Colombia forums on Poorbuthappy.com

"Equipaje no acompañado" Shipping, anyone try it?

By Mamey on Nov 7, 2009, 22:18.

Has anybody tried this method of shipping? Meaning you traveled to colombia and you had personal items (new or used) sent via cargo at around same time. Picked them up at airport customs without having to go through a broker, bodegas or pay aranceles. From what I understand the only thing you have to pay in Colombia is 16% IVA for the declared value of items brought in through cargo company. Iam thinking of doing this through a company in Los Angeles which charges .99c lb, with a minimum of 250lbs. Anyone have any experience with this type of shipping ("Equipaje no acompañado"), and also any referrals for trusted shippers in the Los Angeles, CA area? thanks

World Monuments Fund 2010 Watch List Includes Two Colombian Sites

By ranaquajo on Nov 7, 2009, 21:01.

Yesterday the World Monuments Fund (WMF) announced the 2010 World Monuments Watch: http://www.wmf.org/sites/default/files/press_releases/2010_Watch_Announcement.pdf "Every day, the places that mean the most to people are threatened by neglect, demolition, or disaster. Every two years since 1996, the World Monuments Watch has focused global attention on cultural heritage sites around the world that are facing such dangers and that illuminate current issues in the field of heritage preservation." The 2010 Watch List includes two sites in Colombia: SAN FERNANDO AND SAN JOSE FORTRESSES Cartagena de Indias "Emerging from the steel-blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, the fortresses of San Fernando and San José stand sentinel over Cartagena Bay’s inlet. Constructed in the 18th century under the watchful eye of King Ferdinand VI, the great white-stone façades of the military strongholds offered protection to Spanish settlements in the New World. San José, the first to be completed, was destroyed by the British Admiral Vernon in 1741, only to be rebuilt following the plans of engineer Ignacio Sala in 1752. San Fernando’s structure, initially composed of brushwood and mud, was completed in stone according to the plans of Juan Bautista Mac-Evans in 1779. Today, the fortresses remain essential examples of Spanish colonial military architecture, as well as symbols of the city of Cartagena de Indias. San Fernando and San José are vital to the economy of the northwest Colombian city, whose population relies heavily on tourism as a means of employment. However, efforts to deepen the Bocachica waterway for vessel access and increased economic development critically threaten the stability and structure of the outer walls, exposing the difficulty of the decisions to come." ... and SANTA FE DE ANTIOQUIA HISTORIC CENTER Province of Antioquia "Deep within the Central Cordillera of the Andes in northeastern Colombia, Santa Fe de Antioquia rises more than 1,650 feet (500 meters) above sea level, between the Cauca and Tonusco rivers. Founded in 1541 by Jorge Robledo, Santa Fe de Antioquia—originally Villa de Santafé—became the City of Antioquia in 1545 after receiving its coat of arms from King Felipe II the Handsome. By 1547, it had been elevated to Parish Church by Popayan’s Archbishop, and seven years later, became the capital of the surrounding region of Antioquia. In later years, difficulties in trading eventually led to the decline of Santa Fe de Antioquia, whose status as the regional capital was transferred to Medellín. Cradled by the lush green vegetation of the surrounding mountains, the cobblestone streets of the historic center wind past homes dating to the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries that are made of rammed earth, adobe, and bahareque (wattle and daub). The Cathedral, constructed in 1799, and four additional churches demonstrate the colonial influence of the Catholic Church and the architectural wealth of the town. Recent infrastructure improvements and road construction in northeastern Colombia have led to a surge of tourism in Santa Fe de Antioquia. This, along with development pressures and insufficient urban planning and protection threaten this pristine historic center." For more info about The Watch: http://www.wmf.org/project-map/about-watch .

Bull fighting in Colombia?

By Platinum_space on Nov 7, 2009, 19:31.

Any bullfights around Pereira? I was in Spain and kick myself all the time for not going, I have to check one out at least once in my life!

Colombia Strategy Page

By tasco66 on Nov 7, 2009, 17:34.

http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/colombi/articles/20091104.aspx

E.U. reporta caída histórica en producción de coca en Colombia

By tasco66 on Nov 7, 2009, 17:26.

