b bruce has written 42 posts

Blue Tooths in Colombia?

Greetings all! Can one purchase a Blue Tooth for your cell phone in Colombia? In my many visits to the wonderful land of beautiful people, I have not seen one being used. Of course I am mainly on the Caribbean coast not the business hubs and big cities. ...

By b bruce on 2008-05-08 12:20:48. 5 comments.

Venezuela - Healthcare crisis turning deadly?

With doctors fleeing the country in droves, Venezuela's public hospitals are in desparate shape - and declining daily. CARACAS- But the systems current crisis comes as the country is awash in oil wealth, a windfall that critics say could be used to ease the problem. Instead Chavez is building a parallel health program called Barrio Adentro which features 11,000 neighborhood clinics staffed by mainly Cuban doctors. Barrios Better Off - Ingaugurated nationwide in 2003 Barrio Adentro initial ...

By b bruce on 2008-04-09 23:08:24. 3 comments.

FREE TRADE "Colombia seeks commerce, investment"

By Francisco Santos Calderon Vice President of Colombia. There was an excellent article in todays Miami Herald by the Vice President of Colombia. He was putting forth how important the free trade agreement between the United States and Colombia is to Colombia! Of course the dems don't like Uribe because he is conservative. And a friend of the Bushman! From what I have seen and read, Uribe has done a pretty decent job for the people of Colombia. What I would like to see is Colombia step up on ...

By b bruce on 2008-01-30 00:41:00. 6 comments.

Chavez seeks alliance.

CARACAS- President Hugo Chavez on Sunday urged Nicaragua, Bolivia and Cuba to form an "anti-imperialist" military alliance to defend Latin America from possible attacks by the U.S.

By b bruce on 2008-01-28 09:03:06. 8 comments.

Has anyone been to San Andres or Providencia? I have not seen a post on the subject!

I read recently in the Miami Herald where Nicaragua is making it's claim on the two Colombian Islands again. Has anyone been there? The place sounds expensive. I was checking out some of the hotel prices, not cheap! Is the place nice? Or are you stuck on an island with a bunch of stuck up rich Colombians. Is there decent scuba diving? fishing? Is there a ferry boat service between the two islands? ...

By b bruce on 2008-01-13 22:42:26. 30 comments.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND BEST OF NEW YEARS TO ALL IN THE PBH COMMUNITY!

Just a note to wish everyone at PBH a Merry Christamas and Best of New Years! My prayers are with the wonderful people of Colombia to have a safe and peaceful Christmas and a terrific New Year,

By b bruce on 2007-12-23 12:16:02. 1 comments.

U.S. Woman Murdered in Bucaramanga.

Miami Herald: Monday December 17,2007 BOGOTA - A U.S. w0man was shot and killed as she vacationed with her Colombian husband in this South American country. She died in a robbery that netted $200 and a laptop computer, police said on Sunday. Jean Oviedo, 37, arrived ten days ago at the northeastern Colombian city of Bucaramanga with her three children and husband, police Gen. Alvaro Enrique Miranda said. Officials said Oviedo is from South Carolina. An independent search however, could no ...

By b bruce on 2007-12-17 14:33:09. 19 comments.

Diary tells of disillusionment with rebels. Dutch woman joined group in early 2003

BOGOTA,COLOMBIA. The army stumbled on the hand written diary during a raid on a guerrilla camp. It lay near the embers of a communal kitchen where fleeing rebels left their breakfast untouched. "I'm tired, tired of the FARC, tired of the people, tired of communal living. Tired of never having anything for myself" wrote the author, a 29 year old Dutch woman. Colombia's government couldn't have hoped for better propaganda against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. It leaked ex ...

By b bruce on 2007-12-08 01:11:03. 5 comments.

New Book About Colombia! MY COLOMBIAN WAR by Silvana Paternostro

The title is ''MY COLOMBIAN WAR" written by Silvana Paternostro. Published by Henry Holt and Company LLC. First edition 2007. Excellent reading, I purchased it yesterday at Barnes and Noble and can not put it down. In this intensely honest and revealing memoir, Silvana Paternostro takes us on her own Rip Van Winkle voyage of return to her beloved, violent homeland. It is a compellingly bittersweet chronicle, with touches of great beauty, much like Colombia itself. This is personal histo ...

