24 carat view

Up early this morning to scale the 3,152 metre Cerro de Monserrate. Well, when I say scale I mean we clamber onto the funicular that whizzes us to the top in 5 minutes or so. We do walk down though so we're not total wimps.

The hill, already considered sacred in pre-Colombian times when the area was inhabited by the indigenous Muisca, is a world famous pilgrim destination as well as one of Bogota's major tourist attractions.

We don't bother visiting the 17th century El Señor Caido church sitting right at the top but do take time to check out the well kept gardens. The yellow flowers above actually have silver leaves. Most unusual.

...and of course we spend a good half hour gawping at 686 square miles of city below. 

What. A. View. 

You'd think Wend would be on a high up here - obviously not! Makes a change for me be the one who's smiling I suppose.

We've loved our time in the mountains, jungle and out in the middle of the Pacific but it's great to be back in a big bad city. Sorely in need of a culture fix we visit our second museum in two days, the wonderful Museo del Oro. 

This astonishing museum is home to thousands of exhibits with one thing in common; they're made of gold. Smelted gold, gold leaf, inlaid gold, solid gold - you name it. 

I was half expecting to find a pair of gold underpants in one of the rooms.

Some of the pieces are over 2500 years old, yet thanks to the magical properties of the metal they're made from, are as vibrant as the day they were cast. Amazing.

   

Excuse the pun, but this really was a precious way to spend our second day in the capital.