Pasó de 485 toneladas, en el 2007, a 295, el año pasado. La reducción precipitó que el precio por gramo de cocaína pura en las calles de E.U. pasara de un promedio de 99,48 dólares a 176,14 dólares. El año pasado la producción de cocaína pura en Colombia cayó a su nivel más bajo, en las casi dos décadas que lleva el país como principal fuente del alcaloide en el mundo. Según la CIA, marcó una cifra de 295 toneladas métricas. En el 2007 la producción de las 'cocinas' de los narcos fue de 485 toneladas de esa droga. Se trata de una reducción histórica, pues las mediciones sobre la producción en los laboratorios clandestinos llegó a marcar, hace menos de cinco años, 680 toneladas de cocaína. Un documento oficial de la Embajada de E.U. aseguró ayer que se trata del segundo año consecutivo en el que cae la producción. ¿Razones para los buenos resultados? Las agencias de E.U. mencionan el incremento en la erradicación manual, que asegura la destrucción real de las matas de coca (95 mil hectáreas en el 2008), y la aspersión aérea, programa que incluyó la fumigación de 133 mil hectáreas de narcocultivos el año pasado. La medición de E.U. coincide con la realizada por la ONU en cuanto a la tendencia a la baja en el número de hectáreas, pero arroja 40 mil más que la cifra reportada por Colombia para el 2008: según E.U., en el país había el año pasado 119 mil hectáreas de coca, 48 mil menos que en el 2007. Las cifras del Simci hablan de 81 mil hectáreas el año pasado, frente a 99 mil en el 2007 (18 mil menos). En contraste, dice la CIA, los narcos en Bolivia y Perú han incrementado su producción de cocaína. En Perú, a 215 toneladas métricas, y en Bolivia, a 195. En todo caso, señala el informe, se trata de la más baja productividad de los tres países andinos por lo menos desde 1997 y la cifra está lejos de las 1.055 toneladas que se calcula se produjeron en el 2001. El impacto de esos buenos resultados, dice Washington, se siente en las calles norteamericanas. Allá, según la DEA, el precio de un gramo de cocaína pura ha aumentado desde el 2007 en un 77,1 por ciento, de $99,48 dólares a 176,14 dólares. Al tiempo, la pureza de cada dosis vendida en las calles cayó de 67 por ciento a 49 por ciento. Es decir, en este momento un gramo de droga que se vende en calles de E.U. tiene más de la mitad en mezclas. http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/justicia/eu-reporta-caida-historica-en-produccion-de-coca-en-colombia_6532207-1

Jane Fonda / Shakira

By whitewidow on Nov 7, 2009, 17:14.

They look like sisters to me.....

Tourist info

By Platinum_space on Nov 7, 2009, 17:11.

Planning my tourist things, I was wondering if anyone knows any active Volcanoes to check out near Pereira or any jungles with monkeys or eco tours? Away from Farc preferably. Anyone know anything else that our must check outs? Last time I toured Lago Calima and rented a cabana. It was great!

Explosion today in El Poblado...

By knoxseagle on Nov 7, 2009, 16:40.

It happened around 2:30, about a block from my house, close to Pomona at Calle 10. Very loud noise, lots of car alarms going off... I went down there to take a look and there was a lot of activity. I almost stepped in a pool of blood in the middle of Avenida Poblado. I still don't know what happened... Does anyone have any information about this?

aaaahhhhhh colombia..............did you forget this thread?

By dwmte7 on Nov 7, 2009, 15:47.

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/colombinitas-soho/ well worth a review..................

BUYING A HOUSE IN SANTA MARTA

By CakeDesigner-wannabe on Nov 7, 2009, 15:26.

Where can I find to buy house or apartment in Santa Marta other than http://www.metrocuadrado.com/servlet/co.com.pragma.m2.servlet.demanda.MostrarHome ?

lost all belonging in Hotel´cont

By Gypsy on Nov 7, 2009, 15:15.

I would like to thank all of you for your concern and suggestions, Well, in this two days there have not been a lot of good feeling and time to sit down and write here, all yesterday was going from police in Mayorista to court house in Itagui and finally was able to file a claim with fiscalia in Envied at 8.PM , had phone conversation with two attorneys, and all this morning meeting with the owners of the hotel and has been going through a lots of things, I know there are a lots of questions and I will happily inform you soon,

Positive results of Plan Colombia

By makopp5 on Nov 7, 2009, 14:48.

