which region is the best????

sebastiancorrea says on Mar 6, 2006, 12:25:

wow

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Colombiche says on Mar 6, 2006, 13:01:

Battle Starter.... I could be a regionalist and say that if Colombia was inhabited by paisas, Colombia would be a modern, industrialized country with a GDP per capita at least 5 times what it is today. You would see fondas paisas everywhere from la guajira to Amazonas, our country would be the most thriving dynamic economy in latin america, Chile and Mexico would pale in comparison.

Of course, if my Colombia was only inhabited by paisitas, we would not the vallenato and cumbia that the costenos gave us, we would never have read 100 years of solitude, we wouldn't have ajiaco satafereno, chirimia chocoana, bunde tolimense, bocadillos velenos.... we would have missed out on great poets like Pombo and we would never have known "la negra grande de colombia". We would probably be fairly lousy dancers, and our national cuisine would consist exclusively of frijoles and arepas.

A horrific scenario.... our national music would be guasca and we would have no Shakira, just Juanes (el guasquero roquero).

You know what? Let's leave Colombia as is... it is so diverse and rich because of all the regional differences. We have sober, poetic, aritocratic people like the rolos, enterpreneurial go getters like the paisas, happy, colorful and culturally rich costenos, Chocoanos who are the musical heart of Colombia (did you know la canoa racha is not cumbia but rather, chocoano folklore?) the pastusos who are an echo of the Inca invasion of southern Colombia many moons ago......

Colombia is a microcosmos, it is like squeezing all of latin america into an area the size of Texas and California combined..... Colombia's slogan to the world should be "Latinamerica concentrate, add water and stir".


All Colombian regions should all work together side by side, preserving their unique identity, making up for one's shortcomings by profiting on the strengths of the other.

No time for rivalry, our rivers are already a reddish tint with so much blood that has been spilled...


And that was my deep thought for the day. Back to building accouting applications.... zzzz

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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morphus says on Mar 6, 2006, 14:40:

Cartagena and Medellin is all you really need in Colombia.

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Monpirri says on Mar 6, 2006, 21:26:

Well done GringoD! For supporting your girlfriend from Pasto!

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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Monpirri says on Mar 6, 2006, 21:47:

It's all right We will support Pasto and make it the greatest city in Nariño or in Colombia, why not.
How do you like that for a futuristic plan?

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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platano says on Mar 6, 2006, 21:52:

I agree with Colombiche that paisas are the best... but as a city that fits my temperament I prefer Popayan.

plátano

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Monpirri says on Mar 6, 2006, 22:03:

I have a great respect for paisas because they love our folklore, they have a cumbia festival every year in Conception and also they are very industrial citizens.
I say they are the best in certain areas, certainly not all.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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PennilessBliss says on Mar 6, 2006, 23:32:

Galeras... I thought Galeras was the traditional Pastuso aguardiente... Try downing the stuff while chewing on a roasted guinea pig's head.
And yet somehow it's all in traditional cuisine for the pastuso friends. "yooora pues sumerce"

BTW the steep mountains and deep valleys around the city will leave you breathless. Truly awe inspiring sceney.

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PennilessBliss says on Mar 6, 2006, 23:32:

Galeras... I thought Galeras was the traditional Pastuso aguardiente... Try downing the stuff while chewing on a roasted guinea pig's head.
And yet somehow it's all in traditional cuisine for the pastuso friends. "yooora pues sumerce"

BTW the steep mountains and deep valleys around the city will leave you breathless. Truly awe inspiring scenery.

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PennilessBliss says on Mar 6, 2006, 23:34:

Damn, just an edit, not a re-post... sorry

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PennilessBliss says on Mar 7, 2006, 00:20:

With or without... I took the ride (everyone said I shouldn't) to El Azufral and saw an assortment of beauty I'd never seen before. I was particularly impressed by the mountain/valley combination, not one bit like the Cundinamarca range. It's a series of deep grooves that zigzags as far as the eye can see. Did I mention deep an steep? Wow!

In regards to the OP, the whole country is great. Just when you think you've fallen in love with ONE place, there's another totally different region (along with it's culture) to delight and surprise you all over again.

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PennilessBliss says on Mar 7, 2006, 00:30:

Althought Colombiche's description seems more appropriate than any other.

Concentrado E' Latino!

