Picture from Colombiamoda 2010

The town of Leticia in the Colombian Amazon region has a flourishing tourism industry. It’s a safe destination in Colombia with a stunning beauty.  Year round, there’s lots of wildlife to be seen in the Amazon region, including monkeys, ocelots, birds and the pink dolphins. Behind the increasing number of international students that arrive in Leticia to learn spanish is The Amazon Spanish College.

This Spanish Language School offers a opportunity to study Spanish, Amazon studies, volunteer and discover the Amazon rainforest. The school located in the heart of Leticia on the triple border between Colombia, Peru and Brazil and only few minutes away from the Amazon River and its spectacular eco-system. The school offers spanish courses at all levels, social and cultural activities and volunteer work. Most students arrive from England, USA, Holland, Sweden and Kanada. But now the school is looking to attract students from countries such as India and China.

- Colombia has a enormous potential to attract international students who want to learn spanish in the same way as Peru and Costa Rica have been doing for years. This creates high skilled jobs that our country needs. Through  volunteer work students can contribute to the local community and at the same time learn from the people that live in this region, says Alejandra Palacios, co-founder of The Amazon Spanish College.

Visit the website of the Amazon Spanish College http://amazonspanishcollege.com

Photo ´Chapinero´ by Tequendamia

Traditionally, foreign visitors coming to Colombia think in the beautiful Caribbean beaches and cities like Cartagena de Indias, San Andres islands and Santa Marta. However, the time for Bogotá is now, a city of almost ten million inhabitants that is at the top of the northern Andean ranges, thousands of miles away either from the sunny Pacific or Caribbean costs.

The tourist industrial development in 2009 produced to the city about US$ 1,200 millions in foreign exchange, reported the Major of the Colombian capital, Samuel Moreno.

For Moreno, it is a great opportunity for the city if we think that there is a foreign tourist market of about 900 million of travelers in the world, he said to AméricaEconomia, the financial Latin American magazine. The city welcomed last year the 51,2 percent of foreign visitors that came to Colombia.

Moreover, the number of foreign visitors increased in Bogotá in comparison with previous years in 10,5 percent, reaching 693 thousand persons, different to the world numbers that decreased 4 percent due to the global financial crisis.

Although the altitude that offers a cool weather although it is on the tropic, Bogotá has a modern tourist infrastructure and several places to visit, from historical sites linked to the ancestral peoples of South America to the development of the first European settlements in the continent.

Bacatá was the original name of what was the biggest confederation of tribes in the Americas before the coming of the Europeans, known as the Muiscas. They were also the creators of ElDorado myth, a hidden kingdom of gold and treasures linked to the ancient king of the Muiscas, the Zipa, who used to follow golden rituals at the Guatavita lagoon to the goddess Moon. From history to modernity, the second largest South American capital after Buenos Aires, is famous for its lively Latin American nights in clubs and streets for any tourist test.

Photo by mckaysavage

Though he could not fulfill his dream to reach the summit without oxygen, he became the first disable person to get conquer the highest altitude of the planet in history, planting the flag of the South American nation. The climate conditions obliged the sportsmen to use oxygen, but they were successful in their expedition that reached the goal at 11:15, Nepal time, on May 17, 2010. They sent an official communication at that time from the highest spot of the earth.

The ‘No Borders Epic’ Expedition (Epopeya Everest Sin Límites in Spanish), is made by a team of 21 persons. According to their official site, they worked for eight months to make possible that a sportsman like Cardona, which right foot is amputated, fulfills the dream to conquer the summit. Their aim: ‘To confirm that a disability is only physical and not mental,’ said the website.

‘We are an example for the entire world. We give testimony of how Colombians can fulfill their dreams and make them real, without giving importance to differences, when we build around us with what joins us. For this reason, the eyes of the world are now on us, because it is not the fails the ones that make you fail, but the inability to stand up again and continue, said Cardona.

The sportsmen has been also in different South American summits before he could reach the Asian and highest summit of the world.

Photo Rubashkyn

The program is addressed to children and young people to promote their interest in astronomy. A city that was the cradle of the ancient Muisca civilization, the biggest tribe confederation of the Americas, takes now its time to make Bogotaneans interested in science and stars, as their old ancestors that build astronomical sites throughout the Andes ranges.

The Planetarium of Bogotá and the Colombian Association of Autodidact Astronomers, are supporting the efforts of the Municipality in the purpose.

But the city is the astronomical natural site, because there are programs in places like the Tunal Commercial Center and the 93th Street Park. The sites are provided by giant telescopes to surf the night skies over the Andean capital and there are projections of videos on astronomy and space science.

