\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Bandeja paisa<\/b> is common in most places. This includes rice, beans, fried plantain, arepa, fried egg, chorizo, chicharron (pork crackling) with the meat still attached. Tamales<\/b> (very different from their most famous Mexican cousins) and empanadas<\/b> are delicious. You will find about 200 varieties of potatoes<\/b>. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn many areas of Colombia, it is common to have bunuelos<\/b> (deep fried balls with cheese in the dough) and arepas<\/b> (rather thick corn tortillas, often made with cheese and served with butter) with scrambled eggs for breakfast. Bogota and the central region have its own breakfast delicacy of tamales, often served with home-made hot chocolate<\/b>. For lunch you should try a sancocho de gallina<\/b> (rich chicken soup, served with part of the chicken itself, rice and vegetables\/salad). Another soup, served in Bogota and the periphery, is Ajiaco<\/b> (chicken soup made with three different kinds of potato, vegetables and herbs, served with rice, avocado, corn, milk cream and capers). <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tA great variety of tropical fruits can be tasted: tamarindo, mangoes, guanabanas, lulo, mangostinos, and a great variety in citrus<\/b>. In addition, you can find some of those rich and strange flavours in prepared food like ice cream brands or restaurant juices. Pastry is prevalent, both salty and sweet, including Pandebono, Pan de Yuca, Pastel Gloria, and Roscon<\/b>. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tColombia's national alcoholic beverage, Aguardiente<\/b> tastes strongly of anise, and is typically bought by the bottle or half bottle. People usually drink it in shots. Regarding Colombian coffee<\/b>, you can find a lot of products that are both made commercially and home-made from this very famous produc.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n \n\t\t\tCulture<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGenerally avoid discussing politics or the present civil war in public, except with well-known acquaintances or relatives that have your trust and confidence. In general, nobody will react with violence to different opinions, but the hearts of Colombians suffer great pain remembering all the victims of the political and narcotics wars of past and current conflicts. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tModern Colombian music is a mixture of African, native Indigenous and European influences, as well as more modern American and Caribbean musical forms. The national music of Colombia is the cumbia<\/b>, a mixture of Spanish and African music. Also, styles like bambuco, vallenato, salsa and porro<\/b> can be heard. When the waltz became popular in the 19th century, a Colombian version called pasillo<\/b> was invented. Colombians like to dance a lot<\/b>. It's part of the cultural ancestry. Anyone will be glad to teach you how to dance, and they will not expect you to do it correctly, since they have been practicing every weekend for all their lives.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n \n\t\t\tGeography<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIts vast territory is one of great physical contrasts, ranging from the towering, snow capped peaks of the Andes to the hot, humid plains of the Amazon River Basin. The highest peak is Pico Cristobal Colon standing at 5,775 m above sea level.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n \n\t\t\tHistory<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSeveral rebel movements against the Spanish rule were attempted, most of them either being crushed or remaining too weak to change the overall situation. Finally Colombia became independent from Spain in 1819, liberated by Simon Bolivar. Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Panama then formed the first Republic of Colombia. All eventually left this Republic within 80 years or so. In recent decades the country has been plagued by the effects of the influential drug trade and by guerrilla insurgents The powerful drug cartels have helped the Colombian balance of trade by creating a steady and substantial influx of foreign currency, but on the other hand, the drug lords have destabilized the government. The different insurgent often resort to kidnapping and drug smuggling to fund their causes. Since the presidency of Alvaro Uribe, some security indicators have improved, showing a decrease in reported kidnappings and a huge decrease in homicides.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n \n\t\t\tNature<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe tropical region is also known for its abundant animal life. The wildlife is made up of jaguars, pumas, tapirs, peccaries, sloths, anteaters, opossum, armadillos, and several species of monkey and red deer. Alligators, once numerous along the principal rivers, have become scarce due to intensive hunting. Some 1,665 species of South American and migratory birds have been spotted as well. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tHere is a short list of National Parks worth visiting:
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tColombian National Coffee Park
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNevado del Ruiz National Park
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBogota Botanical Garden
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPanaca Park
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTayrona Park
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDesierto de Tatacoa
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChicamocha Canyon National Park
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGorgona and Malpelo islands<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n \n\t\t\tSports<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Swimming and water sports<\/b> are available along beaches and resorts along the coast, as well as on the islands of San Andres and Providencia. While on the islands you can dive<\/b> into the tropical waters of the UNESCO Seaflower Biosphere Reserve. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYou can hike the nature trails; cycle and rock climb<\/b> in many of the country’s national parks. Climb the snow-capped Nevado del Ruiz, white-tipped volcano at 5,400 m. Several tour operators offer jungle excursions<\/b> into the Amazon basin, river rafting Cundinamarca and Fonce, or boat trips<\/b> to the Amacayu National Park. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tOrganized sports have grown steadily in popularity among the Colombians, and without question the most widely played and watched sport is soccer<\/b>. Basketball and baseball draw an increasing number of fans, and golf, tennis, and skiing. At the Plaza de Toros Santamaria you can watch the bullfights<\/b> during the months of January and February.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n | | | | | |
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