Here are some interesting Colombia stories that got our attention over this past month.
Colombia is making some inroads in alternative energy.
Colombia has just inaugurated its first geothermal power generation facility, as part of a broader plan to expand geothermal, wind, and solar resources across the country. Here’s the story.
Now YOU can own the former mansion of a guerrilla!
This BBC story, “The website helping to sell homes with a bloody past,” describes Colombia’s effort to sell homes, apartments, farms and lots of land which have either been seized by the government or handed over by armed groups that have demobilized over the past years. The proceeds will go towards paying reparations to more than seven million victims from the armed conflict of past decades.
COVID-19 news: Colombia receives South America’s first COVAX shipment
The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), a division of WHO, announced on March 1 that Colombia would be the first South American country to take delivery of COVID-19 vaccinations through the WHO’s COVAX mechanism. In the meantime, we’ve received other COVAX shipments and the country is beginning to make slow progress on vaccination. Although they’ve opened it up to our age group, we’re still waiting to find out when we’ll be able to get our jabs. Hoping soon!
The ongoing saga of Colombia’s hippo problem
Colombia is continuing to grapple with its large and growing population of hippos, all descended from the original pair brought over by that infamous drug lord (whose name we don’t use here). Here’s the latest.
Last but not least: Another Latitude Adjustment interview published!
Over the past couple of years, we’ve have been honored to have our little blog highlighted by several other bloggers and travel writers. Here’s the latest, hot off the press from WorldMoments — a blog focused on Spanish learning and travel in Colombia and Peru. ¡Gracias, Roberta!
Travel stories: Susan and John, from California to South America with their boat
23 Comments
I love the FARQ house!! What a beautiful remodel that would be
It WOULD! I wonder where, exactly, that is in the city? It would take a lot of money to fix it up, though.
Hey guys, congrats on another interview being published👏👏
Thanks so much! Hope you two are well. Jabbed yet?
We are great thank you. We have had one jab, the second is at the end of May so a while to go yet
Great stuff, you two. Love the new photo on your landing page. Pretty place.
Thanks, amigo! We sure hope you two can come back for a visit someday. Our guest room is ready!
I’d love to see the inside of the drug lord’s house, it was probably garishly decorated in the day. We’re watching the Netflix show Surviving Escoba, about one of his hitmen that was jailed. I heard about the hippos, so sad. Hope you get the vaccine soon, we’re not much faster in Canada without our own manufacturing plant.
Great news about the Thermal Energy! Great to hear another interview’s been published! Great work. : ) R
Thanks, Rebecca! Hope you’re doing well 🙂
Really enjoyed the interview. Congrats! So, did you make an offer on the grungy mansion? 🙂
Hi Henry – thanks! Ha, the cost of fixing up that grungy mansion is probably a couple of times the price of buying it. But it would be a nice remodel, as our friend Cindy above said.
Well done on having an interview published..good to hear you may be getting a vaccination soon there is no sign of that happening here yet 🙂
Wow, looks like being a guerrilla is a good business decision. Mansions??? I obviously picked the wrong careers. Chuckle…..
Ha, right?? Yeah, it’s pretty obscene how much money was made by some really bad people in those days. Let’s hope they never return.
Truly fascinating stories! Thank you for sharing this all with us!
Wishing you both your vaccines soon!
Thanks, Donna. Same to you. Vaccinated yet?
This was an interesting roundup. Can’t say I’d be rushing to buy one of those old homes, but those hippos! Such an unlikely and amazing story. Our vaccine rollout is slow here too. Don’s had his first, but will wait weeks for the 2nd. I’ll get my first within the next couple of weeks I should think.
Alison
Glad to hear you’re both getting vaccinated. I try to be hopeful, but here in Colombia it seems like one step forward and two steps back. Numbers are WAY up here and there’s talk of another nationwide lockdown. People just haven’t been behaving over Easter week. All we can do is hunker down and keep being patient!
Same. Numbers are up here too and they’ve closed bars and restaurants again. Yep, hunkering down.
Great collection of stories. Hippos! Who knew? Congrats on vaccinations happening soon!
I only learned about the hippos in Colombia last year when I watched this video on YouTube about them. I hope the government will find ways to deal with this problem. Speaking of vaccination, last month my mom got her first dose — the second one will be in a few weeks’ time. I hope you’ll get yours soon!
Hoping to hear that you have been able to receive your vaccinations soon. We have had our first and are immensely grateful. Fascinating about the hippo problem in Colombia. I had no idea.