Sunday, May 18, 2014

Skating and Biking in Barrio Egipto



 These young people were skateboarding and biking in this skate/bike park along La Circunvular, in between the hardscrabble Egipto, Belén and Los Laches neighborhoods. I wondered whether my camera was in danger, but the kids were friendly and most interested in talking about illegal drugs. They seemed impressed that I'd grown up in California, where marijuana is almost legal.

These are poor neighborhoods, troubled by crime, unemployment and gangs. And the area is suffering further insult, as the city widens the La Avenida Circunvalar, slashing the neighborhood in two.

A mural by a group of local youths called 'Emigrantes' defends embattled Mayor Gustavo Petro. 
Residents walk past an empty lot in Egipto. Homes and businesses were demolished to widen the avenue. 
By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

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