#battle boyaca

[bookloversofbath]

Romantic Revolutionary: Simon Bolivar and the Struggle for Independence in Latin America :: Robert Harvey

[moonlight12086]

Hello hello, tomorrow I'm going to participate in a school play with a secondary role and I'm nervous, wish me luck

(it's about the battle of Boyaca, something that is celebrated on August 7 here in Colombia)

(lol, my sister's birthday is also that day HAHAHAHA)

[chris-spacehere]

Also im taking this day as an opportunity to infodump about colombia!

Did you know that we celebrate independence TWICE?

Today, 20 of july, we celebrate 'grito de independencia', the day that colombian's finally got tired of spaniard's shit! this was due to a criollo (mixed colombian person) asking a spaniard for a flower pot for a meeting, and the man refusing to give it just for his ethnicity, and that day all of santafe set the shop on fire and let out their screams and wants for independence and equalty!

Then, our actual independence is on the 7 of August, where we celebrate the battle of Boyaca, the battle in which Simon Bolivar and his troops won our independence (even though we were colonized again later but lets ignore that for the sake of being proud of my country)

Conclusion: VIVA COLOMBIA CARAJOOOOOO FELIZ DIA DE GRITO DE INDEPENDENCIA QUE LOS ESPAÑOLES ME CHUPEN LA POLLLAAAAAA CAREMONDAA

[justanisabelakinnie]

I posted 1,687 times in 2022

That's 1,687 more posts than 2021!

584 posts created (35%)

1,103 posts reblogged (65%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@inthetags

@incorrectmadrigalfamilyquotes

@naoko-world

@the-seas-song

@justanisabelakinnie

I tagged 1,426 of my posts in 2022

Only 15% of my posts had no tags

#encanto - 901 posts

#isabela madrigal - 587 posts

#reblog-o-log - 477 posts

#isabela my beloved - 465 posts

#isabela is best girl - 458 posts

#dolores madrigal - 422 posts

#camilo madrigal - 316 posts

#mirabel madrigal - 304 posts

#not isabela madrigal - 251 posts

#encanto headcanons - 219 posts

Longest Tag: 132 characters

#like there’s little miss perfect there’s ordinary there’s show and tell there’s primadonna there’s me and my husband there’s no boys

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

People: You can’t possibly hear an image! The image:

296 notes - Posted August 14, 2022

#4

credit to @reesethedndencantolover​ for helping me move Pepa from Isabela’s place to Camilo’s! 

305 notes - Posted April 7, 2022

#3

Omg I’ve vbeen waiting to do this for so long!!!

If the grandkids had Twitter:

See the full post

406 notes - Posted September 15, 2022

#2

Hot take that shouldn’t be a hot take but Isabela is not the high school mean girl queen bee bitch that some of y’all like to think she is. 

468 notes - Posted February 20, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Encanto Characters’ Birthdays and Their Significance

Isabela Madrigal was born on August 7, the day of the battle of Boyaca and the month during which the Festival of Flowers is celebrated. 

Dolores’ birthday is August 31, coinciding with the International Day for People of African descent as well as Saint Raymond Nonnatus’ Feast Day, said Saint also being the patron saint of confidentiality. 

Mirabel’s birthday is March 6, the same as Gabriel Garcia Marquez, as an homage to him due to his works being the Encanto staff’s inspiration for magical realism. 

Luisa’s birthday is November 14, also known as the Civic Day of the Colombian Woman, which itself is set on the date of the execution of Colombian war heroine and spy Policarpa Salavarrieta. 

Camilo was born on December 28, which is also Holy Innocents Day, the Colombian equivalent of April Fool’s Day. 

Julieta, Pepa, and Bruno are born on October 17, tragically, coinciding with the date of the start of the Thousand Days’ War. 

Agustin was born on June 19, which is Fathers’ Day in Colombia. 

Felix’s birthday is November 11, which is also Cartagena’s Independence Day. 

And finally, little Antonio was born on May 21, which falls on the same date as Afro-Colombian Day. 

Alma’s birthday is currently unknown. 

I hope you found this information as interesting and as fascinating as I did! The source is the Disney fandom on the wiki as well as Jared Bush on Twitter. It’s amazing how their birthdays all fall on significant dates while still being in the right order! 

