Store Recommendations - U.S. Equivalents here in Bogota

Dear Bogota Expats,

Yes, as we live in a consumer society and we often need (or want) things that we are used to, it is great when you move to another country that you can find almost exactly everything that you want there - including down to the same brands.  In Seattle, the city where I grew up and where we just moved from (after living in Washington DC and Boston), there are some store-markers that I always want a reference point to - "What is the Whole Foods?" "Where the best cheese shop?" "What is the Target vs. What is the Walmart?"  You get what I mean?  Having lived around the world in various countries and having traveled significantly to others, I really know what I like and am very specific about it, especially as we all have the internet (and amazon.com) at our fingertips to read all the product reviews virtually on any product we may want to buy.

So below, as of a month+ into living in Bogota, I give you my list of U.S. to Bogota equivalents:

• BED BATH AND BEYOND - Home Sentry
• HOME DEPOT/LOWE'S - Home Center
• DESIGN WITHIN REACH - Elemental Store, Mesas Y Sillas (there are also many design and antique shops on Carrera 9 too)
• SAFEWAY-QFC-FRED MEYER - Jumbo and Exito sell everything, Surtifruver de la Sabana just has vegetables, meat, bread and dairy products
• TARGET - Jumbo, Exito for their home selection
• WALMART - not sure yet
• MACY'S - Falabella
• WHOLE FOODS - haven't really found it yet but the closest big and little market that is every few blocks here (in the north) is Carulla though it doesn't have a big organic-bent to it selection or offerings.
• PASTA & CO. - Pastaio (there is even one embedded within Exito)
• ICE CREAM SHOPS - We haven't been blown away yet, but we have tried the Popsy stands a few times, and it's ok, and there is a paleteria place near our house that is good, and we did try Crepes and Waffles that everyone raves about - but we've found their service quite poor and others have commented the same (more on that C&W later as it's an interesting business model that employs only single mothers...)
• EINSTEIN BROS./NOAH'S BAGELS - Central Bagels, though they only have 3-4 bagels available at any time and if you want other types, you have to special order them; they also have a general promotion of 5 bagels and a schmear for 15,000 COP but then strangely charge 10,000 COP for a single schmear - so you know what you have to do!  We have also been told Surtifruver de la Sabana has bagels too (only three types - plain, french toast, cinnamon raisin)
• Apple Stores - Mac Center
• STARBUCKS - Juan Valdez, Oma Cafe
• MICHAEL'S / JOANNE FABRICS - not sure yet
• UTRECHT ART SUPPLIES / BLICK ART MATERIALS - not sure yet

There are some store equivalents that I'm sure we've driven through and that our relocation specialist Yolanda has told us about but they are still to be verified by us:

• DEAN AND DELUCA?
• REI - They do have North Face stores here
• TRADER JOES?
• BEST BUY?
• MORE BAGEL SHOPS?
• HAIR SALON?
• ALTERATIONS?
• DRY CLEANERS?

There are many grocery stores here but Jumbo and Exito seem like the most comprehensive selections and are the biggest ones.  They are multi-story complexes with moving walkway escalators.

As far as fast food, almost everything is here.  I did eat out on Halloween lunch at Taco Bell, yes, there is a Taco Bell here (as well as Burger King, McDonald's, KFC, etc.)

May you enjoy all your shopping adventures in Bogota!

Avila