ENGLISH

Colombian Cuisine is very diverse and varies depending on the different regions of
Colombia. In some areas you will find specialties like roasted ants or guinea pigs
while in other areas Colombians wouldn't even touch those dishes.
Colombia is not a paradise for vegetarians as the Colombian diet includes a lot of
meat. In the coastal areas you will find a good variety of fish, lobster and seafood
often prepared with a sauce made out of coconut milk. The offer of fresh fruit is
overwhelming and many of the varieties you have probably never heard of before.
In general breakfast is quite important in Colombia and consists of fruit juice, coffee
or hot chocolate, fruit, eggs and bread. Lunch which is served between 12 and
14pm is the main meal of the day at least in the countryside. A traditional main
meal consists of a soup, a main dish, a drink and sometimes a dessert which is
generally very sweet. The dinner is more like a snack. In the big cities the main
meal often will be served around 7pm or 8pm.

Typical Main Meals & Dishes
Ajiaco: Chicken soup like mom used to make it. It includes chicken, two
(preferably three) kinds of potatoes, corn, sour cream, capers, avocado
and guasca. Guasca is a special herb that grown throughout the Americas and
gives the soup its distinct flavour.
Ants: Ok, so it isn't a common food in the average Colombian's diet, but it is still a
large enough phenomenon to consider. During the raining season the ants are
harvested, and the queen ants are used with their large legs and wings being
removed. The ants are then soaked in salty water and roasted in a ceramic pot.
The tradition dates back to pre Colombian times and the harvest is done mainly by
peasants living in the North-eastern corner of Colombia. The ants are often given
as a wedding gift, because they are believed to be an aphrodisiac. Research
shows that the ants are actually excellent sources of protein, however as popularity
is growing internationally the ants are being harvested to extinction. In Colombian
Spanish they are called "Hormigas Culonas
Arepa: The basic side to any Colombian meal. It is a bread made from cornmeal,
similar to a thick pancake. It is normally eaten with an adornment of butter,
although sometimes corn is added. (See our recipe of how to make Venezuelan
Arepas)
Arroz con Coco: It is a common side dish of the Caribbean coast of Colombia.
White rice is cooked in coconut milk with water, salt and sugar.

Bandeja Paisa: A huge mixture of food on more of a platter than a plate, it
consists of grilled steak, fried pork rind, chorizo sausages, on a bed of rice and red
beans that is then topped with a fried egg and a side of sliced avocado and sweet
banana (chips).

ESPAOL
Tipo de cocina colombiana es muy diversa y vara en funcin de las diferentes
regiones de Colombia. En algunas zonas se encuentran especialidades como las
hormigas asadas o cobayas, mientras que en otras reas colombianos ni siquiera
tocar los platos.
Colombia no es un paraso para los vegetarianos como la dieta colombiana incluye
una gran cantidad de carne. En las zonas costeras, con una buena variedad de
pescados, langostas y mariscos a menudo preparado con una salsa hecha con
leche de coco. La oferta de fruta fresca es abrumadora y muchas de las
variedades que probablemente nunca han odo hablar de antes.
En general, el desayuno es muy importante en Colombia y consiste en zumo de
fruta, caf o chocolate caliente, fruta, huevos y pan. Comida que se sirve entre las
12 y 14h es la comida principal del da - por lo menos en el campo. Un plato
principal tradicional consiste en una sopa, un plato principal, una bebida y un
postre que a veces suele ser muy dulce. La cena es ms como un aperitivo. En las
grandes ciudades de la comida principal a menudo se sirve alrededor de 19:00 o
20:00.
Aqu hay 9 fotos de comida colombiana que tom mientras estaba en
Bogot: Fotos de platos tpicos colombianos .


Tpicas comidas principales y platos
Ajiaco: sopa de pollo como madre utilizada para hacer. Incluye pollo, dos
(preferiblemente tres) tipos de patatas, maz, crema agria, alcaparras, aguacate
y guasca . Guasca es una hierba especial que se cultiva en todo el continente
americano y da la sopa de su sabor.
Hormigas: Ok, as que no es un alimento comn en la dieta promedio de los
colombianos, pero todava es un fenmeno lo suficientemente grande como para
tener en cuenta. Durante la temporada de lluvias las hormigas se cosechan, y las
hormigas reinas son usados con sus grandes patas y las alas estn
eliminados. Las hormigas se sumerge entonces en agua salada y se asan en una
olla de cermica. La tradicin se remonta a tiempos precolombinos y la cosecha
se realiza principalmente por campesinos que viven en el extremo norte-oriental
de Colombia. Las hormigas se dan a menudo como regalo de bodas, porque se
cree que es un afrodisaco. Las investigaciones muestran que las hormigas son
realmente excelentes fuentes de protenas, sin embargo como la popularidad est
creciendo a nivel internacional las hormigas se estn cosechando a la
extincin. Colombiana en espaol se llaman "Hormigas Culonas" Arepa: La parte
bsica de cualquier comida colombiana. Se trata de un pan hecho de harina de
maz, similar a una torta de espesor. Normalmente se come con un adorno de
mantequilla, aunque a veces se aade maz. (Ver nuestra receta de cmo
hacer arepas venezolanas )
Arroz con Coco: Es un plato comn de la costa caribea de Colombia. El arroz
blanco es cocinado en leche de coco con el agua, la sal y el azcar.

Bandeja Paisa: Una gran mezcla de alimentos en ms de un plato de un plato,
que consiste en carne asada, frita corteza de cerdo, chorizos, sobre una cama de
arroz y frijol rojo que se remata a continuacin, con un huevo frito y un poco de
pltano rebanado aguacate y dulce (chips)

ENGLISH

Official Name: Republic of Colombia (Repblica de Colombia)
Capital: Bogota, Capital District (D.C.)
Other important cities: Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Bucaramanga,
Cucuta,
Manizales, Ibague, Neiva, Popayan and Pasto.

National day: July 20
Year of Declaration of Independence:1810

GEOGRAPHY

Area: 440,831 square miles (1,141,748 square kilometres), includes the San
Andres
y Providencia archipelago.
Climate: Tropical. Varies according to the altitude.
Mountain Ranges: Occidental, Central, Oriental. (From the The Andean mountain
range)
Highest Peak: Pico Cristobal Colon, 19,020 feet (5,800 meters).
Major Rivers: Magdalena, Cauca, Meta, Guaviare, Caquet, Putumayo, Atrato,
Vaups, Vichada.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Inhabitants: : Approximately 45 million according to DANE.
(DANE is the Colombian Department of Statistics)

To know the actual Colombian Population from DANE ("click" in the clock on the
left graphic)
(Spanish)

Religions: Roman Catholicism, 95.4%.
Language: Spanish (official).
Political Divisions: 32 departments (states, provinces) since July 1991, 1 capital
district.


GOVERNMENT

Form of Government: Unitary republic

Chief of State and Head of Government: President; elected to four-year terms.

Current Presidente: JUAN MANUEL SANTOS elected on August 7, 2010

Legislature: Congress; consists of Senate and House of Representatives;
members elected
to four-year terms.

The legal voting age: 18 years

ECONOMY

Main Agricultural Products: Coffee, corn, rice, potatoes, fruits y flowers, sugarcane.

Main Mined Products: Emeralds, coal, petroleum (oil), natural gas, gold, iron ore.

Main Manufactured Products: Textiles, foods, chemicals, machinery, electrical
devices,
transport equipment, metal products.

Main Exports: Coffee, oil and petroleum products, fruits, flowers, iron and steel,
textile and devices, cotton, leather.

Main Imports: Machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, etc.

Monetary unit: Peso ($COL)

ESPAOL

Nombre Oficial: Repblica de Colombia.
Capital: Bogot, Distrito Capital (D.C.)
Otras ciudades Importantes: Medelln, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena,
Bucaramanga, Ccuta,
Manizales, Ibagu, Neiva, Popayn y Pasto.

