Maria Luisa lives in a nice apartment (most Bogotanos live in apartments, for security and convenience)  in a nice neighbourhood called Quinta Camacho, near Rosales, the neighbourhood wouldn't be out of place in London, the homes are built in the English style. We rang the bell and announced ourselves and said who we there to visit to the doorman who buzzed us in. Up the lift a couple of floors to their apartment, knock on the door and we are met with open arms, kisses and hugs all round. I have never felt more welcome in all my life, it is the first time I have met some of Maria's family. The living room is packed with family, Maria Luisa and her husband Enrique, their daughter Maria Teresa (Maite) with her husband Juan Carlos, his mother Graciela, Maria Luisa's son Steve and wife Lidia, aunt Cristina (Crino) and her dog Olympia, Marta's mother Graciela, Diana & last but not least Flor the cook. Quite a little gathering!

Flor must have been cooking up a feast, the smells emanating from the kitchen were making my stomach growl, I could almost taste the food from the aroma. 

We sat around and had a chat or rather I should say several chats, at the same time. Some of the family speak pretty good English, Juan Carlos is fluent, so I was able to converse most easily with him, thank goodness because my Spanish is virtually non-existent. I have made a promise to Juan Carlos' mother Graciela, I will speak Spanish on my next visit, I am not very good with languages, so it will be a real challenge. I was able to follow what everyone was saying to me, but Maria had to translate my responses, it would have been so much nicer had I been fluent in Spanish.

Flor announced that dinner was ready, my stomach growled a loud gracias, wow my stomach is bilingual. Ajiaco, mmm! So that is what smelled so good. It tasted even better, this was the real thing, Flor sure knows how to cook. This time we did have guascas, and of course cream and capers (I didn't have capers on mine). The traditional accompaniments of rice, arepa and avocado  were of course present and my first taste of jugo de tomate de árbol. It was deep red colour and had a taste a bit like rhubarb. I asked for more. More of everything! 

After several more hours of chatting and enjoying a few glasses of wine, Maria mentioned that she would like to stop by and see her old house in Divino Salvador. Juan Carlos and Maria Teresa kindly offered to drive us to see the house in their Corsa. The neighbourhood has changed quite a bit, what were once houses are now shops, and businesses but the house looks much the same. We snapped a few photos and shot a bit of video whilst Maria & Maria Teresa relived the fun times they had as children playing in the garden.

Back to Maria Luisa's to pick up Graciela, then off back to the hotel. On the way Juan Carlos detoured to show us Zona Rosa and some of the other nice areas of town, very nice and very lively, it is Saturday night after all. I would like to visit Café Renault one night, I have to be loyal to my F-1 team. Renault is a big name in Colombia,  Bogotá is full of vintage Renault Cuatros, and more current models such as the popular Twingo. I wish I could find a nice Renault Cuatro to bring to Florida.

After dropping off the cameras and camcorder in the hotel and locking them securely in the room safe, we headed to Unicentro. We stopped in Ley to buy a few snacks, we bought some chips called Tocinetas Fred, they are highly addictive. Maria bought a bag of Esponjas.

I went to bed early so that I could get up at 1:00 AM to watch the Formula 1 race. I only missed one this year and that was because Hurricane Charley knocked out the electricity for a week.

Tomorrow we are off on the Turistren.

All content copyright © 2004 Jim Thompson

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