Colombia history

The name of Colombia was conceived by the Venezuelan Francisco de Miranda to denote the union of the republics of Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela, in tribute to who discovered America, Christopher Columbus (Italian Cristoforo Colombo). [16] [17] name of Columbus (Colombo) comes in turn from Latin columbus, meaning dove, pigeon male (Latin columba), an animal that symbolizes peace. [18] On 15 February 1819, during the Congress of Angostura was proclaimed the state to adopt the name Republic of Colombia, known today as Great Colombia to avoid confusion with the current Colombia, with sovereignty over the territories of the hitherto Viceroyalty of New Granada, Quito and Captaincy General of Venezuela. [19] The name was proposed by Simón Bolívar in the Jamaica Letter. [20] The name is also mentioned in one verse of the anthem, which reads as follows: "... It bathes in the blood of heroes land Columbus ...»[ 21]

In 1830, emerged as a republic under the name Republic of New Granada, and soon after became a federal state under the title of Grenadine Confederation, which adopted the constitution of 1858. It adopted the name United States of Colombia in 1863, [22] which in 1886 was definitively established until the present day, in Colombia, a move that was protested at that time by the Congress of Ecuador and Venezuela for considering it an encroachment unilateral common historical heritage. However this discrepancy has already been superseded for some time. [23]

Link:

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILLfRGgjYXE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSAZo5uPxpY

5 new sites to visit this year in Bogota

Penthouse: cha cha now wanted to open a site in the pink zone. This is Penthouse, a new bar with a very nice aesthetic, terrace and more enjoyable for Cha Cha.

The bar at Astrid y Gaston: Now not only can go to eat very rich (and expensive) to Astrid y Gaston, but can go to have some good (and expensive) drinks at this new bar.

Love: In the park of 93 this is another option to rumba. Recently opened and it seems that people liked. Actually I have not much to say of this site, it will go.

Ispani: This Spanish restaurant in the area G is a good choice for example if you are looking for good Spanish food and seafood. It was supposed to be a market food restaurant (like donhostia), so the letter is always changing.

Satori: Although here have been unable to successfully one Resturante who specializes in a type of Asian food, but insist on doing a mixture of dishes from around the region (which is incredibly large but still with the idea that Asia is a country and culture), this Restuarante has some dishes that resemble the real food. The good thing is that they use fresh ingredients and has a great atmosphere.

Link:

http://bogotatravelguide.com/

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmYL_v-Lgi0

In Bogotá we are prepared for the economic crisis: Samuel Moreno

Employment generation for Phase III of Transmilenio, recovery and intervention works for the road network, support for microenterprises with Banking Capital, social investment in education and health and food security are some of the arguments put forward by Mayor Samuel Moreno in 'World Cities Forum in Chicago: International Dialogue for municipal leaders. "

The capital's mayor agreed with the tenets of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, the importance of creating jobs to tackle the global financial crisis.

For this reason, Moreno Rojas pointed out that in Bogota is making a speech to the road network is unprecedented in the history of the city, which began with Phase III of the TransMilenio mass-transit system, construction of the 45 major works for valuation , and dividing the city into 6 major areas for intervention of the intermediate and local road network.

"This whole Works Plan 2009 - 2010 Bogota generate 175 thousand new direct jobs. In addition, so we are structuring the Integrated Public Transport (SITP), which integrates the various means of transport such as Metro, Transmilenio, public transportation, subway, bus, pedestrian network and network of bicycle routes, "said Moreno Rojas .
Another program that strengthens investment in Bogota, and to ensure a dynamic economy, is Bank Capital. This project created in the first year of the Development Plan "Bogotá Positiva: Better Living," 5906 credit operations conducted in 2008, benefiting small and medium entrepreneurs.

In addition, Bogotá works to reduce by 50 percent the time and procedures to create a company in the city.

"Bogotá is a city with secure finances. This is evidenced by 3.8 billion pesos in tax collections, equal to 101 percent of the goal of our development plan. This is an increase of 8.7 percent versus the prior year, "said the president in the capital.

Social investment is our priority: Mayor

Moreno Rojas presented to the mayors of 32 cities worldwide capital, Bogota social policy, based on investment of seven of every 10 pesos, or 70 percent of the budget of the "Bogota Positiva 'for programs health, education, food security and social integration.

"In the past year, 229,000 people were affiliated to the subsidized health regime. The city reached 96.7% coverage in vaccination of the population under 5 years. And as it goes further, guarantee free health care to all children under 5 years, over 65 and disability status, in poverty and vulnerability, "said the Mayor.

In education, more significant is that the gratuity that today have more of 608 thousand students, for whom there are sufficient conditions to remain in the educational system. "The efforts to ensure greater access and permanence are observed at a coverage rate of 98.9 percent of the demand," said Moreno Rojas.

Finally, the onslaught of the economic crisis also is challenged by food security. Mayor Moreno Rojas said "the 290 community kitchens that serve about 184 thousand people a day, 138 have become centers for community development."

This development has generated micro-baking, cooking, home crafts and agricultural crops, ensuring the creation of companies and food sustainability.

Link:

http://www.radiosantafe.com/2009/04/28/en-bogota-estamos-preparados-para-la-crisis-economica-samuel-moreno/

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=crisis+economica+en+bogota&aq=f

Destination: Crepes & Waffles

Crepes & Waffles is a successful chain of restaurants. Originally dedicated to the upper class, but over time their prices have gone down (or, rather, has remained relatively constant) than it has been cheaper than other similar restaurants. Perhaps the combination of high quality low-price meals has been the recipe for commercial success it has had, has been such that at certain times play to queue about 10 minutes before a table.
The food is very good. Crepes sell many types and ingredients.The salads are also very varied. Ice cream and desserts like a lot.
By opening branches in major cities of Colombia and then Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, Mexico and Spain, has become a leading example of successful national industry.
It has recently opened several small stores which only sell ice cream and desserts to go.

Decoración Decoration
The décor of these restaurants is at the point of posters of the painter Fernando Botero Antioquia.It has its own architectural style.

History
The first Crepes & Waffles in the city was opened in the race 11 to 85 Street in 1980. Initially it was a small place but over time grew considerably. It was conceived as the development of a draft Management degree students and has always sought to recruit women heads of households, as opposed to the prevailing corporate culture that discriminates against women in pregnancy by the current legislation on working time for these cases.

Branches
Carrera 11 with Calle 86
This was the first Pancakes & Waffles existed.
Carrera 19 entre calles 121 and 122
Unicentro
Located on the first floor near the main entrance.
Cedritos: 19 career south of the street 140
Park Way , Barrio La Soledad : Avenida 22 No. 40-92
Palatino
International Center
Bulevar Niza
T Zone
Mall Santa Ana
Mall San Rafael
Park 93
Located on the north side of the park. Initially it was a relatively small local but-much-as with, eventually bought the place next door and was expanded significantly.
Salitre Plaza
World Trade Center
Chia Center

Comida Food
Crepes
Turkey & Cheese Crepe Netherlands
Rating: 8.00 (3)
Crepe veal, spinach and cheese
Rating: 9.50 (2)
Crepe Sicily
Rating: 6.50 (2)
Tuscan Crepe
Rating: 8.00 (1)
Mexican Crepe
Rating: 9.00 (1)
Mexican Chicken Crepe
Rating: 8.00 (2). Besides chicken, have tomatoes, cheese and lettuce.Slightly spicy. Relatively large.
Cooks Panne
Cook Panne Chicken Curry
Rating: 8.00 (1). It is quite good and relatively large. For some people the taste of curry may be too strong (hot).
Salads
Thai Salad
Florentine Salad
Mediterranean Salad

Ice cream and desserts
Chocolate Almond
Rating: 9.00 (2). A good ice cream for lovers of chocolate .
Alaska
Rating: 6.50 (2). A vanilla ice cream and blackberry, with several sprouts and whipped cream.
Nutella Crepe
Rating: 8.50 (2). A crepe filled with nutella.
Waffles

Link:

http://www.crepesywaffles.com/>

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c00JR3_ZHUk

In the late 1990s, analyzed the requirements that had the Gold Museum of the Bank of the Republic and its collection into the future. Were identified as the renewal of scripts needs scientists with the most recent information archaeological excavations, and to provide the exhibition of a contemporary museology, the level of the leading museums around the world.