EE.UU. reporta caída en producción de cocaína en Colombia Por: Reuters En 2008 el área cultivada con hoja de coca cayó un 29%. http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/judicial/articulo170756-eeuu-reporta-caida-produccion-de-cocaina-colombia "Nueva información sobre la productividad indica que en 2008 el potencial máximo de producción en Colombia se redujo fuertemente al pasar de 485 toneladas métricas de cocaína pura a 295 toneladas métricas, lo cual representa una reducción del 39 por ciento", precisó el informe. Production went from 485 T in 2007 down to 295 T in 2008

The Candy Machine: How Cocaine Took Over The World

By Byron_Kostner on Nov 7, 2009, 13:21.

The Candy Machine’s greatest strength may be its presentation of perspectives from former gang members and drug users, drug traffickers and retired narcotics enforcement officials in the U.S. (despite the author’s desire to “hear from those who work day to day on the cocaine trade routes that run from London and New York via Miami, Kingston and Tijuana to Colombia,” the reader mainly hears from people in the North Atlantic). Thus Rusty, a former narcotics officer for the Department of Corrections in Arizona: “When I talk about legalizing drugs, people say, “you can’t mean heroin and crack, right?” But after 30 years of the drug war, spending a trillion dollars…the bad guys still control the price, purity, and quantity of every drug. Knowing that they control the drug trade, which drug are you going to leave under their control? Regulation and legalization is not a vote for or against any drug. It’s not about solving our drug use problem. It’s solely about getting some control back.” “They” refers to drug barons, many of them large landowners as well as warlords, in Colombia, Mexico, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, but the problem with Rusty’s analysis is that U.S. government allies in such countries—the intelligence services, the judicial systems, the military and police, business and political elites—are either complicit with or directly involved in supplying U.S. and European markets with cocaine and/or heroin, generally in order to finance counter-insurgency wars. As Alfred McCoy’s The Politics of Heroin: CIA Complicity in the Global Drug Trade (2003) illustrates, this pattern was set in the 1950s with opium and heroin in places like Burma, Marseilles, and Cuba, repeated in the 1960s and 70s in Vietnam and Laos, and updated with Colombian cocaine in Central America and Central Asian heroin in the 1980s. The common thread is that the anti-communist end justified the means—active or passive collaboration with rightwing drug trafficking organizations in brutal counter-insurgency wars—in all places at all times. The career path of “Freeway” Rick Ross, who used the U.S. inter-state highway system built when Richard Nixon was vice-president to construct his business empire in the 1980s, is illustrative. Unlike everyone else selling cocaine or crack, Rick Ross was supplied with cocaine at cut-rate prices by Danilo Blandon, a Nicaraguan employee of the CIA in the U.S. government’s war against the revolutionary Sandinista government, as documented in the late Gary Webb’s Pulitzer-prize winning Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Explosion (2003). From prison, Ross explained to Feiling, “Me and Danilo Blandon were really tight. I knew from earlier that he was backing some war, and I knew that he was from Nicaragua, but I had no idea about the Contras. I was illiterate at that time, you know? I never read a newspaper or listened to the news. They say that Danilo was protected, and you can assume from the Feds that I was protected too, but I never knew that. I was just in it for the money, trying to get out of the ghetto.” Blandon sold cocaine to Ross at a price, of a quality, and in quantities that none of Ross’s competitors could match. As former DEA agent Celerino Castillo III, who served in El Salvador, told Feiling, “They gave all the coke to Danilo Blandon, who was a CIA asset. He in turn fronted all that stuff to Ricky Ross. Ross became the Walmart of crack, distributing to the Bloods and Crips and everybody else all over the country…. Hangars 4 and 5 at Ilopango airport in El Salvador were used as a trampoline for drugs coming in from Colombia and Costa Rica. Oliver North and a Cuban exile named Felix Rodríguez [a former CIA agent who executed Che Guevara in Bolivia] were running one of them, and the other one was owned by the CIA. Rodriguez and North used a plane called the Fat Lady, which was also owned by the CIA, to load up with arms at Ilopango and then airdrop to the Contras in the jungle. Then the fat lady got shot down by the Sandinistas. The only survivor was the pilot Gene Hasenfus, who was also working for the CIA. He was captured and said it was a covert operation being run out of the White House, and that’s when the story broke that the U.S. government was supporting the Contras.” All evidence pointed to Vice-President George H.W. Bush’s office, but of course nothing came of it besides the Kerry Committee Report of 1989, which charged the State Department with making payments to Nicaraguan Contras involved in the cocaine business. http://www.brooklynrail.org/2009/11/express/a-different-sort-of-blowback

Fight for Preemies, Nov 17

By webmanco on Nov 7, 2009, 13:18.