570 notes - Posted June 3, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[felipeandletizia]

Grand Cross Extraordinary of the Order of Boyaca granted on March 2, 2015 by Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón during his visit to Spain.

The Order of Boyacá (Spanish: Orden de Boyacá) is the highest peacetime decoration of Colombia. The order is awarded for exceptional service to distinguished Colombian military officers and civilians as well as foreign citizens of friendly nations. Established in 1922, the Order of Boyacá traces its origin to a Cruz de Boyacá that was awarded to the generals who led their forces to victory in the Battle of Boyaca in 1819. Reestablished in 1919 as an award for military personnel the order has undergone revisions and expansions into its current form, with the biggest change happening in 1922 where civilians became eligible to be awarded the Order of Boyaca.

Queen Letizia’s Orders 17/??

[rivaltimes]

The horses and the sword of Bolivar

The horses and the sword of Bolivar

Never before had Bolivar’s sword been so publicized as in the possession of President Petro on August 7. Neither in Cucuta, nor in Taguanes, nor in Aurare, nor in the second Battle of the Gate, nor in the Pantano de Vargas, nor in the Boyaca Bridge, nor in Carabobo, nor in Bombona, not to mention the 447 battles, but only the most important, the sword was the protagonist. The episode of the…

[megcol07]

Visitando el #monumento a los #heroesdemipatria de la #batalla del #pantanodevargas ... Lo mejor de este #viaje ha sido sin duda conocer mas de cerca ese trozo tan importante de #nuestrahistoria. Todo mi respeto y agradecimiento a esos hombres y mujeres q dieron su vida y esfuerzos x nuestra #libertad y espero puedan perdonar la enorme mancilla q ahora tiene la #patria x la q tanto lucharon. Visiting the #monument to the #heroes of my #homeland, of the #battle of Vargas #swamp... The best about this #trip has been to recognize that piece of #ourhistory 😉 #colombia #boyaca #viajandoando (en Monumento Pantano de Vargas)

[capoacolombia]

Villa de Leyva est une petite municipalité située dans le département de Boyaca, à environ 3h de la capitale, Bogota. (In English further down) Riche en histoire coloniale, cette ville a été la capitale des provinces unies, suite à la guerre d'independance face à l'Espagne. C'est d'ailleurs près de cette ville, au célèbre pont de Boyaca, que la bataille décisive pour l'indépendance s'est déroulée. Plus d'infos sur cette destination et bien d'autres merveilles de Colombie sur : https://capoa-tours.com Circuits, séjours, visites et vacances sur mesure. -----‐----------- Villa de Leyva is a small town located in the department of Boyaca, around 3 hours drive from the capital, Bogota. Rich in colonial history, this city was once the capital of the United Provinces, following the War of Independence against Spain. Near this city, at the famous Boyaca bridge, the decisive battle for independence took place. More information about this destination and many other wonders of Colombia at: https://capoa-tours.com/en Tailor-made tours, visits, and holidays in Colombia ____________ #villadeleyva #boyaca #bogota #colombia #colombie #tourcolombia #voyage #turismocolombia #tourismecolombie #visiterlacolombie #voyagecolombie #visitcolombia #colombiatourism #andes #ameriquedusud #ameriquelatine #southamerica #suramerica #latinamerica #colonialstyle #colonialvillage #villecoloniale #stylecolonial #travelcolombia #triptocolombia #tripcolombia (à Villa De Leyva, Boyaca - Colombia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEUN5ceAYpJ/?igshid=ysw4dv7n5pd1

[forsoothsayer]

