#FlyWashington Magazine Winter 2019 | Page 42

COLOMBIA’S CITY OF GOLD BY JEN ROSE SMITH Gold Museum Credit: Brett Allen Forget El Dorado — from high cuisine to art around every corner, Bogotá’s treasures are the real deal. Long before Europeans reached the highest peaks of the Andes, glimmering rumors of a golden city spread like tropical fever among the explorers’ ranks. The spirit was captured by Edgar Allan Poe in his 1849 poem, “Eldorado.” Over the Mountains/Of the Moon, he wrote, Ride, boldly ride/If you seek for El Dorado! If they’d found it, Bogotá would not be far off, as modern-day archeologists trace the legend to Laguna Guatavita, a sacred lake near the modern-day Colombian capital. Wrapped in summits and soft clouds, Bogotá is a fresh answer to that ancient quest for Andean treasure. Here, artisanal workshops turn rough-cut emeralds into exquisite gems, as Latin America’s leading chefs craft high-flying tasting menus. Unlike the gold-hungry conquistadors, today’s explorers can quench discovery dreams with colorful street art, glittering emeralds, or a jewel-toned sunset from the top of Mount Monserrate. At 8,660 feet above sea level, Bogotá’s altitude alone is head-spinning: catch your breath to discover this cultural prize at the top of the Andes. FLYWASHINGTON.COM 40 WINTER 2019/20 Bogotá, Colombia Credit: Starcevic