San Andres, Colombia, a paradise!!!

Aruba, Jamaica, or Hawaii are just a few of the most popular places North Americans choose to have their vacations. The beaches are gorgeous, the sea wonderful and food excellent, but realistically these places are too crowded, noisy and expensive. If you really want to relax, save money and feel out of this world, consider visiting the Caribbean islands of San Andres. San Andres is an archipelago located 480 miles North-West of Colombia, 150 miles East of Nicaragua and 528 miles from Jamaica; it is made of the three main islands of San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina which  

are tiny islands surrounded by several islets, cays and banks that make your vacation a real heaven of peace and tranquility. The archipelago of San Andres is Colombian territory but it is distant from the country and from the main government in Bogota; it is safe, peaceful, and a very friendly island to enjoy a family vacation. The official lenguage is Spanish but the islanders also speak Caribbean English. www.sanandres.com 

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La Doncella...

Reuters

In Salta, Argentina and after eight years of study and preparation, the world finally can see La Doncella (The Maiden) the stunning mummy of an Inca girl who died more than 500 years ago in a ritual sacrifice. According to the archaeologist who found the mummified remains in Argentina in 1999, the girl and two other children, were left on a mountaintop in the Andes as offering to the Gods. Once there, the children succumbed to the cold, but their bodies were perfectly preserved through the centuries. The mummies of the other two children, remain in storage for further study, museum officials said. ©2010-2018 CafeJournal, NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

Reuters

LOST CITY, SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA

Discovered in 1972 for treasure hunters, Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) is a Colombian archaeological site of an ancient city in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Being one of the most amazing discoveries of the world during the last decades, Ciudad Perdida it is believed to have been built by the Tyrona culture about 800 A.D.—Some 650 years earlier than Machu Pichu. The city is an astonishing complex of tiled roads, stone terraces and bridges, drainage systems, and small circular plazas set under steep rock walls rising up into the mountains. The local tribes, the Arhuaco, the Koguis, and the ARsario, have stated that they visited the site regularly long before it was widely discovered, but that they kept quiet about it since they consider Ciudad Perdida as a sacred legacy from their ancestors. It takes a six day trek through the Colombian Jungle to visit Ciudad Perdida, and the scenery is absolutely amazing. CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

Transportation in Colombia

 Si, it is illegal, but no one says anything  and it's pretty normal to travel like this in the middle of  a busy street, and it doesn't matter if it's not safe. There aren't tickets for them because they are working, aren't they? In this picture the jeeps are not really busy, most of the time there are a lot of people on the top of the car, plus ten or twelve inside, plus the ones who are standing up in the back— many times there are more than six all together holding themselves trying to not fall off. 

 Here, "la chiva" (the way we name this funny bus) is the normal transportation in the remote villages in Colombia, mostly in towns that is very hard to visit because of the hard roads and distance from the big cities. It's the native transportation and almost always it is like in the picture, very crowded, and the natives not only bring their kids and stuff with them, but also chickens, turkeys, or even pigs (alive). In the big cities however, "La Chiva" is not a way of transportation, but an entertaining distraction for the locals and tourists.

 

 As I wrote in an older post about "La Chiva", inside of these buses there is a big screen playing the most popular Salsa orchestras, a nice dancing floor in the middle, loud music and a disc jockey who makes everyone feel happy and ready for the fun. Everyone drinks, dances, sings, and over all, we laugh till we cry. This is my favorite thing to do when I visit my family and friends in Cali. La Chiva goes around the city and for three hours we pay $700,000 pesos which is more or less $350 CAD. Some Chivas hold more than 100 people, but of course, we don't go on the top!

This is the modern form of transportation in Cali, and the rest of  the big cities of Colombia, nothing to do with La Chiva.

The "Smiling Bird"...

In 2005 the rare and believed extinct “smiling bird” was photographed in Colombia after 40 years of absence. The curving beak that gives the illusion of a “Mona Lisa” smile is what makes this bush bird an enigmatic and exotic species. Researchers found the bird in a 250-acre reserve and said that it was last seen before 1965. The smiling bird has also been seen in Venezuela, but always in very remote habitats. Colombia has the most wide and exotic natural sanctuaries in the world; a few years ago the “”Yariguíes Brush-Finch”  was also discovered there. It is a beautiful bird that has a large and colorful black, yellow and red plumage. The “smiling bird” photograph was taken by a Colombian conservationist who works for Pro Aves, a Colombian non profit organization. CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

Nostradamus Prophesies...

