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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 pink mona
June 6th 2006

just a bit of rain

South America » Colombia » Santa Marta

cafe del parque
santa marta, a nice cafe in open air

a bit of rain... more or less 20 minutes... turned the streets into rivers..the city under water... unbelievable, but unfortunately, true.I will let the pics speak for themselves, my short visit to señora Ofelia at La Sierra Hotel on the beach....more pics soon... [View Full Entry]

By pink mona
April 28th 2006

funny facts about Colombia

South America » Colombia » Santa Marta

I met quite an interesting guy the other day. He was all about " en Colombia todo se puede" and when I asked him to be more specific he told me... Colombia has the best US dollars! The best US dollars? Yeah, that's what he said! the best counterfeit ones! Also the best counterfeit Euros, they seem genuine, it´s a real pain in the but to tell if they are fake or the real thing!Also it looks like the Pope's bullet- proof car is made here because they have in Colombia the best technology to make bullet-proof items! Imagine! Of [View Full Entry]

By pink mona
April 28th 2006

Zonalito

South America » Colombia » Santa Marta

before taking off

AIESEC event. A fun weekend with the AIESEC peolpe here in Santa Marta. I will let the pictures do the talking. :)Enjoy! [View Full Entry]

By pink mona
April 17th 2006

Tayrona Parque

South America » Colombia » Santa Marta

on the way to Tayrona Park
with a bunch of greaaat people... Colombia, Germany, Peru, Costa Rica and Romania :)

This adventure started on Saturday morning when I left with some of the coolest AIESEC people Santa Marta heading for Baranquilla where we were suppose3d to spend the next 5 days. The event, SDL, Leadership Development Seminar, was absolutely great. Though we spent 5 days in a hotel, without the chance to visit Baranquilla, it was 100 % a success.The very best students in Colombia, some of the top minds, interesting debates, fun challenging activities, everything was new and fun and exciting. And after spending the entire day talking, exposing ideas , arguing on different issues concerning you [View Full Entry]

By pink mona
April 4th 2006

culural shock

South America » Colombia » Santa Marta

when people travel to a different country and everybody talks about Cultural Shock , you don t really expect it to be something bad, negative, especially for somebody used to travelling a lot and meeting all sorts of people,cultural shock is more like a tag line, something anyway enjoyable along the way, that makes you feel that your journey was worth while, that you discovered something new, odd or not, but anyway fascinating. oh well, this is not the case here. the lack of dedication, responsibility is a cultural shock one just cant get accustomed to...saying one thing and doing another, [View Full Entry]

By evan b
April 4th 2006

Ciudad Perdida

South America » Colombia » Santa Marta

me and my gun
the soldiers left their guns lying around everywhere

I am back in Santa Marta after spending 6 days deep in the jungle. I was in a group of 5 travelers, one guide, and a cook. We spent 3 days hiking to Ciudad Perdida(The Lost City), a day at the site, and then the last 2 days hiking back. Ciudad Perdida is one of the largest pre-Colombian towns discovered in the Americas. About 40 km from Santa Marta(carribean coast), the Lost City was built by the Tayrona Indians on the northern slopes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Built between the 11th and 14th centuries, this 2 sq km [View Full Entry]

By pink mona
April 2nd 2006

gossiping....

South America » Colombia » Santa Marta

this blog is only about gossip, gossiping, actually more like sharing with all of you my experience here in santa marta, colombia, on the northern coast... thinking...when one goes to a foreign country, especially for a cultural experience that will take more or less one year, goes with high hopes, high expectations, but first of all open-minded, ready for a challenge, for a life changing experience...what if 3 months go by and Nothing, but Nothing happens? i start asking myself where s the problem, maybe the problem is somewhere within me, although i adapt easily and i know i am [View Full Entry]

By Ralph2006
March 26th 2006

A lost city, a cocaine factory, lots of jungle and even more steps

South America » Colombia » Santa Marta » Ciudad Perdida

The famous steps
They lead up to the rich peoples section of the city

Ciudad Perdida - "The lost city" the city we are talking about was build by the Tyrona Indians a long time ago and was abandoned four centuries ago when the Indians got wiped out by the Spaniards looking for Eldorado. It is the biggest Pre-Colombian city ever found in South America. At the peak the city had somewhere between 2000 and 4000 inhabitants (Machu Picchu had only 1000). You might have heard of the city in 2003 as some tourists were kidnapped while doing the trek there by the local Guerillas. The big surprise is not that the [View Full Entry]

By RalphOnTour
March 26th 2006

A lost city, lots of jungle and even more steps

South America » Colombia » Santa Marta » Ciudad Perdida

By pink mona
February 15th 2006

naughty girl :P

South America » Colombia » Santa Marta

mamacitas :))
hot chicks

I´ve been here for quite a while and nothing seems to happen...nothing exciting I mean, worth mentioning...well...in fact something did happen, but I am not totally convinced I should mention it here...anyway...I met some guys from Israel, on holiday in South America, and whaaaat a holiday, over 6 months holiday! They have been travelling all over South America, but I guess that after 3 years of mandatory army (that´s the low in Israel, 3 years for men, 2 for women!!! And no way of escaping!!!!), such a gigantic holiday is nothing at all...anyway, we ended up smoking joint on the beach, [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » South America » Colombia » Santa Marta