The museum building design and renovation and expansion of the museum was conceived in 1998 in two stages: the first stage involved the construction of a new building designed by architect Germain Samper Gnecco, who was also the architect of the traditional building of the Museum opened in 1968 in the Parque de Santander. The new museum building and its galleries opened to the public in December 2004. The second stage consisted of remodeling the building in 1968 and splice the new construction. To carry it out, the museum had a team of architects, curators and designers under one coordination, which made possible a fully harmonious project between architecture and museology.

In this new space, spacious, modern and comprehensive, is told the history of gold and other metals were present pre-Hispanic societies of Colombia. The new script scientific and museum of the exhibition was drawn from the metaphor of metal processing in pre-Hispanic societies, who extracted it from the earth, it worked, used it, it symbolized and finally return to earth as an offering. The curators gave shape to this concept on four main topics that are large permanent exhibition: The metal-working, people and gold in prehispanic Colombia, cosmology and symbolism and the offering.

To complement the permanent exhibition services allowing deeper by visitors themed tours, educational activities, audio guide in Spanish, English and French, a multimedia room and a study room for reading and researching on issues of exhibit, among others. Scheduling of the Auditorium and the extensive permanent exhibits will see that the museum is also a research and academic interaction, extension, cooperation and national and international strategic alliances.

The Gold Museum is a place that makes visible the unique way the pre-Hispanic past and memories of Colombia. Also proposed and sponsored the current cultural diversity. Thus, the Exploratorium room, designed to promote curiosity and questioning, is the privileged stage for children, youth and adults acquire knowledge rather than questions asked about who we are, what it means and how we study our archaeological heritage, among many other topics.

Links: Museum.

Videos: Museum.

Iberoamerican Theater Festival of Bogotá was created in 1988 by Fanny Mikey and Ramiro Osorio, on the occasion of the celebration of the 450th anniversary of the founding of Bogotá.

Since the first edition, held under the motto "An act of faith in Colombia", the festival became a cultural adventure and had as one of its main objectives the integration of Latin American art to the world.

Today it is one of the festivals of performing arts world's largest by its convening power, its wealth of functions and diversity of genres: The world's largest companies have participated, as well as teachers who have renewed theatrical languages , the number of functions is unsurpassed by other festivals in just 17 days, working alongside street theater and living room, making it one of the most complete specimens of the performing arts scene in the XXI century.

One of the key commitments of the festival was the diversity, plurality and the representation of different genres and trends in the performing arts, promoting theater through understanding and tolerance among peoples. Since its inception on FITB has become the most significant cultural event in Colombia and one of the most important theater festivals in the world with the presence of theater groups from five continents.
The figures were strong and public response exceeded expectations more positive, with room occupancy of 90%. New spaces, new galleries, new proposals and new artists took the Festival. A Youth Theater, another exclusive for puppets, a cinema, a Wrestling Ring, the traffic lights (where 12 groups claimed the job of a street performer) and the World Storytellers meeting joined other schedules. Russia was the guest of honor and presented us with the puppets of "Nevsky Prospekt" Potudan Theater, "War and Peace" Pietr Fomenko and "The Three Sisters" by Declan Donnellan, and special events paid homage to the motto "

The Russian theater in the world. Teachers and creators. " And no one will forget the performances of the Circus The 7 fingers from Canada, "Villa Villa" De La Guarda, in Argentina, the National Ballet of Belgrade in "Who's singing over there?" "The leaves that resist the wind "by Koffi Koko of Benin," Ivanov "in the Katona József, Hungary;" Babel "Nicholas Stemann, Eva Mint of Spain, the Deutsches Theater in Germany, and the magnificent" Malaya "in the Netherlands.

Not to mention the 154 Colombian groups who made up the largest national sample and complete the entire history of the Festival, with works by room, street children, troupes, music groups, circuses and storytellers.

Videos: Festival theater in Bogota.

Links: www. festivaldeteatro.com.com

SOCIALS

Yoga workshops, book clubs, exhibitions, conferences, puppets, theater, rock music and magic, are some of the activities organized BibloRed and the Ministry of Education.
The library network of the city (18 in total) is celebrating the season without classes and offers children and large a range of events for this day. Even the babies fall out of this offer, because for them there is also a fitness studio and massage.
To highlight an exhibition of Rock Park, which in this 2009 is 15 years.
We present an overview of everything, so choose what suits you best.
On the other libraries:

* Upload. Magic workshop. 20 June, 3 p.m. Carrera 92 No. 146C-24.

* Carlos Restrepo. 'Came the Martians'. Magical Threads Theater Company. 20 June, 3 p.m. Diagonal 19 sur No. 19-33, second floor.

* Timiza. 'The treasure of El Dorado', legend montage of the search for native gold. June 27, 3 p.m. Carrera 74 No. 42G-52 south.

* Workshops dough. For children 4 to 6 years to learn to make dinosaurs. 23 and 30 June. 2 PM Virgilio Barco Library, The Tunal and The Tintal.

* To know the Virgilio Barco. On June 23 at 12:30 pm, children are collected from the districts Bosa, Marichuela, Restrepo, Suba, Usaquén and La Victoria to know this megabiblioteca, the first of the city.
'15 Years of extreme living
This exhibition draws on the library will Virgilio Barco June 8 to July 8.

Through photographs of the 14 versions that have been made of Rock Park may know its history, the band and also how the city has changed over the years.

To support the workshop will be delivered 'Rock and roll around the clock: 60 years of history', every Tuesday in June and July (except July 28), at 5 pm, and the literary workshop 'Café, rock and video ', on Wednesdays in June and July (less than 22 to July 29) and Saturday two months (except July 25), at 3 pm Reports,www.biblored.org.co.In the library's Tintal


Among other activities for children will be 'story time' on Thursdays and Fridays at 4 pm
Also, dance performances and studio artists and small crafts.

Older adults will have their space on Wednesday, with a collage of fabrics, at 2 pm Mondays in June and July comes the film, for all ages. In The Tunal
Roberto Lombana An exhibition opening today at the public library.
It is a selection of museums, building facades, art exhibitions, showcases of stores and architecture in general.
For children, a good choice is the animated Animal Workshop to be held June 25 at 2 pm
And besides, a great holiday party, June 20, at 2 pm at the nursery.
For the family, the activity of reading as a group. Parents and children will join through the literature. 6 and 13 June, 11 a.m. Calle 48B sur No. 21-13.
Yoga, from the East to be better

This activity is called "Family Yoga" and is one of the innovations that bring the vacation of public libraries.

