Mark Around the World Posts

Bogotá, Colombia ✈ Bogotá, Colombia The Jewish Community in Bogotá, Colombia When I recently visited Bogotá , I wanted to look beyond the usual landmarks and attractions to understand more about the Jewish community in the city. Colombia’s capital is home to the largest Jewish population in the country. While smaller than those of Argentina or Brazil, it is well organized, with synagogues, schools, institutions, and kosher restaurants. My visit gave me a deeper appreciation f

Bogotá, Colombia ✈ Café San Alberto Calle 81 in Bogotá, Colombia Bogotá, Colombia has no shortage of international coffee chains. You can find Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts in shopping centers and along busy avenues. Yet visiting Colombia without stepping into a Colombian coffee house would mean missing the opportunity to learn firsthand what makes Colombian coffee distinct. That was my motivation when I walked into Café San Alberto Calle 81 , located at Calle 81 # 9-33, one

Bogotá, Colombia ✈ Parque 93 in Bogotá, Colombia I arrived in Bogotá, Colombia with a plan to explore one of the city’s more relaxed but still energetic zones: Parque de la 93 , commonly called “Parque 93.” The name refers to its location on Calle 93 in the north part of the city, in the El Chicó sector of Chapinero. Walking into the park, I found a rectangular plaza of lawn, palm and ficus tree plantings, pathways, lighting posts, and open space where people sit, stroll, or

Bogotá, Colombia ✈ The Andino Mall in Bogotá, Colombia I recently spent some time exploring Centro Comercial Andino (often just Andino Mall) in Bogotá, Colombia . This is a high-end mall in one of the most upscale areas of the city, and walking through it and its surroundings left a strong impression of how shopping, food, and urban life intersect in this part of Bogotá. In this article I share what I saw, where I went, along with practical details such as kosher dining near

Bogotá, Colombia ✈ The Museo del Oro - The Gold Museum - in Bogotá, Colombia The Museo del Oro , or Gold Museum , is located at Carrera 6 # 15-88 in downtown Bogotá, Colombia . It sits in the heart of the city, just steps from the pedestrian streets that link many of Bogotá’s major landmarks. On my visit, I purchased my entrance ticket directly at the museum for 5,000 Colombian pesos (about $1.25 USD). The cost was inexpensive, making it one of the best values in the city for

Kosher Meat Restaurant and Market in Bogotá, Colombia ✈ Kosher Express Bogotá: Restaurant, Butcher, and Bakery in Colombia During my time in Bogotá, Colombia , I visited Kosher Express , a place that combines a butcher, bakery, and restaurant all under one roof. It is located at Calle 70A # 9-45, in the Chapinero neighborhood. This part of the city is known for its mix of commercial activity, residential areas, and small businesses, which makes it easy to find restaurants, ma

Bogotá, Colombia ✈ BD Bacatá in Bogota, Colombia When I visited Bogotá, Colombia , one of the first things that caught my attention was BD Bacatá , a skyscraper that dominates the city skyline. Located at Carrera 5 # 19-45 in the downtown area, this building is impossible to miss as it rises above the surrounding streets in a staggered, modernist style of glass and steel. It currently holds the title of the tallest building in Bogotá, making it a natural point of interest for

Kosher Meat Restaurant in Bogotá, Colombia ✈ HaMakom Kosher Restaurant in Bogotá, Colombia On my recent trip to Bogotá, Colombia , I stopped at HaMakom , a kosher meat restaurant located at Carrera 11a # 82-71. The name is written in Hebrew on the front sign as “המקום,” which in English translates to “The Place.” It’s a fitting name, since HaMakom serves as a meeting point for locals and visitors looking for authentic kosher Middle Eastern food. The restaurant sits on a pedes

Bogotá, Colombia ✈ Monserrate Mountain in Bogotá, Colombia Monserrate in Bogotá: Experiencing the City from Above When I planned my trip to Bogotá, Colombia , I knew that visiting Monserrate had to be part of my itinerary. Monserrate is one of the most recognized landmarks in the city, and at 3,152 meters (10,341 feet) above sea level, it offers an unmatched view of Colombia’s capital. The mountain is topped by a church, restaurants, walking paths, and lookout points that dr

Kosher Bakery in Bogotá, Colombia ✈ Babbka Bar Kosher Bakery in Bogotá, Colombia When I was in Bogotá, Colombia , I stopped by Babbka Bar , a kosher bakery that specializes in babka and related pastries. They spell the name with two b’s, “Babbka,” and they also use the branding “Yum Babbka.” The bakery is located at Cra. 12 # 85-65, in the Chapinero neighborhood, a part of the city known for its mix of cafés, restaurants, and shops. It is also notable that Babbka Bar sits dir

