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Colombia Travel Blogs

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 mars3
September 21st 2006

feeling like a local...

South America » Colombia » Bogota

local cuisine!
i did not see a single tourist eating it!

16th september- 21st september coming back to Bogota was an experience of mixed feelings- a)Unfortunately, it was filled with the burdens of a large city. a place where you have to catch up on all those errands that can only be done in large cities! and for me, it was also finding a new camera (those of you that know me know that i am not normally an impulsive shoppper, so this was hard!), and failing miserable to repair my videocamera (yes problems with all forms of photography!)- the repairer took 4 days to finally tell me that he couldnt do [View Full Entry]

By Sarah and Princess Sparkle explore the world
September 18th 2006

Just a quick stop

South America » Colombia » Bogota

Statue from Mueso de Oro

Ok, I know I've been a bit slack seeing I started writing this 2 months ago but have only just got around to adding the photos. So here is the last installment of my Columbia & Guatemala trip. Back in Bogota again and it was still a bit over whelming. Although my spanish has now become existant I'm still struggling. People here speak very fast unlike Guatemala where everyone just cruised along. but the good thing is that I can understand so much more than I did before and in a round about way can have a very basic conversation. If [View Full Entry]

By mars3
September 16th 2006

its big...its really big!

South America » Colombia » Tunja

wall of fossils
one of the museums we visited. juan fran and natalia acting their crazy cool selves

15th september-16th sptember Arriving in Villa De Leyva, was like stepping back in time, of what i can only imagine Colombia once looked like before modern planning. Stayed in a cosy hostel "hostel colonial", and mesmerised by the town, i went for my camera at which point i realised that it was missing. The only time my bag with camera had left me was when i headed to the bathroom on the bus... that was when the thieves must have taken it!! Surprisingly, have learnt to be quite chilled on holidays, so the experience didn´t deter me too much...and i manage [View Full Entry]

By pink mona
September 15th 2006

the one and only....Pablo Escobar

South America » Colombia » Medellin

Pablo Escobar
his WANTED add released by Colombian authorities.

Pablo Escobar...the all-times drug lord...the big time mobster .... the coke king having his very own kingdom- Medellin Cartel, Colombia. I donºt know to how many people this name rings a bell, but for sure that if you heard it mentioned only once, you canºt easily forget it. You associate Pablo Escobarºs name with crime, violence, terror, bombs, killing, more killing and the list is endless. Strangely enough, some loved him. Plenty hated his guts. Poor people of Medellin and Envigado adored him. He was the one giving them jobs , money, even houses. The man gave them what the [View Full Entry]

By mars3
September 13th 2006

ok...im leaving Taganga tommorow...but maybe next week...

South America » Colombia » Santa Marta

Claudio Playing football on Taganga beach

8th september- 13th september Back in Taganga always felt great. I grew to love this place- there was just an awesome vibe about this place! Each time i came to leave, something would hold me back! Definitely alot of fond memories of this small, otherwise unremarkable, fishing town. The days were largely spent chilling, either on the beach or in the hostel (casa de felipe). Sunset watching became a favourite past time- each sunset different to the next, and almost always spectacular! I cant write about Taganga without mentioning ¨Kelly´s Juices¨-by far the best juices i have tried i [View Full Entry]

partying in santa marta- club: la puerta

By Itchy Feet
September 8th 2006

My Apartment & Inaugaration Party

South America » Colombia » Popayan

Party: 1 JD, Fernando, Diana, Me
From L to R: Jose Domingo, Fernando(goof), Diana, Me

I now live in Popayan and my apartment is where I write and practice my music. Come with me on a tour and enjoy the photos from the party I threw. [View Full Entry]

By pink mona
September 8th 2006

is this legal??

South America » Colombia » Medellin

the real thing
ANGEL as we know it

I bought this 2 days ago, it smells heavenly, exactly as the real thing and it is just as persistent...the question is still... is this legal?? Ok, 100 ml for 20.000 pesos, in US $, less than 10 :))), can you believe it? what made me buy it, was obvious, the low price, and the fact that it is my favourite perfume, what made me laugh was the inscription it has on one side , I quote: THIS PRODUCT IS NOT CONNECTED IN ANY WAY WITH ANGEL@, A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THIERRY MUGLER PARFUMES. How on earth can it not [View Full Entry]

By mars3
September 8th 2006

a little touch of paradise...

South America » Colombia » Magdalena » Tayrona National Park

amazing sunsets each day!

5th September -8th September: Tayrona national Park Tayrona national Park, a little gem of paradise just off the northern Colombian coast of the Carribean. Blessed with crystal turquoise waters, it was a perfect escape from the days of strenuous exercise on the lost city trek! I caught a boat out to the bays with our small troup that remained from the trek...plus a few added extras. Arriving in the bay of Cabo San Juan was like stepping into a postcard image! beautiful calm carribean waters, whitish sand, tropical palm trees hanging over the beach, bordered by large beautiful boulders of [View Full Entry]

another day of doing absolutely nothing!!

By CheekyPee
September 6th 2006

Pimp My Bus!

South America » Colombia » Magdalena » Tayrona National Park

Tayrona National Park
(I told you it was nice.)

Santa Marta, groan... Before much longer I was well enough to want to travel and desperately needing to leave. Having kind of ground to a halt hanging out with my amigas who ran the hotel I'd stayed in I think I'd forgotten how to backpack. (It's terribly difficult don't you know... You get up each day (if you want), do what you want, when you want until you wonder whether trying somewhere new might be worth a pop. Get off bus and repeat. For best results try not to dwell too much on how sickeningly privileged your life is in a [View Full Entry]

By pink mona
September 5th 2006

by bus

South America » Colombia » Medellin

waiting in line to get on the bus
yes, there are queues to get on the bus!!:))

I moved three days ago, I live downtown now and thank God for that! I donºt mean that it was awful where I lived before, on the contrary, it was great, the only problem was that I was 5 minutes away from Eafit and I was in a way stuck in that perimeter. Now I am forced to take the bus, it is only minutes away, it is very cheap and it gives me the opportunity to see Medellin, I have been here for 2 months and during this time I went downtown only once!!Now I live there, I went shopping [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » South America » Colombia