On Saturday 27 June there will be a workshop at the Virgilio Barco Library, which you can enter at no cost. Importantly, you get there early, comfortable clothes and with all the willingness to learn.

Links:

http://www.carlosvicentederoux.org/apuestaporbogota.shtml?apc=a-d1;06;-;04;&x=2489

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-xzNZKQ8zU

local news

A signed agreement yesterday passed the 5 of the evening among the Mayoralty of Bogota and Apetrans's union, which groups the owners of the buses in the city, allowed to raise the historical and violent unemployment of public transport that confronted the capital of the country during the last four days. (TO SEE INFOGRAFÍA: WHAT DOES MEAN THE REVOLCÓN OF THE SITP THAT WILL START NEXT YEAR? - THE EXPENSES THAT THE OWNER OF A BUS HAS IN AVERAGE IN BOGOTA)

Last night, thousands of buses returned to roll about the streets and in several points of access to the north of the city, as the career 30 and the Autonorte, big trancones appeared.
On the unemployment having got up, the official colleges will return today to classes and will return the restriction of the"pico y placa" for the particular cars (9, 0, 1 and 2).

What was what one resolved? The document signed between the parts establishes that the owners of the buses will have a minimal monthly profit of 18 per cent per year in the Integrated System of Public Transport, which starts next year and which 13 zones will be awarded next July 2.
Before the unemployment beginning, the financial model created by the District was establishing earnings of 10 per cent per year, which indicates that there was a grant of 8 per cent to the carriers in the middle of the unemployment, almost the double.

Who will assume this rise? Will move the user in the tariff that will pay for using, with an alone tiquete, the network of buses and TransMilenio? Though the mayor Samuel Moreno denied incisively last night that the user should turn out to be harmed with an unplayable tariff in the Sitp, experts consulted already speak about 125 billion weight to the year that - after the modifications given in the unemployment - someone will have to manage to put in order that the system is sustainable.

On the topic, the secretary of Mobility, Fernando Alvarez, answered last night that " this cost will be moved to the earnings or to the so called rate of return that there will have the businessmen who gain the managing themselves of each one of 13 zones of the transport ".

Yesterday several interested businessmen proved to be "worried" by this decision.

The second point resolved between Apetrans and the District has to see with the value that will be paid for the buses that will go out of the system.
The Mayoralty arranged a rise of 5 per cent in the table of values, but only for buses models 2001 2010.

Si el pasajero sólo necesita utilizar TransMilenio seguirá pagando 1.600 pesos, según el esquema que tiene ya en sus manos la Administración.

In spite of that in the agreement Apetrans promised not to do any more unemployment’s, it is necessary to see if they fulfill their word in moments in which the Sitp advances without reverse for the Mayoralty and when the District enlists a new licitation in which the collection of the money the drivers would not do it, but a signature recaudadora, foreign to the carriers.

How much they will cost the passages a person pays 1.600 “pesos” for TransMilenio's tiquet and 1.300 “pesos” for moving in a traditional bus in Bogota. It is to say that if this citizen uses both manners of transport to be able to come up to their work or up to their housing, they spends in whole 2.900 “pesos”.

But it is supposed that from next year the things are going to change with the new Integrated System of Public Transport (Sitp), which will start the Major Mayoralty.

Links: Transport stopped.

Videos: Problem Continues in Bogotá.

ART

In the end of Bogota Stencil Art Festival observed different expressions of urban art that brings together young people currently in the capital.

Under the harsh midday sun of a capital, dressed unusually young began to congregate around an abandoned building, located on Calle 80 with Carrera 28D, northwest of the city. On Sunday 28 February, while others had recovered at home from the rumba last night, these guys with piercings, tattoos and stained overalls prepared to do what they do best: brighten up the cold streets of this city with his art.

this was the closure Bogota Stencil Art Festival an event that, for a whole month, explored the various techniques of street art. Despite being devoted to stencil technique that evolved from graffiti, there was room for different expressions, ranging from airbrush to paint the posters.

For the size and visibility that have these art forms in the city, surprised by the low participation of people outside the community of young artists. Public usually those who 'pass by' and who, seeing the boys in action, decide to stay to see the final product. "You see that is a difficult technique, is an effortlessness that put you," said Rafael Gomez focused on the painstaking work of the young.

However, these artists seem to need no audience because the crowd that gathers makes the time pass quickly. Neither the desire to finish, or the hot sun, nor affect competition, however devoted to admire the work of others as observers.
The camaraderie also breathed in the atmosphere, "we are waiting to evacuate the stairs," he acknowledges Pipe, a young man who is just engaging in this art.

Links:

http://www.unisabanaradio.tv/noticias_detalle.php?id=39

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZaxP3w2Qx4

Entertainment in Bogota 2!

After credit led last year one of you them fight more sounded in the world of the rock, last week Steven Tyler and his group Aerosmith announced that again they are united and that this year they will go out of tour.

Well then, though the only dates confirmed of ' Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock Tour! ‘They go from June 10 to July 3 (presentations in Europe), there are strong rumors of which the band will appear in Bogota on May 20. The organizers will announce officially the information next Friday in the Hard Rock Restaurant of the Colombian capital.

Tyler said that he returns to be the vocalist of the group because he realized " a hearing and they have contracted me. There we go again ". According to the guitarist, Joe Perry (who Aerosmith announced in November Tyler's march), composed also by Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer, has turned " bigger, stronger and better that never ".

With ' Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock Tour! ' Aerosmith will celebrate its forty years of history. This one will start in the Rock Festival of Sweden on June 10, then to go to the United Kingdom, Romania, Greece, Holland and Belgium, among other cities.

Who are the ' Bad boys of Boston '?

The first album that they launched onto the market took the same name, but was with the discs Toys in the Attic and Rocks that managed to be consolidated in the world of the music. It's higher moment in the industry they reached it with the publication of the discs Permanent Vacation and Pump, of which the songs are outlined Doubt (Looks Like to Lady), Angel, Rag Doll and Janie's Got to Gun.

Aerosmith is to band of hard rock formed in the 70s in Boston, Massachusetts, The United States, and since then they ploughs known ace the ' Bad boys of Boston '. Nevertheless, the addiction to the drugs and the internal conflicts that have made feel throughout these years, leaving externally some members that then returned to form a part of the group.

In 2001 Aerosmith it was included in the Lounge of the Reputation of the Rock in 2001, and in 2005 they were classified n. º 57 in the list of 100 better artists of all the times of the magazine Rolling Stone.

A couple of years ago the video game went out to the sale Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, which allows to touch more than 25 topics of the band.

Links: Aerosmith official site.

Videos: I don't want to miss a thing, Lovely song

History in Bogota!

The name of Colombia was conceived by the Venezuelan Francisco de Miranda to denote the union of the republics of Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela, in tribute to who discovered America, Christopher Columbus (Italian Cristoforo Colombo). Name of Columbus (Colombo) comes in turn from Latin columbus, meaning dove, pigeon male (Latin columba), an animal that symbolizes peace.

On 15 February 1819, during the Congress of Angostura was proclaimed the state to adopt the name Republic of Colombia, known today as Great Colombia to avoid confusion with the current Colombia, with sovereignty over the territories of the hitherto Viceroyalty of New Granada, Quito and Captaincy General of Venezuela.

