bicada sobre la ribera occidental del río Magdalena,
a pocos kilómetros de su desembocadura en el mar
Caribe, Barranquilla es puerto aéreo, marítimo,
fluvial, terrestre y de telecomunicaciones de Colombia,
ciudad capital de su costa norte y tradicional sitio de
encuentro y asentamiento de negociantes y aventureros venidos
de todos los rincones del mundo. A un poco más de
una hora en automóvil de Cartagena y Santa Marta,
a escasos kilómetros de las mejores playas y balnearios
de Colombia, sembrada de árboles que refrescan el
ámbito tropical de sus barrios populares y mansiones
republicanas, Barranquilla es ciudad alegre y amañadora,
que reconcilia a propios y extraños
con la vida.
Su árbol emblema, el roble; su flor, la Cayena; su
ave, el mochuelo y su temperatura promedio, los 28 grados
centígrados. Ah, y su gente. Cuando usted la trate,
cuando la conozca, ya usted no querrá salir de Barranquilla.
Goce la locura de su carnaval, “Obra Maestra del Patrimonio
Oral e Inmaterial de la Humanidad”, baile todos los
ritmos caribes, disfrute las delicias de su comida.
Pregunte por las marimondas, el porro sabanero y el sancocho
de Guandú. O por el mono cuco, las cumbiambas y el
bollo de angelito.
Sólo empiece a preguntar, que la lista de placeres,
en Barranquilla, es interminable. Y la energía local,
universal: 110 voltios.
hystory
Located on the western shore of the Magdalena River, a
few miles from where it empties into the Caribbean, Barranquilla
is the air, sea, river, land and telecomunication port of
Colombia, as well as the capital of northern coast and traditional
gathering place and home of traders and adventurers from
all corners of the globe. A little bit more than an hour
by car from Cartagena and Santa Marta, a few miles from
Colombia’s best beaches and other swimming spots,
lined with trees that breathe life into the tropical atmosphere
of its working-class neighborhoods and republican-style
mansions a like, Barranquilla is a carefree, welcoming city
that reconciles its natives and visitors with life itself.
The city’s tree is the oak, its flower is the cayenne,
its bird, the sparrow hawk,
and its average temperature is 85° F (28° C). Ah,
and its people.... When you get to know the people of Barranquilla,
you won’t want to leave. Enjoy the carefree
abandon of its carnival, “Masterpiece of the Oral
and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”, try out all
the Caribbean dance steps, savor its delicious food.
Ask about the creative, crazy masks called marimondas, the
rhythm called porro sabanero, and the stew known as sancocho
de guandú.
Or the colorful carnival costume, monocuco, the festive
musical revue known as cumbiamba and the bollo de angelito,
whose name is a play on the appeareance
of this delicious tidbit. If you only ask, you’ll
discover that the list of pleasures in Barranquilla is endless.
Oh, and the local electricity operates on 110 volts...
