Viva Colombia Day 9 - Fiesta Fiesta (8/6/16)

We go grab a bite to eat before returning to the hostel to wait for our cab. We find a dutch couple going around the same time as us to share the cab ride as its a long/expensive trip. We eventually get to the airport and as is the case with most of the other airports we have come across, it is a small airport with no A/C. So we walk around trying to find a breeze and stay cool within the terminal until they start boarding for the flight. They have us line up and wait in line for 10-15 minutes as the sun beats down on us. Little toasty.

Hostel is ready for the party. Lets do this!

Gorgeous church right next to the mall. 

Eventually we get on the plane and fall fast asleep. Wake up once we land in Bogota and make our way to the bus pick up area. Cant find the right bus, so I start talking to one of the cops there and he gets us to the right bus and even tells us which stop to get off at for our place. Bus has lots of places to stand and only 20 seats and it fills up quickly as we make our way into town. Eventually get to our hostel (Hostel Republica) after walking around a little bit and taking a little detour due to the street signs. There are people everywhere in the hostel, turns out it was Bogota's bday I believe so they were having this big shindig with musicians and dancing and drink specials. We check in and put our stuff down before going to walk around the area to check it out. Really pretty area which is less touristy than La Candelaria and I think a better representation of Bogota. Stop at a nearby Italian restaurant for dinner; more expensive than our normal meals, but was tasty. As we walk around, we come upon a mall, and explore inside as Eric is looking for some souvenirs. Turns our their malls are highly varied in the stores inside (at least this one was); Formal attire clothing store, a casino, a tourist trinket store, among others. It is now dark and we keep walking around, this time down a street that doesnt look as nice as the ones we were previously on. Stumble into a biker gang clothing store where Eric buys a hat of the gang. We then make our way back to the fiesta to check it out in full swing. Grab some drinks and try the local Aguardiente, which is a weird mix of licorice and some other flavors I cannot place. Having these drinks, we talk to some other travelers and some of the locals and just walk around watching the festivities unfold. I then settle up with the hostel (drinks and room) as I have an extremely early flight in the morning and then go up to shower and get some sleep (noise wasnt helpful but got to sleep eventually).