Bolivár by Nikos Engonopoulos

A Greek Poem        THEY SAW AN APPARITION OF THESEUS IN ARMS, RUSHING        ON AT THE HEAD OF THEM AGAINST THE BARBARIANS Le cuer d’un home vaut tout l’or d’un pais For the great, the free, the brave, the strong, The fitting words are great and free and brave and strong, For them, the total subjection of every element, silence, for    them tears, for them beacons, and olive branches, and    the lanterns That bob up and down with the swaying of the ships and scrawl    on the harbours’ dark horizons, For them are the empty barrels piled up in the narrowest lane,    again of the harbor, For them the coils of white rope, the chains, the anchors, the    other manometers, Amidst the irritating smell of petroleum, That they might fit out a ship, put to sea and depart, Like a tram setting off, empty and ablaze with light, in the    nocturnal serenity of the gardens, With one purpose behind the voyage: ad astra. For them I’ll speak fine words, dictated to me by Inspiration’s    Muse, As she nestled deep in my mind full of emotion For the figures, austere and magnificent, of Odysseus    Androutsos and Simon Bolivár. But for now I’ll sing only of Simon, leaving the other for an    appropriate time, Leaving him that I might dedicate, when the time comes,    perhaps the finest song that I’ve ever sung, Perhaps the finest song that’s ever been sung in the whole    world. And this not for what they both were for their countries, their    nations, their people, and other such like that fail to    inspire, But because they remained throughout the ages, both of them,    alone always, and free, great, brave and strong. And shall I now despair that to this very day no one has    understood, has wanted, has been able to understand    what I say? Shall the fate then be the same for what I say now of Bolivar,    that I’ll say tomorrow of Androutsos? Besides, it’s no easy thing for figures of the importance of    Androutsos and Bolivar to be so quickly understood, Symbols of a like. But let’s move on quickly: for Heaven’s sake, no emotion,    exaggeration or despair. Of no concern, my voice was destined for the ages alone. (In the future, the near, the distant, in years to come, a few,    many, perhaps from the day after tomorrow or the day    after that, Until the time that, empty and useless and dead, the Earth    begins to drift in the firmament, The young, with mathematical precision, will awake in their      beds on wild nights, Moistening their pillows with tears, wondering at who I was,    reflecting That once I existed, what words I said, what songs I sang. And the gigantic waves that every evening break on Hydra’s    seven shores, And the savage rocks, and the high mountain that brings down    the blizzards, Will eternally and untiringly thunder my name.) But let’s get back to Simon Bolivár. Bolivár! A name of metal and wood, you were a flower in    the gardens of South America. You had all the gentleness of flowers in your heart, in your    hair, in your gaze. Your hand was huge like your heart, and scattered both good    and evil. You swept through the mountains and the stars trembled, you    came down to the plains, with your gold finery, your    epaulets, all the insignia of your rank, With a rifle hanging on your shoulder, with chest bared, with    your body covered in wounds, And stark naked you sat on a low rock, at the sea’s edge, And they came and painted you in the ways of Indian braves, With wash, half white, half blue, so you’d appear like a lonely    chapel on one of Attica’s shores, Like a church in the districts of Tatavla, like a palace in a    deserted Macedonian town. Bolivár! You were reality, and you are, even now, you are    no dream. When the wild hunters nail the wild eagles, and the other wild    birds and animals, Over their wooden doors in the wild forests, You live again, and shout, and grieve, And you are yourself the hammer, nail and eagle. If on the isles of coral, winds blow and the empty fishing boats    overturn, And the parrots are a riot of voices when the day ends and    the gardens grow quiet drowned in humidity, And in the tall trees the crows perch, Consider, beside the waves, the iron tables of the cafeneion, How the damp eats at them in the gloom, and far off the light    that flashes on, off, on again, turning back and forth. And day breaks – what frightful anguish – after a night without    sleep, And the water reveals nothing of its secrets. Such is life. And the sun comes, and the houses on the wharf, with their    island-style arches, Painted pink, and green, with white sills (Naxos, Chios), How they live! How they shine like translucent fairies! Such is    Bolivár! Bolivár! I cry out your name, reclining on the peak of    Mount Ere, The highest peak on the isle of Hydra. From here the view, enchanting, extends as far as the Saronic    isles, Thebes, Beyond Monemvasia, far below, to august Egypt, And as far as Panama, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Haiti,    San Domingo, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela,    Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uraguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, As far even as Mexico. With hard stone I carve your name in rock, that afterwards men    may come in pilgrimage. As I carve sparks fly – such, they say, was Bolivár – and I    watch my hand as it writes, gleaming in the sun. You saw the light for the first time in Caracas. Your light, Bolivár, for before you came the whole of South America    was plunged in bitter darkness. Now your name is a blazing torch, lighting America, North and    South, and all the world! The Amazon and Orinoco rivers spring from your eyes. The high mountains are rooted in your breast, The Andes range is your backbone. On the crown of your head, brave palikar, run unbroken    stallions and wild cattle, The wealth of Argentina. On your