Background: Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the Colombian Government escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by funds from the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, the movement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary to overthrow the government. An anti-insurgent army of paramilitaries has grown to several thousand strong in recent years, challenging the insurgents for control of territory and the drug trade, and also the government's ability to exert its dominion over rural areas. While Bogota steps up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders.
February 10th 2008South America » Colombia » Barranquilla There is talk that I am the great white Rumbero* of which the prophecy of King Momo of 1888 spoke. Sorry it took almost a week to finish the Carnaval blog, struggling is the word that most handily co ... 7 photos[full story]
February 5th 2008South America » Colombia » Barranquilla After all this time traveling I still find it both refreshing and disturbing how open and direct people are in South America, people talk happily to me about their hemorrhoids and sex lives, people ta ... 43 photos[full story]
February 4th 2008South America » Colombia » Barranquilla Oooooooh! I was very excited when I learned that one of the best places to celebrate Carnival in Latin America (apart from Rio and Salvador, obviously!) was in Barranquilla in Columbia, woo hoo!
Bar ... 8 photos[full story]
January 6th 2008South America » Colombia » Barranquilla
Tis time to write my blog so here I go.
First comes the interrigation session as always when going through the lovely US of A. This time he wasn“t trying to convince me that I am a criminal. ... [full story]
Map of Colombia
Colombia's Flag