Da Nacional: 20 de julio
Ao de la declaracion de la Independencia: 1810

ASPECTOS GEOGRFICOS
Supeficie: 1'141.748 kilmetros cuadrados, incluyendo San Andrs y Providencia.
Clima: Tropical. Matizado por la altitud.
Cordilleras: Occidental, Central y Oriental (Trifurcacin de la cordillera de Los
Andes)
El pico ms alto: Pico Cristbal Coln, 5.800 metros (19.020 pies)
Ros importantes: Magdalena, Cauca, Meta, Guaviare, Caquet, Putumayo, Atrato,
Vaups, Vichada.

POBLACIN
Habitantes: 45 millones aproximadamente.
39.5 personas por kilmetro cuadrado; 75% Urbano, 25% Rural (Censo 2005
DANE).

Contador de poblacin del DANE ("clic" en el reloj de la izquierda)

Religin: catolicismo, 95.4%
Idioma: espaol (lengua oficial)

GOBIERNO
Tipo de Gobierno: Repblica.

Jefe de Estado y de Gobierno: Presidente; elegido por un perodo de 4 aos.

Presidente actual: JUAN MANUEL SANTOS CALDERN elegido el 7 de agosto
de 2010

Cuerpo Legislativo: Congreso. Est formado por el Senado y la Cmara de
Representantes. Los miembros son elegidos popularmente por un perodo de 4
aos.

Edad para votar: 18 aos

Divisin politica: 32 departamentos y un Distrito Capital desde julio de 1991.

ECONOMA

Principales productos agrcolas: Caf, maz, arroz, papas, frutas, flores, caa de
azcar.

Principales recursos naturales: Esmeraldas, carbn, oro, plata, hierro, petrleo,
gas natural, madera y agua.

Principales industrias: Petrolera, minera y agrcola. Construccin, maquinaria,
transporte, textiles, productos alimenticios, productos qumicos, productos
metlicos y sector financiero.

Principales exportaciones: Caf, algodn, cacao, petrleo, plsticos, hierro, acero,
carbn, frutas, flores, cuero, textiles, productos industriales y productos
manufacturados.

Principales Importaciones: Maquinaria, productos qumicos, equipos de transporte,
aparatos, electrnicos, tecnologa.

Moneda: El peso

ENGLISH
MUSIC

Traditional Colombian music can be divided into four distinct zones:
The Atlantic (Caribbean) coast , the Pacific coast , the Andean region, and the
Eastern Plains.
Caribbean (Atlantic) music pulsates with vibrant rhythms, such as cumbia, porro
and mapal. The cumbia is mainly accompanied by an instrument called
guacharaca.

The music from the Pacific coast, such as the currulao with its strong use of drums,
is touched by Spanish influence.

The Colombian Andean music has been influenced by Spanish rhythms

Among typical examples are the bambuco, pasillo guabina and torbellino, played
with stringed instruments such as the tiple or guitar, as well as piano.
The Andean music of Colombia differs noticeably from that of Peru, Ecuador or
Bolivia.
The music of the Eastern Plains, "Los Llanos - msica llanera", is usually
accompanied by a harp, a cuatro (a type of four-stringed guitar) and maracas.
Apart from these traditional forms, two musical rhythms have conquered large
parts of the country. These are "la salsa" which has spread throughout the country,
with Cali considered as the capital of la salsa, and the "vallenato", which originated
in La Guajira and Cesar in the northern part of the Caribbean coast. The vallenato
rhythm is mainly played by the vallenato accordion (buttons accordion) and other
instruments.

