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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.

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By Mattinho
March 28th 2006

Un endroit rassurant...

South America » Colombia » Bogota

Bogota

Ah Bogota... Quelle charmante ville! Non en fait pas vraiment, je me demande bien ce que je suis venu faire ici... Bon, pour etre serieux il y a deux-trois monuments, batiments ou eglises qui valent le coup d'oeil mais l'atmosphere ici n'est pas tranquilisante. Mon auberge de jeunesse, reputee car faisant parti de l'organisation YHI est immense mais vide... ce qui n'est pas tres rassurant. C'est pas des conneries, j'etais le seul a dormir la-bas dedans. Ca faisait 4 jours que j'etais la-bas et je n'ai pas vu un seul "touriste". Donc cote fete, a nouveau : "oublie!" En plus la [View Full Entry]

By SailAwayWithMe
March 27th 2006

Colombia dangerous? Naahh

South America » Colombia » Bogota

Island paradise
My day of scuba found crystal blue water.

Bogota (March24-28) and Cartagena (March 28-31) Colombia… Everybody thinks danger and back to the days of Pablo Escobar but I found something different. Admittedly, when I initially read Lonely Planet about Colombia, it was quickly dismissed. But I had met several travelers that really enjoyed it and I had not seen much of the northern part of the continent yet. I further had to be in Peru the first week of April so I thought I’d give it a shot. I also confess that I did not tell my mother before going as she may have nightmares worrying about the guerilla [View Full Entry]

By evan b
March 25th 2006

Colombia at last!

South America » Colombia » Bogota

Bogota

I have finally arrived to Colombia! I landed in Bogota Wednesday afternoon after an uneventful flight from Brazil. Wednesday was spent walking around the center of Bogota and becoming oriented with the city. Thursday I took a bus out to the suburb of Zipaquira(40km away) to see the Catedral de Sal. This is a cathedral that was built underground in a salt mine. The cathedral is 25 meters high, has a floor area of 8550 square meters, and can hold up to 10,000 people. Along the passageway to the cathedral and past several caverns where the salt had been removed are [View Full Entry]

By Ralph2006
March 16th 2006

Cocaine, Kidnapping and Guerrillas

South America » Colombia » Bogota

Bogota
In the beginning Bogota was called Santa fe de Bogota but the name was (obviously) changed later

I guess most of you like me haven’t heard much good news from Colombia in a long time. If you ever hear anything on TV then its mostly related to Cocaine, the Medellin or Cali cartel, Colombia being the kidnapping capital of the world or the US trying to fxxk up another country. Well all good enough reasons to check it out (just kidding). The reason why I’m here is that Matt (Hi) a friend of mine brought Colombia up when I asked him where to go in South America. He seemed to be quite taken by this country. Other people [View Full Entry]

This is what the old town looks like most of the time

By RalphOnTour
March 16th 2006

Cocaine, Kidnapping and Guerrillas

South America » Colombia » Bogota

I guess most of you like me haven’t heard much good news from Colombia in a long time. If you ever hear anything on TV then its mostly related to Cocaine, the Medellin or Cali cartel, Colombia being the kidnapping capital of the world or the US trying to make another place better by starting a war. Well all good enough reasons to check it out (just kidding). The reason why I’m here is a friend of mine brought Colombia up when I asked him where to go in South America. He seemed to be quite taken by this country. [View Full Entry]

By AGirlCalledZoe
March 10th 2006

7. Viva Colombia

South America » Colombia » Bogota

Making friends with the locals

Hola folks...Time for another essay... hope you´re being inspired for some future travels in this part of the world...can´t tell you enough how great it is!! Cartagena Absolutely stunning city, like a film set almost, horse drawn carriages, thick-set city walls, multi coloured buildings. Restoring a city like this makes it a tourist destination and here was the Hilton, the cruise ships and the American hordes. The city was the main Spanish port for exporting gold and was once held siege to by Francis Drake. The pock-marks of cannon balls still mark the walls today. There’s no escap [View Full Entry]

By Unemployed Ian
March 5th 2006

Wedding in Bogota

South America » Colombia » Bogota

The happy couple

My friends Jonathan (English) and Maria-Paula (Colombian) got hitched in Bogota on 4th March 2006 and this was the cause for much celebration for all concerned, and a chance for me to meet up with friends and family. A welcome break in the solo travelling, and one of the most impressive weddings I have ever attended (great food, lovely service, lavish reception, free whisky etc). Colombia was in many ways as I expected, but there was still room to be surprised by the level of sophistication of this city (hell, the bars were better than London, and I had the finest [View Full Entry]

By Andie H
February 17th 2006

Bogota

South America » Colombia » Bogota

Inscription above the portal of the Palace of Justice in Bogota

Bogota- I didn't really know what to expect- would it be a modern metropolis, a colonial gem or a dirty developing sprawl? The answer is probably all three and its all the better for its diversity and bagfulls or character. The Lonely Planet describes the city as having every modern western convenience and every 3rd world problem and I couldn't put it better (obviously, otherwise I'd be getting paid for writing about this trip!). We are staying in a hostel called Platypus in the Candelaria district which is the old part of town. The hostel is run by a Colombian ex-backpacker [View Full Entry]

The old and the new side by side in Bogota

By Salvador
January 5th 2006

Pela Panamericana.

South America » Colombia » Bogota

Villa de Leiva

...um aparte Para viajar, escrevo! Hoje resolvi escrever... escrever sobre uma viagem... escrever sobre uma minha viagem! Desde que saí de Portugal vivi inúmeras experiências. Vi e vivi muita coisa, muita coisa que nunca vou escrever porque não faria qualquer sentido. Agora, passado tanto tempo, quando escrevo, escrevo para recordar momentos que passei e sobre os quais nunca vou escrever pela razão supracitada. Escrevo também para partilhar com quem dá uma vista de olhos ao que escrevo. Faz-me sentir bem. Não deixa que me sinta sempre sozinho. Há mais de um ano que não f [View Full Entry]

By silychris
December 27th 2005

very few photos of our very short time in

South America » Colombia » Bogota

A Colombian bus decorated
for Christmas

Colombia. Colombia is a terrific country. The people are open, the food is great, the music gets you in the hips. It is just that we had to cross there very quickly to get to Ecuador in time for new year. If you want, you can cross this vast magical country (let´s but aside the dubious politics for a moment) on a bus in three days. Not recommeded. We did not, therefore, get a chance to see or do much. But we did spend the night in Bucaramanga in a hotel, highly rated by the Lonely Planet, which had holes in [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » South America » Colombia » Bogota