Northward Bound: Discovering Feria Buró
Today, our journey takes us to the north of Bogotá. Our destination is Feria Buró, an exciting trade fair for startups in fashion, design, non-food, and food sectors. This fair specifically offers young companies a vital chance to position themselves in the market. It also attracts a large number of young people, opening up possibilities for careers in creative fields.
The bus ride there is a small odyssey in itself. I get to know Bogotá’s public transportation system firsthand – the red TransMilenio buses, the blue and white buses. Okay, I don’t grasp it immediately, but we eventually reach our destination. And, to my delight, it’s here that I also enjoy my very first “Café Amor perfecto.” What strikes me immensely is how completely the cityscape transforms as we head north. The buildings and residential complexes are much more modern, and there are many trees lining the streets. Everything appears much more well-maintained and orderly. I learn that Bogotá has a pronounced North-South divide. The wealthy reside in the north, while the poor live in the south, and the visual difference is immediate and striking.
A Burst of Creativity and Colour
Feria Buró greets us with stunning graffiti by the city’s top artists. This is a truly successful and inviting entrance. On the exhibition grounds, which I believe is a sports park, there are numerous pavilions and tents dedicated to various design themes. It’s super interesting, vibrant, and incredibly colorful. We encounter the pink elephant at several spots; it’s definitely the focal point. On the lawn, there’s even a large Christmas tree, also adorned with pink stars. The designer fruit juices are delicious, the street food ideas are incredibly creative, but I decide to skip the chocolate-flavored craft beer! We have a fantastic time here, surrounded by South American sounds, in a perfect chill-out scene, feeling the energizing sun at the equator.
We spend the rest of the afternoon in the beautiful Parque de Usaquén, enjoying the fantastic weather in front of the charming Iglesia Santa Bárbara. To top it off, we indulge in another “Café Amor” before embarking on our quest to find the right bus connections back.
