Dangerous Art in Egipto

Three Kings, a symbol of Egipto. By K-no. Delix, of Bogotá.

Ark, from Bogotá

Recently, Fundación Colectivo Atempo painted one of the Egipto neighborhood's narrow, winding streets as part of the La Re Pública Cultural Circuit, an annual cultural event. They had painted one house in the neighborhood, which prompted neighbors to ask them to decorate theirs as well.

The works make the neighborhood colorful and evocative. Unfortunately, however, they are out of bounds for most of us, both foreigners and Colombians, because of the neighborhood's violent crime problem. Stories abound of foreigners wandering into Egipto to photograph the view and returning without cameras, money, even their clothing.

A few months ago, a foreigner walked up there and got stabbed and robbed, apparently by the same gang of drug addicts who hung around watching the grafiteros paint their street. The police don't appear to have done anything, as seems to be usually the case.

An old man, by Onírica, from Bogotá

When I went up to photograph the painters working (Bogotá Bike Tours paid for some of the supplies, as did Bogotá Graffiti Tour, which also helped coordinate the event) the local gang gathered around me, the only non-Colombian around, asking me to buy them beer and other goodies. If the grafiteros hadn't been present, no doubt the knives would have come out.

Colectivo Atempo (Bogotá) ft Raw (UK)

The hand of God, by Almiron, from Argentina.

A face, by Feck, from Mexico.

By DJ LU, from Bogotá

Colectivo Atempo (Bogotá) and ft. Raw (UK)

La Wife, from Argentina, with the local gang nearby.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

The Match in Egipto

A celebrar!

I happened to be in the hardscrabble Egipto neighborhood above La Candelaria this afternoon when Colombia won its match against Uruguay. The celebration was loud and predictable. 

Sport is fun, but I'm getting a bit tired of this obsession over which set of millionaires can kick a ball more times between some goalposts. After all, there just might be some more important things going on in the world...

The Egipto neighborhood, for example, high rates of violence, poverty and malnutrition. But that's all forgotten today.

In Egipto's traditional fruit and vegetable market, the vendors are glued to a TV set.

In an informal restaurant set up on a sidewalk, patrons celebrate Colombia's victory.

Young men wave flags on an Egipto street by La Circunvular.

This park off of La Circunvular was pretty desolate, except for a few kids skateboarding.

Waving the flag.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

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

Egipto's 2014 Three Kings Festival

Beef on the rack. 

This weekend, the normally off-limits Egipto Neighborhood holds its annual Three Kings, or Tres Reyes, Festival, celebrating the three biblical kings who visited the newborn Jesus. The event, a big street party, has little of the sacred about it, however.

But if you like crowds, greasy food, loud music and alcohol, this might be your scene this weekend.

Chicha anybody?

Chicha for sale. 

We've got the beef!

An empenada vendor.

Kids use crushed plastic bottles to slide down Calle 10. 

Buy your name for 300 pesos. 

Obleas de la Negra.

No knives or illegal drugs allowed: Police officers wait to frisk festival visitors. 

A look up into the Egipto Neighborhood.  

Quite a crowd.

The view of Bogotá.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

Mass for the Virgen de Carmen

Father Eduardo, of the nearby Egipto Church, performs mass in honor of the Virgen delCarmen, protector of drivers. 

This Sunday was the day of the Virgen del Carmen, protector of drivers. Since rhe Mercado de Egipto is a waiting spot for cargo trucks, it was an appropriate place for a mass honoring the virgin. 

Father Eduardo with holy water and wine.

Sprinkling believers with holy water. 

The neighborihoods surrounding the market are very poor and troubled by violence.

A hilltop cross in the hills behind the market. 

Local residents wait to be blessed below statues of the Virgin.

Believers hold out their hands during mass. 

Father Eduardo blesses an aged truck parked before the market. (Can he also make it stop polluting?)

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours