Coming from a different culture, it surprised me how close Latino families are. After discussing the matter with a few Colombians, not all seem to agree with the close-knit idea. A tight family unit can offer great support and love for the members of the family. However, others might argue that a close family unit can intrude in your private life, gossip and hinder your ability to let you live your life freely (especially if it doesn’t follow the norms of society).
Love it or hate it Colombians are generally very close and they never miss out on the opportunity to spend time together with friends and family mixed.
Every Sunday in Bogotá, the streets close down and make way for the ciclovía in order for families and friends to spend some quality time and enjoy some outdoor activities.
While some are working up a sweat, others go out for brunch. You will usually find most popular restaurants filled to the brim with families sharing a good meal. Some of the most popular places are of course: Crepes & Waffles and Wok. Here it’s common to find people queuing outside around lunchtime trying to get a table.
My Colombian family seems to enjoy another popular plan, going to the club. A night club?! Not exactly. This is more of a large private club where members can socialize and mingle as well as take part in sports activities with people of the same estrato. To keep it exclusive, people who wish to belong to a club must be shareholders and pay a hefty monthly fee. You would think the food would be free… Anyways, the concept is quite nice, you can take part in a wide array of sports including tennis, soccer, swimming, squash, bowling and billiards among others. The large complex also includes several dining areas, and of course, a separate men and women’s lounge containing hammam and sauna, spa and more to rest and beautify. The plan de ir al club allows each family member to do their own thing while still spending time together, usually meeting up for lunch.
It’s a good way to wrap up the week and see your loved ones as most Colombians commute crazy long hours and work from very early morning to late at night, leaving little time during the week to spend quality family time.
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Just a quick comment: The most colombians have not enough money to be members of a club. So we use to go to shopping centers just for a stroll and see things on the windows, maybe eat an ice cream or two and then go home. That is why shopping centers are always to the brim with people on weekends.
Some go to the church, some go to the ciclovia, some go to visit a family member/old friend. The specter of sunday family activities is actually quite large.
Hi Laura! Thank you for your input. Yes you are quite right, this one I left out ;)