belly sprawl vast coffee plantations. When you speak, terrible earthquakes spread devastation, From Patagonia’s formidable deserts as far as the colourful    islands, Volcanoes erupt in Peru and vomit their wrath in the heavens, Everywhere the earth trembles and the icons creak in Kastoria, The silent town beside the lake. Bolivár, you have the beauty of a Greek. I first encountered you, as a child, in one of Phanar’s steep    cobbled streets, A lighted lamp in Mouchlio illumined your noble face. Are you, I wonder, one of the myriad forms assumed, and    successively discarded by Constantine Palaeologus? Boyaca, Ayacucho. Ideas both illustrious and eternal. I was    there. We’d already left the old frontiers far behind: Back in the distance, fires were burning in Leskovik. And in the night, the army moved up towards the battle, its    familiar sounds could already be heard. Opposite, a grim Convoy of endless trucks returned with the    wounded. Don’t anyone be alarmed. Down there, see, the lake. This is the way they'll come, beyond the rushes. The roads have been mined: the work and repute of that    Hormovo man, renowned, unrivalled in such matters.    Everyone to their stations. The whistle’s sounding! Come on, come on. Get the cannons uncoupled and set up,    clean the barrels with the swabs, fuses lit and held    ready, Cannon-balls to the right. Vrass! Vrass, Albanian for fire: Bolivár! Every pineapple that was hurled and exploded, Was a rose to the glory of the great general, As he stood, stern and unshaken, amid the dust and tumult, Gazing on high, his forehead in the clouds, And the sight of him caused dread: fount of awe, path of    justice, gate of salvation. Yet, how many conspired against you, Bolivár, How many traps did they not set for you to fall into and vanish, One man, above all, a rogue, a snake, a native of    Philippoupolis. But what was that to you, like a tower you stood firm, upright,    before Acongagua’s terror, Holding a mighty cudgel and wielding it above your head. The bald-headed condors, unafraid of the carnage and smoke of    battle, took fright and flew up in terrified flocks, And the llamas hurled themselves down the mountain slopes,    dragging, as they fell, a cloud of earth and rocks. And into the dark of Tartarus your enemies disappeared, lay    low. (When the marble arrives, the best from Alabanda, I’ll sprinkle    my brow with Blachernae’s holy water, I’ll use all my craft to hew your stance, to erect the statue of a    new Kouros in Sikynos’ mountains, Not forgetting, of course, to engrave on its base that famous    “Hail, passer-by”.) And here it should above all be stressed that Bolivar was never    afraid, never, as they say, “lost his nerve”, Not even at the most murderous hour of battle, nor in the bitter    gloom of unavoidable treachery. They say he knew beforehand, with unimaginable precision, the    day, the hour, even the second: the moment, Of the Great Battle that was for him alone, In which he himself would be army and enemy, both    vanquished and victor, triumphant hero and sacrificial    victim. (And the lofty spirit of such as Cyril Loukaris reared within    him, How he calmly eluded the despicable plots of the Jesuits and    that wretched man from Philippoupolis!) And if he was lost, if ever lost is such a one as Bolivar! who    like Apollonius vanished into the heavens, Resplendent like the sun he disappeared, in unimaginable glory,    behind the gentle mountains of Attica and the Morea. invocation Bolivár! You are a son of Rigas Ferraios, Of Antonios Economou – so unjustly slain – and brother to    Pasvantzoglou, The dream of the great Maximilien de Robespierre lives again    on your brow, You are the liberator of South America. I don’t know how you were related, if one of your descendants    was that other great American, the one from    Montivideo, One thing alone is sure, that I am your son. CHORUS strophe            (entrée des guitares) If the night, slow in passing, Sends moons of old to console us, If in the wide plain phantom shades Burden flowing-haired maidens with chains, The hour of victory, of triumph has come. On hollow skeletons of field marshal generals Cocked hats soaked in blood will be placed, And the red that was theirs before the sacrifice Will cover with rays the flag's lustre. antistrophe    (the love of liberty brought us here) the ploughs at the palms’ roots and the sun that rises resplendent amid trophies and birds and spears will announce as far as a tear rolls carried by the breeze to the sea’s depths the most terrible oath the more terrible darkness the terrible tale: Libertad epode            (freemasons’ dance) Away with you curses, come near us no more, corazón, From the cradle to the stars, from the womb to the eyes,    corazón, Where precipitous rocks, where volcanoes and seals, corazón, Where swarthy faces, thick lips and gleaming white teeth,    corazón, Let the phallus be raised, the revels begin, with human    sacrifice, dance, corazón, In a carnival of flesh, to our ancestors’ glory, corazón, That the seed of the new generation be sown, corazón.        CONCLUSION: Following the success of the South-American revolution, a bronze statue of Bolivár was erected in Nauplion and Monemvasia, on a deserted hill overlooking the town. However, the fierce wind that blew at night caused the hero’s frock-coat to flap furiously, creating a noise so great, so deafening, that it was impossible for anyone to get a moment’s rest, sleep was now out of the question. So the inhabitants complained and, through the appropriate steps, succeeded in having the monument torn down.    SONG OF FAREWELL TO BOLIVÁR (Here the sound of a distant band is heard, with incomparable melancholy playing popular nostalgic songs and dances from South America, preferably in sardane time)       general       what were you doing in Larissa       you       from       Hydra?

