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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;kolhoznik, post: 2114581, member: 43009&quot;]Thanks for all concerned.&nbsp; I just returned and traveled extensively through Bogota and Boyacá. I did find a couple of shops but as it was Sunday, they were not open.&nbsp;&nbsp; I have traveled extensively in Latin America and speak fluent Spanish.&nbsp; The trip was very nice.&nbsp; Colombia has changed much for the better in the last 10 years and I felt as secure there has I have in any other Hispanic country.&nbsp;&nbsp; Here are a few tips based on my time there.</p><p><br /></p><p>1. A trusted local friend makes a lot of difference:&nbsp; I have a great friend there with decades of experience in country.&nbsp; I let that person make inquiries since he is local and knows where to safely ask.&nbsp; Also there are safe, very nice areas, and bad areas (just like any city),&nbsp; we just avoided the bad.</p><p><br /></p><p>2. You will be asked for money, treat them with kindness and a polite decline.&nbsp; I have discovered if you do not treat the beggars as subhuman, they just accepted my reply and went on. </p><p><br /></p><p>3. They police and military seem to have improved and FARC has been pushed into remote areas.&nbsp; Travel is much safer than a few years ago.</p><p><br /></p><p>4. Colombians as a whole were very welcoming to foreigners and did not seem closed.&nbsp; It is a beautiful country that well deserves a reconsideration from the reputation of 10-30 years ago.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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