http://www.bloggersunite.org/event/fight-for-preemies http://www.bloggersunite.org/image/event/large/315.jpg Objective: Every year, 20 million babies are born too soon, too small and very sick ― half a million of them in the United States. November 17 is when we fight. Do you know a baby that was born too soon, too small, unable to suck, unable to breathe on his own? Premature birth is a health crisis that jeopardizes the lives and health of nearly half-million babies each year. It is the #1 killer of newborns and can lead to lifelong disabilities. Worse: the number has increased 31 percent since 1981. It can happen without warning and for no known reason. Until we have more answers, anyone’s baby, could be born too soon. El 17 de noviembre estará dedicado a crear conciencia sobre la crisis del nacimiento prematuro. March of Dimes le extiende una invitación a los blogueros como usted para que participen. -Aprenda acerca del nacimiento prematuro en nacersano.org o marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies -Añada un botón en su blog durante el mes de noviembre, Mes del Nacimiento Prematuro -El 17 de noviembre, dedique una entrada en su blog a un bebé que usted ama y para ayudar a otros Necesitamos luchar por todos los bebés

Shakira 101

By Monpirri on Nov 7, 2009, 10:55.

Shakira and the Barefoot Foundation on Plum TV's Giving Plum TV's show Giving featured the work of Shakira and her Barefoot Foundation. Singer-songwriter and international star Shakira founded the Barefoot Foundation to provide education and nutrition to poor and displaced children

Torrents Sites ???

By mosvar on Nov 7, 2009, 08:42.

Anybody know any Spanish/Hispanic/Latin (whatever you wanna call it ) sites. Mostly music I am interested in. Thanks.

Vaccinations in colombia

By mandotech on Nov 7, 2009, 08:15.

My fiance needs the full range of vaccinations for her k-1 visa. She lives in Bucaramanga. Does anyone know of any inexpensive clinics to get vaccinations? Is it best to wait until she sees the assigned doctors in Bogota?

Bar Lilias - Rodadero

By bickerss on Nov 7, 2009, 07:48.

I visited this bar last night and liked it a lot - great play list (rock mix) with videos and cheap beer cocktails and friendly staff. If you are in the region you should give it a try and it is owned by one of the PHB members. The clubs we visited in SM after were also great - all in all Rodadero rocks - also a 2 bedroom apartment with great ocean views for 60,000 a night!!! It is in an old building but one block from the beach with pool, security etc. If anyone wants the number of the guy I received it from I will post it (he has ten apartments in the same building). Unfortunately at xmas he said the price increases to 350 k a night - yikes!!

Needed Office Address for Soho Magazine in Bogota

By bradk on Nov 7, 2009, 07:42.

Does anyone have the physical address and phone number for Soho? I have been searching the internet but cant locate it. Thanks

Normal Living Costs United States and Colombia ....Tourism Not Included

By panthdave on Nov 7, 2009, 07:42.

1.Groceries-United States Lower (Grocery Stores not the Street Vendors) 2.Clothes- United States Lower ( Comparing Miami and Normal Clothes and Namebrand) 3.Taxes: a)Sales Tax- Lower United States b)Property Tax- Lower Colombia c)Income Tax- Lower United States( Not comparing Under the Table) 4.Auto- Lower United States 5.Gasoline- Lower United States 6.Auto Parts-Lower United States 7.Insurance ALL: Lower Colombia (Auto,Health,Life,Dental,Property) 8.Bank Accounts and Loans- Lower United States 9.Housing: a)Property: Lower Colombia( Note: Changing quickly) 10 Utilities: a)Electricity: Same b)Cable: Lower Colombia c)Internet: Lower United States( Per MB Pricing) d)Telephone: Lower United States e)Cellular Service: Lower United States f)Gas: Don't Know g)Water: Same h)Furniture: Lower United States Quality 11. Electronics and Computers and Parts: Lower United States 12. Entertainment/Restaurants: a) Drugs Lower Colombia b) Alcohol Local Only Lower Colombia/ Imported Alcohol Lower United States c) Cigarrettes: Hands Down Lower Colombia d) Bars and Restaurants: Lower Colombia Still (Depends Comparing Establishments) e) Prostitutes: Lower Colombia d)Parks and Recreation: Lower Colombia 13. Local Transportation:Hands Down Lower Colombia Taxi/Buses/Metro 14. Public Schools Lower Colombia 15. Private Schools Lower United States(depending) 16. University Lower Colombia Any more please add.....Yesterday was in a good conversation comparing Miami to Bogota with a Rolo I know here in Miami and basically she said Bogota is now more expensive than Miami..after you go thru all expenses including taxes..