[fushoots]

Boyacá Bridge. On this site the independence of Colombia was sealed. Bolívar was the commander of this battle. Boyacá, Colombia 🇨🇴 . . #boyacacolombia #bolivar #boyaca #colombia #fushoots (at Puente de Boyacá) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxlTzZfHtWp/?igshid=3mn6nfa5ozay

[stevencho-posts-blog]

Battle of Boyacá

The Battle of Boyacá (1819), was the decisive battle that ensured the success of Bolívar's campaign to liberate New Granada. The battle of Boyaca is considered the beginning of the independence of the North of South America, and is considered important because it led to the victories of the battle of Carabobo in Venezuela, Pichincha in Ecuador, and Junín and Ayacuchoin Peru.

[justanisabelakinnie]

Encanto Characters’ Birthdays and Their Significance

Isabela Madrigal was born on August 7, the day of the battle of Boyaca and the month during which the Festival of Flowers is celebrated. 

Dolores’ birthday is August 31, coinciding with the International Day for People of African descent as well as Saint Raymond Nonnatus’ Feast Day, said Saint also being the patron saint of confidentiality. 

Mirabel’s birthday is March 6, the same as Gabriel Garcia Marquez, as an homage to him due to his works being the Encanto staff’s inspiration for magical realism. 

Luisa’s birthday is November 14, also known as the Civic Day of the Colombian Woman, which itself is set on the date of the execution of Colombian war heroine and spy Policarpa Salavarrieta. 

Camilo was born on December 28, which is also Holy Innocents Day, the Colombian equivalent of April Fool’s Day. 

Julieta, Pepa, and Bruno are born on October 17, tragically, coinciding with the date of the start of the Thousand Days’ War. 

Agustin was born on June 19, which is Fathers’ Day in Colombia. 

Felix’s birthday is November 11, which is also Cartagena’s Independence Day. 

And finally, little Antonio was born on May 21, which falls on the same date as Afro-Colombian Day. 

Alma’s birthday is currently unknown. 

I hope you found this information as interesting and as fascinating as I did! The source is the Disney fandom on the wiki as well as Jared Bush on Twitter. It’s amazing how their birthdays all fall on significant dates while still being in the right order! 

[unlatinoverde]

Salamina, in many respects, personifies Colombia. The brightly painted buildings so typical of the town are almost like works of fantasy. However, scratch the surface and another reality emerges. Behind the soft pastel facades of this national heritage town, evidence remains of the brutal class divisions that have scarred the country. The stories are everywhere…hidden in open view. 

Sitting on a bench looking towards the cemetery and the surrounding valley, it was hard not to feel enchanted. A rainbow hung in the sky above my head. Birds chirped and the buildings all around me looked as if they had emerged from a paintbox: cream, baby blue, peach and a lively shade of grey. The buzzing cicadas brought the vegetation to life (a curious sensation in a cemetery). Yet, even here, the evidence of the past wasn’t too far away.

A plaque opposite the entrance records two interesting facts. Firstly, the site is a Colombian National Monument. Secondly, a wall ran right through the middle of the cemetery until 1975. Its purpose was to separate the rich from the poor. In other words, class division in Salamina continued…even in death.

