The IberoAmerican Theatre Festival's Inauguration Parade

The bi-annual (every two years) Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro is about to start, and they inaugurated it this afternoon with a colorful parade down Jimenez Avenue.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

The Bendita Chicha Festival

A few photos from the Bendita bebida festival held yesterday and today on the Plaza del Chorro de Queveda. Chicha and masato are traditional drinks inherited from the Muisca indigenous people, made from fermented corn and rice, respectively.

They're available around the plaza all the time (except during dry law), particularly in the Callejon del Embudo.

Bottles of chicha for sale.

Traditional foods.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

The Zona Rosa's English Problem

EAT

Archie's and the Rock'n Jazz Casino. 

La Zona Rosa, Bogotá's high-end nightlife area, is perhaps notorious for its Yankee influences: TGIF, Hard Rock Cafe, McDonald's, Burger King, and on and on. But I looked around and could hardly find a business name - even Colombian brands - that wasn't an English word. Here's a sampling. 

It's something you find far beyond the Zona Rosa. Bogotá, including even poor neighborhoods where hardly anybody knows English, is saturated with English business names. Do people feel that a gringo title will make them more successful? Make them appear more sophisticated? Give customers more confidence in the business?

Perhaps it works for Colombians. But for someone from North America, at least for me, it all seems like cheap imitation yelling out a mentality of insecurity and inadequacy.

Burger King.

Go Cycling, with, for good measure, 'Columbia'.

 

The Fuga Cafe Bike Studio.

Inside the Fuga the books are all in English.

McDonald's and Chuck e Cheese.

Life Fitness.

Parking, and Zara Home.

Seven Seven and Archie's.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

Dancing for Delia

The Fundación Delia Zapata is one of the little-known jewels of La Candelaria. Named in honor of

Delia Zapata Olivella

Delia Zapata Olivella, who dedicated her life to researching and popularizing the music and dance of Afro-Colombian peoples of Colombia's coastal regions. Later in life, she traveled to Africa to find the roots of AfroColombian melodies.

The foundation, housed in a grand old building on the south side of Calle 10 between Carreras 2 and 3, offers dance classes and musical events.

Delia Zapata was born in 1926 in Cordoba and died exactly 14 years ago on May 24, 2001. Ironically, she was killed by a disease she contracted during a research trip in Africa.

Delia Zapata and friends.

The Delia Zapata Foundation on Calle 10.

Delia Zapata at rest.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

Art in La Nacho

An exhibition inspired by an ancient Greek myth.

Last week, the Universidad Nacional Fine Arts department students exhibited their work, which we visited

during a bike tour. I won't try to interpret the projects, except to say that several were entertaining and interesting.

The National University, with its sprawling campus, is always worth a visit, whether for its museums, left-wing street art or frequent political protests and demonstrations.

Skulls, whatever they mean.

A dance inspired by traditional Andean ceremonies from Nariño Department.

How people communicated before there were Iphones.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

The 'REAL' Word Games

Inside the Library on Wheels, which, sadly, had more wheels than customers.

Recently, the The World Games, a sort of mini version of the Olympics, were held in Cali. While the competition itself went well, the event's organizers appeared a little ridiculous when the medals lacked an 'L', meaning they commemorated the 'The Word Games.' (Finally, they used a laser to add the L.)

Today, the city held the real Word Games in Bogotá's Parque Nacional, which did feature books, word games, readings and storytelling.

An uncorrected medal from the other Word, er, World Games held in Cali.

Storytelling.

A book exchange. 

The park also had this exhibition of scenes from Ave. Septima, winners of a photo competition. 

More Ave. Septima photos here.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours