Mompós Photography Workshop with Malcolm Linton

Posted on June 9, 2021 by Richard

International conflict photojournalist Malcolm Linton will be staging two further photography workshops in the Colombian colonial town of Mompox in collaboration with the Hotel San Rafael and La Casa Amarilla. Since the first workshop, held in May 2021 was very successful, there are now dates available in July and August.

The workshop is for photographers — from amateurs to professionals — who want to express themselves more fully in their images. It will run for three full days, usually from Friday to Sunday, with a welcome dinner the night before it begins.

Read a couple of testimonials from the inaugural May event.

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Some photos of the 1 May demonstration, Bogotá

Posted on May 1, 2021 by Richard
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La Roja and La Trocha, breweries of peace in Colombia

Posted on April 22, 2021 by Richard

Did you know that there’s a Beer Judge Certificate Program (BCJP) when it comes to beer tasting? I suppose I always assumed that something of this nature existed. But, beyond my amateur enjoyment of craft beer and the different varieties now available to the public in Colombia, I never before thought to read up and put the tasting criteria to the test. And as we are now all connoisseurs of ordering take outs, pick-ups and anything else via Instagram during this endless pandemic, I decided to test out two beers which have been on my radar for a while. It

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What Would David Graeber Think?

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Richard

There’s a lot of Bullsh*t Jobs out there and I’ve had my fair share. 

In the year 1930, John Maynard Keynes predicted that, by century’s end, technology would have advanced sufficiently that countries like Great Britain or the United States would have achieved a 15-hour work week. There’s every reason to believe he was right. In technological terms, we are quite capable of this. And yet it didn’t happen. Instead, technology has been marshaled, if anything, to figure out ways to make us all work more. In order to achieve this, jobs have had to

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Show your Support for the Colombia Calling podcast

Posted on November 25, 2020 by Richard

And so, we did it. Some of you asked after “merch” and after checking around the web, I found just the place to produce and send out Tshirts, Hoodies and mugs emblazoned with the Colombia Calling logo.

Just in time for Christmas too!

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50 words on Colombia’s Postal service

Posted on September 3, 2020 by Richard

Could you come and pick up your post? she asked. The sun’s too strong and I’m looking after myself, you know. Look for the street just off the Calle Átras with a pharmacy on each corner. I know she earns 200 pesos for each envelope delivered, it doesn’t seem fair. 

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Required Reading for Colombia: a totally subjective and incomplete list

Posted on August 13, 2020 by Richard

There is an embarrassment of riches on offer to those seeking out Colombian literature in its original Spanish, versions in English or just books on Colombia written in English. This curated list is by no means complete, blending history, politics, early 20th century love stories, journalism, contemporary horrors and magic realism amongst other genres. But, hopefully it provides a starting point for a love-affair with or a deeper understanding of Colombia.

Obviously, no collection of books on

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This is the News from Colombia

Posted on April 7, 2021 by Richard
New Colombia country slogan
“Colombia, the most welcoming place.”

This is the news from Colombia

Colombia Covid-19

Colombia registered more than 200 deaths from Covid-19 and 11,827 new cases in 24 hours indicating that the country is barrelling towards the “third phase of the pandemic.”

Once again, flailing in their attempts to contain the spread, the Colombian government has announced a renewal of certain quarantine and curfew measures.

With the news that the arrival of further Sinovac vaccines

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