Cemetery in Salamina, Caldas

  Why visit Salamina?

Visiting the town requires a detour from Manizales, but the physical and architectural beauty of Salamina more than justify a visit. The buildings in the centre have earned the town National Heritage status, something that touristy Salento hasn’t yet achieved. However, it’s the exuberant vegetation that often captivates travellers who make it to Salamina. Relative peace means that increasing numbers of people are ‘discovering’ Colombia. In the process, local beauty spots like Salamina are opening up to the outside world.

Architecture in Salamina 

Typical colours of Salamina, Caldas

Like every city, town or village in Colombia, the centre of Salamina is Plaza Bolívar. Simón Bolívar, the military hero who led much of Latin America to freedom, died penniless in Caracas (modern-day Venezuela). In Salamina his bust stands in front of the fountain, the centrepiece of the square, and he gazes almost directly across to the Davienda ATM. Think about this! Fans of aguardiente, the local firewater, will note that the town drunks often hang out on the bench right in front of The Liberator.  Indeed, we can only speculate about what the great man might have made of this location.

Interestingly, Bolívar has his back turned to the church that dominates his plaza.  It was apparently one of the first churches in Latin America to have been built without supporting pillars. Also, unsurprisingly in the local context, seating was according to social class. The upper and middle classes had designated seats in the centre or at the sides. Meanwhile, the poor could sit or stand at the back.

Outside on the streets is where the real architectural marvels lie. Houses climb sloping streets. Each one seems determined to outdo its neighbours in a battle of intricately decorated doors, windows, balconies, and zócalos (the distinct lower sections of the whitewashed facades). Adding further drama to the scene is the hilltop location of the town centre. Entire streets sometimes appear as if they are about to slide off the side of the mountain.

Streets seem to slide off mountains in Salamina

  Local character and local characters 

The town Culture Museum feels like a trip down memory lane. It houses a wide-ranging assortment of items that chart the social history of Salamina. My favourite was the Cimbalino espresso machine from the 1930s, a token of Italian sophistication in a far-flung corner of rural Colombia.

A remnant of times past

Museum interior in Salamina

Photos look down from the walls, reminders of town characters from times past. The museum curator is happy to tell the backstory of each portrait. Some were fond of the drop (of aguardiente), as the Irish expression goes. Others mysteriously disappeared during the troubled times. The violence of Colombian history was once an everyday reality in this area.

Places are more than memories on walls and Salamina is still full of interesting characters. Don Pedro, the owner of Frutty Caffé in the main square, is a case in point. Originally a native of Boyaca, he moved to the US when he was young and he spent most of his life in New York and New Jersey. A number of years ago he met his wife online and moved to the town. Having worked in construction, he had to learn the coffee trade from scratch. Today, he is a ball of energy who enjoys sharing the beauty of Salamina and its environs with visitors.

Day Trips from Salamina 

Salamina from Don Pedro’s Finca

A visit to Don Pedro’s Finca makes a great day trip. With a dramatic location on the side of the mountain facing the town, the views are framed by lemons, mandarins, avocados, bananas, and plantains. Looking down, visitors will see the river that snakes through the valley below. Meanwhile, the views across to Salamina are near picture-perfect. A huge amount of work goes into tending coffee plants and Don Pedro laughs when he tells the story of a nearby town where coffee labourers reportedly dance for tourists. Picking coffee is hard work- literally backbreaking work!

Although there is plenty to keep people busy in Salamina, everyone should try to get to Valle de la Samaria. El Mirador is home to the one of the largest wax palm forests in the entire country. Cocora, near Salento, is like a small collection of trees in comparison. The road up to San Felix and Samaria is not always easy (see here for details). However, the rewards are views and memories that will last a lifetime.

Why you must go now 

From the moment I set foot in Fruty Caffé, the former town theatre before it fell down one night (read here), I was hooked. Salamina is a heady brew: a mix of colourful buildings, coffee, characters, stories, and living history. Locals understand the dangers of mass tourism and they want to avoid its excesses. However, with Colombia at the top of many bucket lists, towns like this are at risk. Alternatively, violent conflict could kick off again and sink everyone’s plans.

Either way, the time to visit this spot is RIGHT NOW!

