Christmas in Colombia

webmanco says on Dec 9, 2004, 07:16:

A different Christmas in Bogotá There is a big change this year, as the well known neighborhood, Ciudad Montes is not ligthing up its houses.

Ciudad Montes used to be one of the best Chritsmas ligthed neighborhood, and most visited. Residents complaint about too much commerce and unwanted business prospering nearby, Night Clubs, Motels, etc, the call it resistencia ciudadana.

Pedro

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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Mariangela says on Dec 9, 2004, 09:38:

Surprised Wow! I must see things with my romantic Colombian eyes. I think Christmas in Bogotá is wonderful. Of course, I am from there, and I identify totally with the Christmas traditions, songs, prayers, etc. I am sure it is different if you are a foreigner and don't understand really what is going on. What I like is that you can breathe that Christmas atmosphere in every part of the city. I guess all of this has a special meaning to us Colombians, who miss our Country and our people. It has a lot to do with sharing the experience with your family and friends.
Mariángela

Mariángela

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ColombianoX says on Dec 9, 2004, 09:41:

Gringoinbogota,

I don't know what you're talking about! I saw that they put lights on all the government buildings that surround the Plaza de Bolivar. There are so many iluminated christmas trees around the city. You said you even saw fireworks. Where do you get to see that in the US during this time of year? Here in the US I only see homes with lights, not much else. Where were you during la 'Noche de Velitas' the other night? Was that also disappointing compared to the "great" christmas experience in the US? Even the tree in the Plaza de Bolivar (131 ft.) is much taller than the one in Rockefeller Center (between 70-90 ft.). The way they lit up the Medellin river is absolutely beautiful! And wait till they light up the metro and the Metrocable. Perhaps Bogota is not the best decorated city, but Medellin, Cali, and many of the small colonial towns look gorgeous with their iluminated churches and town squares.

Here's a link so everyone can see those lacking colombian lights shows that apparently aren't up to your standards.

http://postales.eltiempo.terra.com.co/browse.php?c=85


ColombianoX

'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

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caslug says on Dec 9, 2004, 09:53:

COLX... The Xmas tree in Plaza de Bolivar are fake trees, I saw many xmas trees in BOG, talls ones too, but they were all fake. Worse, the're not the good kinda of fake, you know the one that has branch plastic branch sticking out to look like a real one. The fakes ones i saw in the Plaza and at this big MALL were flat with decoration on them.

The one in Rockefeller and many shopping centers here in the US are either real OR look very real. I think what GB is saying is that BOG xmas "displays" are not on par w/ the US. No suprise there really, many US cities(NY example) has more money to put into it. It's an observation not a dig on BOG.

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ColombianoX says on Dec 9, 2004, 09:58:

caslug,

True, they are real....and sometimes imported.

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

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caslug says on Dec 9, 2004, 10:04:

Well, maybe.. but not the one I saw in Plaza de Boliver last month, checkout my foto of it(in my other thread), saw it with my owns eyes. I saw THREE BIG tree in BOG last month first in Plaza, second in front of Unicentro mall, and third in front ofter Boulevard Mall, all were fake.

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ColombianoX says on Dec 9, 2004, 10:13:

I did see your photo, and real or not, it looks great!

Check out the link I posted.

ColombianoX

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

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Mariangela says on Dec 9, 2004, 10:15:

It is not about the trees Take the trees (even if they are fake), the lights, the Nativity scene, the love for Baby Jesus, the beutiful music, the people, the prayes in the parks for the Novena (Tradition that starts on the 16th), and put them all together. That is the recipe for the most wonderful Christmas ever.

Mariángela

Mariángela

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ColombianoX says on Dec 9, 2004, 10:19:

ASI SE HABLA, MARIA!!! You tell 'em, girl! 100% de acuerdo contigo.


ColombianoX

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

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caslug says on Dec 9, 2004, 10:29:

Sound like your talking about the.. ATMOSPHERE of XMAS in COL. I sure that the feeling, atmosphere, & holiday spirit during the XMAS season down there is just as warm, loving, and memorable as the US. No one is deny that, GB post was merely stating his observation on the "decroation" NOT the spirit of XMAS in COL.

