It was roughly six in the morning when I finally made my way out of the El Dorado airport and into the piercingly cool morning air of Bogotá. Even though it was very early in the morning, the sky was already waking up to a new day. The first thing I noticed was the mountains. They decorated the horizon and stretched out for miles – a beauty my eyes were fixated on during the long ride to my apartment.

View of the mountains in Bogotá from my room! I still can’t believe this was the view I would wake up to every morning.
Solo Travel + Language
After arriving at my apartment, I quickly succumbed to sleep only to wake up with a deep ache of homesickness. The reality of spending over two months in a new place, speaking a language I barely knew, began to set in. Navigating Bogotá alone during those first two weeks was daunting. I’d walk to Javeriana University to work on my project, but I avoided exploring the city, often wasting time in my apartment, glued to my phone, or staring at the mountains. Eventually, I pushed myself to visit nearby shops and grocery stores (fun fact: milk and eggs aren’t refrigerated here) and began feeling more grounded with each passing day.
Learning to navigate the streets was one thing, but navigating the language was a whole different story. The phrases ‘no entiendo’ and ‘otra vez’ became part of my everyday vocabulary, which I relied on at restaurants or during project meetings. However, despite these struggles, I grew more comfortable with the Spanish language through frequent conversations with my community partners (+ Google Translate), who were always patient.
The Earthquake
Just as I was settling into the groove of my life in Bogotá, I woke up one morning to my whole room shaking. It took me a minute to process that I was experiencing my first earthquake. My adrenaline quickly took control as I ran out of my room and onto the street filled with people. Everyone was dazed and confused as we waited for the earthquake to subside before we entered our apartment again. The magnitude 6.3 earthquake definitely rattled me emotionally and physically, but now I reminisce about it.
All About Bogotá (+ Cartagena)
Bogotá is the perfect destination to escape the hot Texas summer. With its steady year-round temperatures in the 50 – 60°F and the occasional drizzle, I quickly fell in love with the crisp, cool weather. Every day felt like sweater weather! One of the first things I noticed was how early the sun rises and sets (grateful for blackout blinds 🙏🏻). By dawn, the city is already alive: people heading to work, walking their dogs, or getting in a morning workout. Bogotá even has dedicated lanes down the center of major roads for runners and cyclists, and on Sundays, entire streets are closed off just for them.

Roads are closed on Sunday mornings for anyone who wants to bike, walk, or run.
In addition to this active lifestyle, the city’s social atmosphere is equally warm and welcoming. It’s common for strangers to greet you with a simple ‘buenas’ wherever you go. From Uber drivers to bookshop employees, I have received several amazing recommendations when it comes to exploring Bogotá and Colombia. One of my favorite spots in Bogotá has to be La Candelaria. La Candelaria is the heart of Bogotá – the historic center that is bustling with street vendors, tourists, and musicians. La Candelaria is also home to several amazing museums, of which Museo de Botero and MAMBO are my favorites.
Outside of La Candelaria, one of my most physically demanding adventures was hiking Monserrate. Bogotá’s high altitude was no joke; I could feel it with every step as I climbed nearly two miles with an elevation gain of around 2,900 meters. The air was thin, my legs ached, and the path seemed endless. However, reaching the summit made it all worth it. From the top, the view of Bogotá sprawled beneath me, a breathtaking patchwork of mountains, buildings, and sky. I ended the day sampling unfamiliar fruits like feijoa, zapote, and maracuyá – each offering a new taste of Colombia’s richness and diversity.

View of the center of Bogotá from the top of Monserratte.
Escaping Bogotá, I truly enjoyed exploring the salt mines in Nemocón and the wonderful city of Cartagena. It was interesting to witness the vast salt mines that fueled Colombia’s economy and the history behind the development of these mines. On the other hand, I reveled in the sun at the beaches in Cartagena while dancing the night away at the historic Gestsemani neighborhood. I marveled at the Old City Walls that stretched for miles, protecting the neighborhood from pirate attacks in the past, and walked the lively streets dotted with musicians, shops, and restaurants.

Monumento Torre del Reloj (left), which marks the entrance to Cartagena, and a plaza (right) filled with vendors and live music.
Foodie at Heart
Exploring Cartagena also meant indulging in the diverse food scene. The city offered me a medley of flavors: the tang of tart mussels, the tenderness of shrimp ceviche, the sweetness of coconut rice, and the chill of a coconut paleta.