By b bruce on 2007-11-24 16:13:06. 3 comments.

Coca leaves sprinkled backstage in Las Vegas.

Miami Herald/Tropical Life. LAS VEGAS- The Colombian group Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto is most likely the only Latin Grammy award winner ever to appear before millions on television after traveling from a hometown without running water. And Eduarde Cabra --Visitante of reggaeton duo Calle 13 -- must be the only winner of the same award ever to have an indigenous leader sprinkle his palms with coca leaves before going onstage to perform at the Grammys. Television viewers didn't see the story b ...

By b bruce on 2007-11-17 09:44:04. 6 comments.

Rribe indicates he may seek third term in 2010

Miami Herald Colombia/Politics BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) President Alvara Uribe gave the strongest indication yet he may seek an unprecedented third term in 2010, telling political allies in a private meeting he would consider running for reelection if it could prevent catastrophe. Since winning a second term last year, the popular concervative leader has dodged questions about his political future, even as members of his majority coalition in congress have begun to lobby for his candidacy in 201 ...

By b bruce on 2007-11-02 11:08:57. 10 comments.

HELP! I am not computer savy! I need some help here!!!!!

I have been trying to download a picture for my PBH profile. I have no idea what I may be doing wrong here. Would someone please help me!!!!

By b bruce on 2007-10-30 11:59:11. 1 comments.

Winning Big Mayor's Race Boost's Leftists!

Miami Herald-Bogota Colombia,s leftest opposition won a landslide victory in Bogota mayor's race, but canidates loyal to President Alvaro Uribe cruised to victory in the heartland, where his hard line security policies are widely popular. The leftests won only one other governor's race in elections Sunday across the Andean nation's 32 electoral districts. Even in the capital, a pro- Uribe coalition will dominate the city counsil. Even so, Samuel Moreno's victory is a major boost for the Alter ...

By b bruce on 2007-10-30 11:53:12. 10 comments.

With the Colombian Peso doing better, Will I feel the squeeze on my U.S. Dollar?

Greetings all, Planning my next venture to the best place on earth. I am sure the prices I have grown to expect from my Lonely Planet guide have changed. With the Peso doing better, what should I expect as far as hotels, meals etc? ...

By b bruce on 2007-10-30 11:03:39. 2 comments.

Has anyone been up to Valledupar and San Sabastian?

Greetings, My next trip south I am planning to fly out of Ft Lauderdale to Bogota on Avianca. Instead of my usual Miami to Barranquilla. Check out Bogota for a few days, then catch a flight up to Valledupar. From what I have read, Valledupar is the gateway for hiking into the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Also, I spoke to a collage professor from the U.S.while in Santa Marta last trip who's wife is from Colombia. He told me San Sabastian is a beautiful town in the mountains that is a must see. A ...

By b bruce on 2007-10-29 14:24:16. 5 comments.

Left-wing canidate ahead in mayoral race.

From Miami Herald Wire Services- BOGOTA -- A left wing opposition party held a llarge advantage in the race for mayor of Colombia's capital entering Sundays election, after violence marred regional campaignes across the nation. While conservative President Alvaro Uribe remains widely popular, polls indicate that the party he defeated for the presidency last year may take the second most important elective post in the country - Bogota's mayor. Samuel Moreno, grandson of a military dictator, hel ...

By b bruce on 2007-10-28 12:39:07. 1 comments.

Senior FARC rebel is killed in combat.

Miami Herald News Wire BOGOTA- A senior rebel commander, accused of leading attacks on a U.S. owned oil pipeline and terrorizing residents along Colombia's Caribbean coast, was killed in combat, the defense minister said Thursday. Gustavo Rueda head of the 37th Front of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, was killed Wednesday night in the isolated Montes de Maria mountain range, defense minister Juan Manual Santos said, Rueda, better known by his nom de guerre, Martin C ...

By b bruce on 2007-10-26 22:51:39. 28 comments.

