Bogota women rule for a night

Four million men were asked to stay home

By Jeremy McDermott in Bogota

The Colombian capital's night without men began with bars offering extended happy hours, traffic barred along many roads and a festive atmosphere.

There have definitely been more women partying on Bogota's streets as the city enjoyed the occasion proclaimed by the city's eccentric mayor, Antanas Mockus.

Parts of the city were closed off to traffic, creating a festive atmosphere with parks full of people.

Happy hour

Many of the bars started a happy hour before the male curfew began at 2030 (0130 GMT) and the cheap alcohol was still being served after 2200 (0300 GMT).

There have been plenty of police on the streets, all of them women.

Responsibility for this city of over seven-million has been given to the capital's senior female police officer, Gloria Elena Garcia, and she's turned out all her female officers who are keeping a tight watch on the festivities.

Male passes

The mayor's office provided safe conduct passes to those men who had to be out for work reasons but the newspapers also printed some, which many men have cut out and are presenting to inquiring policewomen.

There also seem to be a large number of male conscientious objectors, registering their protest at the curfew by breaking it and partying with the women.

Bogota's night without men is a great success in that people are having a good time but a miserable failure in that plenty of men are joining in the fun.