So, yesterday we arrived at the El Dorado Airport in Bogota, Colombia.

The day started out with fighting the morning traffic and the Miami commuters with their usual antics to get to the Miami Airport. I will never complain about Seattle traffic again. This was at 6:30 in the morning. Normal people are asleep at 6:30 in the morning. Arriving at the airport, we found the lines at American Airlines to be very long – Miami is their South American hub - and Security was not that much better. Leaving Weston 3 ˝ hours before we were to board (with a 45 minute commute) we made it to boarding with five minutes to spare. That certainly eliminated the “down time” waiting at the airport!

Arriving, passing through customs and getting luggage at the Bogota Airport was a snap. Mary had told us to utilize the airport porters to retrieve, transport the luggage and handle the scanning of the bags. We did. We met Mary and German outside the airport and the porter put our luggage into the car. Off we went through downtown Bogota ending up at their apartment.

First impressions: A huge city of 8 million on a flat plain at an elevation of over 8000 feet. Mountains surround three quarters of the horizon. Some of these mountains are quite high. The climate is 65-75 degrees throughout the year with rain distinguishing the summer (more) from the winter (less). It is disconcerting to know that we are near the equator (4 degrees north latitude actually) and have little heat and humidity. It is like Los Angeles weather in the spring and fall except all year round. Tropical plants thrive even though the lows can drop into the high forties at night due to the elevation.

The other obvious realization is the acute need for more oxygen molecules here. This became obvious as soon as we were walking from the airplane to customs in the airport. The sprinting down the corridor with our carry on luggage lasted maybe fifty yards. The rest of the walk was at a leisurely pace. It was even nice to stand in line for customs. Usually I hate standing in lines.

The Pereira’s apartment is on the side of a high mountain rising from the city. Looking down to the center of town makes me realize that we must be at nearly 9000’ feet here. This makes laziness the preferred condition. Interestingly, German has at least six rounds of golf planned for me in the next twelve days – without carts. But, fortunately we will have caddies.

After watching the sunset (about 6:00 every day of the year) we drove down to the commercial area below the apartment for a look-around and dinner. One rule Mary makes is that visitors do nothing strenuous the first day and alcohol is a no-no. I was able to wear her down (I think with the continual whining and her watching me develop DTs made her realize the error of her ways). Ann and I were allowed a glass of wine with dinner. Also, light meals are the best after arriving. We ate at an outdoor patio restaurant and had arepas (Colombia’s version of a tostada) with toppings. We also sampled patacones, fried sweet plantains pounded thin again like a tostada with a toppings like a cheese-less pizza. Empanadas, fried coarse cornmeal mini bites wrapped around ground meat and potatoes, completed the tasting treat. All were very different but delicious.

Sleep came easily with only a few oxygen molecules in the room. We slept long and hard and are now ready to attack the city!

I am noticing that the lack of oxygen to my already simple brain is having its effect. Every third word I type is misspelled and some sentences make no sense at all after reading them. Much editing is necessary. Wait, that is no different than at sea level.