Nostradamus was born on December 14, 1503 in St. Remy, France. At an early age, he was taught by his grandfather, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, mathematics, and astrology. In 1529 he received a medical degree and it is said that he had extraordinary healing abilities. When he was in his late 40s, he started having visions of the future, so he began to document them and published his famous “Centuries” in 1558. His revelations have been always criticized by believers because they say his predictions came from the occultism and not from a gift, or inspiration from God. Nevertheless his prophesies are scary because they are extremely accurate; all that he predicted in the past has been realized. He even predicted his own death.CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

Secret Societies...

Secret society can be described as a “fraternal organization” in which secret practices are performed by selected members. These practices are secret ceremonies ranging from the common to mythical, often with luciferian beliefs and weird rituals. These societies have existed since ancient times and always have been clandestine; among the most known secret societies are the Masons, Odd Fellows, Rosicrucians, and Skull and Bones, society that president Bush, and Massachusset’s Senator John Kerry,  have been said to belong to. Today secret socities still exist and all of them are very powerful; they have strong ties beteween members, and frequently have their rituals which outsiders never are permitted to observe. CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

A Beautiful Love Story...

Boris and Anna Koslove, were married for only three days when he had to say good-bye to his wife, to rejoin his military unit. Anna kissed her husband expecting to see him again soon, and never thought for a moment that it would be the last time she would see him; at least, for the next sixty years. When Boris returned from the war, he didn’t find his bride, nor her family. The whole family was sent into exile in Siberia, thanks to the cruel regime of Joseph Stalin. Boris did all that he could to find Anna with no luck. No one knew where she was, so he eventually lost track of her. Anna’s mother decided that her daughter should remarry, and against Anna’s will, arranged her daughter’s wedding. According to Anna’s mother, Boris had “remarried and forgotten her”. Boris and Anna remarried with others and had children, but never forgot each other. They grew old, and their spouses died, and it was then when Anna decided to visit her home town, to see the house again where she once married the love of her life. That day, in the same town, she saw a familiar face staring at her…it was Boris. He was also visiting his home town, and he had come to lay flowers at his parents’ gravestones.  “I thought my eyes were playing games with me,” Anna said. “I saw this familiar-looking man approaching me, his eyes gazing at me. My heart jumped! I knew it was him! I was crying with joy!” Boris and Anna are married again, and are now inseparable. CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

The Maya Calendar

The Mayan Calendar is a complex system of multiple calendars used in conjunction. The Tzolkin, or “The Long Count”, is the most fascinating calendar of all since it is above all a prophetic calendar and it records time intervals in excess of billions of years. This calendar is used to track dates and utilizes a numerical decimal system. Its accuracy is astonishing. It predicts the end of an era or the end of the world—as many believe, on December 21, 2012. However, it’s not really the “end of the world”, it is just the end of a 5,126-year era, or the end of the Mayan Calendar. It is actually, the start of a new age—the golden era as many call it, and the cycle of wisdom, harmony, peace, re-birth, love, and the return of natural order.CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

A Breathtaking Monastery...

The breathtaking sacred monastery of Tiger’s Nest, in Paro, Bhutan, was built in 1692, and it hangs on a cliff at 3,120 metres (10,200 feet), some 700 meters (2,300 feet) above the bottom of Paro valley. The monastery suffered several blazes and is a recent restoration, however the building remains exactly the same as it was built in its beginnings. The monastery is magical, and anyone who visits it, is touched in the most astonishing ways; the experience is completely amazing and you will never want to forget the feelings you got by being there. Special permission is required for non-Bhutanese to visit the monastery, and you will find a few Bhutanese army soldiers at the entrance to register the visitors and to ensure you are not bringing a camera to the sacred monastery. Picture:Douglas J. McLaughlin (Photograph edited by Vassil). CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

Experience your own funeral...