Avianca is Serious JOKE

By bickerss on Nov 7, 2009, 07:41.

Ever tried paying for a flight with Avianca by credit card (phone) - what a nightmare. Three office visits later, 2 x 40 minute telephone calls and I think they have finally confirmed payment for my ticket. Never again - if you need to use the airline pay by credit card in an actual office or by cash . This is the third time they have made it impossible to buy a ticket (think I would have learnt my lesson). I wonder which monkey they paid to come up with their credit card payment system!!!!

Colombia 2025

By Monpirri on Nov 7, 2009, 05:51.

http://www.colombia2025.com/video.html

Trip Report

By Brians on Nov 7, 2009, 05:03.

Since everyone posts trip reports I figured I would post my last trip. Leave Newark 5 pm Friday and arrive in Bogota 9pm. Bumped to first class. No problems at airport as usual. No bags to check. Have a few complimentary beers in the Elite lounge awaiting my flight. Go to my hotel in Bogota. Pay the usual $275.000.000 for upgraded suite and order a nice steak room service. Fall asleep. Saturday wake up and fly on first flight out to Santa Marta. Bumped to first class again but sine trip is only hour no real difference. Sapo picks me up at airport and it is hot. We go to look at some real estate. Sapo's shirt is soaking wet after one hour with the heat. So at this point this is my only bad experience as I really should not have to watch an Italian sweat horribly. However he is a good guy so I take the good with the bad. Catch a flight back to Bogota at 5pm. This time no bump to first class but it is only 1 hour so I can deal. Back to hotel room in Bogota. Take a shower. Order room service again. Some sushi which was excellent and a medium bottle of wine. Fall asleep. Sunday awake and checkout. Bill $750,000,000 two nights which I am happy to pay as service food and room was excellent as usual. I am happy to pay for services rendered. Forgot to leave a tip in the room for maid so ask to go back to room. See maid in the hall and give her the $30,000,000 which she is happy and deserving. See my thought is that people do good work and try hard should be compensated and it is good Karma. The people at the hotel generally remember me and thus since I never complain and are a good client they are always extremely helpful with my stay. Checking at airport through first class line as usual so no long cattle lines. Relax in lounge and wait to see if I am upgraded again. Upon arrival in gate I am informed I will be upgraded again. Had the pleasure of sitting next to a MIT grad student who is Colombian. He will begin work in June for Credit Suisse. Good conversation about politics in the USA and Colombia. Got to watch Ice Age three for awhile. Food was excellent again and arrived 30 minutes early. Pass right through immigration as we are off plane first and there is no line.

Rock n Roll Bars - Santa Marta

By larryrn on Nov 7, 2009, 05:03.

So last night after the Sushi we decide to check out a couple of places and ended up at Crabs Bar in Santa Marta (www.crabsbar.com - Cll 18 Kr 3 - 69). The place had Peter Frampton jamming on the stereo and large TV on the wall with a ton of CDs/DVDs above above the bar and a large sound system. The place is painted bright red and definately has the "Crab" look and feel. We played darts and had a beer - they only have Club Colombia - i wish they had other national beers like Pilsen or Aguila. After about an hour we left - and decide to check out Bar Lilias (KR 4 CL 13 - 7). We never did find the place on numerous attempts earlier - however we noticed last week they had a sign up above the doors which made it very easy to find (after a couple of beers). Now they had Plisen and Rock 'n 'Roll. They had more people than Crabs (but it was raining cats and dogs back in Santa Marta but not over the mountain in Rodadero (which is typical)). All in all we had a nice time and enjoy getting out. Before we went to Crabs we went to this bar across the street next to a hotel - the place was real old like hundreds of years old - but it was cool and "old Spanish" if you know what i mean. It was dark inside and they were showing videos on projectors of Spain and music video. I asked for a couple of Pilsens and while it was dark, a hugh roach was crawling on top of the bar. He was the size of a mouse.

Sushi - Santa Marta

By larryrn on Nov 7, 2009, 04:43.

