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Colombia coast - interior tension? Thoughts?

So I met some people from Santa Marta and from Cartagena and Valledupar at my conference in Colombia. Smart, educated - doing their MA's, grad school type people, but not from the extreme upper class or anything. Over the course of a week or so of hanging out I heard many comments about the "other" Colombians, those from the interior, the people that wear water shoes at the beach, the people of aparently "mucha bulla" ... mixed in with a couple "Cachacos son corronchos" etc etc ... I don't even know what corronchos are but it sounds like it could be bad. And this sentiment was someties reiterated by locals when I spent time on the coast afterwards, and when I questioned them regarding a possible tension between the coast and interior. When in the interior, the people did not seem to say anything much more than it was difficult to understand the coastal accent at times. People in the know - what's up with this?

By island girl on Aug 24, 2008, 11:25 in Friendly Talkzone.


island girl says on Aug 24, 2008, 11:25:

is there some sort of coast-interior tension?

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Aug 24, 2008, 11:57:

There are two totally different Colombias: the Caribbean Colombia and the Andean Colombia. Some areas mix the two cultural and ethnic tendencies: also the bigger cities are not as predominantly one or another. Bogotá is more Andean, Medellín and Cali more mixed and Barranquilla, Cartagena and Santa Marta totally Caribbean. The rest of the country looks slightly down on the Caribbean coast (the costeños have a reputation of being lazy, vulgar, womanizer, speak bad Spanish....in one word "corroncho" but some of the most talented Colombians come from the Caribbean cultural sphere), the Caribbean Colombians look slightly down on the people of the interior, the cachacos and call them indios. (Just read what Elmo says...in his rambling ways he expresses rather well the tensions between the costeños and the cachacos)

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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island girl says on Aug 24, 2008, 12:37:

thanks desi! the costenos I was chilling with were calling the cachacos "corronchos" ... some of my friends from Magdalena also got drunk one night and were talking about how they especially don't like paisas cuz they are all paracos ... ??? Where is this sentitment coming from?

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Monpirri says on Aug 24, 2008, 15:13:

Costeños vs. people from any where in Colombia but the Coast, (Llaneros not included because they are from another realm)

Colombia is one country but it has the same dilemma that other countries have. For instance, US have regional differences, the ones from the South vs. the ones from the East and so on.
Spain also has the same issue and do not know if in England, Italy or in other countries experience the same scenario.
But the truth is if someone wants to learn more about Colombia I would recommend to hang out with Costeños or Llaneros because they are the one who promote the best of Colombia at full steam and you would learn more about Colombia with them! Check it out for yourself; historically here in pbh and in the real world, cachacos love to be cheerleaders for countries as France, Spain, Mexico, England and other countries but Colombia. They are not too proud of their origin and they would sell Colombia in a heartbeat for a handful of dollars or euros, they would also sell themselves just for having one or two more friends.
Nuestra Costa Atl[1]View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own.
Here is a good sample of costeños contributions to Colombia. So now you tell me who looks down at Costeños? I wonder why??

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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Colombiano_divino says on Aug 24, 2008, 18:37:

Costeños have sabor, style, unique lifestyle- - - APPRECIATE their own country even if poor, like Monpirri stated, the costeños could show you what COLOMBIA is about in its inner and outer beauty so that you would always have that unique rememberance and appreciation for having to spend time in the coastal region of colombia...HEART Warming People that we could all use in our LIFE...... as for the cachacos...its a total flip flop in the culture and customs..but there are some really heart warming people in the inner country as well...But not likethe carribean sabor of La Costa Colombiana ....

