mo•jo n., 1. short for mobile journalist. 2. a flair for charm and creativity.

Words

  • by Roberto Rocha
  • published from Colombia
  • on 2009.10.13

How to make Cartagena ceviche


Cartagena is a city that seduces you from every angle and through all the senses, and food is no exception. Here is a recipe for one of Cartagena’s tastiest street treats.

1 people commented so far
  • by Bianca M. Saia
  • published from Colômbia
  • on 2009.10.12

Clockwork orange, or the joys of medical tourism in Colombia

Congratulations, Bianca. You are an excellent candidate for Lasik refractive surgery for myopia. Eat a light meal tomorrow, don’t apply make-up around the eyes, and be at the clinic at 1pm.

Gracias, doctor.

1 people commented so far
  • by Roberto Rocha
  • published from Colombia
  • on 2009.10.03

6 must-see places in Bogotá

Bogotá is a vibrant, diverse city that can keep visitors in wonder for weeks. Here are our top picks in the city if you don’t have that much time.

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  • by Roberto Rocha
  • published from Canada
  • on 2009.10.02

10 things you didn’t know about Colombia

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1. Because it’s sandwiched between the Caribbean and the Andes, Colombia boasts an incredible variety of musical styles. Some of those styles include:
Champeta • Vallenato • Trova • Salsa • Despecho • Guasca • Merengue • Bachata • Reggaeton • Cumbia • Porro • Currulao • Bambuco • Joropo

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2. If you order a café in [...]

1 people commented so far
  • by Roberto Rocha
  • published from Colombia
  • on 2009.09.28

Cartagena and the Spanish dilemma

The more I learn about Colombian history, the more pissed off I get at the Spanish. Which creates an awkward situation: I can’t possibly stay mad at the nation that gave me paella, sangria, tapas, flamenco and Penélope Cruz.

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  • by Roberto Rocha
  • published from Colombia
  • on 2009.09.23

Cali Rack City

One of the tamer ads for figure enhancement armor

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A fun game to play in Cali is to spot the enhanced women of the city. Since this is plastic surgery capital of Colombia, the game can get absurdly easy: just look for the women whose breasts arrive before they do.
If that’s not enough, then bet on [...]

1 people commented so far
  • by Roberto Rocha
  • published from Colombia
  • on 2009.09.21

Dog and cat go at it in Santa Marta

If you have a very large entrance to your home in Santa Marta, you turn it into an Internet cafe. And if you have pets, have them perform cute wrestling matches for the clients to keep coming back.

2 people commented so far
  • by Roberto Rocha
  • published from Colombia
  • on 2009.09.16

Haggling in Colombia is easy: they do it for you

It’s something of a privilege seeing a country start to flex its tourism muscles. Like a baby’s first steps, it’s at once endearing and clumsy, and it only happens once.
Years of robbery and kidnapping by paramilitary thugs made travelling within Colombia a fool’s venture, but improved security over the past few years has sparked a [...]

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  • by Roberto Rocha
  • published from Colombia
  • on 2009.09.10

Batman waives his liability

“This will be your first physical challenge,” the guide told us as he pointed his flashlight at a hole no bigger than a kitchen sink where the cave wall met the floor. I thought this was coincidental and he was referring to a steep climb ahead, or a slippery descent. But he kept the light [...]

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  • by Bianca M. Saia
  • published from Colômbia
  • on 2009.09.07

Miedo

When I said to people that I was coming to Colombia, I usually got those three reactions:

“Awesome, wow, lucky you! Take a lot of pictures!”
“Colombia? Why? What are you doing there?”
“Isn’t it like super dangerous in Colombia? Please be careful!!!”

Since I arrived last Saturday I haven’t felt insecure once. Neither in downtown Bogota, on the streets at night, nor in the bus stations or on the roads. Not an ounce of fear.

Until yesterday.

4 people commented so far