The name was proposed by Simón Bolívar in the Jamaica Letter. The name is also mentioned in one verse of the anthem, which reads as follows: "...
It bathes in the blood of heroes land Columbus ... In 1830, emerged as a republic under the name Republic of New Granada, and soon after became a federal state under the title of Grenadine Confederation, which adopted the constitution of 1858.

It adopted the name United States of Colombia in 1863, which in 1886 was definitively established until the present day, in Colombia, a move that was protested at that time by the Congress of Ecuador and Venezuela for considering
it an encroachment unilateral common historical heritage.

However this discrepancy has already been superseded for some time.

The Bullring Plans Santamaria Opened in 1931 and completed in its entirety in the 40s. Opened in 1931 and completed in its entirety in the 40s by the Spanish architect Santiago Mora who designed the current facade. La Plaza de Toros de Santamaria is the bullring in the city.

It has a capacity for 14,500 spectators, is currently administered by the Corporation Bullfighting in Bogota. Every year it takes place in the bullfighting season during the months of January and February, which traditionally have recognized figures of the bullfighting world.

Videos: First.
Second.

Links: History of Bogota.

POLITIC: Refuse extradition of 'Don Mario'

Completely frustrated ended request for extradition of former paramilitary commander and alleged drug dealer, Daniel Rendón Herrera, alias "Don Mario", after the Criminal Cassation Chamber of the Supreme Court issued a negative to the request.

The alleged mafia boss was required by the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York, urging him to respond to federal crimes associated with drug trafficking and terrorism.

Although Attorney's Office for the Third Criminal Appeal, Nancy Yanira Munoz Martinez, had been considered feasible to transfer to U.S. territory for their violating the tenets of the Justice and Peace Law, the Criminal Division contovirtió such estimates.
"Don Mario" had abandoned the negotiations between the government and paramilitary groups have demobilized after the Elmer Cardenas Bloc of the AUC, led by his brother, Freddy Rendón Herrera, aka "The German".

Rendón Herrera had been caught in madrugda April 15, 2009 by agents of the National Police Dijin, through an operation that had 15 staff, divided into several elite commandos.

Links:
http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/judicial/articulo193523-niegan-extradicion-de-don-mario

Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwLJ5o91QlE

Metallica

Before the concert!

Already a few days ago we had spoken about a possible visit of the group for latinoamérica, today we can affirm that the date of filing in the city of Bogota is confirmed for January, 2010.

In agreement to good sources the group angelino will be doing two dates in the city - slightly probably, but possibly-, something that alone has been achieved by artists as Manu Chao made in very a little time with total abundance for 10,000 spectators in every night. Though this supposes big leagues, already one speaks of two dates with total abundance of 50,000 persons in the well-known Park Simón Bolivar

For the present the date of exit of ticket office is for confirming, nevertheless, it hopes that in the next weeks there is spoken about something that for many rockers will be the best beginning of year and undoubtedly, the return most waited for a group of metal

After the concert.

We have seen that a lot of people went to this concert, that made history on Bogotá. It Was exelent, with a lot of people and effects.
People of all the ages went and had an exelent moment there, the ones in the front part of the scenary were the ones with the best view, but it doesn't means that the others not, the had an exellent viem in the big screen that was there.

also, it is important to say that nowadays there are a lot of important concerts in bogota, there we have: metallica, coldplay, guns n roses and aerosmith. all of this very important in the world.

Links: Metallica in Bogotá

Videos: Song: Nothing else matters

29 best restaurants

Leo Cocina y Cava
Leonor Espinosa is something like Ferran Adrià of Colombian cuisine. Transform

delicacies popular dishes with innovative touches. His fritters are stuffed rabbit. Bass fillets have the touch of a mojito sorbet and served in martini glasses. Spectacular.
Calle 27B Nº 6-75 Pasaje Santa Cruz de Mompox Phones: 2867091/2816267

H. Sasson
At some point it became a commonplace to say that this was the best restaurant in Colombia. Except for sports tournaments, choose the best will always be difficult. The truth is that the restaurant began to change the face of Bogota and the cuisine has managed to maintain a level of excellence.
Calle 83 Nº 12-49 Tel: 6102619

Pajares Salinas
The kitchen of Fernando and españolísima Saturnino, several decades later, continues to make wonderful that point be the same without ceasing to amaze. At their tables even take some of the most important decisions of the country.
Carrera 10 Nº 96-08
Tel.: 6161524

Astrid y Gaston
Peruvian cuisine has become one of the most complete and exquisite of the continent, and Gaston in Lima is recognized as one of the best chefs of the moment. Premises sufficient for this restaurant's leave everyone satisfied.
Carrera 7 No. 67-64
Tel: 2111400

Balzac
Always leave the restaurant satisfied that control, four hands, Leo Katz and Harry Sasson. Their meat and oyster bar are known, but many are simply going to return to try the butter unique and wonderful french fries.
Calle 83 No 12-19
Tel: 6105210

La Tasca de Sevilla
Braulio Muriel has managed to turn this restaurant into one of the busiest in Bogota to the informal meetings of friends when the idea is to loosen your tie, drink well and be tempted by a lot of tops south of the peninsula.
Calle 84 No. 14-26
Phones: 2570189

Basilic
Who said the hotel restaurants could not be good? Sofitel Victoria Regia Basilic demonstrates this, thanks to the enormous talent of its chef, Simon Bühler, who has ventured into what they call signature cuisine from Mediterranean cuisine.
Carrera 13 No. 85-80
Phones: 6212666

La Barra
Now in zone G, but with the same spirit, the very good Spanish food, the same generous and dig up some of the same servers that made the old 22nd Street restaurant in one of the most famous in Bogota a couple decades.
Calle 69A No. 5-08
Tel: 3210839

Matiz
Here fusion is not confusion, but the result of a study of cultures and regions that have much in common, what was strange was that the flavors have not been merged before. There are pots and fish in Hue acquire a unique tone.

Calle 95 No. 11A-17
Phones: 5202003/5202006

La Cigale
It is the work of a Belgian chef who has become obsessed by respect for the classics, by paying tribute to those who made the French cuisine of the world's most admired in his time.
Calle 69A No. 4-93
Tel: 4009906

Di Lucca
The terrace of the traditional white Italian is still a favorite in northern Bogota. It has among its plates show a risotto of various cheeses for which many return.
Carrera 13 No. 85-32
Tel: 6115665/2571700

Nazca
A postmodern staging for some of the traditional dishes of the rich variety of Peruvian cuisine. He who has not been tempted by some of their ceviche is in default of sin.
Calle 74 No. 5-28
Phones: 3213459

Scotchies
The only Jamaican restaurant in Bogota, and possibly preparing the best chicken wings. La carta ofrece una sección de platos con salsa jerk. The menu offers a section of dishes with jerk sauce. Beware: this place mussels can cause addiction.
Calle 70 No. 4-45
Phones: 2115354/3460917

Donostia
Donostia in Euskara is the name of San Sebastian, one of the most beautiful cities of the Basque Country and one of the best places to eat. Some of that tradition landed in this kitchen that has given new life to the surroundings of the National Museum.
Calle 29 Bis No. 5-84
Phones: 2873943/2457953