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turnmeon (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 24, 2008, 21:47:

To start im gonna remind you guys about a topic here about a poll in elheraldo.com.co where they asked to the reader(costenos) if they like the idea of becoming independent from the rest of Colombia, and most of the costenos voted yes(including me) the truth is if la costa was independent we would be a first world country, all the european and north american inmigration came tru Barranquilla and stayed here, all of the development, telecomunications, cars, airplanes, air-mail, telephones, the commerce, we had the biggest sea port in the world at the beggining of the XX century, we had a stable economy, low crime rates, while the cachacos were killing themselves in the civil wars and la violencia(the violence) we were living in peace with high standarts of live.
the cachacos love the war, they started the guerrillas, the paras, the drug traficking, the hitman business, the corruption, in fact all of the bad things that happened and are happening are thanks to the cachacos, they are parasites, we started avianca(the dutch-barranquilla airlines) and make them big, then the cachacos bought it and took it to bogota, same with cerveza aguila, AA had it main office in Barranquilla and the cachacos convinced them to go to medellin, and lots of cases where they buy or take the companies from la costa to the cachaco territories, in all of the first world countries the main cities and the center of the economies are the coastal cities, but here in Clombia the cachacos wouldnt let that happen, they cut the transferences from the central goverment to la costa(the coast) to then invest that money in bogota, medellin and cali, all of the bad name of Colombia abroard is thank to them, we instead are changing that with numerous artist, sportmen, intelectuals, scientist, clothes designers, nobel prizes, etc, they think they are better than us, but all they do is fock up Colombia, the fact is that without la costa Colombia would be another bolivia, they are corronchos, uneducated, they lack family values, the cachacos are racist, clasist.

In the actuality there is a plan to make la costa independent, or atleast an autonomic region with its own laws and constitution leaded by the majors and governors from la costa and its people in general, they gather meetings twice a month and the colombian goverment knows about it, they are all against it, there have been several articles in the main costenos newspapers(they keep that hidden from the cachacos) soon we will be independent and free to develop into a great country

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El Polo says on Aug 25, 2008, 06:24:

This guys a new artist from Santa Marta, and like all good San Marios, he cant stick to just one genre :)

Un Rinconcito


En Parranda with Carlos Vives

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dwmte7 says on Aug 25, 2008, 08:12:

turnmeon and elmo....beautiful thread. kinda wish i had known the cost when i came to colombia all those years back. you've pointed out things i never thought about and for that i thank you. all these years--20--have been in paisa land, and ive seen it all....the wonderful folks, the culture and food and ALSO, the fricken corruption, murder, capos, sicarios, guerilleros and on and on and on.

thanks for the view of the other side.
douglas

patriarch

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Monpirri says on Aug 25, 2008, 09:11:

Pedro from co.blog you do not have to believe anything I have said about the voltiarepas above, if you know a lot about Colombia you can check it out yourself by reading Colombian history and by reading current affairs about Colombia and by reading here on PBH and find out who spends his valuable time tells us news about the other country.

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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Monpirri says on Aug 25, 2008, 09:14:

I did say Costeños and Llaneros, so here are Llaneros and from the Amazonas also!

Llaneros



Colombia: Amazonas



LETICIA AMAZONAS- PARAISO DE COLOMBIA

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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Monpirri says on Aug 25, 2008, 09:21:

RESTAURANTE TIERRAS AMAZONICAS, LETICIA-AMAZONAS-COLOMBIA


Pedro join me for lunch on July 24 and be ready to drink chicha!

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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webmanco says on Aug 25, 2008, 10:24:

Coronchos claim Elmo is a cachaco or gringo, (in that order) cachacos (including Elmo`s wife) claims Elmo is gringo.

Chavez claims Elmo belongs to him.


ParacoLand is between Antioquìa and La Costa.

No hay extremo cierto o verdadero, porque los extremos opacan, enruedan, (lavan cerebros) verdades. Yotas

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Aug 25, 2008, 10:26:

The Caribbean coast has the most corrupt politicians and it's largely controlled by paraco people.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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romy says on Aug 25, 2008, 10:38:

Are the people that call me anti-Colombia committing treachery? I mean to break-up a nation because we make fun of your 'burradas'...

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El Polo says on Aug 25, 2008, 10:47:

I agree to a certain extent, I wouldnt agree with the most, that to me is just a matter of opinion but there are plenty of areas or municipalites with unpaved streets, poverty etc.. so corruption is evident.