Gonzalo Caicedo, the adviser of the Astronomy Club of the Planetarium of Bogotá, said that the programs look to approach the citizens to this science.

The LGBT community is supporting Fundación Niños por un Nuevo Planeta (Children for a New Planet Foundation), that gather child victims of sexual abuse in Colombia, pointed Juan Manuel Santero, the LGBT Magazine. The organizer of the event said that the participation is of 24 male models of the LGBT communities, 12 of them are men and 12 are lady boys. They are accompanied by a electronic musician group in the Astor Plaza Theather in the Colombian capital.

The Foundation ´Children for a New Planet´

The Foundation is a Colombian NGO with headquarters in Bogotá that was created in 2000. The initiative was to give shelter to children, who are abandoned, in danger or victims of sexual abuse.

As it is written in their website, the Home for Children was opened in 2000 for children of sexual workers and street children from the most poor barrios of Bogotá and other Colombian cities. Those children who have been the consequence of critical situations in the country and that is manifested in thousands of families of displaced farmers to the main cities.

The Foundation has received support from the private sector and charity. More than 300 children live at the place at the moment.

The survey is not yet officially published, but some results were spilled already to the media. It was the result of the Cultural Biennial Survey 2009, the fifth one during the government of Samuel Moreno Rojas. 13,019 persons older than 13 years old were consulted in 19 districts of the 10 million inhabitants capital. The survey that was realized during 2009, asked for culture, politics, democracy, art, consume, patrimony, free time, sport and recreation. According to the Secretary of Culture and Education of Bogotá, the survey is a tool for the governance of the city.

The Bogotans are a big group of people coming from different regions of Colombia and even foreign migrants. The 50.58 percent of Bogotans were born in the city, according to the survey, but the 66.6 of them were children of parents who came to the city from other regions.

Bogotá is divided in 20 localities, 19 of them are urban. The 58 percent of inhabitants use the Internet, though most of them belong to younger generations, as it is happening around the globe so far. The 88.95 percent of Internet users are between 13 and 17 years old, while Bogotans older than 50 years old reach the 23.43 percent.

As for political views, the 35.74 percent of Bogotans say that they do not have political party, the 33.66 percent say they stay in the center, the 8.54 percent manifested to be of left and 22.07 percent of right wing.

Surely, you will not find the Chinese town or the Little India in Bogotá… not yet! But it is a city where you can find a wide offering of international restaurants, hotels at the highest international standards and a busy nightlife to enjoy. Plus, its universities have foreign students.

The enrichment of a human variety in the second largest capital of South America, is producing a population with different faces, from Bogotans with ancestors in other regions of Colombia, to persons who are children of other South American migrants and even North Americans and Europeans. Just come to see it yourself.

Spanish is without doubts one of the most important languages of our time. Spoken by billions, it is now the second language in US. As we can talk of a British, American or Australian English, it is possible to talk of an European, Mexican, Argentinian, Peruvian or Colombian Spanish at the same level. Among those different national Spanish languages the Colombian one has a great prestigious. Therefore, to study Spanish in Colombia is more than recommended, because its fame of neutral, diction, correct grammar and it is easy to understand, plus the kindness of its people. Now well, what if you come to study Spanish in the middle of the Amazon jungle? Possible and a great idea now with a new conception of tourism in places like Leticia.

Paulo Silva and Alejandra Palacios are a couple of Colombian-Swedish who just opened a new hotel and school of Spanish for foreigners in Leticia! The place is just interesting and exiting: it is the Colombian city in the middle of the Amazon jungle. A great tourist spot for lovers of ecology and natural cultures of the most important jungle of the world. Leticia is an international river port at the banks of the Amazon River. It is the meeting place of three big South American nations: Brazil, Peru and, of course, Colombia. A city with streets in three countries that starts to open its doors to a national and international tourism. Alejandra and Paulo answered to Colombian Passport like this:

Why to teach Spanish in Leticia?

Because Leticia is a small city, friendly and easy to know. It is surrounded by a unique and exuberant nature and a natural rich culture that makes the place good to learn new things and a language like Spanish. The city offers also a great tourist potentiality and ecological environment not only as a destiny for Colombians, but also as an international destiny.

For our visitors and students, Leticia is an ecological paradise. It is not only for the beauty of its nature, but also that interesting cultural mixture and the richness of the traditions of its people. Our students appreciate that the people of this place comes from everywhere: from Colombia, Peru and Brazil. There are also a great variety of indigenous communities that go beyond the imaginary borders of the countries. Leticia, although many would not believe it in Colombia, is an international city by natural and vocation and it has many opportunities to learn new things.