El Patio
Sewing machine tables and converted into a kind of antiques that seemed always there, Fernando Bernal designed one of the most welcoming restaurants in Bogota. The best thing: you can ask for the letter of its neighbors: Caffe and Liberty.
Carrera 4A No. 27-80
Tel: 2826121

Osaki
They included a selection of curry dishes on their menu, and it is clear that the owners of Takami and Osaki only grow when they are convinced that reached a high point in their experiments.
Calle 71 N ° 5.10
Phones: 3462345/2462368

La Fragata
There are those who have it very clear: if the idea is to indulge in the pleasures of seafood, do not think twice and come back to this traditional restaurant that competitors have not yet overcome.
Carrera 13 No. 27-98, floor 2
Tel: 2847836

Corral Gourmet
There are many who when they lead to the Corral between their yearnings, like caramel or chili sauce. It is like the hamburger Colombia, and in some of the options of gourmet version reaches very high points.
Calle 110 No 9A-60 Local 303
Tel: 672 01 61

Criterion
Sticks up for many of its neighbors in the area G, which is only concerned with the scenery. Red snapper, one or another of their delicious desserts and bread would be enough to fill with stars.
Calle 69A No. 5-75
Tel: 3101377

Estrella de los Ríos Estrella de los Rios
The cuisine of some regions of the Atlantic coast is marked by Arabic cuisine. So no problem living here and patacones QUIBB. A cult restaurant with few tables and a refinement to be discovered with the hours.
Calle 26B No. 4-50
Phones: 2818941/3374037/3340502

Mi Viejo
A sum very well realized: the charm of La Candelaria, the excellence of the grill, the cozy atmosphere and the friendliness of Charlie, an Argentine who has been expanding its local diners as the Center verified that hardly eats better in another place in the area.
Calle 11 No. 5-41
Tels 5666128/3410971

Intermezzo
Luis González became a prominent chef in Germany, but chose to return to Colombia to mount this restaurant that much better than seeing the letter, is to speak with him and allow his words to crave before your dishes.
Calle 69 No. 10A-35
Phones: 3134171/3146748

Tequila Museum
Many have searched in vain for a larger collection of bottles of tequila and a better environment for extending the dinners that seem to party. In a city that has always been fascinated by Mexican culture, this is the place.
Carrera 13A No. 86A-18
Tel: 2566614

Le Petit Bistrot
Although in recent years has lowered the number of their guests, Madame Colette has not lowered the guard continues to produce as traditional French cuisine, continues to demonstrate that few surpass it in terms of classic sauces and still offers the best variety of pates .
Tel: 2494058

The Hamburger
The letter warns: "We're not fast food." Because here buy hamburgers the size of dishes prepared with care and affection, far from the scrap we seemed doomed. The menu offers such pleasant surprises as his great tortilla soup.
Carrera 4A No. 27-27
Tel: 2811286

Diana García Diana Garcia
"Chef on the move and calls itself the good cook to which many executives insist Avenida Chile him every day to expand its restaurant or at least chooses to open in the evenings. Hard to find a better price-quality equation.
Carrera 7 ª N º 70-94
Phones: 2356805/3213431

DiVino
A real Swiss, with more than twenty kinds of fondue, but in which very soon becomes clear that the cuisine of this country goes far beyond. The homemade pasta, for example, give a good account of a cuisine that has won them the best for their neighbors on the map.
Calle 70 No. 11-29
Tel: 3130618

Tijuana
Perfect if you're doing laps in the financial sector and of 72 attacks what they call a Mexican appetizer. They are all classics (burritos, fajitas, chimichangas) and some that are not everywhere, like chicken and bass wizard Michoacan. On Fridays there all week mariachi and a great attention and warm.
Calle 71 No. 9-67
Tel: 606 08 59

Bonus track
Red Wings
A key address for anyone who wants to eat the authentic Buffalo Wings. Take note: there is a new variety, Hot Honey Mustard Winngs, but I recommend you do not miss the traditional: Mild, Hot, Wild, Kamikaze, BBQ, Hot BBQ and Honey Mustard.

LinkS:
http://www.bogotacompra.com/Bogota/restaurantes-c329.html
VidEos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ziwq7cqEQA

Juan Manuel Santos

Juan Manuel Santos Calderón (born in Bogotá on 10 August 1951) is a politician, Colombian journalist and economist. He founded the Party of the U and Colombia's Defense Minister during the government of President Alvaro Uribe from July 2006 until May 2009. Santos is one of the candidates in Colombia's presidential elections of 2010.

Juan Manuel Santos studied Economics and Business Administration at the University of Kansas, USA. Then he obtained a Master in Economics and Economic Development London School of Economics and Master in Public Administration from Harvard University.

He also received fellowships from the Fulbright Foundation at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. He has been awarded an honorary doctorate in Law.

Just received his undergraduate degree, Santos joined the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia (1972) and accounted for nine years before the International Coffee Organization in London. In 1981 he returned to his country and assumed as deputy director of El Tiempo, positioned as one of the most influential members of his generation in the Santos family.

In 1999 presented his book The Third Way: an alternative for Colombia, which was assisted by the then British Prime Minister Tony Blair. In 2009 published Check to Terror: the dreadful years of the FARC (Planeta, 2009), describes work in which, as a chronicle, the harsh blows to the guerrilla organization for almost three years he spent as head of the Ministry Defense. This book was prefaced by the Mexican intellectual and writer Carlos Fuentes. [8]

Juan Manuel Santos was appointed Minister of Foreign Trade during the tenure of César Gaviria in 1991, this newly created office, in 1993 he was elected by the Senate as the Chair Designate of the Republic, the last person to hold that office, as a year later was replaced by the vice-presidency. Between 1995 and 1997 was part of the triumvirate that led the Colombian Liberal Party, retiring to present his pre candidacy for the presidency, but these intentions do not come to fruition. In 2000 he was appointed Minister of Finance and Public Credit, for the end of the mandate of Andres Pastrana.

Santos said that aspire to the presidency of Colombia in 2010, he said, if President Álvaro Uribe does not if the approval of a referendum that would allow him to exercise the office of President for the third time. Right after it was known that the referendum is unconstitutional reelection, Santos announced his presidential aspirations for the period 2010-2014.

Links:

http://www.sinoesuribeesjuanmanuelsantos.com/

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQSBgTxVRh4

PJ PG PE PP GF GC Dif Ptos
1 Real Cartagena 8 5 3 0 15 9 6 18
2 Junior 8 4 3 1 14 7 7 15
3 Medellín 8 4 3 1 9 6 3 15
4 Pereira 8 3 4 1 11 8 3 13
5 Envigado 8 3 4 1 11 9 2 13
6 Santa Fé 8 3 3 2 10 10 0 12
7 Tolima 7 3 2 2 12 8 4 11
8 Huila 8 2 4 2 14 11 3 10
9 Nacional 8 3 1 4 11 10 1 10
10 Once Caldas 7 3 1 3 14 14 0 10
11 Cali 8 3 1 4 12 12 0 10
12 La Equidad 8 3 1 4 9 14 -5 10
13 Cúcuta 8 2 3 3 4 7 -3 9
14 Cortuluá 8 2 2 4 8 10 -2 8
15 Chicó 7 2 2 3 8 10 -2 8
16 América 8 2 2 4 8 10 -2 8
17 Millonarios 7 2 2 3 7 11 -4 8
18 Quindío 8 0 1 7 1 12 -11 1

On Sunday, Santa Fe squandered multiple options and the final goal for Deportivo Pereira was the one who took the win. Now, that story was repeated but this time in favor of the "cardinals" Equity had everything to get the win, but it was the "red espresso, with a goal in the final minute, which took all three points.

