The earth day started as a way to raise awareness of enverionmental protection and more people have taken a role to be greener, participating in activities such as recycling, using reusable bags, cleaning the beaches and parks led by local guides from all over the world; showing a positive attitud towards nature. In the main cities, there is always a place that works like a lung in the middles of the concrete where we can be in contact with nature; perhaps a Park with paths with many trees or a Garden that gathers several plants, flowers and seeds where we can learn more about different specimens of mother earth.
Today, I would like to share the beautiful and paceful Botanical Garden José Celestino Mutis of Bogotá , one of the most important research and scientific center in Colombia. This institution emphasizes on andean and paramo ecosystems, promotes and carries out conservation activities, environmental education, especially on the diversity of Colombian flora and particularly in the savanna of Bogotá.
To go there, I decided travel by using Transmilenio bus instead a taxi, because I wanted to get acquainted with this form of mass transportation. I asked for the station where I should leave and followed all the instructions they gave me. Then, I walked a few blocks to the next bus stop and got another bus, a small one, different from the Transmilenio, which dropped me near the garden. It was a cheap way to get there but it took longer than if I had been in a cab.
When I arrived, there wasn’t queue, maybe because it was still early and I paid the entrance ticket, a guard checked my backpack and finally, I was ready to walk through this extensive park, starting with the natural waterfall where there are ferns. I crossed the bamboo bridge enjoying the fountain and the pond. There are roses, exotic flowers, palms, pine trees, a small and young redwood tree (the tallest tree on the planet), a ginko biloba tree that is very special because it is considered as a living fossil, it has healing qualities, one of these trees survived to the atomic bomb, besides that is rare in this western side of the world due to its Asian origin.
There are plenty of seats throghout the 19 hectares of the garden area in case of you are tired, as well as drinking water supplies if you are thirsty, you can also eat typical food in the restaurant or buy souvenirs in the store nearby the exit of the park; there are toilets, parking and picnic area.
If you want visit virtually the José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden, is possible thanks it has 2 digital tools on its web site for learning about plants, flower and trees, very useful for students. If you are a big fan of nature or just want to relax surrounded by the singing of the birds, the sound of water and the rumor of the breeze that passes through the treetops, the Bogota Botanical Garden is for you and all the nature lovers.
