Day ?: Bogota

Sunday was a wonderful day here in Bogota. We enjoyed a day out with other adoptive families. Actually, as mentioned in our earlier post, we are not too far from El Refugio, where we first stayed when we arrived in Colombia. So, Dave, Jonatan, and I walked over and met four other families for some time out to a local market at an upscale hotel and then we were on to Archies, a really nice pizza place not to far from where we all are staying! It was such an enjoyable time! And, actually, we got to catch up with 2 CHI families that we were hoping to see...the Adelmans and the Jensons. Here is one picture from our time at Archies!

Yesterday, we went to this wonderful store, Maku, in the morning! We almost wished that we hadn't bought some of the things we had in Pereira (as Maku had it all and more). Oh well...the prices were comparable...we were just thinking more of the space in luggage that our little trinkets took up and the charge to fly it all (we had to pay an overweight fee of $48,600 pesos...about $27.34...to get everything up to Bogota). So, for all of you who will be traveling to Colombia for adoption and will be located in a town outside of Bogota for the majority of your time...have no fear if you miss out on the souvenir shopping...Maku is amazing (3 floors of amazing) and very close by El Refugio and Zuetana. Poor Jonatan had to endure 1 1/2 hours in Maku! He was a real trooper!

Early yesterday evening we went and saw the US Embassy pediatrician. Turns out that he and Dave shared some fond memories of the Sincelejo area. It was fun hearing them swap stories and seeing the excitement they shared. As for Jonatan, he was fine until he had to strip down for his exam...he was having none of it! We are guessing that his previous pediatric visits have not been so exciting, so this is a good heads up for when we get home and begin some of our own visits to physicians with him. Overall, he is in good health...actually, the physician was amazed that he was only 20 months old as he seem so very "alert" and "developmentally advanced" for his age. It was reassuring to hear that all is well, although we haven't had any doubts.

I am sorry that this is so long...I want to make sure I cover everything! Today we headed out to the US Embassy for Jonatan's visa application. We were told, as is customary, to expect up to a 4 hour wait. Well, we were in and out in under an hour! The only question that the US Embassy had for us was whether Jonatan had been in good health or not. Easy enough question! His visa was approved and we have an appointment for tomorrow at 3:30 to go back and pick up his passport and paperwork. Before I leave this subject, I have to tell you about the US Embassy here! It is like Fort Knox!!!!! Lines of Colombians begin at 6 a.m., apparently, for tourist visas. Lucia was telling us that over 40% of these visa requests get declined. Wow, some of these people spend all day in line to hear that their request is being denied...and there were literally hundreds of people in this large open room with windows on one side where you were called when it was your turn for an interview. I wish that we had pictures to show you but no cameras are allowed in the building.