My travel buddy Alina and I devoured refreshing paletas (right), a perfect treat after our meal at La Mulata, an incredible seafood spot where I tried a dish called Camarones Mulatos (left).
Bogotá didn’t disappoint when it came to food, either. Traditional Colombian dishes, such as ajiaco and tamal, grew on me, and I came to appreciate how fresh yet hearty the meals were. In addition to local food, Bogotá offers a wide variety of international cuisine. Alina and I have explored Indian, Japanese, Thai, Mexican, Italian, American, and Greek cuisine. Each restaurant offered its own distinct flavors, with some adding a Colombian twist—like Vitto, an Italian spot that creatively incorporated plantain into its pasta.
It didn’t take long for me to notice that Colombia’s flavors extend far beyond the plate. Nearly every restaurant we visited offered unique drinks, and somewhere along the way, I made it my mission to find the best mango juice in the country. Quero Arepa in Cartagena claims the top spot in my book — sweet, smooth, and almost too good to be real — followed closely by Vitto in Bogotá, whose juice was just as refreshing. Alongside my juice-tasting journey, I’ve also grown accustomed to the steady rhythm of Colombian coffee, each cup rich and grounding, fueling long days and slow mornings alike. Tinto, Colombia’s bold black coffee, kept me going through long days in Usme, while the fragrant Matcha Chai became my quiet fuel during hours of project planning.
Raíces Futuras: My Project in Usme, Bogotá
My Loewenstern project focuses on promoting the work of urban gardeners while passing down oral history about plant and environmental care to younger generations in the rural Bogotá district of Usme. To get there, I navigated the city’s transportation system—first taking the Transmilenio to the 20 de Julio portal, then boarding an Alimentador bus that connects to various Usme neighborhoods. Public transportation is widely used in Bogotá, efficiently linking urban and rural areas at a relatively low cost.

Buses can get very busy, especially during rush hours.
During my first visit to Tihuaque, a neighborhood in Usme, I was immediately struck by the contrast between the area, central Bogotá, and the U.S. The streets were noticeably narrower, winding along steep inclines, and the buildings – made of aluminum, concrete, and brick—felt more densely packed. Frequent rain left the roads muddy, and the colder weather added to the rugged atmosphere. Yet despite these differences, the view from the heights of Usme was breathtaking: golden light filters through the clouds, casting a soft glow over a patchwork of colorful rooftops tucked into the lush green folds of the mountains.

Views of the mountains from Tihuaque, Usme.
Apart from the views, my favorite part of Usme would have to be the people. As I recall, upon my first interactions with elder farmers, I reminisce about the warmth they extended towards me. With each and every ‘huerta’ or garden I visited, I was greeted with tea, tinto, and/or a piece of soft bread. With each snack, followed a deep yet joyous conversation about the farmers’ work, struggles, and daily life. I have learned a lot about the community the farmers in Usme have built, the struggles of selling and growing their produce, and their zeal for environmentally sustainable practices. Each and every farmer had so much passion for their land and work that it made me more conscious of the waste I leave behind.

A huerta of one of the huerteras (farmers) named Beatriz. She uses eggshells, food scraps, and earthworms to provide organic nutrients to her plants, avoiding chemicals.
Using what we’d learned, Alina and I designed interactive workshops on environmental sustainability for children. Our visits to Nueva Esperanza and El Domo in Usme quickly became some of my favorite memories. The kids would swarm us with questions about our lives in the U.S., our families, hobbies, and thoughts on Colombia—some even asked us to speak in English, giggling at our responses. Their curiosity was contagious. Through games, discussions, and hands-on activities, we explored sustainability and sparked interest in farming, a priority voiced by local elders. Watching students engage so joyfully with these ideas was incredibly rewarding. Saying goodbye to these students, knowing I may never speak with them again, is a difficult reality I’m still processing. However, this experience has only deepened my eagerness to build similar connections within my own community back in the U.S.
Conclusion
As I reach the end of my trip, I feel extremely grateful for this journey of cultural and social exploration in addition to self-development. I believe that this trip has allowed me to view the world from a different lens and has allowed me to be more open-minded to trying new things and interacting with diverse people. My Loewenstern experience will be forever etched in my heart, and I cannot wait to share my story about this eye-opening experience with others.