Che Guevara monument is shattered by gunfire!revolutionary

CARACAS--A glass monument to revolutionary icon Ernesto "Che" Guevara was destroyed by gunfire less than two weeks after it was unveiled by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's government. Images of the toppled and shattered 8-foot tall glass plate, which bore an image of Guevara were shown on state television Friday and appeared in newspapers. The monument on an Andean mountain highway near the city of Merida was unveiled Oct 8 by Vice President Jorge Rodriquez and Cuba's ambassador to Venezuel ...

By b bruce on 2007-10-22 09:24:01. 13 comments.

Los Saludos de Dania Beach, Florida!

Greetings all, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and are gearing up for the New Year. I have been off the radar for several months. In July I suffered a severe alergic reaction from some medication my doctor prescribed for me for my stomach. Luckily I was at work at the Hollywood/Fort Lauderdale Airport at the time. Paramedics arrived within minutes thank god. Everything shut down, almost cashed in my chips! Anyway, I am recovered, rested and planning my return to Colombia. I have been out o ...

By b bruce on 2006-12-28 14:49:04. 1 comments.

A journey back in time! Very interesting stuff!

Greetings all! I was sitting at the computer and went back in the PBH site to the early pages. I beleive it was page 412. For those of you who are new to the PBH family. Take a trip back and read some of the stuff from the early days of this wonderful site. Many early posts are written by Peter. Reading past to present there is some very interesting stuff. I think you will enjoy it!

Viva Colombia! ...

By b bruce on 2006-06-18 22:08:34. 0 comments.

Juan Valdez is hanging up his poncho!

'Juan Valdez' is hanging up his poncho
Posted 5/31/2006 10:53 AM ET E-mail | Save | Print | Subscribe to stories like this



BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Juan Valdez is retiring. Long live Juan Valdez! The ambassador to the world for Colombian coffee, Carlos Sanchez, is hanging up his trademark poncho after four decades of playing the role of "Juan Valdez."
Now the national federation of Colombian coffee producers, owners of the Juan Valdez trademark, is ...

By b bruce on 2006-06-07 14:05:00. 9 comments.

How are Colombia's neighbors doing?

Have Bolivia, Ecuador set themselves up for a fall?

Posted 5/30/2006 11:01 PM ET E-mail | Save | Print | Subscribe to stories like this



By Danna Harman, Christian Science Monitor
CARACAS, Venezuela — In recent weeks, both Bolivian President Evo Morales and Ecuador's president, Alfredo Palacio, have taken a page out of Venezuelan populist President Hugo Chvez's natural resources manual.
It's the page that features politicizing the oi ...

By b bruce on 2006-06-07 14:00:59. 2 comments.

Chavez opens big mouth and gets Alan Garcia elected!

Posted on Tue, Jun. 06, 2006email thisprint this
Chávez fue el protagonista de la derrota de Humala
EDISON LOPEZ / AP
LIMA
El presidente venezolano Hugo Chávez se encargó de hundir a la candidatura de Ollanta Humala, e impulsó un voto de rechazo que favoreció a Alan García, presidente electo, según coincidieron analistas e incluso allegados al nacionalista.

Antes de la primera vuelta del 9 de abril, el respaldo de Chávez a Humala era tomado en P ...

By b bruce on 2006-06-06 00:32:15. 1 comments.

Some books to read about the armed conflict in Colombia!

The books were written by the Center for Social and Political Analysis of Colombia. They were written and printed in Colombia. The purposes of the books are to let the outside world know the real story behind the FARC and the armed conflict in Colombia.
The book titles are as follows. WAR TOYS - The recruitment of children by the Colombian guerrillas. The second is BEYOND COMBAT- Personal stories from the policemen, military and their families against the armed guerrillas of Colombia.

By b bruce on 2006-06-05 11:11:39. 27 comments.

Uribe in a landslide! Viva Colombia!

Colombia's Uribe wins second term

Alvaro Uribe has promised to stick with hardline policies
Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe has been re-elected in a landslide election victory, taking 62% of the vote, the country's electoral commission says.
Mr Uribe, who changed the constitution so he could run for a second term, wins another four years in office.

Correspondents say his tough policies against drugs and militants paid off.

There ...

By b bruce on 2006-05-28 21:36:59. 0 comments.

The Election! Todays Miami Herald.

