Walking is definitly a good way to keep the weight down !

My lifestyle since coming here has changed completely because I walk everywhere. It has made a difference to how I feel so like the born again exercise freak I highly recommend it to everyone, but of course I am living in nice temperatures and mostly warmish sunny days which does affect the desire to walk. If I was still in Kilwinning in the cold (4 degrees just now according to the weather Icon) I doubt I would be wanting to step outside quite as much as I do here.
I put up a couple of pics earlier in the week about the freak weather but the front page of the local paper probably shows just how bad it was. Bearing in mind there is no river running through this area of Bogota just the canal areas that usually have a trickle of water in them.










My walk takes me along tree lined streets, but you are always aware of the metal railings guarding most houses.










and of course when you get near any important buildings you see more obvious security, these "playful pets" all wear muzzles while there "owners" carry muzzle loaders (Thought that was quite good)









I have commented about the roads conditions before but this was a first it was marked off with a few old bags and some rubbish, its on the edge of the main 140 road, the picture doesn't really show it to its best so for those interested its about 16 feet deep with water running underneath is about 3 foot by 2 foot wide and the crust of the road doesn't really look that reassuringly thick.








It was a nice morning walk and as I passed the small play area on the way to the exito store there is a church serving the local community. Since today is a religious holiday the church was full and some familes sat around outside as the doors were wide open and the service could be clearly appreciated by those who wanted to from the grass outside.









But through everything its November the 11th and already every shop has "Feliz Navidad" signs up everywhere, and santa clause's on sale everywhere. Christmas is coming which is good because it means I am heading back to Scotland for 3 weeks where the cold makes the event more realistic, the countdown starts now.

Don't get too excited by the price the Colombian Peso uses the $ sign as well so $54,000 is about £15 - Bit overpriced in my view. seems Christmas is a time to get ripped off no matter where you are in the world. Or have I just become cynical in my advancing years. (Was going to say I had become my dad.. but decided I might be making a rod for my own back when I get back to see him. smiles)