If you want to appreciate your life more and feel really “alive” consider going to Korea to have a temporarily death. Thanks to Korea Life Consulting Co., who charges up to 300,000 won ($460) per customer, you can experience your own funeral. The whole process starts by the client solemnly reading his or her will; then a man in a black suit says in a resounding voice: “I want to give you one more day to live, but it’s time to be placed into your coffin. I hope your tired flesh and body will be peacefully put to rest.” The client lay in the coffin, which is then nailed shut with dirt thrown over the top. The lights are turned off, and funeral music is played. After 15 minutes, and when many participants are just about to have a panic attack, the coffin is opened up and the person experiences a “rebirth”. Korea Life Consulting held the fake funeral at a mountain resort in Chungju, 150 kilometers south of Seoul. Participants take a class on the meaning of life, pose for portrait photos to be used at the service and write wills as if they have three days to live. CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

Find Out The Truth About Colombia!

COLOMBIA IS PASSION!



Colombia, the only risk is wanting to stay!

THE GOOD SIDE OF COLOMBIA

It is not a secret that Colombia has a very bad reputation because of its drugs and guerillas. Around the world, Colombia is unfairly known for being one of the most dangerous and violent countries in the world. Unfortunately, what the media never says is that those things happen only in certain regions of the country. Those regions are remote towns, villages among the mountains, and the jungle. Colombia not only has peaceful and safe places to visit, but also very friendly, kind, and charming people that make foreigners feel welcome and comfortable in their country.
Bogota, Medellin, and Cali, the main cities of Colombia, are equally as safe as Mexico City, New York, or Vancouver, to name a few. As in any big city, people must be careful with their belongings, places they visit, and suspicious people in the streets in order to have a safe stay. Other cities like Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta, are very safe also. They are very interesting cities to visit since their Atlantic coasts, beaches, and their old Spanish constructions make them look very attractive for the visitors. In addition, San Andres and Providencia Islands, situated at the North West of the Atlantic Ocean of Colombia, are some of the most gorgeous Pacific islands of the country; they are well known for their beautiful white beaches and the intense blue-green of their sea.

On the other hand, Colombians make their country more enjoyable and attractive to visit by having such friendly and charming personalities. They welcome everybody who comes from
Anywhere in the world and ensure that they feel comfortable and safe.
When you arrive to a Colombian home, they prepare exquisite dishes, offer any help you could need, and they will speak Spanish slowly so you can understand them well. They also will give you some gifts like Colombian crafts, music, t-shirts, coffee, or their special regional liquor, in order for you to feel welcome and appreciated. So, do not be afraid to visit this beautiful country because you will not only lose the opportunity of knowing such an appealing geographical region of South America, but also an intriguing and rich culture filled of its particular warmness and friendliness. Article published at KamloopsCity.com

Freiburg, Germany

This is a beautiful town situated at the southern of the Black Forest region (Southwestern Germany), only 3 km from France and 42 km from Switzerland. Freiburg is a great city to be included in the perfect European trip. Its scenic beauty, warm and sunny climate and its easy access to the Black Forest, makes this city a very attractive place to visit. 

Founded in the 12th century, a visit to Freiburg is like stepping into a fairy tale setting. It is filled with picturesque ancient structures, Gothic style churches, and impressive giant clocks which chime every hour. The cobblestone streets are lined with man-made streams which attract the attention of children, birds, and visitors. Bicycles and free-use electric trolley cars dominate the avenues, with little automobile traffic. Natural parks help make the air smell fresh and clean. It is obvious that the local German population take great pride in their jewel of a city called Freiburg. 

 I enjoyed visiting this city so much! Its people are very friendly, the food very tasty, the weather just perfect, and the beauty breath taking. Shopping is wonderful because the prices are very fair compared with the prices in France or Switzerland. 

This is one of the cities I would love to visit again; I have very good memories of this bella ciudad beautiful city. I also would like to go to the Black Forest next time because we missed it when we were there. Shame of me because I didn't educate myself about this town before I visited. I always research about the country and city that I'm going to visit, but this time I just didn't. I guess it was because we were visiting so many countries and cities in Europe that I just missed Freiburg.