How is the coming of tourists to Leticia?

It has increased and it seems that will increase even more. It is a pity though that until few years ago most of the visitors were foreigners, because only few Colombians from the interior could pay the ticket to come here and appreciate the value of nature. However, in the last years, thanks to the opening of new airlines, the destiny became more accessible to the national market and also to foreigners who visit Cartagena and Bogotá.

We receive also a big number of visitors by sea who come from Iquitos and Manaos. They come to Leticia, but after they visit other parts of Colombia, looking especially the longed Caribbean beaches. In this sense, the city became a point of reception to foreign travelers to other national and international destinies, because many come to Leticia in order to take the ships in the border Brazilian city of Tabatinga to Manaos and other Brazilian places.

How is going the development of the region? Salubrity, education, opportunities for the youth?

Improving. Leticia and the Amazons State is a place of a lot progress. The nature is rich and generous in terms of food. Here, thanks to God, we do not have lacks of food. However, the big problem is the handling of drinkable water, a situation that affects very much the health. Other difficulty is the electricity. We have electricity, but it has a big ecological and economical cost, because it works by fossil fuel that is so harmful for the fragile ecosystems.

Because the geographical isolation, education and youth do not have the longed motivation. We have the SENA and the National University and some private universities that offer programs and distance courses, but the offer is very short. Unfortunately, Tabatinga, our border neighbor city, has also too little to offer as an alternative. In many cases is it better to avoid that the Colombian youth cross to the border, because in the last times the Brazilian youth has been recruited by gangs and common criminals linked to drug dealers.

Although the limits, there is a light for this city of the colors or the Green Corner of the World. We receive support from missions, volunteers, pastors and churches and some private sector of foreigners that support different projects for the indigenous communities, programs of environment, technical skill, etc.

Personally, we know and we support organizations like the Swedish http://www.ankarstiftelsen.com/ that during the last 15 years built about 60 schools in the communities along the river in the three borders with the support of volunteers. At the same time, they are looking solutions to have a best access to drinking water in order to fight diarrhea that is the main cause of undernourishment and infant mortality in the region.

Tourism became a challenge for Colombia during the first decade of the 21rst century. It is a country with highest qualities for international tourism, but with a bad fame due to a long political conflict that fill the pages of international media. Many possible visitors hesitate when talking about the possibility to know Colombia, a name that has been associated with drug dealers, guerrilla, paramilitary massacres and many other evils.

But far from be a dangerous area for tourism, Colombia is improving its security in most of its tourists spots either in cities or rural areas. To exposure Colombia to tourism is not only a need of the national economy but also the opportunity of an alternative that can be more interesting than what tourist agencies can present. With the development of tourism in Colombia, the world is opening  jobs in the country, while taking out young workers from the risk of crime organizations. Tourism development means also improvement in security. Tourist areas are evidently safe, because it is also the will of authorities and common people.

Medellín is evidently a city to see and enjoy. Further than the wonders of its beautiful mountains, valleys, rivers and towns, the Paisa region is great for the warm of its people. Paisa people are in fact kind and welcoming. At the other side, if you come to Colombia and you do not visit Medellín, it is as you never have known Colombia in its totality. Though Medellín still a very provincial city in many aspects, some of its inhabitants can traced their origins from different Colombian regions that contribute to the identity of its culture.

According to reports of the Major, 40,273 persons arrived to Medellín in March by land to see the games. Other 5,900 persons were foreigners and arrived by plane. 5,000 were the same athletes, who came to participate in the competitions organized in Medellín and the Easter Antioquean Region (Rionegro, Guatapé, etc.)

The Association did a research in Medellín, published by El Mundo newspaper. It concludes that the 68 percent of motorbike buyers belong to the worker class, while 24 percent is made by independent workers. The most preferred vehicles are low cylinder as 185 due to their size, price and technical characteristics.

When Colombians decide to buy a motorbike, the 49 percent manifested in the research that it was only for transport need and the 35 percent bought it for work. Only 11 percent said that it was for enjoyment. In the entire country, of the total of motorbike users, the 70 percent are male, though in Medellín the percent of female users is a little highest than the national average. In 2009 one of five buyers was a woman.

Between 2003 and 2008 the percent of families with motorbike increased from 8.5 percent to 15.1 percent. It means that Colombians have more motorbikes than computers at home.

The Financial Superintendence created a insure accident for drivers known as Soat that stands for Transit Accidents Insurance. It is an obligatory insurance that was enforced since March 2010. Motorbikes with a cylinder inferior to 100 must paid US 107, cylinder up to 200 must paid US 138 and cylinders superior to 200 must paid US 157.