So on Friday nights this place that normally only does carry out Sushi was open as a restaurant so we decided to check it out.. Maco Caycedo Sushi - CL 26 No 4 - 132 El Prado (423-5094) The house was a typical older home for this area with beautiful large porch and nice sized yard. For me the house was beautiful. They had maybe 10 tables on the porch and outside under the stars and trees decorated nicely. The menu consisted of maybe 12 entries of Sushi all priced at 17,000. We started with Tempura Salmon sushi and it arrived within 10 minutes. The presentation, quanity and quality were excellent. My only comment is that they were skimpy on the wasabi - we asked for more and each time received very little portions of wasabi. The second plate we ordered Coco Shushi which was very good as well. Beer was available in cans for 2,400 - they need beer in bottles as this is tacky and I wish they had Sashimi on their menu. I needed to use the bathroom and walked inside the house and it was beautiful -large bathrooms and all - and they had more Christmas decorations up than we have (grin). Most people think we are overkill on the decorations but this place had more - everywhere. Obviously, I love Christmas decorations and this place made me feel right at home. All in all it was very nice and we will definately return. Larry

Colombian flora - a request to Bill

By Darloup on Nov 6, 2009, 21:03.

Hola Bill, Your blog about your garden http://www.slightlycreaky.com/BillArchives2.html#Walk proved to be one of the most informative posts I ever read on PBH about the Colombian flora. Is there any chance you coud provide the Latin names for your flowers? You sure have some lovely species I'd like to grow in my Barranquilla garden. Unfortunately, the English names don't help much. Any chance to get the Spanish equivalent, or even better, the international Latin equivalent?

What Do You Hate About Colombia?

By Byron_Kostner on Nov 6, 2009, 19:37.

A few things I can do without. oneforyourmillion said it best, "...Colombians have such low frickin self esteem that you can not even hint at criticism without them blowing it all up as an attack on them and they go for your throat. It gets fokin old." How true. It drives me nuts! I hate the cheap NMG's, but even worse, cheap bastards with money who are tight wads preventing them from having a great time in Colombia. This basically defiines about 98% of gringos in town. I personally have no problem with NMG's, but if you don't have any money, why not just stay home? And lastly, Ugly Americans, enough said. Other than that, life is good.

Thanksgiving in Colombia?

By Platinum_space on Nov 6, 2009, 19:30.

What is there to do there around this time of the year? I am looking to try new places, I went to Lago Calima last time I visited. Any suggestions? I will do Santa Marta or San Andres another time when I can fly in and then we all fly out for vacation.

Apartment in San Andres

By adidas6953 on Nov 6, 2009, 19:27.

Does anyone know of someone who has an apt for rent (5 people) in san andres starting 1/1/10? Looking for a place that can hold 5 people. Appreciate any information or leads anyone can provide.

Why do people talk poorly about each other?

By ddluzdelsol on Nov 6, 2009, 19:19.

By knocking somebody else, we in turn make ourselves feel better about...ourselves... It boosts your own self-confidence (somewhat artificially) by creating biased standards based on that person's comments? Just would like to know why YOU think people talk poorly about each other on this forum?... even in general? Poor self esteem/low self confidence? Jealiously? Pissed off? What's up? Burp...

3 Colombians die in anti-personnel mine blasts

By jimbo67856 on Nov 6, 2009, 18:43.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j7Ux9zv9Tdkij7LkMO0pTZv6ZiFgD9BQB95G2 (AP) – 2 hours ago BOGOTA — Colombian officials say three adults have been killed and two children wounded in two related anti-personnel mine blasts in the country's northwest. The top security official in the town of Dabeiba, Wesly Uran, says two brothers aged 9 and 10 were wounded Thursday night when they set off a mine. The boys' father, mother and uncle died in a second blast as they went to aid the youngsters. Uran says the mines were on a forest path a three-hour walk from the town center, apparently placed by leftist rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. Colombia's government says land mines killed 88 people and wounded 403 in the first nine months of this year.

AEROREPUBLICA

By Platinum_space on Nov 6, 2009, 16:22.

Do they charge bag fee's? How much? Thanks Everyone!

