My first morning in Bogota, I checked into a youth hostel in the old colonial district of town called the Candelaria. I had met an American named Alex at the bus station and split a cab with him to town. We seemed to be compatible roommates, so we decided to share a room as opposed to getting individual bunks in a larger room, which worked out to be about the same price. I knew if I laid down I'd probably fall right asleep and miss most of the day, so I marched myself out into town. I had been hearing grim tales of the crime situation in Bogota, and it was not recommended to do too much wandering after dark, so it seemed all the more important to make the most of the daylight.