Colombia is a country located in South America, bordered by Venezuela to the east, Brazil to the south, Peru and Ecuador to the west, and the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea to the north. Its official language is Spanish and its population is approximately 50 million people. Colombia is known for its diverse culture, picturesque landscapes, and rich history. It is also known for its coffee production and its vibrant music scene, including the popular genre of salsa. Despite ongoing challenges such as poverty and drug-related violence, Colombia has made significant progress in recent years in terms of economic growth and security.

 

Books

1

4.1/5

One Hundred Years of Solitude

by Gabriel García Márquez

2

4.4/5

Oblivion:
A Memoir

by Hector Abad

3

3.9/5

Delirio

by Laura Restrepo

4

4.2/5

Satanás

by Mario Mendoza

5

4.1/5

The Armies

by Evelio Rosero

“One Hundred Years of Solitude” is a novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez that tells the story of the Buendía family over several generations. It is known for its magical realism style and explores themes such as family, love, war, and religion. It was published in 1967 and has won many awards including the Nobel Prize in Literature.

“Oblivion: A Memoir” is a memoir written by Colombian-American writer Francisco Goldman. It was published in 2004 and is a deeply personal account of the author’s grief following the death of his young wife, Aura Estrada, in a swimming accident. The memoir explores themes of love, loss, and memory, as the author reflects on his relationship with Aura and the impact of her death on his life. It is a powerful and moving work that has been widely praised for its emotional honesty and literary merit.

“Delirio” is a novel by Colombian author Laura Restrepo. It was published in 2005 and is a love story set in the vibrant and chaotic city of Bogotá, Colombia. The novel follows the story of a young woman who becomes enamored with a mysterious man who is rumored to be a terrorist. The novel explores themes of love, desire, and danger, as the woman becomes deeply involved in the dangerous world of the man she loves. It is a passionate and suspenseful novel that has been widely praised for its powerful storytelling and evocative portrayal of Bogotá.

“Santanas” is a novel by Colombian author Eduardo Mendoza. It was published in 2019, The story is set in the Caribbean coast of Colombia, in the imaginary town of Santa Ana. The novel tells the story of a man who returns to his hometown to confront the ghosts of his past. The novel explores themes of memory, identity and the search for redemption. It is a powerful and evocative novel that has been widely praised for its rich characterization, evocative setting and its masterful storytelling.

“The Armies” is a novel by Colombian author Evelio Rosero. It was first published in 2004, it tells the story of an ordinary man caught in the midst of the violence and chaos of the Colombian civil war. The novel explores themes of violence, power, and the human cost of war. It is a powerful and evocative novel that has been widely praised for its stark portrayal of the brutal realities of war and its exploration of the ways in which ordinary people are affected by it. The Armies has received many literary awards and has been translated to several languages.

Movies

Play Video

1

3.7/5

The Hidden
Face

Play Video

2

3.9/5

The Embrace of the Serpent

Play Video

3

3.7/5

Maria Full
of Grace

Play Video

4

3.6/5

Colors of the Mountain

Play Video

5

3.7/5

The Wind
Journeys

“The Hidden Face” is a Colombian thriller film directed by Andrés Baiz. It was released in 2011. The movie tells the story of a young conductor who moves into a new home with his wife. After an accident, the wife disappears and the husband begins to suspect that she may still be alive. The film explores themes of love, betrayal, and psychological manipulation as the husband delves deeper into the mystery of his wife’s disappearance. It is a suspenseful and thought-provoking film that has been widely praised for its strong performances and its clever use of suspense and tension.

“The Embrace of the Serpent” is a Colombian film directed by Ciro Guerra. It was released in 2015. The movie tells the story of two parallel journeys made by two Western scientists, played by Jan Bijvoet and Brionne Davis, through the Amazon rainforest at different times in the 20th century. They both seek the help of an Amazonian shaman, played by Nilbio Torres, in their search for a rare plant. The film explores themes of colonialism, the loss of cultural heritage, and the impact of Western civilization on indigenous people. It was critically acclaimed and won many awards, including the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival.

“Maria Full of Grace” is a Colombian-American drama film directed by Joshua Marston. It was released in 2004. The movie tells the story of Maria, a young woman from a poor Colombian village who becomes a drug mule, transporting drugs to the United States. The film explores themes of poverty, immigration, and the risks and consequences of the drug trade. It is a powerful and moving film that has been widely praised for its strong performances and its realistic portrayal of the struggles of immigrants and those caught up in the drug trade. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for its lead actress Catalina Sandino Moreno.

“Colors of the Mountain” is a Colombian drama film directed by Carlos César Arbeláez. It was released in 2010. The movie tells the story of a young boy living in a small mountain village in Colombia, who faces the challenges of growing up in a war-torn country. The film explores themes of childhood, war, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It is a powerful and moving film that has been widely praised for its strong performances and its evocative portrayal of the impact of war on children and their families. It was critically acclaimed and won several awards at international film festivals.

“The Wind Journeys” is a Colombian-Argentinian-Dutch drama film directed by Ciro Guerra. It was released in 2009. The movie tells the story of Ignacio Carrillo, an accordion player who embarks on a journey to return his instrument to its rightful owner, a young man who had been his apprentice but had died. Along the way, he meets a young orphan who joins him on his journey. The film explores themes of tradition, music, and the human connection. It is a powerful and moving film that has been widely praised for its strong performances and its evocative portrayal of the power of music to connect people and preserve tradition. It was critically acclaimed and won several awards at international film festivals.

Music

Colombian music is known for its diversity and rich cultural heritage. Some of the most popular genres include cumbia, vallenato, and salsa. Cumbia is a music and dance style that originated in the Caribbean coastal region of Colombia. It is characterized by a mix of Indigenous, African, and Spanish influences, and is typically played on instruments such as the accordion, drum, and gaita (a type of flute). Vallenato is a genre of music and dance that originated in the region of the Caribbean coast of Colombia. It is characterized by the use of the accordion, caja vallenata (a type of drum), and guacharaca (a percussion instrument). Salsa is a genre of music that originated in Cuba and has since spread to many Latin American countries, including Colombia. Colombian salsa, also known as salsa caleña, is known for its upbeat rhythms and often features brass instruments such as trumpet and saxophone.

Travel

I feel like I’ve known Colombia for years. My girlfriend is Colombian, I have many Colombian friends and consumed tons of Colombian movies and books. Nonetheless, my first Colombia trip only happens in 2024.

More travel tips will follow, but for now, I can already link you to one of my friends, because my friend Jenny has been organizing trips to Colombia (and Cuba) for the last 9 years through her company Vive Mas Tours. Are you 55+, curious about Colombia, and keen to travel (but maybe a little hesitant?). Contact Jenny and discover all of the options to travel to Colombia where everything is taken care of!

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