A bright blue zocalo in Salamina

  Practicalities 

Getting There and Away

Getting to Salamina is straightforward. There are regular buses to and from Manizales Bus Station. In addition to this, there is the option of taking a taxi. This is a better choice for travellers who are short of time or who need to make connections to other destinations in Colombia. Travellers can also take a bus to Aguadas, another heritage town north of Salamina. From there, it is possible to connect on to destinations further north such as Jardín and Medellín.

Accommodation

Salamina is not yet on the backpacker radar, although this is changing rapidly. However, the result is a lack of backpacker friendly hostels. Hotel Colonial and Hospedaje La Casona offer good value for budget travellers. Those who want a bit of pampering should check out La Casa de Lola Garcia.

    Travel South America: Why you should visit Salamina now Salamina, in many respects, personifies Colombia. The brightly painted buildings so typical of the town are almost like works of fantasy.

[whoisseandavis-blog]

Host Country Report

Dear Traveler,

Congratulations on your decision to visit Colombia. I think you’ll find the people and the climate warm and pleasant. Don’t forget to talk to your doctor about vaccinations and please leave your preconceptions at home.

First things first, in the United States this equatorial jewel is virtually synonymous with cocaine production, narco-violence and international drug trade. That is largely not the reality anymore. After several decades of crackdowns and military efforts to destroy the illicit drug industry, much of the country is relatively safe and accessible for Western tourists. As long as you keep an eye on your surroundings and manage not to do anything too stupid, you should be just fine. In a 2016 travel warning update, the U.S. State Department stated that: “Tens of thousands of U.S. citizens safely visit Colombia each year for tourism, business, university studies, and volunteer work. Security in Colombia has improved significantly in recent years, including in tourist and business travel destinations such as Bogota, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Medellin, and Cali… There have been no reports of U.S. citizens targeted specifically for their nationality.” In 2009, the L.A. Times reported that the port city of Buenaventura, which is often cited as the country’s most dangerous city, had seen a ⅔ drop in the homicide rate as well as police seizures of tons of cocaine and millions of dollars following government efforts and increased information sharing with U.S. intelligence (Kraus 2009). World Nomads note that:  “Traveler forums (people who've actually been there) overwhelmingly rave about the place; they say it's beautiful and it's safer than other South American countries... as long as you stick to the popular tourist destinations.”

By the time the Spanish began conquering what is now Colombia in the 1500s, the native peoples had developed into about 90 different cultures including the Muisca, the Quimbaya, and the Sinu. By the 1600s, the Spanish had begun to establish cities like Bogota, Santa Cruz de Mompox and Cartagena. Streets and buildings in these cities can be traced all the way back to this time. In 1819, following the Battle of Boyaca, the Latin American independence hero Simon Bolivar was elected president of Gran Colombia which included Colombia, Panama, Venezuela and Ecuador (Brittanica). The latter two countries had split off by Bolivar’s death in 1830, and in 1903, following a bloody civil war that saw 120,000 casualties, Panama gained its independence as well (BBC).  

1948 saw the spark of another civil war that would kill over 200,000. The decades since were marked with violence and unrest as guerilla groups, right-wing militias and government forces clashed in rural areas. That long and drawn-out conflict officially ended in December 2016 when the Colombian Congress ratified a peace deal with the Farc (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia).

The culture of Colombia is that of an international melting pot with French and Spanish colonial influence, elements of African tradition by way of the Caribbean, dozens of indigenous groups and the requisite pop/corporate tinge of having been a long time American trading partner and ally in the war on drugs. Like the people, the land- or more accurately the ecosystems, of Colombia are diverse and unique as well.  

19 Reasons Colombians Are So In Love With Their Country

The Amazonas region in the South is very sparsely populated when it comes to humans, although the tropical rainforest that calls it home is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. It’s home to over 50,000 indigenous people including a number of tribes that have remained uncontacted. The region’s most important city is Leticia, which is a hub for the tropical fish trade, eco-tourism and cultural exchange as it’s located near the borders of Brazil and Peru. One tourism site claims it’s the safest city in the whole country:  “Don’t worry, Don’t be afraid. Leticia Amazonas is an island surrounded by jungle and it’s too difficult to scape. We don’t suffer from arm robbery, assaults and we don’t have favelas like Rio” (amazonasColombia.info).  

