Monseratte

There’s a low mountain range, steep hills really, that rise on the west edge of Bogota. In the photo below you can also see a white building on the hill to the left, a church (and some small buildings) called Santuario Monseratte

The view of Bogota is supposed to be spectacular from there so I set off armed with some information: there are three ways to the top – a gondola, a train and a walk. Also I was told that on Sundays thousands of Colombians go up, some as a pilgrimage and some just for the view.

Off I set through the historic streets of La Candelaria

Through the more typical streets

And joined hundreds walking to the base of the mountain/hill (out of focus – sorry)

To this building

Looking up I could see the train tunnel disappear nearly vertically (under the gondola cables) into the face of the mountain. The train is a called a ‘funicular’.

The crowds for the gondola were huge so I walked further up the road to what I hoped was the funicular station

But after a while I realized I must be on the walk. I had been looking for signs but hadn’t seen one. So I braced myself for a 1500 foot climb to 10,340 feet. It started to get steeper

With occasional steep switchbacks

At the midpoint, a flat section, there were food stalls set up. Nearly everybody stopped here for what looked like a long rest, maybe lunch and some socializing