Day 9 - Monserrate and La Candelaria

This morning we hired a driver to take us to Mount Monserrate.  Mount Monserrate is over 10,000 feet above sea level.  On the top of the mountain, there is a church.  The original church was built in the 17th century.  In 1917, the church was destroyed in an earth quake and a new one was built in its place.  Many people make the pilgrimage up the steep rocky path to the top of the mountain on foot, but we chose to take advantage of the funicular, a steep railway system.

The funicular

Waiting for the funicular with our driver Camilo

Here's comes the funicular!

On the ride up the mountain

At the top of the mountain there are gorgeous views everywhere you look and beautiful vegetation.  There's also a peaceful walk with large statues for each station of the cross.

Views from the top of the mountain

Beautiful Colombian flowers

The church at the top of the mountain

Owen chilling by one of the Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross

The Slominski Five

Walking up to the church

Our little Rosie

Gorgeous views!

The Slominskis on Mount Monserrate

The view of Bogota from the mountain

Hola from the top of Mount Monserrate!

On our way down the mountain, we got to take another form of transportation - the teleferico, an aerial tramway.

Here comes the teleferico

All aboard!

Looking out the window of the teleferico

Next on the agenda was La Candelaria.  We actually hadn't planned on doing both excursions as the kids tucker out easily.  But our driver had his own plans.  La Candelaria is the historic part of Bogota.  It is full of colorful old buildings.

We grabbed lunch at an authentic Colombian restaurant in the La Candelaria area.  I had Ajiaco soup and Shane tried the Sancocho soup - both were delicioso!  The boys ordered their usual - grilled chicken and french fries.

By the time we got back, everyone was exhausted so we spent the rest of the day relaxing at our apartment.  Rose took another long afternoon nap and the Slominski boys played outside in the beautiful Bogota weather.