Only in Bogota!

Craziness I tell you! I was a few seconds too late with this photo but - see how the top of the tree is gone, yeah they pulled it down ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY! Seriously, the workmen just stopped traffic about 10 yards from the tree, yanked on some ropes and about 25 feet of tree came crashing down!

It's hard to see in the photo but it goes from my yellow note down past the man in the road. And you can see how close the motorcycle and car in front of us are. Guess safety standards are a little different here!

BTW - this happened on Bogota's ONLY major highway. On the weekends it's packed. Think the 5 in San Diego or 95 in Virginia during rush hour.

Scandal Claims Colombian Army Head

Gen Castellanos became army chief in 2004. The head of Colombia's army has quit amid a scandal in which superiors allegedly abused young recruits. Gen Reinaldo Castellanos resigned after a magazine printed photos of 21 soldiers apparently being tortured at a base in the eastern town of Piedras. Gen Castellanos had said earlier he was ashamed of the allegations and that those responsible would be punished. President Alvaro Uribe has named Gen Mario Montoya, commander of a Caribbean division, as his replacement. Correspondents say although Gen Castellanos, 55, immediately criticised his officers, his position had become untenable.

The above is an excerpt from this article. It is a HUGE scandal here which impacts the US because the US provides millions of dollars in aid to Colombian in the fight against drugs, aka the FARC. The State Dept. is supposed to monitor the actions of various units and "approve" them. I'm not an expert on this stuff so please read the articles. But in essence the State Dept is monitoring for human rights violations because of course the US does not want to support any units involved in such actions. Anyway... lot's of poor people have been killed and then set-up to look like insurgents. NOT good. One effect was the recent resignation of Castellano and the appointment of Montoya. Although word on the street is Montoya isn't exactly squeeky clean. So why the app't? Is he good for Colombia? Not sure and I'm also not positive of exactly what the guy has done. So I'm researching it. VERY sad story though. And here I was feeling so good about Colombian and their fight against the FARC. I hope this doesn't slow the progress here because by all accounts the last 10 years have seriously turned this country around.

The good, the bad and the ugly

Okay so it's not quite that dramatic. But seriously, this bill paying in the bank crap is irritating me! I had some stomache virus for days. As in I ate nothing, NOTHING, for 2 1/2 days and today am taking it easy with broth so today was the last day to pay bills. I go to the first bank and there are 4 people in front of me. But wait, what's happing, another line is forming and they are all going first. More people come in and get in the special line and go before me too. Oh I see, if you are a bank member, disabled, pregnant or old you get the special line. So 35 minutes later I complete my 30 sec transaction. I go to the next bank, there are about 7 people in the "special" line here and easily 30 people in the other one!!! NO THANK YOU. I check my bill, it's late tomorrow but the fee is $7000 pesos or about $3, see ya! I really can't do this every month... really.

As for the bombs, in the end there were 6. Injuries were non-life threatening and totaled about 2 dozen. The FARC did not claim responsibility but my hubby says they don't always. The idea, I suppose, is to keep us guessing and therefore wary. Whatever. I must have lived here too long already because I wasn't really fazed. Matter of fact one of my neighbors couldn't take it because the week before there was tear gas set off at a demonstration so she went back home with her kids. My other neighbor and I laughed and said, "but it was only a little tear gas". Yes, we have been desensitized. Really it feels safer here most of the time because we live in the hoighty toighty area where there aren't many undesirables. I know, a rude word but it's the truth. So all is well and hopefully will continue to be well. Unless I go postal and shoot someone in the bank!

Oh, the good, I forgot the good!!! Well there are lot's of goods here, especially Maria my full-time and nanny. Seriously, she makes my life so easy. What will I do when I no longer have her? But that's not my good for the day. Today a painter came by. We asked him to paint the study, living room, dining room and part of the entry one color with a 7 inch border on top a different color, the fireplace yet another color, the kids room in two different colors (that is going to be SO cool and I'm VERY excited about it) and the master. That's about half my house in wall space. Guess how much? No really, guess... $1.400.00,00 pesos. Sounds like alot doesn't it. Made me think too. But as the math slowly cleared in my brain I said - "you are SO hired! When can you start?" You see that is only $700, materials included! I will definitely post pics when it's done. He said 10 days but in Colombian time it's probably 2 weeks. YEAH!!!