Bogotá, Colombia ✈ Calle del Embudo in Bogotá, Colombia When I planned my time in Bogotá, Colombia I knew I wanted to explore La Candelaria , the historic district at the heart of the city. Within this neighborhood lies a narrow cobblestone street that has become one of the most photographed and talked-about areas in Bogotá: Calle del Embudo . The name translates directly to “Funnel Street,” a reference to the way the street narrows as it descends. That funnel-like shape is

Kosher Deli Restaurant in Bogotá, Colombia ✈ Manhattan Delicatessen Kosher Restaurant in Bogotá, Colombia When I travel, I like to find places that connect me to home while also showing me something different about the world. On this trip, I came from New York City to Bogotá, Colombia , with a very specific goal: to sit down and have a pastrami sandwich at Manhattan Delicatessen . There are plenty of reasons to visit Bogotá, but as someone who writes about travel and food, I

Bogotá, Colombia ✈ Monserrate in Bogotá, Colombia Bogotá , the capital of Colombia , is a city that sits high in the Andes mountains at more than 8,600 feet above sea level. Its altitude immediately sets it apart from many other Latin American capitals. The air is thinner, the weather is cooler, and there is always a sense of being perched above much of the surrounding region. For travelers arriving from lower elevations, the first few days can require some adjustment, but th

Kosher Restaurant in Bogotá, Colombia ✈ PizzaTov Kosher Restaurant in Bogotá, Colombia When I travel, one of the first things I look for is kosher food. In Bogotá, Colombia , I found PizzaTov , a restaurant that has become a reliable kosher address in the city. Located at Calle 84 # 24-43 in the Barrios Unidos neighborhood, near the Polo Club area, PizzaTov is part of a broader project called KosherTOV . Tov is the Hebrew word for Good. The restaurant sits in a quiet part of

Bogotá, Colombia ✈ Plaza de Bolívar in Bogotá, Colombia On my visit to Bogotá , I set aside time to explore Plaza de Bolívar , the central square of the city and one of the most important public spaces in Colombia . The plaza has been at the center of Bogotá’s history since the city’s founding in 1538, and today it remains both a symbolic and practical center of government, religion, and daily activity. To get there, I took an Uber from my hotel, the Hilton Bogotá . The ride

Private Villas for Kosher Travelers in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos ✈ Photo credit: Beach Enclave Turks & Caicos There are places that redefine what it means to take a family vacation, and Beach Enclave is one of them. Imagine a collection of private villas along some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, each with its own butler, chef support, and space for the entire family to spread out. That’s the reality at Beach Enclave Turks & Caicos on the island of Provi

Kosher Meat Bar & Restaurant in New Rochelle, New York ✈ The North End Grill Kosher Restaurant in New Rochelle, New York The North End Grill is a new kosher restaurant in New Rochelle, New York , and it’s part of a noticeable upswing in kosher dining in Westchester County. Full disclosure: this is my sister-in-law’s brother’s restaurant. The place soft-opened for takeout in late September 2024 and started dine-in service the following month. It sits at 1301 North Avenue at

Blade Helicopter Flight in New York City ✈ Blade Helicopter Flight to JFK in New York City New York City traffic between Manhattan and the airports is a gamble I rarely win. One stalled semi on the Van Wyck, an accident on the Brooklyn–Queens Expressway, or a flooded FDR lane can wreck a schedule that looks fine on paper. After a recent slog to JFK that burned more than an hour in a back-seat crawl, I booked a seat on Blade’s by-the-seat helicopter from Blade Lounge West at

4-Star Hotel in New York City ✈ The TWA Hotel at JFK airport in New York City I first spotted the TWA Hotel at JFK airport in New York City long before I reached the front desk. While gliding past on the AirTrain toward Terminal 5, I saw the terminal’s gull-wing roof perched beside the jetways, still as sleek as the morning it opened in 1962. The building was designed by Eero Saarinen for Trans World Airlines at the height of the Jet Age, when air travel promised glamour in

Kosher Meat Fast-Food Restaurant in New York City ✈ Kosher Deluxe in New York City I stepped out of Grand Central with a packed afternoon of calls ahead and a familiar midday dilemma: where in Midtown Manhattan can I grab a kosher meat lunch fast, eat in peace if I have a spare half-hour, or take it back to my hotel room without worrying about soggy fries? 10 West 46th Street has been the answer for years. Kosher Deluxe—now branded as KD46 —sits on the block between Fifth an