Vamos Colombia Tour takes you to Barranquilla Carnaval March 3-14, 2011

Contact us at Vamos Colombia Tour website. Or email us at info@vamoscolombiatour.com.

Bogota Theater Festival 2010 Opens to Great Acclaim

The 2010 edition of the biennial Theater Festival in Bogota, Colombia is underway. Officially called:

"XII Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Bogota"

it has its own youtube and facebook pages:
http://www.youtube.com/festivaldeteatrobog

http://www.facebook.com/pages/XII-Festival-Iberoamericano-de-Teatro-de-Bogota/79745145817#!/pages/XII-Festival-Iberoamericano-de-Teatro-de-Bogota/79745145817?v=wall

and of course its website

http://www.festivaldeteatro.com.co

The above pictures are from the newspaper El Espectador and from the festival's flickr album.

Gay Parade at Carnival in Barranquilla, 2010

These pictures are from the gay parade held a week before the main Carnival parade in Barranquilla, Colombia. It features many transgenders, including both drag and transexuals.

Carnival in Barranquilla, Colombia, 2010

The Carnaval in Barranquilla, Colombia, celebrating Mardi Gras, got off to a great start. These pictures from El Heraldo newspaper tell it all.

UNESCO recognizes two Colombian festivals as cultural heritage

According to Colombia Reports,

Colombia saw two of its most important festivals added to the UNESCO list of intagible cultural heritages; Popayan's holy week and Pasto's black and white carnaval.

The two festivities are added to the 90 other officially recognized intagible culture heritages from around the world.

Already on the list were Barranquilla's world famous carnaval and the culture of San Basilio de Palenque, a town in the north of Colombia, famous for its afrocolombian music and dance.

UNESCO's own website describes the two events as follows:

Pasto's Black and White Carnaval:
Arising out of native Andean and Hispanic traditions, the Carnaval de negros y blancos (Black and White Carnival) in San Juan de Pasto in south-western Colombia is a great celebration lasting from 28 December to 6 January each year. The celebrations begin on the 28th with the Carnival of Water − the throwing of water in homes and on the streets to initiate a festive mood. On New Year’s Eve, the Old Year’s parade takes place, with marchers carrying satirical figures representing celebrities and current events, and culminating in a ritual burning of the passing year. The main days of the carnival are the last two, when people of all ethnicities don black cosmetics on the first day, then white talcum on the next to symbolize equality and integrate all citizens through a celebration of ethnic and cultural difference. The Black and White Carnival is a period of intense communion, when private homes become collective workshops for the display and transmission of carnival arts and a wide range of people come together to express their views of life. The festival is especially important as the expression of a mutual desire for a future of tolerance and respect.

Popayan's Easter Week:
The Holy Week processions in Popayán are one of the oldest traditions in Colombia, practised since the colonial period. From the Tuesday to the Saturday before Easter, between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., a series of processions take place. The five processions, devoted to Mary, Jesus, the Cross, the Laying in the Tomb, and the Resurrection respectively, follow a two-kilometre route through the town centre. Each procession is set around reliquary floats, or pasos, which are created and assembled according to complex rules. The reliquary floats are adorned with ornate, flower-decked wooden statues, most of which date from the late eighteenth century and depict the Easter story. The route is flanked on either side by worshippers carrying candles and wearing special clothing. The processions are remarkable for their artistic quality (gilding, cabinetwork), sounds and smells (incense). Preparations, which last for a whole year, follow instructions passed down to children from age five, and from generation to generation. The processions have their own vocabulary and expertise, and the roles and responsibilities of each individual are precisely allocated. Some inhabitants of the town, who have formed a general assembly to protect the tradition, act as the organizers and work with the authorities and various bodies. The processions, which attract many visitors from around the world, are a major factor contributing to social cohesion and the local collective psyche.

Vamos Colombia Tour has a youtube channel now

Check out all the Vamos Colombia Tour videos, most introduced by Walter, on the Vamos Colombia Tour youtube channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/WalterVamosColombia

where you can also see the most recent video,

Pictures from Barranquilla Carnaval in Colombia

From Barranquilla Carnaval 2009

From Barranquilla Carnaval 2009

From Barranquilla Carnaval 2009

From Barranquilla Carnaval 2009

From Barranquilla Carnaval 2009

From Barranquilla Carnaval 2009

For a complete slideshow of Barranquilla Carnaval pictures, check out our galleries:
Flicker/Yahoo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vamoscolombiatour/sets/72157622047963646/

and Google/Picasa:
http://picasaweb.google.com/vamoscolombiatour/BarranquillaCarnaval2009#slideshow/

Colombian Carnaval and Machu Picchu 13 day tip

AMERICAS TRAVEL and VAMOS COLOMBIA TOUR invite you to join us on an exciting journey to Peru and Colombia.