The Caribbean Coast region, where Conquistadors first landed, is home to tourist-laden beaches and the cities of Cartagena, Santa Marta and Mompox as well as the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The impressive goldwork and architecture of Taironas people is a major tourist attraction in this area (Colombia.co).

Colombia is famous for its coffee. It’s the third biggest exporter in the world, producing almost 12 million bags annually, It’s coffee culture landscape has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

The country’s Western coastline does not see much economic activity- only a single town in this region is considered economically active- Buenaventura is the largest port city in the country.

The Andes Mountain region is the most populous and economically developed, home to the major cities of Medellin, Bogota, and Cali. These areas are home to the biggest and most well known tourist destinations in the country. The capital city of Bogota is home to both hundreds-year old history, art, culture and modern-day innovation and amenities. Lonely Planet lists its Museum of Gold, the Museum of artist Fernando Botero and the Church of San Francisco as top attractions. The site describes Medellin, the “city of eternal spring” as a bustling economic and industrial center with a deep appreciation for nightlife and weekend entertainment.

This is a collection of Colombian emeralds. The country produces as much as 90 percent of the world’s supply of the stones, which can be more valuable than diamonds. The most expensive diamond ever was mined from Muzo in the Andes region.

Colombia is known for its festivals and cultural celebrations. Bogota’s Festival Ibero-America de Teatro is the largest theater festival in the world.

The LLanos (“plains”) region to the country’s east is home to a vast Savannah that is part of the Orinico watershed. It’s become popular in recent years with bird watchers because it’s both extremely biodiverse- home to almost 500 species of native birds, and relatively easy to navigate with roads and infrastructure in place (Colombia Bird Watch).  

As far as communication with locals, it’s probably best to know that people are generally uncomfortable talking about drugs, violence or human rights abuses, which is understandable considering that a large proportion of people have been directly affected by these things. The Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs notes that norms related to personal space and eye contact are similar to those in Canada, but to differentiate your communication style based on where the person or people you are talking to are from:  

Highland areas value formality and serious deportment. Lowland areas value informality and more extroversion. Use usted (formal "you") in the highlands to be respectful, and tú(informal "you") in the lowlands to demonstrate a refusal to be stand-offish. Use lowland localisms with caution in the highlands.

The most important thing to remember about visiting Colombia (after basic security/safety) is to have an open mind. This country has similarities to the United States (we both celebrate a diverse set of cultures, for one) and to its neighbors, but its history and culture, its destinations and its struggles are unique. From the native people of the Amazon Rain Forest to the celebrated art museums to the politics, there is much to be learned from Colombia.

Video

What to Do in Medellín, Colombia | 36 Hours Travel Videos | The New York Times

COLOMBIA TRAVEL: Is It Safe to Travel in Colombia?

Works Cited

"Bogotá." Lonely Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

"Colombia Timeline." BBC News. BBC, 14 Aug. 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

"Colombia Travel Warning." U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, 15 Apr. 2016. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

"Colombian Congress Ratifies New Farc Peace Accord." BBC News. BBC, 01 Dec. 2016. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

"Colombia's Indigenous Groups." Colombia.co. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

"Cultural Information- Colombia." Global Affairs Canada. N.p., 13 Nov. 2014. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

"Culture." Embassy of Colombia. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

"5 Things to Know before Travelling Leticia Amazonas." Leticia Amazonas Tour, Travel Guide and Information. N.p., 30 Apr. 2014. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

"Gran Colombia." Encyclopædia Britannica. N.p., 20 Mar. 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

"Is It Safe to Travel to Colombia?" World Nomads. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

Kraul, Chris. "Colombian Crackdown Appears to Be Paying off." Los Angeles Times. N.p., 21 Sept. 2009. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

"Medellín." Lonely Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

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A photo of Paipa, Boyacá, Colombia. The photo taken in May 2016 from the Vargas Swamp Battle of 1819 monument. Una foto de Paipa, Boyacá, Colombia. La foto tomada en mayo de 2016 del monumento de la batalla del pantano de Vargas desde 1819. See more/Ver mas @ michaelwashingtonae.com #Boyaca #Colombia #Paipa #mountains #montañas #view #vista #green #nature #Paipa #SouthAmerica #photography #fotografia #clouds #cielos #nubles #AmericaLatina #monument #Colombianwar #landscape #Travel #Viaje (at Paipa, Boyaca)