Columbos theater

Columbus Theater National Monument since 1975, is a stage for the development of performing arts and music. Featured as one of the finest Italian theater of our continent, its construction dates from 1885.

It is the only national theater of Colombia and for being a national monument by the objects and documents which it rests and the admirable history that it originates, has become a hub of our nation, which seeks to further enliven its tradition and open its doors to a wider audience.
The theater address is working on the establishment of new cultural programs, among which we highlight the Electronic Columbus Cycle, which seeks to disseminate electronic and electro music from established and young artists, Morning Child, which develop every Sunday Concerts of the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, plays, music concerts, opera and operetta with national and international groups, guided tours and a variety of artistic expressions, which provide opportunities for all generations have access to live entertainment high artistic quality, thereby contributing to the cultural enrichment of our nation.
The Theater "Theater of Columbus" opened its doors in 1892, on the fourth centennial anniversary of Columbus' arrival in America.
It was designed by an Italian architect Pietro Cantini, and is lavishly decorated inside with a Florentine style as well as the façade. The theater is, without a doubt, one of ours more artistic jewels appraised Because of its architectonic beauty and symmetry.

It is the national theater of Colombia and was declared national monument by Decree number 1584 on August 11, 1975. It is considered one of the most important monuments within the artistic field of the country. Through the years, new cultural programs have been developed such as the "Electronic Columbus Cycle" by young artists with their electro-acoustic and electronic music, the Children's Sunday Matinee, Concerts of the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, plays, a variety of musical concerts , opera and operetta with national and international groups, guided tours and a great variety of artistic expressions

Videos: Dream Theater in Bogota!

Links: Enlace: columbus theater-

MoRe about Bogota culture

Bogota officially named Bogota, D.C. , formerly called Santa Fe de Bogota, is the capital city of Colombia, as well as the largest and most populous city in the country, with 7,033,914 inhabitants (2007). Bogota and its metropolitan area, which includes municipalities such as Chia, Cota, Soacha, Cajica and La Calera, had an estimated population of 8,244,980 as of 2007. Bogota's altitude makes it the third-highest major city in the world after La Paz and Quito.

History
Bogota was originally called "Bacata" (which means planted fields) by the Muiscas. It was the center of their civilization before the Spanish explorers colonized the area, and it sustained a large population. The European settlement was founded in August 6, 1538 by Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada and was named "Santa Fe de Bacata" after his birthplace Santa Fe and the local name. "Bacata" had become the modern "Bogota" by the time it was made the capital of the New Kingdom of Granada, which was then part of the Viceroyalty of Peru, a

nd later of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. The city soon became one of the centers of Spanish colonial power and civilization in South America.

In 1810-11 its citizens revolted against Spanish rule and set up a government of their own, but had to contend with internal divisions and the temporary return to power of Spanish military loyalists who retook the city in 1816. In 1819 Simon Bolivar recaptured it after his victory at Boyaca. Bogota was then made the capital of Gran Colombia, a federation combining the territories of modern Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. When Gran Colombia was broken up, Bogota remained the capital of New Granada, which later became the Republic of Colombia. See History of Colombia.

In 1956 the municipality was joined to other neighboring municipalities forming a "Special District" .

The Constitution of 1991 confirmed Bogota as the Capital of Colombia, gave it the name "Santa Fe de Bogota", and changed the category from Special District to "Capital District" ('''').

In August 2000 the name was officially changed back to simply "Bogota". The local government consists of a Capital District. Samuel Moreno Rojas was elected Mayor of Bogota for the period 2008-2011.

Flag
The flag originates from the insurgency movement against the colonial authorities which began on July 20, 1810, during which the rebels wore armbands with yellow and red bands, as these colours were those of the Spanish flag used as the flag for the New Kingdom of Granada.

In October 9, 1952, exactly 142 years after these events, decree 555 of 1952 officially adopted the patriotic armband as the flag of Bogota. The flag of Cundinamarca follows the same pattern, plus a light blue tile which represents the Virgin Mary's cape.

The flag itself is a yellow band above a red one. The yellow denotes the gold from the earth, as well as the virtues of justice, clemency, benevolence, the so-called "mundane qualities" , long life, eternity, power and constancy. The red denotes the virtue of charity, as well as the qualities of bravery, nobility, values, audacity, victory, honour and furor, Colombians call it the blood of their people.

Coat of arms
The coat of arms of the city was granted by emperor Charles V (Charles I of Spain) to the New Kingdom of Granada, by royal decree given in Valladolid, Spain on December 3, 1548. It contains a black eagle in the center, which symbolises steadfastness. The eagle is also a symbol of the Habsburgs, which was the ruling family of the Spanish empire at the time. The eagle is crowned with gold and holds a red pomegranate inside a golden background. The border contains olive branches with nine golden pomegranates in a blue background. The two red pomegranates symbolize audacity, and the nine golden ones represent the nine states which constituted the New Kingdom of Granada at the time.

In 1932 the coat of arms was officially recognized and adopted as the symbol of Bogota.

Anthem
The words to the anthem of Bogota were written by Pedro Medina Avendano to music by Roberto Pineda Duque. The song was officially declared the anthem by decree 1000 of July 31, 1974, by then Mayor of Bogota, Anibal Fernandez de Soto.

Population and area
Divisions
Location
Bogota is located in the centre of the country, on the east of the Savannah of Bogota (Sabana de Bogota), 2640 meters (8661 feet) above sea level. Although "sabana", as it is popularly called, is literally "savannah", the geographical site is actually a high plateau in the Andes mountains. The extended region is also known as "Altiplano Cundiboyacense" which literally means "high plateau of Cundinamarca and Boyaca"

The Bogota River crosses the 'sabana' forming Tequendama Falls to the south. Tributary rivers form valleys with flourishing villages, whose economy is based on agriculture, livestock raising and artisanal production.

The 'sabana' is bordered to the east by the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes mountain range. Surrounding hills, which limit city growth, run from south to north, parallel to the Guadalupe and Monserrate mountains. The western city limit is the Bogota River. The Sumapaz paramo (moorland) borders the south and to the north Bogota extends over the mentioned plateau up to the towns of Chia and Sopo.

Climate
The average temperature on the 'sabana' is 14.0C (57F), varying from -8C (18F) to 28C (82F). Dry and rainy seasons alternate throughout the year. The driest months are December, January, February and March; the rainiest are April, May, September, October and November. June and July are usually rainy periods and August is sunny with high winds.

Frost usually occurs in dry season. During this period, the temperature falls below -4C (24F)at night and ascend to 25C (77 F) in the day. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -8C (17F) inside the city and -10C (14F) in the nearby towns of the savanna. The highest temperarure ever recorded was 28C (78F).

Climatic conditions are irregular and quite variable due to the El Nino and La Nina climatic phenomena, which occur in and around the Pacific basin and are responsible for very pronounced climatic changes.

Urban layout and nomenclature
The urban layout dates back to Colonial times, and is a square layout adopted from Spain. The current street layout has calles which run perpendicular to the hills heading east-west with numbering increasing towards the north, and towards the south from calle 1, and carreras which run parallel to the hills in the south-north direction with numbering increasing east and west from carrera 1. New urban sectors incorporate diagonal similar to streets and transversal similar to carreras. Streets are numbered.