Peru - Colombia

13 Days Escorted Tour

February 12 - 24, 2010

The perfect combination to enjoy the best of Peru and Colombia, from ancient civilizations to cosmopolitan settings, from mystical encounters with the glorious past, high in the mountains, and in the enchanting Caribbean.

Barranquilla, Colombia, Colombia's "Golden Gate"; it's carnival features traditions dating back to the 19th century.

Cartagena, Colombia, has the largest (and best restored) walled colonial city surviving on the continent, combined with the gorgeous blue waters of the Caribbean.

Bogota, Colombia, has a thriving nightlife. Bogota also surprises visitors with its culture, including the famous Gold Museum, one of the largest pre-Colombian collections in the world.
Lima, Peru, takes you to the heart of the latest trend in international cuisine, with many new gourmet restaurants featuring the latest in modern Peruvian food.

Cuzco, and the Sacred Valley, in Peru, will introduce you to the ancient and modern worlds of the Inca civilization, from the beautiful ruins to the popular markets.

Machu Picchu, Peru, is heralded as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, a fascinating and spiritual destination that leaves a lasting impression on all who visit.

This 13 day trip includes 2 countries and 7 flights (domestic and international, all included in the 1 low price), with hotel, tours and some meals.

Only $3995 per person
Single Supplement $550.00

Price includes: International and domestic flights and transportation throughout the tour ~ Hotel accommodations, based on double occupancy ~ Daily breakfast and meals specified in the itinerary ~ Transportation in air-conditioned bus with driver and English-speaking guide ~ Visits mentioned in the itinerary with guides and entrance fees.

Price does not include: Optional Tours ~ Extra baggage charges ~ Gratuities and personal expenses ~ Trip Cancellation / Interruption Insurance ~ Airport Departure Taxes in South America

ITINERARY

Fri 12 Feb ~ USA to Barranquilla, Colombia
Depart USA in morning, arrive same evening, transfer to hotel.

Sat 13 Feb ~ Barranquilla
Attend Carnival parade. (B)

Sun 14 Feb ~ Barranquilla – Cartagena
Morning bus departure to Cartagena, transfer to hotel. Guided sunset walking tour old city; evening at leisure (B)

Mon 15 Feb ~ Cartagena
Day at leisure in Cartagena; optional Rosario island day tour. (B)

Tue 16 Feb ~ Cartagena – Bogota
Flight to Bogota, transfer to High Park hotel (B)

Wed 17 Feb ~ Bogota
Guided day tour of Bogota: Candelaria, Monserrate and Botero and Gold Museums. (B,L)

Thu 18 Feb ~ Bogota
Half day tour : Zipaquira, Salt Cathedral; dinner optional at famed Andres Carne de Res (B)

Fri 19 Feb ~ Bogota – Lima, Peru
Flight to Lima, Peru, transfer to hotel Casa Andina Miraflores Centro. Half Day Lima city tour (B)

Sat 20 Feb ~ Lima
Day at leisure (B)

Sun 21 Feb ~ Lima to Cuzco
Flight to Cuzco, transfer to hotel, afternoon city tour including nearby ruins (B)

Mon 22 Feb ~ Machu Picchu
Full day excursion (B,L)

Tue 23 Feb ~ Sacred Valley
Full day excursion (B,L)

Thu 24 Feb ~ Cuzco to Lima to USA

To register for Peru & Colombia 2010, please follow these steps:
1. Fill out and sign the Registration Form (available upon request).
2. Review and sign a copy of the Terms and Conditions.
3. Fax or mail these documents to AMERICAS TRAVEL with your deposit.



AMERICAS TRAVEL
348 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94102-4421, USA
Fon: 415-703-9955 ~ Fax: 415-703-9959
www.americastravel.net
cesar@americastravel.net

VAMOS COLOMBIA TOUR

www.vamoscolombiatour.com

415-637-2660
walter@vamoscolombiatour.com

PROTECT YOUR TRAVEL INVESTMENT !

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Daily events at Medellin Flower Festival 2009

Below is a list of events at Medellin's annual flower festival, or Feria de las Flores.

