







 



<rss version="2.0" xmlns:beenthere="http://ivebeenthere.co.uk/beenthere-rss">
    <channel>
        
                
        <title>Been there | Tips</title>
        
        <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/</link>
        
        <description>
            Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love,
            live in or have just visited - are what make this guide.
        </description>
        
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Hiking up to Monserrat with the Pilgrims</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33779</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[There is nothing more amazing than hiking up to the Monserrat Church on the mountain that towers over Bogota. On Sundays thousands of locals make a pilgrimage to the church. It is the best way to experience the local life and culture. The views from the top (10,000m above sea level) are outstanding!]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33779</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Hotel de la Opera</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31957</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[For the more mature backpacker- this hotel - once the opera house - is now a tranquil haven of old colonial with stylish bedrooms and a  leafy quadrangle for dining- after the hustle and bustle - nestled in a cobbled street just above the government house. A real treat for sore feet.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31957</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Bolera San Francisco</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30274</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[This is an old bowling alley underneath the street on Avenida Jiménez, Bogotá. It lies under the traditional 'Café Paisaje'. It has a really wonky, uneven piste, and a young lad climbs up and down a little ladder at one end to replace the skittles after you've had your go. If you're lucky he'll juggle for you, and if you're a pretty woman, he'll put them closer together to make it easy to beat your male opponents. The musty air and blaring rancheras make this a really atmospheric spot.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30274</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Mercado del Pulgas (in the Centre beside the Mambo Museum)</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24411</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Best market I've seen, filled with bizarre artefacts, toys and whatnot from the last 100 years. How they ended up in the hands of these humble folk is a mystery, but there they are, for sale and waiting to make the most unusual new addition to your home!  Not to be missed. Viva Colombia! "A la Orden!"]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24411</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Anandamayi Hostel and Hotel</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24057</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[The main draw of the Anandamayi is the cute, pretty extras it provides. Hammocks, pretty geraniums, colourful patios, a garden with waterfall and fish create an attractive exterior which is a pleasure to walk up to.<br><br>The interior is clean and tidy, and the hotel/hostel has a very homely, cosy feel. Most guests however spend a lot of time in the garden and courtyard which are by far the gems of the property.<br><br>All the major attractions of Bogota are within walking distance and they have a female dorm available at the same rate for those who would don't want to be in a mixed one.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24057</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Checkin Apartments</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18533</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[We found this apartment service online and we can highly recommend it. Located in an old charming building, the apartments are thoroughly renovated to an excellent standard.<br><br>The location is also superb, with easy access to the important business districts as well as sights and Zona Rosa, Bogota's main shopping and nightlife area.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18533</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Galeria Cano</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12494</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Like most parts of Latin America, you can buy tatty souvenirs in Bogotá. If you are looking for high quality, authentic and tasteful gifts, Galeria Cano is the solution.  The handicrafts have information about their makers. The styles are often subtle. The prices are expensive by Colombian standards, but cheap by Western ones. And the staff at the airport shop are great.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12494</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Hotel Casa de la Botica</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12491</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[As a 'regular' at the much grander Hotel de la Opera, I was intrigued to stay several nights in this cheaper option in Candelaria historic district. The attempt to create a boutique hotel in a lovely old building has its quirks and is somewhat ramshackle, but it will suit anyone who does not expect 5-star comforts. Don't expect English to be spoken.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12491</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Museo Nacional</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2970</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Worth a visit.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2970</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Zona Rosa</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2920</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[The place to be out and about at night. If you want to be seen with the right people, make sure you are seen there. Great places to eat, drink, dance, and most importantly, people watch.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2920</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Hotel de la Opera</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2754</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Ideally situated in the colonial Candelaria, and equipped with great bars and a restaurant, this hotel offers everything that you could need, including great views, guided tours and excursions. Prices from £60 for a double room.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2754</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Andres Carne de Res</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2752</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[It is difficult to spend too much money on food in Colombia but try this iconic Bogotá venue. Andres Carne de Res is actually a little out of town in the Chia district, but the trip is well worth the effort. Movers, shakers and the beautiful people descend on the sprawling bar, grill and restaurant nightly. The decor is unique, the vibe amazing, and once you are done eating the dancing goes on until the wee hours. Make sure you have someone to take you home again. The website will give you a better idea of the style of the place than anything I can tell you.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2752</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Transmilenio bus service</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2743</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Bogotanos are absurdly proud of the gleaming new Transmilenio bus service, a kind of overground metro. A bendy bus might not seem that exciting, but compared to the insanity of the traditional bus routes, this is travelling in style.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2743</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Jose Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2742</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Provides a showcase for the bewildering variety of plants that grow in the country, one of the planet’s most bio diverse.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2742</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Ajiaco</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2739</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[The city’s trademark dish. A delicious chicken and potato soup served with rice, plantain, corn, avocado, capers and cream. A siesta afterwards may be necessary.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2739</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Emeralds</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2736</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Emeralds are one of Colombia’s natural riches and a great temptation for bargain hunters. However, inferior stones can be passed off onto unsuspecting gringos with ease if you don’t know your stuff, so go for reputable outlets or avoid altogether.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2736</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Mirador restaurant</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2737</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[The Mirador restaurant upstairs at Hotel de la Opera is right in the middle of the Candelaria, the romantic colonial section of the city. Sit on the fourth floor and enjoy a candlelit dinner watching the sensational high altitude sunsets and distant mountain lightning that flickers beyond the terracotta rooftops and view of the main plaza.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2737</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Artisan work</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2734</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Woven baskets, hammocks and mochilas (a local bag) are all worth a look, as are reproductions of pre-Colombian pottery and gold work.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2734</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>The Botero art collection</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2732</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Gifted to the city by Colombia’s most famous artist. Botero’s trademark paintings of dumpy people abound, but a surprising number of other artists too including Miro, Picasso and more.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2732</guid>
            </item>
        
            <item>
                
                
                <title>Museo de Oro</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2731</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[The Museum of Gold houses arguably the finest collection of pre-Colombian gold on the planet. Not to be missed. 2,500 pesos for adults, free on Sundays.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2731</guid>
            </item>
        
    </channel> 
</rss>

