I have been a vegetarian for about 25 years. Because lately I have been very hungry and having trouble with my sugar numbers, I decided to increase meat in my diet (beans have a lot of carbs in them). Well Colombia is a place to try meat. Their beef is amazing, lean, and very flavorful. Their chicharrón is also pretty amazing. This is a typical dish here with a cocktail made of aguardiente which is a licorice flavor alcohol.
I also took a tour of Común 13. It is a vibrant neighborhood known for its dramatic transformation from one of the most dangerous areas in the city to one of cultural revival. There would be different gang sections here that would be at war with each other with mass killings for years. I loved the colorful murals, the different levels of buildings that can be accessed by stairs and escalators, and the street performances. Now it is a safe place to live and for people to visit.
After the swim a few of us from the tour went to a local hawker area that was recommended by the guide. I had madongo. It is a soup made of tripe. It was absolutely delicious
After a swim to cool down I took a walk to parque Botero. There are bronze statues created by the artist Botero. It is interesting to see how the streets on opposite sides of the park are different. One side is a literal red light district and the other side is not quite so seedy.