The event take place July 29 to August 9.

http://www.feriadelasfloresmedellin.gov.co/

The following events take place daily:
* Bonsai exposition - San Diego shopping center (all day)
* Classic cars exposition - Premium Plaza shopping center (all day)
* San Alejo folkloric market - Parque Simon Bolivar (all day)
* Display of flowers - Pueblito Paisa (all day)
* Flower and butterfly exposition - Plazoleta shopping center (all day)
* Decorarte | decorative art exhibition - Museum El Castillo(9AM - 6PM)
* Folkloric fair - Unicentro shopping center (all day)
* Towns of Antioquia present themselves (the highway below Pueblito Paisa)

Events on a day by day basis:

Friday July 31

* Flower growers explain the silletas or flower arrangements - Los Molinos shopping center (12AM - 6PM)
* Official inauguration of the flower festival - governmental district Alpujarra (6PM - 1AM)
* Flower festival super concert with Silvestre Dangond, Iván Villazón, Felipe Peláez, Son de Cali, Maelo Ruíz and Grupo Galé - Atanasio football stadium (6PM - late)
* Fireworks - governmental district Alpujarra (8PM)

Saturday August 1

* Children's parade of flower arrangements - Carrera 82, La Floresta (10AM)
* Zona Que Suena, local bands perform - outside Parque Explora (10AM - 7PM)
* Cabalgata (horses to participate are for rent) - Carrefour Las Vegas (1PM)
* Marching band festival - Southern Bus terminal (1PM - 9PM)
* 4th International Women's Soccer Tournament (4PM - 9PM)
* Concert Colonbeat - Parque Norte (8PM - late)
* Concert Rachael Starr & Nadia Ali - Forum even center (9PM)

Sunday August 2

* Flower tour on San Pedro cemetary (8AM - 7PM)
* Cross country motor race - Pueblito Paisa ( 9AM - )
* Children's Cabalgata - Parque Pies Descalzos (2PM)
* Marching band festival - Southern Bus terminal (1PM - 9PM)
* Popular Music Festival (Los Visconti de Argentina, Arelys Henao, Los Relicarios, El Duelo Revelación, Otto Bermúdez & Jhon Castillo - Carlos Vieco Theater (2PM - 9PM)
* Music festival with Carajo, Cadena Perpetua, Tr3sdecorazón, Don Tetto, Johnie All Stars - Club Palmahia (3PM - 8PM)

Monday August 3

* Classical music and dance - Parque de los Pies Descalzos (6PM - 12PM)
* Salsa party - Carrera 70a / Calle 43 (7PM)

Tuesday August 4

* Jazz performances - Parque de los Pies Descalzos (6PM - 12PM)
* Salsa party - Carrera 70a / Calle 43 (7PM)

Wednesday August 5

* Fauna photography competition - Santa Fe zoo (9AM - 5PM)
* Folkloric jewelry exhibition - El Tesoro shopping center (11AM - 9:30PM)
* Colombian music - Parque de los Pies Descalzos (6PM - 12PM)
* Orchid, flower and parrot exhibition - Botanic Garden (7PM - )
* Tango performance - Medellin University Theater (8PM)

Thursday August 6

* Horse exhibition - Aurelia Mejía Colliseum (10AM - 12PM)
* Music festival with Claudia Diez, Tono 40, Luisito Muñoz, Los Corraleros del Majagual - Pueblito Paisa ( 4PM - 12PM)
* Fashion show - Junin shopping street 5PM - 6PM)
* Salsa concert - Parque Juan Pablo II (8PM)
* Tango concert - Hotel Nutibara (9PM)

Friday August 7

* Downhill motor race - Cerro de las Tres Cruces (9AM - )
* National car tuning festival - Parque Juan Pablo II (11AM - 11PM)
* 52nd flower arrangers parade (all day, all over)
* Bullshit and lies festival (serious!) - Monterrey shopping center (7PM - )
* Vallenato festival with Peter Manjarres, Silvestre Dangond, Pipe Peláez, Jorge Celedón & José Luis Rodríguez - La Macarena (7:30PM)
* Bailoteca (cumbia and porro) with Billo´s Caracas Boy & Los Melódicos - Parque Juan Pablo II (8PM)
* Viejoteca (cumbia and porro) - Club Palmahia (8PM - late)
* Exhibition of winning flower arrangements - Plaza Mayor (6PM - late)

Saturday August 8

* Exhibition of winning flower arrangements - Plaza Mayor (all day)
* National car tuning festival - Parque Juan Pablo II (11AM - 11PM)
* Local bands perform - Carlos Vieco Theater (12AM - 9PM)
* Classic cars parade (all day, all over)
* Cheerleading competition - National University (all day)
* Dance performance - Lido Theater (7PM)
* Vallenato party with Silvestre Dangond, Jorge Celedón, Los Gigantes del Vallenato & Pipe Peláez - Parque Juan Pablo II (8PM)
* Flower festival party with Silvestre Dangond, Iván Villazón & Felipe Peláez - Pabellón Amarillo exhibition center (8PM)