Venezuela deploys 15,000 more troops to border with Colombia

By mariacvetanoski on Nov 6, 2009, 15:39.

news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/06/content_12398563.htm CARACAS, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela announced Thursday a supplementary deployment of more than 15,000 agents of the National Guard to six border states amid alleged invasion of Colombian irregular groups. The troops would be deployed to the southern states of Amazonas, Apure and Bolivar, and to the southwestern states of Barinas, Tachira and Zuila, Venezuelan Vice President and Defense Minister Ramon Carrizalez told the press on Thursday. The deployment, called "Sentinel Operation," aimed to strike illegal mining and combat the presence of irregular groups in the Venezuelan territory. This action was followed by the detainment of five alleged Colombian paramilitaries during a clash with the Venezuelan police in Tachira on Thursday morning. Two of the detainee were killed, from whom two fusils, taken from two agents of the National Guard killed on Monday in the border area, were found, the authorities said. Also on Thursday, 100 Colombian citizens were detained in a checkpoint in Barina when they were traveling on passenger buses without identifications. Late last month, 10 alleged Colombian paramilitaries were also detained. They were accused of causing terror by dishing out "subversive" leaflets in Tachira.

here in colombia

By lpdiver on Nov 6, 2009, 15:16.

arrived last week in bquilla and navigated to rodadero sucessfully. i have a ton of fotos to upload a few adventures to write about when i get a better chance. so far i have been impaled by sea urchins in tayrona. poisioned at playa blanco. dar papaya when little snorkeler wanted to go for the HO Derik look. i am navigating well with my spanish and have been accused of being argentino or various other south american countries. i performed oral surgury on my wife in the bathroom in the houston airport i was able to commucincate well enough to obtain medicine for myself and my little snorkeler. all in all it has been a pretty good trip so far and i will write some detailed trip reports later. soon to come...a tale of two titties...and the adventures listed above. will be arriving in rio negro at 9.30 tonight and navigating to medellin...sad to say i won T be able to play my new game i have invented for passing time on longer taxi and bus rides...moto yatzee...i ll fill you in on the rules later. oh yeah...if travelling to rodadero don t plan on your atm card functioning at all...that is a whole nother adventure. in rodadero sin plata.... i am the only foking person in all of the airport in bermuda shorts and short sleeve shirt..jejeje hasta luego ts

Bed for sale

By russell brewer on Nov 6, 2009, 15:16.

Double bed with mattress and 2 matching bedside tables with drawers for sale. All in black. Only 3 months old and still in excellent condition. Originally 800,000, will sell for 600,000(but negotiable). Call Russell if interested on 3213021751

Getaway Ideas

By Bunyipcatcher on Nov 6, 2009, 14:17.

G'day All, Wifes birthday coming during the next long weekend in November. So Iam looking for somewhere a bit different from the usual haunts that we have already visited to take her and the kids for a bit of a getaway. I have heard Barichara is a beautiful little town but its probably a little too far from Bogota. Any other ideas would be appreciated, Scott PS Villa de Lleya, Villavicencio and Giradot are all out. We have done them all too many times. Looking for something with nice views and fresh air so the kids can run their legs off. PSS And whilst Iam here a photo from last weekends drive around Macheta way. http://luzunlimited.com/blog/?p=354 http://luzunlimited.com/blog/?p=352

Amazon Indians find plane crash survivors

By sloopskipper on Nov 6, 2009, 14:04.

BY Reuters — 2:43 PM ET 10/30/2009 By Raymond Colitt "BRASILIA, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Nine people survived a crash landing on a river in Brazil's Amazon rainforest after native Indians alerted authorities who dispatched a rescue mission, the government said on Friday. The small military plane, which went missing on Thursday, was carrying four crew members and seven health officials on a vaccination campaign in remote areas of the jungle. "We are happy to be alive. The plane stopped in mid-air and we panicked. The pilot plunged the plane into the river," one of the survivors told UOL news after being airlifted to Cruzeiro do Sul, a city in Acre state. The C-98 Cessna landed on the Itui river, a tributary to the Javari river, in the far western Amazon region. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash. Members of the Matis tribe spotted the wreckage and notified local authorities. The site is close to where the borders of Brazil, Colombia and Peru meet. The area is home to a handful of Indian tribes that have little contact with the outside world. The Cruzeiro do Sul hospital said the survivors appeared to be unhurt. The Brazilian Air Force said divers continued to search the river for the two missing people. Indians also located and helped in the retrieval operation of a Boeing 737 operated by Brazilian carrier Gol that crashed into the Amazon in 2006, killing all 154 people on board. (Reporting by Raymond Colitt, editing by Anthony Boadle) Copyright © Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world." Perhaps not available to Fidelity non-participants: http://eresearch.fidelity.com/eresearch/goto/evaluate/snapshot.jhtml?symbols=GOL&rsrch=gqb

Lost all belonging in hotel , Itagui

By Gypsy on Nov 6, 2009, 12:29.

