BEND to the END: Ladened for export

Ladened for export - the best three words I've heard in quite some time! Customs has cleared two of the three bikes. Shuli's bike is back at the airport after the re-crating exercise, waiting its turn for customs inspection. My bike is expected to arrive in Bogotá tomorrow or Friday; Sergio's bike is expected to arrive on Friday or Saturday. We're hopeful that Shuli's bike will arrive over the weekend or Monday.

Today marked my eighth day in Bogotá. I think we've seen all the highlights already - Monserrate twice, La Candelaria three times, the Gold Museum and the Salt Cathedral. So today we walked around and visited some more motorcycle dealerships again. Sergio and I went to a Columbian coffee event called Cafés de Columbia. It was an industry trade show exhibiting everything from roasters to packaging. It was a good way to burn some time this afternoon.

We finished the day at that Italian restaurant again. Not only did my Italian amigo, Sergio, proclaim that this restaurant is as good as any in Italy, he mused that this could be transported to New York City or Las Vegas without a single change. Although I doubt you could find the attentive staff that Café Amarti has assembled. I'm pretty sure we'll go back again!

Did you know that the typical person in Bogotá makes the equivalent of $250 per month? The folks at Café Amarti probably make a little more. Por ejemplo (for example), Carlos at the KTM dealership commutes 40km each way, 6 days a week for his job selling motorcycles - on a 250cc Benelli. He says it takes about 1.5 hours each way. By the way, there are no signs on any stores describing their labor shortage. Quite the opposite, stores are teaming with staff here.