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Aug 25, 2008, 10:50:

It looks like all different regions of Colombia can boast of being very special, best or at least better than the others. The regionalism has grown like cancer in Colombia, since the time I lived there. It has always existed, of course, a country as disrupted by topography as Colombia, with such difficult access routes (except by air) between different regions is bound to be that way. The lack of consensus, the communitarian spirit, the cohesion between different regions has resulted in very uneven development and great rivalries and jealousies between different regions, departamentos, provinces and cities.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Aug 25, 2008, 10:51:

You're right, Polo, it's just an opinion and for that, not even mine. Just something I've been reading about the corruption on the coast.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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Monpirri says on Aug 25, 2008, 10:52:

Desideria (Moderator) says on Aug 25 (today): flag

"The Caribbean coast has the most corrupt politicians and it's largely controlled by paraco people."
How do you know that? El tiempo newspaper or PBH contacts? :>)

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Aug 25, 2008, 10:56:

Yes, Mompis, Colombian newspapers, Caracol, La Semana, El Cambio and articles I read here and there on forums that discuss Colombia, both in English and in Spanish. But as I stated above, I agree, it's just an opinion, not a fact.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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Monpirri says on Aug 25, 2008, 10:58:

Are you sure you did not get it from wikepedia?
Caracol, La Semana, El Cambio now you are getting carry away, ok let's see all those artilces, please Desideria.

P.S. I just noticed that you have said it's your opinion, ok I understand now.

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Aug 25, 2008, 11:02:

Can't be bothered to look for them just now, but if I see anything I'll let you know. I just listed my main sources of information on Colombian politics and latest development.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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Monpirri says on Aug 25, 2008, 11:06:

I do not want to see an isolated article but rather a chain of articles as you've pointed out. But never mind all that research because you just said it's your opinion and it's not a fact.

Maybe your Button boy find it for you.

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Aug 25, 2008, 11:07:

No, I said it was an opinion and not even mine, just something I have read.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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viajero123 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 25, 2008, 11:45:

I agree with desideria on this:"a country as disrupted by topography as Colombia, with such difficult access routes (except by air) between different regions is bound to be that way."

On this article by Sergio Fajardo
http://www.elespectador.com.co/impreso/nacional/articuloimpreso-el-rez... he says that the last 3 mayors of Santa Marta, the last governor of Magdalena, and 80% of its congressmen are all in jail. Doesn't this confirm also that this region is the most corrupt of Colombia, which is in itself a country full of corrupt people? Not surprisingly the PIB per capita is only 62% of the national average in the coast.

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Monpirri says on Aug 25, 2008, 11:51:

Sure Colombia or the Coast is the most corrupted country in the world as per the Blitzkrieg news...

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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turnmeon (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 25, 2008, 12:05:

"The Caribbean coast has the most corrupt politicians and it's largely controlled by paraco people."

the paras were born in antioquia(cachacos) and then they started invading la costa, with all the army around bogota, medellin and cali its not surprise that those cachaco-paras took over alot on the coast, elected congressmen and everything, another imported problem from cachaco-land, also all of your sources are cachaco newspapers and news cast from cachacos, when somebody try to testify against a cachaco with nexus with paras, or corruption, the cachaco-politicians will defend the corrupt cachacos alleging to be false and creating new laws, also the centralized goverment send more money to the cachaco cities even if they are smaller and less important economicly talking, all of the money from la costa go to bogota, medellin and cali and we only get one small % back, if la costa was independent there wouldnt be no paras here, since it was imported from cachaco territories, when all of those desmovilized cachaco paras (5000) were sent to barranquilla all the crime went rampant, if they are from antioquia why they dont keep them there? it proves once again how cachacos hate us, all of the hospital garbage found in the streets in la costa came from cachaco hospitals, see! we need to become an autonomic region now, thanks god it is already happening, and soon enough we will be autonomic

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Monpirri says on Aug 25, 2008, 13:55:

I do not think paisas or cachacos have taken over anything because when I was in Barranquilla I read and I heard the real bad news about what happened to a family from the interior and to a business owner also from the interior, real bad news.
I think paisas and cachacos or professional business persons do respect the cities where they live in. (Barranquilla in this case)

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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webmanco says on Aug 25, 2008, 13:57:

Turnmeon

don´t be turning on any "war".

