Bogota Botanical Garden

A breath of nature in the heart of the megalopolis.

Flower garden

* I apologize, no photos in this post as it seems like there are issues in Google servers*

Every city has its own trademark green-space: New York City boasts, more than a century old, Central Park; sunny San Diego has signature Balboa Park, that had opened city to flocks of visitors in the beginning of 20th century; Bogota takes pride in Simon Bolivar park. It features aquatic complex, library, Children's museum, space for concerts and Botanical garden. Today, I'll review my observations of Bogota’s climate, its air quality problem and how it is all connected to the Botanical Garden, place that offers escape to nature in the middle of the hectic city. This 5 minutes’ article will enrich you with some facts about Bogota and hopefully gives some thoughts to ponder on.

          The two things that might catch by surprise unaware traveler in Bogota are - frequently changing weather and air pollution.

          The city’s climate has been a subject of widespread jokes and Internet memes. The capital, due to its location between mountain’s, doesn’t have weather seasons; or, I better say, that they all might appear in one day. Morning clouds changed by burning sun on afternoon, and then interrupted by furious, cold rain. Sometimes all of this happens within one hour! Sunscreens and umbrellas friendly coexist in local’s purses/bags. Consequently, some people can be seen dressed in jackets, while others in t-shirts’, making the general public look colorful and sometimes funky. Experienced eye can quickly spot a tourist dressed in shorts and flip flops with reddish shades of sunburn on the face. Well, at least I brought 5 pairs of shorts and haven’t worn one yet, thinking that Colombia, which geographically located near the equator, is hot country. Wrong! At least, Bogota isn’t. Typically, April, May, September and October are the rainy months. Who’s interested, more in-depth information about the climate in Colombia can be found in this interesting article. So when the sun is out and day promise to be more predictable, many city-dwellers rush out to find escape in the shades of the parks.

          

A little waterfall-pound

Now, the problem of the gas emissions. Bogota is the 4th highest capital in the world - 2625 m/8.612 ft. (counting Lhasa - Tibet's capital, although according to different sources its statehood is arguable) after La Paz and Quito (according to wikipedia). Living in the high altitude might cause some health issues as the air is "thinner" (less compressed) and has less oxygen. On the top of it, the exhaust gases add its poisonous elements to the air. Nowhere yet, I’ve seen Dodge trucks from 60's (!!!) still driving on roads and churning out black clouds of fumes along with buses and semi’s. The cost of automobile and car ownership are very high here, therefore, any 4-wheeled vehicle (no matter its condition) is being utilized without a thought of the consequences to the nature. All this paints a pretty somber picture of the air quality of Bogota, home to 8 million residents. As a result, many people head to green spaces during the weekends. And Simon Bolivar park serves the role of the city’s lungs. Part of it, the Botanical Garden is the ideal asylum from city’s frenzy, place where people can learn about flora, meditate, and simply ease off. I found this place perfect to unwind from the day’s problems. There are a lot of obscure corners to relax, read a book, feel yourself remote as well as many educational stands, flower’s gardens, organic garden and kid’s center. Couple tourist’s tips: the entrance fee is more than affordable; the space is pretty big to spend couple hours; good for couples, solo and family visits, although busy traveler or person that is “not that much into nature” might skip this activity. I found this garden as partial solution to the air pollution problem and place to mentally recharge in overpopulated metropolis. I feel like in order to fix the problem more initiatives should be put in place by the government.    

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Photo colors worth Van Gogh's brush