Monserrate. The tall, tree-covered Andean mountain rises tremendously at the edge of Bogota. In the rainy season, Monserrate’s peak is hidden behind an array of dark, swarming clouds. Only if you’re lucky, will the sun’s reys pierce through them, revealing the Catholic church at the top.
In the Pre-Colombian era, before the Spanish conquest of Colombia, the region of Bogota was inhabited by the ancient civilization of the Muisca. The Muisca found this mountain sacred, due, in part, to the way the sun rises above it on the summer solstice. They called the current-day Monserrate, “grandmother’s foot,” and would pilgrimage to the top. Once the Spanish arrived, they used many of the holy Muisca locations and transformed them into Catholic establishments. Monserrate was the name given in homage to the Virgin of Monserrat. However, the statue of the Virgin was soon replaced by a statue of Jesus. The church on the mountain peak is now dedicated to El Señor Caido, the Fallen Lord. People still pilgrimage (or Funicular) to the top.
Paul, Didier, and I made the trek on a Sunday. We hiked up countless, uneven steps on a 2,000 m (6,562 ft) staircase to an altitude of 3,152 m (10,341 ft) amongst thousands of others. Here are some of the photos we were lucky enough to take before it rained.
Two backs, two packs 
Great story and pics!!!
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