Sunday August 9

* Marching band competition - Parque de la Floresta (9AM - 8PM)
* Chivas y flores (decorated traditional buses) - (all day, all over)
* National car tuning festival - Parque Juan Pablo II (11AM - 11PM)
* Gospel festival - Parque de los Deseos (1PM - 10PM)
* Cultural displays of Antioquia culture - Los Molinos shopping center (2PM - )
* Orchest festival - border Medellin / Enigado (3PM - 9PM)

Medellin's Flower Festival Video

This catchy video featuring the group Piso 21 singing a pop song honoring Medellin's Flower Festival gives one a good idea of the festive atmosphere this time a year in Medellin.

Vamos Colombia Tours plans a tour to the event next year in 2010. Pictures of Medellin are below the video.

Bogota Event a True Experience of Gay Pride

Welcome to the new readers and the return followers of the Vamos Colombia Tour blog!

I must tell you that I was amazed, impressed and very proud of the work that my fellow Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) friends are doing in Bogota, Colombia.

AL ROSA VIVO

Bogota, Colombia hosted a great Gay Pride celebration in June, 2009.

The theme of the Pride parade was: “Discrimination based on sexual orientation and sexual identity is not a game. We come from a family and we are a family.”

The public events took place over a period of several days, culminating in the Sunday Pride Parade (June 28, 2009).

I also was able to attend several events such as:

The Supervisor of Chapinero (the LGBT neighborhood in Bogota) is Blanca Ines Duran (pictured here with Walter Rey). She is an out and proud lesbian who is organizing our community at different levels. She has been in this position for a year and she presented her report to the community in a very creative way. She used one of the biggest gay club of Bogota, which was previously a theater, and presented a true multi-media presentation: a mix of video and live theater to present her report.

The place was packed and she informed us of the several campaigns for the Chapinero area, ranging from the reduction of noise, the campaign against parking violation, to education of the community and police on respect and behavior toward LGBT people. She also clearly made a point of including everyone, gay men, lesbians, transgender, and straight – noting that we all are working together for a better world. From what I have seen, she is doing a great job!

The Chapinero area also had a big stage in the center of he district, at a well known public park called “the park of the Hippies.” They presented shows during the three nights prior to the parade.

Some of them were informative, educational or just fun. They had a runway show were 8 designers were participating for best design outfits for the transsexual community. The outfits looked great at the fashion show (as did the transgendered models). They had a DJ contest, as well as the participation of several groups such as the gay radio station of Bogota, which can be accessed through the internet.

http://www.eledenradio.net/

The parade itself went down the principle boulevard of Seventh Avenue (Carrera Septima) for about 30 blocks. (From Parque Nacional to Plaza Bolivar in the Candelaria district). At the end in the heart of the histric old city and downtown there was another big stage was welcoming all to celebrate.

There were several floats and a great turn out of people. We all marched with pride. What it was different at this pride event from others in the world is the energy of the people. Having been to several gay pride parades in the world (including such welcoming places as San Francisco, New York, Sydney and Vancouver), I can say that I had never seem such strong energy and pride among the participants. I was very happy to be a part of it and by my presence add a little grain to it.

Still it is interesting that most of the people on the parade were young as many of the over-40 community were out of the city for the long weekend holiday (which coincided with the event) or just were not comfortable in the public environment.

The closet doors are heavy but slowly opening. I believe that is why is so important that everyone who is able (that means you!) can join us in future parades. Just being present sends an important message to the LGBT community and the city and country of Colombia and a whole. The mainstream press is starting to get the message and change is swiftly on the move in Colombia!

Vamos Colombia Tour continues to promote Colombia as a Gay and Lesbian travel destination and we would like you to join us. Currently we are preparing the 2010 calendar – it is sure to include nest year’s gay pride. If you would like a change from your local gay pride celebration, or perhaps would like to experience gay pride in a location where it is truly making a difference, then join us!

More pictures can also be found at:

http://vamoscolombiatour.blogspot.com/2009/07/more-pictures-from-bogota-gay-pride.html

and

http://vamoscolombiatour.blogspot.com/2009/07/bogota-gay-pride-parade-2009-exceeds.html

Colombia and Bogota are the new kids on the block in gay travel. Find out why everyone who goes has an unforgettable time!

Walter Rey
Vamos Colombia Tour
check us out on the web: www.VamosColombiaTour.com