Back to Home Wednesday, May 24, 2006News
Posted on Wed, May. 24, 2006email thisprint this
COLOMBIAN ELECTION
Front-runner Uribe is passionate and polarizingColombian President Alvaro Uribe, seeking a second term in Sunday's election, provokes strong responses on both sides of the political fence.
BY STEVEN DUDLEY
sdudley at MiamiHerald.com

RICARDO MALDONADO/AP
LEADING POLLS: Body guards escort Colombian President Alvaro Uribe during a cam ...

By b bruce on 2006-05-24 13:30:07. 0 comments.

Having problems finding correct shoe size conversion for Colombia!

Greetings all! I did find a short piece about shoe and clothing conversions. But the web site suggested was useless. The address was not correct. I want to buy some soccer shoes for a friends son in Santa Marta. But nobody. I mean even the Colombians I know in Ky West are not sure of the correct conversion. The shoe stores Footlocker and Payless don't even know! The shoe stores offer USA, UK, Japan, EU and Mexico. If you are from anywhere else in the world I guess you don't need shoes!Help plea ...

By b bruce on 2006-04-14 10:13:59. 4 comments.

Greetings to all!

First, There was a wonderful piece about Colombia here in South Florida on PBS. It was titled "Mi Colombia" It was excellent! It was Colombian celebrities and regular folk talking about the country they love. On the topic about Colombia's internal struggle. One woman put it simply. Our troubles consist of a few people that don't know what they want! Second, I am planning my return to beautiful Colombia at the end of this semester. What I would like to know, because I can't find it anywhere. Is i ...

By b bruce on 2006-03-19 11:34:02. 0 comments.

Viva el Sistema Postal Colombiano!

Greetings everyone! Well I am proud to say that all the Christmas gifts that I sent to Colombia have reached their destinations. Amazing! I sent a large box containing tennis shoes, socks and a back pack to my friend Rosalta in Barranquilla and it arrived one month later. But it arrived! Then I sent a Canon Digital Camera and a Digital Language Translator to my friend Dayanira in Santa Marta and it actually made it as well in just over two weeks. And that was using just straight up U.S.Postal vi ...

By b bruce on 2006-02-08 10:40:56. 5 comments.

Iranian and North Korean Diplomats visiting Venezuela?

News reports here in the USA today are saying Chavez has evicted a U.S. Naval attache for spying. Of course we all know every Embassy is a spy nest. The report also said Chavez will be meeting with diplomats from Iran and North Korea next month. Does this guy have a death wish? He is playing poker chips that his rear end can't cover! The people of the USA and Venazuela have very close ties. The governments of the USA and Venezuela do not! Hugo Chavez is pounding his chest in a country where you ...

By b bruce on 2006-02-03 09:09:20. 10 comments.

Yo Tinto, Are you out there?

Greetings all, I was looking over some past posts on this wonderful web site when I came across a post about mailing packages to Colombia from the U.S. Tinto mentioned mailing items from Minneapolis to Colombia. I would like to know if Tinto was in Santa Marta at all last year? ...

By b bruce on 2006-01-23 14:21:56. 2 comments.

Carnaval de Barranquilla!

Greetings! Quick question for the Colombia experts. When are the exact dates for the Carnaval de Barranquilla. I have read it is the four days preceding Ash Wednesday. Is that true? I had to scrap my plans for Colombia over the Christmas holidays due to hurricane Wilma. So I will head down for a few days of Carnaval then head on to Santa Marta. Viva Colombia! ...

By b bruce on 2005-11-15 19:47:35. 1 comments.

Colombian Emeralds?

Greetings, I have a question about Colombian Emeralds? While I was in Colombia the last trip. A friend down there wanted to pay me for contacting his family in the U.S. when I returned home. He works a small shop for a friend of his and really does not have any money. The day I was leaving. I stopped by the shop to say good bye. He handed me a small packet of what he said were Emeralds. They looked like the remains of a broken Heiniken beer bottle to me. That evening I was on the PBH website ask ...

By b bruce on 2005-10-19 17:15:11. 7 comments.

Excellent Spanish/English Computer Translation program!

Due to the fact my Spanish still needs some work. And the fact that very few of my friends in Colombia speak English. I have found an excellent computer program that translates English to Spanish or Spanish to English as fast as I can type it. The program is "Instant Immersion Translation Delux" by Topics Entertainment. The cost is approximately U.S.$50.00 but certainly worth it. There are fifteen languages in the program. It is very easy to use when e-mailing friends in Colombia. Viva Colombia ...

