Paolo Pravisani, 72, an Italian retired aeronautical engineer and pilot from Udine and resident in Cartagena de Indias since 10 years ago, was sentenced by a Colombian court for murder, drug, child pornography and child abuse. In February 2009 a 14 years old child, Yesid Torres, was found naked in his apartment and with signs of violence. Yesid died few hours later in his way to the hospital.

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Latin America could grow more than 4.1 percent this year, said Alicia Barcenas, executive secretary of United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC) in a report of AmericaEconomia last weekend over the World Economic Forum in Cartagena de Indias.

Barcena said that it can be predicted thanks to the good results of Mexico and the maintenance of good fiscal and monetary stimuli.

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Mine_sweep

The Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Congress of Cartagena de Indias, was a forum organized by the United Nations on May 4, 2009 in Colombia. The government of president Álvaro Uribe Vélez promoted the celebration of such Congress in the country and it became a space to share experiences in the matter of long term conflicts and how they improved in peace and reconciliation. 46 countries accepted the invitation of the UN and the Colombian government.

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If in past decades it was crazy to think in Colombia as a tourist destination, things are changing. The interest for the South American nation is growing, especially in US and Europe that used to regard Colombia as a pariah country and a dangerous spot.

But is it true that Colombia is a safe place to plan your next summer? At least it is what is said for well known tourist guides and agencies in the last years. But in this time Colombia has been placed as a luxury destination by the Luxury Latin American tourist website from US that focused on upscale travel in the Americas and reviews the best hotels in the region.

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Hay Festival | Colombia, a country of writers

On 2009/02/01, in Culture, Travel, by Albeiro Rodas
A night of the Hay Festival of Literature in Cartagenda de Indias. Photo Catalina Gómez, hayfestivalcartagena.wordpress.

A night of the Hay Festival of Literature in Cartagenda de Indias. Photo Catalina Gómez, hayfestivalcartagena.wordpress.

The Hay Festival in Cartagena de Indias reminds us that Colombia is a country of writers. The big affluence of people to the conferences of authors and the performances of artists like Juanes or Miguel Bosé, is a proof of that. You have to book entrance with a good anticipation in order to see authors like the polemic Fernando Vallejo, in the same way you book entrance for a rock concert. The same for foreign authors like British Salman Rushdie, who is going to do his lecturer in Bogotá tomorrow.

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24th Jan 09: The presidents of Colombia and Venezuela: Álvaro Uribe and Hugo Chávez in Cartagena de Indias. Photo: Miguel Ángel Solano - SP

Cartagena | ColPas. The presidents of Colombia and Venezuela announced the creation of a fund to finance micro and small enterprises as a measure to face the the global recession. The fund will start with resources for 200 million dollars with an equal participation of both countries.

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Hay Festival of Cartagena, coming soon

On 2009/01/16, in Culture, by Albeiro Rodas

Cartagena de Indias is the city of festivals. It is easier to prepare it in a a place so attractive for tourism, but also inspiring for writers and film directors. It is the city of works like “Love in the Time of Cholera” of Gabriel García Márquez, that was made a film by Mike Newell. Because it is Cartagena, the place where time runs from past to future and from one festival to one another.

This time the Hay Festival will have as guest Salman Rushdie and Roberto Saviano, the two writers persecuted for their books and many other international writers who will come to Colombia to share their experiences in the cultural event to be hold between 29th of January and 1rst of February in Cartagena and other regions.

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Cartagena does not know about the crisis

On 2009/01/12, in Culture, Economy, by Albeiro Rodas

It is near to reach a historical season

By Vicente Arcieri and Juan Carlos Díaz / Correspondents of  EL TIEMPO – Cartagena, published in Portaforlio.com.co / Translation by Albeiro Rodas, Colombia Passport

Colombian and foreigners tourists walk by its streets, fill its beaches and spend everywhere.

The turbulence of the economical recession still not touch the coasts of Cartagena, where a wave of tourists enjoy the city at ease. Even it seems that the activity did not to stop after the holidays.

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A Classical Music Festival in Cartagena de Indias

On 2009/01/11, in Culture, by Albeiro Rodas

Normally a Caribbean city like Cartagena de Indias can be associated to Salsa, Vallenato and tropical dances. But this time Cartagena de Indias, the first tourist spot of Colombia, is the scenery of the most exquisite taste for classical music. And the best musicians of the world accepted the challenge to give concerts in one of the oldest cities of the Americas.

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Cartagena, world top destination by Frommer

On 2008/12/26, in Culture, by Albeiro Rodas

http://www.cartagenainfo.net/imagess/cartagena.JPGCartagena de Indias was among the world top destinations this year by the prestigious American travel magazine, Frommer in its 2008 edition of December 17th.

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