Colombia to study the Spanish language and Colombian culture. Through a scholarship program for "Spanish as a foreign language for tourist guides and journalists specialized in tourism from FEALAC South-East Asia Countries", nine Indonesians, along with dozens of young professionals from Asian countries, including China, Mongolia, and Southeast Asian countries, will be studying Spanish for four months at several universities in Colombia. Some 58 paticipants gathered in the Capital City, Bogota, to attend the program's opening ceremony and briefing. Unfortunately, eight of the nine Indonesians could stay only one day and one night in Bogota before being sent to the Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga in Bucaramanga. But before leaving, they attended a luncheon at the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office in downtown Bogota, known as La Candelaria, one of the most impressive sites in Bogota. Old European Experience in the Heart of Bogota Located in the heart of Bogota, La Candelaria is the city's top-ranking destination for tourists. The neighbourhood is the home of beautiful colonial buildings set along narrow cobblestones streets, as well as top national museums, universities, and Colombian government offices. Baroque styled buildings, combined with a moderately-cold temperature, La Candelaria offers a bohemian atmosphere to visitors strolling in its neighbourhood. "Bogota is a typically modern city. Although it is a metropolitan one, its historical old buildings are well preserved," said Muhammad Bezqoni, a tourist leader, one of the Indonesians granted a scholarship from the Colombian Government. Owing to the Government's effort in conserving the nation¿s heritages, which date from the 15th to 17 centuries, La Candelaria has become the centre of history and a magnet for tourism in Colombia. The foundation for the neighbourhood was laid on a hilly terrain, with lines of cobblestone streets. "Visiting La Candelaria, it is better for you to wear comfortable shoes due to the terrain. Most of the streets here are made from cobblestones, and few of them are paved. Its ambience is like Western and Eastern Europe," said Yossie Suryanata, another Indonesian senior tourist leader participating in the scholarship program. Visitors can encounter old Catholic churches, such as La Iglesia de Candelaria and Iglesia del Carmen; explore museums, including Museo del Oro or the Gold Museum, Museo Botero and Casa de Monera; and enjoy the old European architecture, sitting side-by-side modern buildings. The neighbourhood is also dotted with street vendors and shops offering local gastronomy, such as Colombian coffee and culinary. "Some people may see Colombia in a different way, a conflicting and a warring one. But, arriving here, I see that it's completely different," said Bezqoni. In his opinion, people of Colombia were so generous and compassionate, living in a city which is called by Forbes magazine as South America's Next Capital of Cool. Bolivar Square Two blocks from Museo Botero, a museum devoted to the works of famous native artist Fernando Botero, strolling westbound along Calle 11, is the Plaza de Bolivar, which is located at the center of La Candelaria. At the center of the square, stands the statue of Simon Bolivar, The Liberator. The statue, which was sculpted from bronze by Italian artist Pietro Tenerani, was declared a national monument in 1994. Surrounding the plaza are some heritage buildings that are government offices. The first striking monument around the plaza is the Cathedral Primada de Colombia. The biggest cathedral in Colombia, standing on the eastern side of the plaza, was built in the 17th century. The tomb of Jiménez de Quesada, the founder of Bogotá, is laid inside the neoclassical cathedral, located in the building¿s largest chapel. Meanwhile, on the northern side of the plaza is Palacio de Justicia, or the Palace of Justice, a rather modern-designed building where the Supreme Court of Colombia is housed. After the original building was damaged and destroyed due to the nation¿s turbulent history, the government decided to construct a new building in 1989. Completing the 360 degree panorama around the square is the Capitolio Nacional building, which is the seat of the Colombian Congress, on the southern side, and the Lievano Building, which is the offices for the Mayor of Bogota. "Here in Bogota, we see many old buildings that are still in used. They are used for government offices, and the best part is that their structures are still well preserved. Whereas in our country, sometimes people do not want to use old buildings, but construct new ones for offices," Bezqoni said. After feeding and playing with thousands of doves at the square, one day was not enough to explore the neighbourhood of La Candelaria, as there are still many corners of the city to be visited, such as the Cultural Center of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and the Plazuela Del Choro De Quevedo, where this city was supposedly founded in 1537 by Spanish Conquistador Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada. Moreover, La Candelaria has become the home for street artists, where facades of buildings or cafes feature colourful murals. Politics and current issues of inequality and internal displacement often become the inspirations of local artists¿ works in the neighborhood. "There are so many murals here in La Candelaria, and I think it's interesting. Despite that some are more vandalism than murals, but the real murals can be found here," said Amelia Fitirani, a journalist from Indonesia and one of the scholarship grantees. Amelia will be studying the Spanish language in Bogota, separated from her Indonesian companions who would be learning Spanish and Colombian culture in Bucaramanga, the capital city of Santander Department, 400km from Bogota. Meanwhile, when traveling to Bogota, it is better for travelers to bring a tiny umbrella, as the weather in the city is unpredictable, Yossie said. "Bring a jacket, you may find some hotels in Bogota do not have air conditioning because the weather is cold here," Yossie said. And about the time before the sun sets, the cold mountain breeze came down, slipping into the narrow alleys of the La Candelarian neighbourhood. Shivering, as the mild winter wind blew, some of the Asian students had to say goodbye to the grandeur of La Candelaria before starting their next journeys to other cities across Colombia.