The idea of a nice walk can vary depending on the place you've chosen. It’s like saying, “Let’s go for a walk,” and right away, many people sign up for this little adventure. But suddenly things change when you say, “Let’s go to…” and the moment you mention that destination, the reaction is obvious: enthusiasm wanes, and many start to second-guess whether they should join you. It’s not about the walk itself, but rather where you want to take that experience.
This is what happens to me every time I invite my friends to hike up “La Bandera” Hill, a place I think is great for exercising or enjoying a nice hike. The thing is, right from the start you have to climb the hill, and as you go further, you come across rocky areas, strong winds, and a wonderful view. In fact, this city is kind of like a valley, so the higher you climb, the better the view of the city or the surrounding mountains.
This place is one of my favorites for several reasons: the silence and tranquility you don’t find in the city—the very city you can see from there practically from one end to the other. This area of La Bandera is dotted with small lookouts, or “morros,” and each one offers a unique view, whether you want to look out toward the city or the mountainous area, which is quite scenic, especially these days when the weather is often quite cloudy. Overall, it has a great atmosphere and pleasant weather to enjoy.
I usually come in the mornings, although I’ve also heard that the scenery is truly spectacular in the afternoons. There aren’t many large trees to provide good shade, but the setting is ideal for spending a unique day away from the city, surrounded by the sound of the wind and the birds, which are also abundant there. Once, I decided to start the hike at 5:30 in the morning, and as I was climbing, I thought I was the only one around. To my surprise, many people were already coming down. Another thing about hiking up to the flag early is the fog you see, which gradually clears as the morning progresses.
Sometimes, when I'm walking home at night, I think that a place like this would be quite a sight as well. Unfortunately, the area doesn't have the security or lighting for that, but I haven't given up hope that someday I'll be able to stroll here—or somewhere similar—under the light of the stars, with the moon as my faithful companion.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post.
See you soon.