I have been staying at hotel AlCaravan Itagui for ten nights, last night when I enterd my room fund out that All my valuable belonging such as the lap top, camera, as well as all cash from the safe box in the room has been stolen, looks like inside job since the entrance door is not broken but the safe box is broken, the hotel manegement dosn´t accept any responsibility and the police here worth nothing, any sudjestion what can I do about it ? I apreciate all help

Is this the Shakira you know?

By nine inch nails on Nov 6, 2009, 11:56.

http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/entertainment/2009/11/06/fashion-police-bafta-mtv-europe-awards?slide=4

Breaking News: Anyone Have Reletives in Orlando? Massive Shooting with Dead& Wounded Downtown

By miamimike on Nov 6, 2009, 11:09.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/ Miami News just announced two Dead, 6 wounded.

The Pablo Escobar theme park: Former home of Colombian drug lord is turned into bizarre tourist attraction

By kat1 on Nov 6, 2009, 10:48.

These are the pictures that show a theme park not to be sniffed at - it's the former home of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. From his eight-square-mile estate in the middle of the South American jungle, the mastermind ran a narcotics empire making him once the 10th richest man on the planet. By 1989 Escobar sold 80 per cent of the world's cocaine, bombed governments and is believed to have killed nearly 4,000 people. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1225724/The-Pablo-Escobar-theme-park-Former-home-Colombian-drug-lord-turned-bizarre-tourist-attraction.html#ixzz0W6fnQ9O8

Party Time? Medallo Dec. 18-27

By AFEE13 on Nov 6, 2009, 10:07.

Okay...So Im going to be out there and the partying begins on the day I land...Im getting picked up...dropping my luggage off and leaving to party wherever my friend suggests...I should be at my destination by 12a.m...HOw many of you heathens out there care to join? Let me know

Has anybody flown CLO-MDE and BACK?

By Paisa/Calena/Luver on Nov 6, 2009, 10:00.

How much? How long ago? Does it go into the little airport in MDE or Rionegro? What airline? What kind of plane? Thanks in advance.

December flight deals to Bogotá

By johnny2009 on Nov 6, 2009, 09:42.

http://bogdirectory.com/flights/index.html A shitty month for flying, only JFK to BOG has a better deal than it had last month. Best prices from USA and Europe too seem to be with Delta via ATL. Best deal from ATL however is with Spirit.

translate title of tecnologo in English

By rona on Nov 6, 2009, 08:58.

Hey guys, my wife needs her college diploma translated and I don't know how to properly translate her title as tecnologa. Thanks

Buses Medellin -Peru

By Miss Jar on Nov 6, 2009, 08:11.

Hi, Wondering if anyone has any information on travelling to from Medellin to Peru by bus. I know you can do it but I wanted to see if anyone has done it to see how long, expensive, safe it is (I'm a young lady travelling on her own) etc. Any tips on what to do and see in Peru would also be good to hear. Thanks

I just can't beleive how cheap are plane tickets are in Colombia

By tasco66 on Nov 6, 2009, 06:56.

I bought a Bogota-Popayan-Bogota plane ticket for only COP 12,000 with Avianca. That's about six US dollars. You just can’t beat that.

New Park for Kids in Armenia

By Rikito on Nov 6, 2009, 06:51.

The other day I was asking if anyone knew about a new park for kids that has recently opened at the north end of Armenia. I drove by it this morning and got some information for those of you who might be interested. The parks name is Diverfly and you can get more information on their web site at: http://diverfly.com/. The park looks like it is mainly for children but they have a lot of adult activities as well. Entrance fee is $3.500,000 for kids and $5.500,000 for adults. There is also an email address at noticias@diverfly.com. If anyone decides to go there let us know if the park is worth going to.

Depositing large amount of money in a Colombian bank

By marlydog1812 on Nov 6, 2009, 06:19.

Hi I got 30 grand in two different checks made out to me by the State of California. My choices: Fly to the states to deposit them Put them in my BBVA account. Mail them DHL to my bank in Oregon Any suggestions As for depositing them in my BBVA account how long does it take to clear a stateside check and what are my Colombian tax issues... TY MD

"Tourism in Medellin grew 32 percent in the first six months of this year compared to 2008."

By sandman0011 on Nov 6, 2009, 05:25.

http://colombiareports.com/travel-in-colombia/95-medellin/6718-tourist-shouldnt-worry-about-violence-medellin.html MDE # 3 behind Bogota and CTG in tourism