Colombia III

[Trópico]

Colombia is a truly impressive place; being among the top three? countries with the greatest biodiversity, very friendly people and a super-rich culture is a must see place to consider.

After leaving the coast with its tropical climate...

[Trópico]

...we flew one hour south into the capital, Bogotá, located among the mountains in the "savannah" which is a vast flatland 2,600 mts above sea level, embedded within the "Cordillera Oriental" mountains.

Here the climate is cool to cold with daily highs in the 60sF and lows in the 45F to 50F range, with marked rainy and drier seasons.

This weather allows some cool temperate plants to grow and thrive

[Trópico]

The flora has an abundance of eucalyptus trees

... but some palm species are also being introduced and doing "ok". Among those being introduced today are the King palm, which can be seen almost anywhere in urban landscapes. They try to flower but don't set seed at that altitude.

[Bilbo]

Frank: is pic 2 Acacia baileyana "pupurea"?

It certainly looks like one I had until a couple years back when it got destroyed by a mini twister.

That leaves me with a large dealbata in fine flower right now and a baileyana which flowers now and indeed all year leading the French to name it "Mimose quatre saisons". Thats a real value for money tree indeed I believe the French use it for "Greffe" - the approach gaft as it can grow on lime which most dont like.

Thats useful over there as there are acid soils in some areas and alkaline in others.

Regardez

Juan

[Bilbo]

I ment pic4!

[Trópico]

Yes indeed Bilbo! That was my first encounter with that tree and I truly love it! I don't think that it will grow here in C. FL.

This location is a little less than an hour north of northern Bogotá, near a town called Zipaquirá. Here are some Ceroxylon quindiuense:

We visited a salt mine there, one of the 7 wonders of the new world?

[Trópico]

This is an abandoned mine turned into a church. Mining operations moved to other places nearby.

[Trópico]

After a long walk through different chambers each representing the stations of the cross (a little less than an hour) deeper into the earth we saw the main church room. The cross, carved into the salt, is about two stories high.

[Trópico]

Layer fashioned crystal lattice of the salt ore. Beautiful!

Salt miner monument

[Trópico]

-"Hi I'm a palmaholic. Nice to meet you finally! You're beautiful! I loved ya ever since they showed me your picture palm!"

-"Rustle, rustle..."

[Trópico]

More Purple acacias. They're beautiful. And overused down there.

[Trópico]

The town of Zipaquirá. Very picturesque.

Driving back we stopped for some typical Colombian food, "Andres carne de Res" was closed so we went across the street to a place specializing in "fríjoles" with arepas.

[Trópico]

Did you spot the Ensete ventricosum in the last pic? Here it is! This is the only "banana" that grows well in Bogotá.

[Trópico]

We visited another special church, Monserrate, which is due east of the Center of Bogotá, at an altitude of more than 3,000 mts ASL which overlooks the city.

-caution: no palms here-

-but beautiful plants and views nonetheless-

[Trópico]

You could go up by walking, funicular, or a 45º train.

The views were stunning. This altitude is what they call the "sub-páramo".

Again, the stations of the cross on the final way to the church

[Trópico]

[Trópico]

And now the view from Monserrate down to Bogotá:

[Trópico]

The church at Monserrate

And a little place where they sell typical Colombian souvenirs

[amazondk]

Frank,

How is the situation with violence in Colombia these days.? I went there a lot on business in the 80's but haven't been there since.  I always had a good time in Colombia.  I got some real nice bromeliads there.  Most of my time was spent in Bogota and Cali.  Cali has a great climate, not to mention the women.

dk

[Bilbo]

Frank those Red trumpets are Angels; Brugsmania sanguinea.

Yeah we used to call them Daturas before the botanists got involved

Regardez

Juan

[paulgila]

very nice photos.i have never seen colombia before.

the souvenir shops look the same no matter where in the world you are.

[Zac in NC]

Frank- Great shots. I bet they could grow Musa ingens there, which love cooler conditions. Also, towards the beginning, that is a very neat looking variegated Agave. And the silver Asteraceous thing is very nice too. And that Brugmansia sanguinea is cool too.

Zac

[Gaston in Argentina]

Wonderfull pictures of a beautifull city. I was there in the 91 and 92 visiting any city of the coutry and started to love the palms there.-

Those young Ceroxylons look really nice.- It should be more planted.- Cheers. Gaston,AR

[Morabeza]

Great photos Frank!  Thanks for sharing.  Colombia sure seems magical.

[Trópico]

Don, the situation seems to be less violent these days, and I felt no less secure than walking the streets of downtown Orlando. But my wife, she sure felt less secure than me; must have been memories from long ago. There are events of violence but most are far from Bogotá.

I'm glad you all are liking the plant pics, brace yourselves, there's more!

Looking from the Monserrate to the neighboring peak to the south, a Jesus (or Mary?) statue not as big as Rio's.

Another view of the more than 100 square miles of city, Santa Fe de Bogotá (Cundinamarca department).

[Trópico]

I fell in love with this drink, Postobon, and here is one of their newer flavors from Malasia

Now for the descent, there is a nice restaurant among the colorful trees and plants worth the stop.

[Trópico]

This is one pine tree I liked a lot. Pinus sp (ID anyone?)

[SubTropicRay]

Hi Frank,

Beautiful scenery.  Thanks for posting the wonderful photos.

Ray

[Trópico]

More

Back in the city, I would call the streets I was walking in the "church alley". Excellent churches there.

[Trópico]

Another

[Trópico]

This is the site of government, Plaza de Bolívar. In the background is the Capitolio Nacional (Capitol building).

And behind it is the Palacio de Nariño, where the President lives (no pictures because the security overthere was tight).

Capitolio Nacional

[Trópico]

One of the main mass transportation projects, the "Transmilenio"

[Trópico]

Jardín Botánico José Celestino Mutis

Parajubaea cocoides and Ceroxylon quindiuense

(bear with me, if I make a wrong ID kindly point it out).

More Ceroxylons, Colombia's national tree.

[Dave-Vero]

Zipaquirá looks like the perfect Spanish town.  A recent scholarly book says the Spanish, trying to figure out what to do with their vast new dominions, turned to the Roman classics to see how the Romans did it.  And they did likewise.  

The Capitolio looks as though it's built with flat arches between the columns rather than huge slabs of stone.  I think that's a technique that Michelangelo used at the Capitol in Rome.

Those yellow daisies at the "sub paramo" Stations of the Cross might be a species of Senecio.

[Kris]

Dear Frank  

Great tour stills man,it was as though we all were travelling along with you guys.

that place & its vegitation looks very lush with ample rainfall.

the church & buildings all looks great.

i used to tell Don(Amazon Dk) that no body covers brazil & its

neighbourhood including the amazon river basin like our friend

Don.

but i must say that many including you are doing great with your coverage in the travels & tours section..

and the stills resolution is mind blowing too.

Thanks & Love,

Kris  

[Trópico]

Ceroxylon quindiuense (Wax palm) is a humongous tree! Look at the juvenile in relation to the people around it

[Trópico]

The tour guide made clear that one growth ring IS NOT EQUAL to a year of growth, as is commonly believed among non-palm people. She said a Ceroxylon can take 20 years! to start trunking.

I was absolutely humbled by their sheer magnificence.

[Trópico]

A section for fern lovers (like me)

[Trópico]

More cold hardy palms

Parajubaea cocoides

Phoenix roebellenii (looks weird)

[Trópico]

Archontophoenix alexandrae (King palm). Widely used in Bogotá