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Bogot�, also Santa Fe de Bogot�, city in central Colombia, capital of the country, coextensive with Bogot� Capital District. It is located at an elevation of about 2,740 meters (about 8660 ft) on a mountain-rimmed plateau high in the Cordillera Oriental of the Andes Mountains.
Bogot� was founded on the 6th of August 1538 by the
Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jim�nez de Quesada who fought the Chibcha
Indians near the site of the populous tribe center called Bacat�. The new
city became the vice-regal capital of New Granada in 1717. It was captured
by Sim�n Bol�var in 1819 and was the capital of the independent nation of
Great Colombia (which included modern day Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and
Venezuela). It became the capital of New Granada (later renamed Colombia)
in 1830 when Great Colombia was dissolved. |
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A dreamy picture of a street in "La Candelaria", the
colonial, primeval area of Bogota', dated back to the 1600
century. A beautiful Sunday evening, a cool breeze, and no thoughts at
all. |
Street of "La Candelaria" with view of part
of Bogota'. |
Plaza De Bolivar and view of La Catedral Primada. |
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A beautiful morning in Plaza De
Bolivar, Bogot�, Colombia.
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Details of La Catedral Primada,
builted 1807-1823, stands at Plaza
De Bolivar. |
The morning sun blazes one of the many churches in
La Candelaria, Bogot�. |
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Palm tree against a blue, morning sky. Despite the high
altitude, palm trees find a fertile ground to grow. |
A street, "fire" performer on the "Carrera Septima". |
The crowd moved a bit for me to take a clean shot |
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A street vendor, making fresh orange juice. In the
background, a shop window, displaying opaque emeralds in matrix. |
Another view of downtown Bogot�. The emerald market is
just around the corner.
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A panoramic view of part of Bogot�' from the
surrounding hills. The population of Colombia's capital is approx. 7
millions. |
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Early morning on the Avenida Jimenez, on a particular
sidewalk called "La Playa" (the "beach") and the emerald market is about to start... Like in any other gem
capital, in Bogot�, emeralds are traded in a particular area, where offices, and
cutter shops are located. And like in any other gem capital, stones are
traded on the street also. Of course, simulants and synthetics are
abundant! |
By 10 am, "La Playa" is fully animated and the brokers
("comissionistas") are already in action. |
Rafael D.M and R.C. ready to start. No, not yet...we
need a cup of coffee first!...
Usually, when a foreigner arrives at the market, he is immediately surrounded
by a crowd of "comissionistas". Sometimes the pressure, both physical and
emotional is such that it is the point where mistakes are mainly made. |
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Another view of the street emerald market |
Here is a "comissionista" with a piece of emerald
"en bruto" (rough emerald) |
Sometimes the same piece can change many hands in a a
day...it is good to remember every single piece and the price as well. |
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"What do you need? Candies, cigarettes, a
fresh-squeezed lemonade, 200 cts. of 5x3 cabochons emeralds? we have them!" |
An emerald rough from one of the street's dealer.
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Emerald buying a in a comfortable office. However,
many times buying is done also "old-style" (in the street)...any
place is fine. |
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