Dances and typical rythms of Colombia

BAMBUCO:

It is the most representative of the Colombian music from the Andean zone.
It is performed by duos or trios that play the guitar, the tiple, the mandolin and on
some occasions, the flute, but more often the guitar and the tiple are used,
accompanied by singing. It is danced by couples.
From this rhythm come the torbellino, the sanjuanero, the guabina and the bunde.
CUMBIA:
The Cumbia is the archetype of Atlantic coastal music and symbolizes Colombian
music for the rest of the world.
It was created by the mixing of native melodies and African rhythms. It is played
with Caribbean coast gaitas drums, maracas and guacharaca.
The cumbia can be divided into two different types.
Classical cumbia: Musical instruments alone are used. It is never accompanied by
singing.
Modern cumbia: It is performed with some of the typical instruments and is
accompanied by song.
Some of the most popular cumbia songs are Yo me llamo Cumbia, Cumbia del
Caribe, La pollera color and Colombia tierra querida.
BULLERENGUE: Its rhythm is derived from the cumbia. It is danced by women.
Men accompany them with music and their singing is regulated by clapping. It
differs from the cumbia in the dance choreography.
MAPALE: It is of African origin and is danced chiefly on the Atlantic coast and on
the banks of the Magdalena River. With its fast rhythm and constant clapping, it
has a marked playful quality.
MERENGUE: A native rhythm of the Dominican Republic. It is the only West
Indian rhythm that competes with other international ones. It is very popular in the
Caribbean region of Colombia, mainly in the Magdalena department and the
surrounding area.
PASEO: It is divided into two rhythms, slow and fast The latter is the most popular
in vallenata music. The slow paseo is romantic, but the fast one rarely so. From
time to time, it can be confused with the merengue.
PORRO A rhythm originating in Caribbean folklore, that contains dancing and
singing. It has variants such as the porro tapao or puya and the porro palitiao, a
faster rhythm than the cumbia. According to some, it is a monotonous but joyful
rhythm.
In the beginning, the porro was performed on native instruments and nowadays it
is played by an orchestra and by papayera bands.
MAPAL: It is of African origin and is danced chiefly on the Atlantic coast and on
the banks of the Magdalena River. With its fast rhythm and constant clapping, it
has a marked playful quality.
PUYA: It is a fast and complex rhythm that creates a joyful atmosphere. It
originated in the Magdalena department.
SON: It is a relatively slow rhythm of African origin with native influence, similar to
the other vallenata rhythms. One of its characteristics is the use of the bass
accordion. Both the son and the paseo recount the life stories of their authors and
friends or describe the region in which they live.
VALLENATO: This is one of the well-known popular rhythms in Colombia
nowadays. It originated on the countrys Caribbean coast and its name comes
from Valle de Upar "Valledupar" (Valley of Upar) the place of its birth.
It is played with accordion, caja vallenata drum (a larger version of the bongo) and
guacharaca. Generally, this kind of music consists of 4 basic rhythms: paseo, son
, merengue and puya. The main composers and performers have been Rafael
Escalona, Alejo Durn, Emiliano Zuleta, Enrique Daz , as well as Carlos Vives,
who has introduced new styles to the vallenata with great success. .
ZAFRAS: These are mostly songs sung by farm workers, from the Caribbean
region.




ESPAOL
MSICA
Podemos dividir la msica colombiana en cuatro regiones:
la de costa del Atlntico, la del Pacfico, la regin andina y la de los Llanos
Orientales. La msica del Atlntico o del Caribe, tiene ritmos calientes propicios
para el baile como la cumbia, el porro y el mapal. La cumbia se acompaa
especialmente con el instrumento llamado guacharaca.
La msica del Pacfico con cierta influencia espaola, tiene ritmos como el
currulao, en el cual predominan los tambores.
La msica de la regin andina tambin tiene influencia espaola. Tenemos los
ritmos de bambuco, pasillo, guabina, torbellino, etc., todos interpretados con
instrumentos de cuerda o con piano.
Nota : Hay una gran diferencia con la msica andina del Ecuador, Bolivia y Per.
La msica llanera se oye en general interpretada con arpa, cuatro y maracas.
Adems de estas formas tradicionales, hay dos estilos de msica que son muy
populares en todo el pas. Estos son la salsa y el vallenato.
Cali se conoce como la capital de la salsa.
El vallenato, ritmo conocido desde hace muchos aos, y proveniente de La Guajira
y del Cesar , es muy popular actualmente y se interpreta con acorden vallenato
(de botones) y otros instrumentos.