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utopiacowboy says on Dec 9, 2004, 12:49:

Medellin does have a wonderful display of Christmas lights. Actually it reminded me of the displays along the Riverwalk in San Antonio: http://www.sachamber.org/photos/riverwalk_hester3.jpg Other traditional events here are Las Posadas - the reenactments of Joseph and Mary's search for shelter Christmas Eve: http://www.sowingseeds.tv/ep11_posada.jsp
Do they have Las Posadas in Colombia?

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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ColombianoX says on Dec 9, 2004, 12:53:

"Do they have Las Posadas in Colombia?"

Yes, but they're called 'novenas' in Colombia (because they start on the 16th, which is nine days before Christmas). 'Posadas' is what mexicans call it.


ColombianoX

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

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elmodefoque says on Dec 20, 2004, 10:50:

My toys, growing up in Colombia.

My favorite and only toys, I made myself. I will only tell you what I used. And no, I did not shove the ice-cream stick up my ass

Empty wooden thread spool
A piece of candle
Rubber band
Ice-cream stick

Another toy

Flatten out bottle top with two holes in the middle
String

I'll get there, when I get there!

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nanis says on Dec 21, 2004, 10:40:

and what about cali? I grew up in a neighbourhood called Barrio El Popular, it was a lower class neighbourhood, back then.. the presents i used to get for christmas were usually a platic doll with plastic hair and clothes painted on and if there was enough money a pair of plastic sandals to replace the ones that i already had, however our christmas meals were either lechona or tamales, buñuelos and natilla there was a lot of aguardiente going around and at night there was a huge party outside on the street (us colombians don't have money to eat but we sure have money to party!) i also loved making a pesebre and celebrating the novena with all the children from my neighbourhood singing the villancicos. i used to hate it everytime i saw an upper class little girl with her brand new doll with real clothes and real hair and used to dream and wish that some day I could celebrate christmas like the rich people did eating turkey and having lots of presents well guess what.. i know live in europe I have had turkey for christmas dinner and all the other things that i used to dream about but I would've change a single thing of growing up in the lower class in colombia, now that i've had the opportunity to have the "wonderful" christmas that i dreamt about I much prefer the one that i used to have back then with the plastic dolls with no hair and all!! this is why all these memories make me feel sad because back then i used to hate christmas because there was never enough money but now i wish that those times could come back and that i could relive those happy memories.
eating lechona, natilla y buñuelos drinking aguardiente y rumbiando to the good old salsa with your family and friends.. nothing beats that!! bring me the Colombian christmas any day!

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elmodefoque says on Dec 21, 2004, 11:55:

How about, freaking christmans in NYC. I'm still in shock that I bought my very fine, young (20 years younger) Colombian wife a “COACH” leather bag for nearly $300 bucks. I still have not had a good night sleep since I walked outta that freaking expensive store, three days ago. Every time I think about the amount of money I spent on only one lousy gift, I get nervous, sweat profoundly, followed by epileptic type seizures. For a guy that cleans toilets as I do, $300 bucks is a lottta freaking money. I will admit that I first walked all over Manhattan looking for the $10 dollar imitation and could not find one, but leave it to my extremely high maintenance daughter to drag me to that damn store, the same one where her pussy whipped boyfriend bought her 3 .

I'll get there, when I get there!

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oldbongo says on Dec 21, 2004, 12:02:

elmo..you goof.. you shoulda looked on canal, they got every bag in the world there.
now you're gonna say you can't afford to fly when we really need to.
did you ever see a christmas coca-cola colombian yo-yo.

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elmodefoque says on Dec 21, 2004, 12:16:

Oldgringo,
I walked all over Canal Street first, that’s where I get my polo pull over shirts for $5 bucks. The Chinese sell them for $6 but I get them down to $5 each if I buy a dozen. Those freaking pretentious Colombians envy my Indian ass when they see me with a different polo shirt every day.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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