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 7, 2006, 02:18:

Are we talking which "departamento" it's the best or which "Region" because there is a difference there, the regions are: The Atlantic Coast or Caribe Region consist in the Departamentos de Atlántico, Bolívar, Cesar, Cordoba, La Guajira, Magdalena, Sucre. The Region of the Pacific Coast"(Choco) the Andean Region, consist in the (Departamentos de Antioquia, Boyacá, Caldas, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Huila, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Quindío, Risaralda, Santander, Tolima, y Valle del Cauca). the Llano Region consist in the Departamentos de Arauca, Casanare, Meta, Vichada. Insular Region (San Andrés y Providencia) Amazonic Region( Departamentos de Amazonas, Caquetá, Guainía, Guaviare, Putumayo, Vaupés).

engage brain before opening mouth

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 7, 2006, 04:12:

Best Region Los Llanos, Road Pto Lopez-Villavicencio


And the Aguardiente Llanero

engage brain before opening mouth

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 7, 2006, 05:52:

Bioparque Los Ocarros ( Villavicencio)

engage brain before opening mouth

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sweetcalena says on Mar 7, 2006, 08:04:

Thanks Kat1!!! I was about to say something, because they are all talking about departamentos, not the regions. Geographers have devised different ways to divide Colombia into regions. It is most appropriate to divide the country into four geographic regions: the Andean highlands, consisting of the three Andean ranges and intervening valley lowlands; the Caribbean lowlands coastal region; the Pacific lowlands coastal region, separated from the Caribbean lowlands by swamps at the base of the Isthmus of Panama; and eastern Colombia, the great plain that lies to the east of the Andes Mountains.

All I have to say is that I love each one of them because they provide us with wonderful agriculture products depending on the region and weather. As an example we have: coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp, etc.
Not only that but so many other things each region is rich on. We also are the "Only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea".
That's why I always say I love Colombia!!!

“Sit down to write what you have thought, and not to think about what you shall write.�William Cobbett

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Colombiche says on Mar 7, 2006, 11:46:

Regiones I was talking about regions too, when I said paisas, I meant Antioquenos, Caldenses, Risaraldenses and Quindianos. Todos la misma gente.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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Colombiche says on Mar 7, 2006, 11:48:

Once Caldas!!! Am I right when I said Once Caldas was the only Colombian team to kick Boca Junior's behind and become champions of La Copa Libertadores??????

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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Colombiche says on Mar 7, 2006, 11:54:

"Cartagena and Medellin is al "Cartagena and Medellin is all you really need in Colombia." --Morphus

Colombia needs every single one of its body parts to survive. If you amputate one of them, it will be incomplete.

Cut off Bogota, you are beheading it, chop off antioquia and the eje cafetero you are wripping out the hands, legs and the entepreneurial spirit...(the muscle), La costa is like the musical heart, Amazonia is the lungs, Choco and Valle de Cauca are the bosoms....

Tacky but true.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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litost says on Mar 7, 2006, 12:54:

and the be-hind?

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Monpirri says on Mar 7, 2006, 15:56:

Kat1 Nice photos of Villavicencio! Do you have any photographs with cattles on the sabana or with Llaneros on their horses doing their stuff!
How about a group of Llaneros singing and playing the harp by the Bonfire?

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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morphus says on Mar 7, 2006, 21:01:

Colombiche, I meant Cartagena and Medellin is all a tourist really needs to see in Colombia.

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sebastiancorrea says on Mar 9, 2006, 14:13:

any one doesnt matter

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Cerealkiller says on Mar 11, 2006, 05:30:

I have to say I love Medellin. However, when it comes to a region, I would have to differ with Colombiche and say I think there is a huge difference bettween Zona Cafetera (Armenia, Manizales, Pereira) and Antioquia, I might be mistaken though. But Id rather go for the former, people speak more clearly and theyre overall friendlier than Antioquenos, not to mention the landscape, its simply breathtaking.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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litost says on Mar 11, 2006, 11:12:

Yeah! Nothing like my tierra cafetera... 3 vibrant mid-size cities, dozens of interesting towns, near the other big cities, snow-capped mountains, rolling green hills, warm valleys, fincas galore, peaceful, good roads and communications, springtime weather, hospitality, educated and beautiful people! All this in a relatively small and accessible area. Can anyone really contest this?

Of course, I agree that the best of Colombia as a whole is its diversity and every region offers a lot and deserves to be visited, overall the best quality of life IMO is el Viejo Caldas.

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caulfield2 says on Mar 11, 2006, 12:28:

Manizales is a little cold for my tastes, Pereira is a little too sleazy, like Las Vegas, lol.

The main thing I don´t like about Armenia is the rain, but that´s why everything looks so green. It´s a very tranquilo, laid-back atmosphere...always comfortable, like LA or San Diego.

Some prefer the heat of Cali or Medellin, but I think the temps here are just about perfect.

There´s lots to do, horseback riding, canopi, rafting and kayaking, hang-gliding, hiking, fincas, Parque del Cafe, Panaca, Salento is one of the coolest towns around...Termales. It´s a nice place to live, and very secure-safe.

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dread says on Mar 23, 2006, 23:21:

no to cachacolandia !!! LOL Lo mejor de Colombia es las islas y costas...the best of Colombia are the islands and coasts...for me though...

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dread says on Mar 23, 2006, 23:24:

You forgot the fifth region . SweetCalena said "It is most appropriate to divide the country into four geographic regions:"

You forgot the fifth region sweety ....las amazonas

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