No hay extremo cierto o verdadero, porque los extremos opacan, enruedan, (lavan cerebros) verdades. Yotas

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webmanco says on Aug 25, 2008, 14:03:

Arepas de Chocolo

No hay extremo cierto o verdadero, porque los extremos opacan, enruedan, (lavan cerebros) verdades. Yotas

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Aug 26, 2008, 05:59:

Elmo dear, I know you have TRIED and TRIED.

The cachacos have also TRIED and TRIED to get the costeños work all day and pay their bills on time. No success there.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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richardshari says on Aug 26, 2008, 06:56:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcyYDH6jn7o

Yierrrrdaaa!! Cosa buena, Mode!

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richardshari says on Aug 26, 2008, 07:24:



Mas corroncheria! Hasta el chavo del ocho baila champeta!! jajajajjaja!!

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El Polo says on Aug 26, 2008, 07:30:

Barranquilla en full rumba, cule ambiente sabroso

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richardshari says on Aug 26, 2008, 07:49:

Daaaaaaammmm That song is soooo old! Is that popurri de murgas? Just one side of the lp was the song!!

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dwmte7 says on Aug 27, 2008, 07:53:

question, elmo....in seriousness...ojolla...i don't know how old you were when you moved from the costa to NYC,

patriarch

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dwmte7 says on Aug 27, 2008, 07:54:

FUCKING computers...

to continue...what was it like growing up in NYC after being raised in the costa? how old were you when you first returned to bq?; will you ever retire permanently in la costa?
dw

patriarch

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Monpirri says on Aug 27, 2008, 15:32:

Elmo no jodas, no se si estas mamando gallo o te estas burlando de los peruanos, me refiero a los videos que haz puesto aqui! Porque no ponemos fotos o videos de los indios colombianos de los Andes ahi hay muchos y creo que seria mas representativo del mensaje que quienes convocar a tus amigos.
But just in case you do not know, Peruvians are one of our best allies and friends in South America.
It's funny Elmo I grew up playing soccer with Colombians, Argentineans and Peruvians in Jersey while others grew up among other ethnic groups.
Check out these videos

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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Monpirri says on Aug 27, 2008, 15:34:

Pibe Valderrama: Los futbolistas peruanos tienen calidad


Presidente del Perú, Alan García en Leticia, Amazonas



And let's not forget Mr. JAIME BAYLY

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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island girl says on Aug 28, 2008, 13:45:

Wow guys thanks for all the comments and entertainment ... looks like some of what I heard is being manifested here too ... wow the intricacies and complexities of Colombia!

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billyb says on Aug 28, 2008, 19:22:

Aguilas Negras amenazan seis barrios de Barranquilla
Con panfletos distribuidos en seis barrios de Barranquilla, las Aguilas Negras amenazan con asesinar a atracadores y a prostitutas si no desalojan en 48 horas. Ordenan a negocios cerrar temprano. Las autoridades piden a la población que no tenga miedo. (Vea el Video)
Fecha: 08/28/2008 -

http://www.semana.com/wf_InfoArticulo.aspx?idArt=114919

I just hope 'Quilla doesn't export all that violence to peaceloving Cali.

"All I want to know is where I'm going to die, so I never go there" Unkown (at least to me) wise man.

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webmanco says on Aug 29, 2008, 11:53:

I just hope 'Quilla doesn't export all that violence to peaceloving Cali.

or peacefull and warm Bogotá

No hay extremo cierto o verdadero, porque los extremos opacan, enruedan, (lavan cerebros) verdades. Yotas

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Aug 29, 2008, 12:31:

or al bello puerto del mar mi Buenaventura.....

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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