By b bruce on 2005-10-17 20:42:11. 11 comments.

Greetings all from Santa Marta!

Hola amigo´s. Yes I am back in wonderful Colombia. Much better this time because I know several people in Barranquilla and Santa Marta. My trip is winding down. I head back to Barranquilla tomorrow for my flight back to Miami on Monday. I have found some excellent opportunities for purchasing property and have made more new friends. But I have two questions? First, Is there a way around the excessive departure tax at the airport? Forty U.S. dollars seems a bit steep. Second, An amigo here in Sa ...

By b bruce on 2005-08-27 17:16:04. 3 comments.

Do you think that Brazil's present industrial boom will benefit Colombia?

Greetings everyone! Last night on MSNBC there was an excellent segment on Brazil. The news article stated that their new President has the economy heading in the right direction and that U.S. companies have invested as much as $60 Billion U.S. into industrial and natural resources. Even China is getting into the mix by building a major highway from Brazil to a deep water port in Peru. If Brazil becomes South America's China will it benefit Colombia? ...

By b bruce on 2005-06-27 13:13:12. 4 comments.

Does anyone know where Guadalajara, De Buga, Colombia is located?

Greetings everyone! I met a young lady in distress here in Key West. She works on a cruise ship that was passing through and wandered off the beaten path (got lost)trying to find the post office. Once we began talking she mentioned she was from Colombia. I walked her to the post office and had time to treat her to lunch. She gave me her address in Colombia. She is from the town of Guadalajara, De Buga, Colombia. Well I can't find it in my guide books or on my map of Colombia. Any one have an ide ...

By b bruce on 2005-05-27 11:07:27. 4 comments.

Is there a web tool besides AltaVista for translating Spanish to English?

Greetings everyone! Question? Is there a web tool other then AltaVista for translating Spanish to English? I have been communicating with some new found friends in Colombia. They speak very little English. And my Spanish is poor at best. I have invested in some Spanish language CD's and work books so my Spanish will improve. It seems to me that AltaVista is a generic Spanish conversion. It does not identify some of the Colombian words and phrases. Viva Colombia! ...

By b bruce on 2005-05-23 22:39:08. 6 comments.

How is the Postal Service in Colombia?

I was in Colombia for the first time about four weeks ago. I flew Miami direct to Barranquilla on Avianca. I spent four days in Barranquilla during Samana Santa. Then on to Cartagena and finally Santa Marta. I am proud to say I had a wonderful time in that beautiful country. Well, I made several new found friends in Barranquilla and Santa Marta. At this time I am sending them small gifts and things from the US that I think they will enjoy. My question is: Can the Postal Service in Colombia be tr ...

By b bruce on 2005-05-11 20:40:06. 22 comments.

Great Deal on Avianca USA to Colombia this month!

Greetings from Key West, Florida USA! I was in Colombia two weeks ago for ten days of spring break from my university studies. I absolutely fell in love with Colombia. I found the people in Barranquilla and Santa Marta to be absolutely beautiful, very friendly. I called Avianca last night to book a return trip for the first week of May. My plans are to start a business in Santa Marta when my university studies are complete next year. At this moment Avianca has a round trip fare Miami to Barranqu ...

By b bruce on 2005-04-10 20:01:03. 13 comments.

Renting a house in Santa Marta or El Rodadero.

I just returned from ten wonderful days in the beautiful country of Colombia. I plan on opening a business in Santa Marta when I complete school early next year. Where do you look to rent a house in Santa Marta or El Rodadero? Are they listed in the newspapers or do you contact a property manager? I have been told you can rent a house for as much as $300.00 U.S. per month. ...

By b bruce on 2005-04-05 21:06:03. 0 comments.

Suggestions about travel to Cartagena and Barranquilla

I will finally have the opportunity to visit Colombia. I found a pretty good deal on Avianca Miami to Barranquilla direct over my spring break from school. Any idea's on must see? Of course I will check out Cartagena and Santa Marta. Any suggestions on good hotels in Barranquilla? ...

By b bruce on 2005-03-03 22:59:28. 2 comments.