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