EL DORADO AIRPORT - BOGOTA, COLOMBIA

[athena_ny 1]

Husband and I are going to Peru in February and I am coming back by myself on the 10th of March (have to get back to work, I only have so much time, he has to take his time unpaid...anyway). I accidentally booked a flight with a 9 hour layover for my return - in El Dorado airport in Bogota.

Since I'll be by myself, and am very obviously a gringa , but I DO speak Spanish, is there anything I should watch out for?

I usually park myself near the gate I'll be leaving from, and I always keep my luggage with me, but what else should I look out for? I chose Colombia over Panama because I have a hard time with Panamanian Spanish sometimes, but I want to make sure I am safe, since I won't have my husband to help me navigate.

Thank you for any tips!

Athena

[Mononoke28 134]

Oh my gosh, you're worried about being inside a Colombian airport but not worried about going to Perú? It's the same thing girl. You'll be fine, it's an international airport and there are many foreigners all around the place. Plus you speak Spanish.

Diana

Edited November 1, 2007 by Mononoke28

[athena_ny 1]

Oh my gosh, you're worried about being inside a Colombian airport but not worried about going to Perú? It's the same thing girl. You'll be fine, it's an international airport and there are many foreigners all around the place. Plus you speak Spanish.

Diana

I am worried...but my husband will be with me in Peru! He is my shield against the Spanish speaking world (I speak it but get v. nervous.) And I'm scared of the Miami International Airport too...*hates airports in general*

I just want reassurance I think

[Mononoke28 134]

Oh you don't even know. I'm not sure about Peruvians but Colombians love foreigners, especially if they see that you're making an effort to speak Spanish. My brother in-law said that they treated him like a rock star when he went to Colombia and loved every minute of it.

Like I said, you'll be fine and you'll see how nice people can be when you arrive. Same in Perú, so just relax and enjoy your trip.

Diana

[Vi Mazzella 4]

We do love foreigners in Peru but I understand your concern, there is a big red flag about americans going to Colombia but as Mononoke28 said you are going to be inside the aiport,everything will be fine. Don't take me wrong, I love Colombia , I have been there before ,I have family there but they always warn americans about going there (I planned to go on vacation with my hubby to Cartagena but he checked a website with this "warning" and now he is a little afraid).

Vi

[athena_ny 1]

We do love foreigners in Peru but I understand your concern, there is a big red flag about americans going to Colombia but as Mononoke28 said you are going to be inside the aiport,everything will be fine. Don't take me wrong, I love Colombia , I have been there before ,I have family there but they always warn americans about going there (I planned to go on vacation with my hubby to Cartagena but he checked a website with this "warning" and now he is a little afraid).

Vi

I will be staying INSIDE the airport, so I am thinking I should be okay...just a little nervous ee!

[MandR 0]

You shouldn't have anything to worry about. You're in an international airport with alot of other travelers and it's probably the safest place to be.

So with that being said just enjoy that trip back to Peru and have FUN ................. My wife and I are jealous, but our turn will come at the end of next year.

Edited November 2, 2007 by MandR

[Vi Mazzella 4]

Same for us, this Christmas we are staying in NYC, not so bad, hubby wants to be fair and spend one Christmas here and one over there. I'm counting the months already hohoho.

[parkpapa 0]

You have nothing to worry about inside the Bogota airport. I'm as "gringo" as they get and have never had a problem there in four visits to Colombia. While I don't recall being treated like a rock star , I can assure you that the vast majority of Colombianos are very friendly and hospitable. After all, I fell in love with one of them!!!!

[athena_ny 1]

You shouldn't have anything to worry about. You're in an international airport with alot of other travelers and it's probably the safest place to be.

So with that being said just enjoy that trip back to Peru and have FUN ................. My wife and I are jealous, but our turn will come at the end of next year.

Don't be too jealous...my husband hasn't been in six years

that's 20% of his life! Eee!

I am excited though...!