CABLE CAR UP MONSERRATE
Very near our 18 story apartment building the Andes rise up very, very steeply from our 8,600 feet to 10,300 feet. You can walk up the steep hill but the preferred way, crowded with tourists, is by cable car. This is what we did on Thursday morning. The mile walk up to the base of the steep hill to the cable car was through a town eerily quiet. When the truckers went out on strike the schools closed, the universities closed, businesses closed, the government buildings closed and the traffic thinned out. We also learned today that Bogata is caught in an extreme drought and that the water will be shut off between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, so we are going to fill every container and sink to try and get through the day.
But none of this was on our minds as we boarded the cable car. There was a long line, but not only was my senior ticket cheaper, but because of my advanced age I was given a wrist bracelet that allowed me, and families with babies, to move to the head of the line.
The view from the top was stunning. We could see the whole city of 10 million spread out in front of us including being able to locate our apartment building right below us.
At the top of hill is a large church which we visited, shops selling religious items, shops selling all kinds of gaudy tourist items, and a string of small food stall with examples of their food on tables in front of each one and a person stationed in front to try and lure us in. Instead we chose a beautiful, expensive ($30 for both of us) old style restaurant and had a delicious meal.
I have to admit that this time at 10,000 feet I was out of breath and a little dizzy. But we had a great time and took lots of photographs.
BILLYBABA’S WANDERING 