BAILES Y RITMOS DE COLOMBIA
EL BAMBUCO
Constituye la ms grande manifestacin de la msica colombiana perteneciente a
la zona andina.
Es interpretado por duetos o tros que utilizan la guitarra, el tiple, la bandola y la
flauta en algunas ocasiones, pero por lo general se utilizan la guitarra y el tiple
acompaados con canto. Se baila en parejas.
De este ritmo se derivan el torbellino, el sanjuanero, la guabina y el bunde.


LA CUMBIA
Tonada, base de la msica del litoral Atlntico y considerado como el ritmo ms
representativo en el exterior como smbolo del pas, se form de la unin de
melodas indgenas y ritmos africanos interpretados con gaitas costeas,
tambores, maracas y guacharaca.
La cumbia presenta dos tipos diferentes:
Cumbia clsica: sta nunca es cantada; slo se utilizan los instrumentos
musicales.
Cumbia moderna: En esta cumbia se encuentran parte de los instrumentos tpicos
y sta es acompaada de canto. Entre las ms populares se encuentran Yo me
llamo Cumbia, Cumbia del Caribe, La pollera color y Colombia tierra querida.

EL BULLERENGUE:Ritmo derivado de la cumbia. Es bailado por las mujeres. Los
hombres las acompaan musicalmente y su canto se regula con la palma de las
manos. Difiere de la cumbia en la coreografa.

EL MAPAL: Ritmo de origen africano se baila principalmente en la costa
atlntica y a orillas del ro Magdalena. Su ritmo es acelerado y de constante
palmoteo.. Tiene una marcada tendencia ldica.

EL MERENGUE: Ritmo originario de la Repblica Dominicana. Es el nico ritmo
antillano que compite con otros ritmos internacionales. En Colombia se baila
bastante en el litoral Atlntico, especialmente en el departamento del Magdalena y
sus alrededores

EL PASEO: Se divide en dos ritmos: el lento y el acelerado. Este ltimo que es el
ms popular en la msica vallenata El paseo lento es romntico, pero el rpido
raras veces lo es. En ocasiones, se puede confundir con el merengue.

EL PORRO : Ritmo del folclor caribeo que contiene baile y canto. Tiene variantes
como el porro tapao o puya y el porro palitiao, un ritmo ms rpido que la cumbia.
Segn comentaristas, es un ritmo montono pero alegre.
En un comienzo, el porro se interpretaba con instrumentos indgenas y
actualmente es interpretado por orquestas de saln y bandas papayeras

LA PUYA: Es un ritmo complejo y acelerado y tiene ambiente alegre. Se origin
en el departamento del Magdalena.

LA ZAFRA: Msica del folclor Caribe. En su mayora son cantos de labor

EL SON : Ritmo relativamente lento de origen africano con influencia indgena
como los dems ritmos de msica vallenata. Una de sus caractersticas es la
utilizacin de los bajos del acorden en la interpretacin de una pieza . Tanto el
son como el paseo narran la vida y hechos de sus autores y amigos o de la regin
donde viven.

EL VALLENATO: Constituye uno de los ritmos actuales de cierta popularidad en
Colombia. Se origin en la costa Caribe de nuestro pas y debe su nombre a la
regin donde naci, el Valle de Upar. Se interpreta con acorden, caja vallenata
(una versin ms grande del bongo) y guacharaca. Generalmente esta clase de
msica se compone de 4 ritmos bsicos: paseo, son, merengue y puya.
Los principales compositores e intrpretes han sido: Rafael Escalona, Alejo Durn,
Emiliano Zuleta, Enrique Daz y Carlos Vives quien ha introducido nuevos estilos a
la msica vallenata con gran xito.