It has over one thousand neighborhoods or divisions forming the developed urban network. Neighborhoods of higher economic status are primarily located to the north and north-east. Poorer neighborhoods are located to the south and south-east, many of them squatter areas. The middle classes usually inhabit the central, western and north-western sections of the city.

Demographics
The largest and most populous city in Colombia, Bogota has 7,881,156 inhabitants in its metropolitan area (2005 census).

As with Colombia as a whole, the vast bulk of the city's population consists of mestizos (those of mixed Amerindian and white European descent) and those of white European descent. However, there is a lesser number of residents of African descent than in the country as whole given the city's distance from coastal areas such as Cartagena, where the descendants of African slaves have traditionally resided.

Crime
In the 1990s, Bogota was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world. At one point it had a homicide rate of 80 per 100,000 people. Since then, however, Bogota has gone to great lengths to change its crime rate and its image. The change was the result of a participatory and integrated security policy that was first adopted in 1995. Because of its success, this security policy has continued to be implemented ever since. In 2005, Bogota had a murder rate of 23 persons per 100,000 inhabitants, a 71% drop from what it had 10 years ago. Interestingly, by the way of comparison, the city today has a lower murder rate than Washington, D.C., Caracas, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Panama City, Detroit, Chicago and Rio de Janeiro.

The situation in Bogota seems to be greatly improved in terms of security and public safety from five years ago, and the atmosphere is much more relaxed", said Marshall Louis, a spokesman for the United States Embassy.

Government
Bogota is the capital of the Republic of Colombia, and houses the national legislature, the Supreme Court of Justice, and the center of the executive administration as well as the residence of the President of the Republic. The Principal Mayor and District Council both elected by popular vote are responsible for city administration.

The city divided into 20 localities: Usaquen, Chapinero, Santa Fe, San Cristobal, Usme, Tunjuelito, Bosa, Kennedy, Fontibon, Engativa, Suba, Barrios Unidos, Teusaquillo, Los Martires, Antonio Narino, Puente Aranda, La Candelaria, Rafael Uribe Uribe, Ciudad Bolivar, Sumapaz.

Each of the 20 localities is governed by an administrative board elected by popular vote, made up of no less than seven members, as determined by the District Council. The Principal Mayor designates local mayors from a trio proposed by the respective administrative board.

Economy
Bogota is Colombia's largest economic center, followed by Medellin, Cali, and Barranquilla. Most companies in Colombia have their headquarters in Bogota , and it is home to most foreign companies doing businesses in Colombia and neighbouring countries as well as Colombia's main stock market. Bogota is a major center for import and export of goods for Colombia and the Andean Community in Latin America.

Manufacturing, commerce and trade
Bogota is the center of Colombian business. It has a busy banking, insurance sector, and a Stock exchange. Engineering firms provide services for many regions of Colombia and Central America. Bogota houses the central governmental institutions and military headquarters. It is the centre of the telecommunications network and has the biggest industrial facilities in the country.

Some services are public and others are private. The public services include energy, sewer and phones. Energy and sewer bills are stratified based on the location of owner's residence. Thus, the wealthier sections of society help subsidize the energy bills of the poorer sections of society. Telephone service is provided by both "Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Bogota" (ETB), a city-owned company, and "Capitel", owned by Colombia Telecomunicaciones and "EPM Bogota", owned in turn by the Medellin public services company (Empresas Publicas de Medellin - EPM) . Coin or card-operated payphones are also available, along with cell phone providers. There are (as of May 2007) three main operators of wireless phones: Movistar (owned by Spanish firm Telefonica), Comcel (owned by Telmex) and Tigo .

Bogota also receives money from exports like beautiful flowers and emeralds. In downtown Bogota, millions of dollars in domestically produced rough and cut emeralds are bought and sold daily. Other important industries include financial services, especially banking. Bogota is headquarters to major commercial banks, and to the Banco de la Republica, Colombia's central bank. Bogota is also a printing and publishing centre. The city is a major convention destination with many major convention centres: Centro Ferial de Convenciones Corferias, Centro de Convenciones y Eventos Cafam, Centro de Convenciones Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada, among others. Because of its status as site of the country's capital, it is home to a number of government agencies, which represent another major component of the city's economy.

The city's industrial base include staples of the Colombian economy such as GM Colmotores, Compania Colombiana Automotriz, and Ecopetrol.

Transportation
Bogota has a modern transportation system. It includes an international airport, bus lines, taxis, the TransMilenio rapid transit system, and a train that serves as transportation for the outskirts of the city.

Buses are the main means of mass transportation. There are two bus systems: the traditional system and the trasmilenio. The traditional system runs a variety of bus types, operated by several companies on normal streets and avenues:

bus; large buses.

buseta; medium size buses.

microbus or colectivo; vans or minivans.
The buses are divided into two categories: "ejecutivo", which is supposed to be a deluxe service and is not supposed to carry standing passengers, and "corriente" or normal service. Bus fares range, as of March 2006, from COP 900 to 1250 (US$ .40 aprox.)

Yellow taxis are everywhere in Bogota. They are required to use meters ; check the placard attached to the passenger seat to confirm your fare when done. Add COP2,900 for trips to the airport, 1,400 from 8pm-6am, and 2,000 if you made a phone call to dispatch the taxi. Tips are not customary for Colombian taxi drivers, but a small tip is appreciated for good service. It is advisable to always call for a taxi at night, and for isolated spots. It is best to carry plenty of small bills to make exact change, as Bogota taxi drivers frequently do not carry much change. If you have trouble, memorize the six digit license plate (and preferably the driver's name on the fare placard), so you can report him to the taxi company or to the police.

White taxis are used mostly as shuttles by hotels, or by companies to transport customers and personnel. Hotel taxis are generally regarded as quite safe, so their fares are higher than in regular yellow taxis. They do not use meters, so negotiate the price beforehand.

Airports
Bogota's principal airport is El Dorado International Airport, west of the city's downtown, at the end of Av. el Dorado. Several domestic airlines , and international airlines operate from El Dorado. Note that there is a separate terminal, the Puente Aereo, for Avianca's domestic flights. El Dorado is one of the largest and most expansive airports in Latin America. Due to its central location in Colombia and in Latin America, it is a natural hub for domestic and international airlines.

There are official counters for set taxi fares from El Dorado, to the right as you leave international arrivals, and to the left as you leave domestic arrivals. Buses and colectivos are straight ahead as you leave the airport, about 50m from the terminal building.

El Dorado is heavily congested, as it handles more passengers than its optimal capacity. Work on a major expansion of El Dorado airport started in September 2007. When completed, this will expand capacity from the current 8 million passengers a year to 16 million.

A secondary airport, Catam, serves as a base for Military and Police Aviation, also Guaymaral Airport, for private aviation activities.

Bus terminals
Bogota is a hub for domestic and international bus routes. The Bogota terminal serves routes to most cities and towns in Colombia and is the largest in the country. There is international service to Ecuador and Venezuela.

TransMilenio
TransMilenio is a bus rapid transit network combining modern articulated buses that operate on dedicated bus roads (busways) and smaller buses (feeders) that operate in residential areas, bringing passengers to the main grid. TransMilenio's main routes are: Caracas Avenue, 80th Street, Avenue of the Americas, Northern Highway (Autopista Norte), Jimenez Avenue, and 30th Avenue (also referred to as Norte Quito Sur or N.Q.S. for short). The Suba Avenue routes and the southern leg of the 30th Avenue route were opened in April 2006. The third phase of the system will cover 7th Avenue, 10th Avenue, and 26th Street (or Avenida El Dorado). The system is expected to cover the entire city by 2030.

Although the Transmilenio rapid bus service is considered efficient and carries commuters to numerous corners of the city, it more expensive than any public transport except taxis, and fares increase with petroleum fuel prices. As of December 2007 the price of a ticket was 1400 COP. Transmilenio does not yet cover some main routes, and buses are overcrowded.

TransMilenio has an interactive guide www.surumbo.com to offer the most efficient ways to use the buses, with maps and information on routes, stations and nearby places.

Bike paths network
Bogota's network of bike paths, called ciclorutas, is one of the most extensive dedicated bike path networks of any city in the world, with a total extension of 303 km. It extends from the north of the city, 170th Street, to the south, 27th Street, and from Monserrate on the east to the Bogota River on the west. The cicloruta was started by the 1995–1998 Antanas Mockus administration, and considerably extended during the administration of Mayor Enrique Penalosa. Since the construction of the ciclorutas bicycle use in the city has increased 5-fold: it is estimated that 300,000 - 400,000 bicycle trips are made every day, largely in southern, poorer, areas.

Tourist train
On weekends a sightseeing train, popular with Bogota residents, runs to outlying towns Zipaquira and Nemocon. The route to Zipaquira (famous for its salt cathedral) is 53 km long. Another line goes towards the north for 47 km and ends at Briceno.

Colleges and universities
Bogota has a scholarly tradition that dates back to 1580 when the first university was founded by the religious Order of Santo Domingo. The oldest university of Bogota is Universidad Santo Tomas opened on July 13, 1580. The second oldest is Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, founded on July 9, 1623 by the Jesuits. In December 31, 1651 the still-extant School of Our Lady of Rosary was founded by Fray Cristobal de Torres.

The largest university of Colombia, the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, was created in September 22, 1867. A study by Universia found it to be the Colombian university producing the largest number of scientific papers published in peer-refereed publications in 2005, and the 142nd most prolific in Latin America.

In 1886, the Externado of Colombia University was founded.

Founded in 1948 and now with more than 14,000 students, the private Universidad de los Andes is considered one of the major universities in Colombia.

Bogota has more schools, colleges, and universities than any other city in Colombia.

Parks and recreation
There are many parks, many with facilities for concerts, plays, movies, storytellers and other activities.

"Simon Bolivar Metropolitan Park" is a large park regularly used to stage free concerts . Kites are flown in the park.

The public Parque Nacional (National Park)has many trees and green spaces, ponds, games for children, many foot and bicycle paths, and venues for entertainment such as public screenings of movies and concerts and events organized by the Council of Bogota. It is located between two main streets, the Circunvalar Avenue and the 7th Avenue.

The Bogota Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanico de Bogota).

"Parque de la 93" is located between 93rd and 93Ath street, and 12th and 13th avenue, and has day-time leisure activities and nightlife. Several of the top restaurants and bars in the city are in this park.

There are restaurants and bars in the vicinity of a T-shaped pedestrian strip dubbed "La T" (The T) at the corner of 82nd street and Cra.12. More recently, restaurant activity has begun in the "Zona G" (Gourmet Zone) in and around 67th and 70th Streets and other locations including Usaquen in the north-east and La Macarena (center east).

Mundo Aventura is an amusement park, with an entry charge and charges for the different attractions. It has rides for adults and children, a petting zoo, and the "cerdodromo", where pigs race.

"Salitre Magico" is another amusement park with rides and attractions. The park is near the well-known Simon Bolivar park, where concerts are held throughout the year.

Parque del Chico has trees, gardens, artificial creeks and ponds, and a colonial style house converted into a museum.

To the north Parque Jaime Duque has rides, a giant map of Colombia, popular exhibits, a zoo, and a big hand holding the world symbolizing God. There is a reproduction of the Taj Mahal in the park with a collection of reproductions of famous paintings.

Maloka is an interactive museum of sciences.

There are many other parks in Bogota. Each neighborhood has its own park. Some of these parks are private, for local residents only, and others are public. Some parks are watched over by park-keepers. Sporting events are sometimes held in parks.


Links
Bogota's Carnival
Bogota's Bike Paths Network
Bolivar Square
Children's Museum of Bogota
Rock al parque
Feria Internacional del libro
http://www.bogota.gov.co/portel/libreria/php/01.27.html

ViDeOs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=x46fm7m3EiM&feature=related

Antanas Mockus - 2010-2014 Presidential Candidate

He is a man of the generation of May '68. Influenced by Jean Francois Lyotard, one of the new French philosophers, father of postmodernism. However, Mockus moves between two opposites: Lyotard and Habermans, the father of communicative action. May 68 took him in the French Lycée Louis Pasteur, fifth high school as a student of philosophy professor Jon Landaburu, an anthropologist who specializes in indigenous languages had much impact in their students.

He was a student of five in all, a course that were part of Maite Fadul, an economist and an official of the Peñalosa administration; El'Gazi Leila, soundman (cinema), Gustavo Zalamea, painter, and Santiago Pombo, manager of Third World Editors. Of Lithuanian descent, on March 25 turned 48 years. His father was an architect Alfonsas who fell in love Nijole Sivic in Germany when fleeing wars in Lithuania. His mother, a sculptor, has been a linchpin in his life.

Antanas had no problem getting married under the tent of a circus elephant-back with his second wife, Adriana Cordoba. Of personality emphasizes the intelligence and a certain air messianic Mockus matches its name, which means Moses.

He jumped into public life the day he dropped his pants in the auditorium of the UN in response to an act of sabotage that had taken the turn of major proportions. He succeeded in overcoming the violent attempt by the eccentric method. An amateur filmed their attributes into the air and the immortalized TV for the whole country. It took the post of rector, but was felt first in the political arena. Gustavo Petro, M-19, threw him to the mayor of Bogota.

He came to the mayor of Bogota after a short campaign against Enrique Penalosa, which spent only a few million. He swept his opponent with nearly 500,000 votes to 230,000. He led the academy to the public sector and put together a team that took part, amongst others, Alicia Eugenia Silva (Secretary of Government), very close to him of old data; Carmenza Zaldia (Treasury secretary), Paul Bromberg, Raul Barragan, Fabio Chaparro (BSE), Luis Fernando Ramirez (Community Action). Supporters and detractors recognize the changing relationship with the political class and sanitation district finances. His basic approach was to organize and seek resources finances before embarking on construction. He took unpopular measures like the gasoline surcharge and charges for recovery, and received a good response from taxpayers. Receipts increased by more than 50%. Sold Power Company in a process carried out by Paulo Orozco, without a strike. With the law carrot managed to reduce homicide rates by 40%. And he forbade the powder, with good results. With the campaign for voluntary water saving has once again test their skills as a communicator, successfully.

It is now Green Party presidential candidate in Colombia, after seeing the election as won prcandidato presidencail on March 14, day of the election of the senate and chamber of representatives in the country.

Link:
http://antanasmockuspresidente.blogspot.com/

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYl5si4iE6g