From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Barranquilla
View of Barranquilla's skyline, the mouth of the Magdalena river and the Caribbean sea in the background
Flag Seal
Map of the Atlántico Department.
Barranquilla Map of the Atlántico Department.
Coordinates: 10°57′50″N 74°47′47″W / 10.96389°N 74.79639°W / 10.96389; -74.79639
Country	Colombia
Region	Caribbean
Department	Atlántico
Foundation	April 7, 1813
Government
- Mayor	Alejandro Char Chaljub (Radical Change)[1]
Area
- City	166 km2 (64.1 sq mi)
Population (2005)[2]
- City	1,148,506 Ranked 4th
- Metro	1,762,143
HDI (2006)	0.821 – high

Barranquilla, an industrial, portuary, and special district, is a city and municipality located in northern Colombia by the Caribbean Sea. The capital of the Atlántico Department, it is the largest industrial city and port in the Colombian Caribbean region. It lies strategically by the delta of the Magdalena River, serving as port for river and maritime transportation. It is also known as the cradle of Colombian aviation and for its carnival.

Corner of 72nd Street and 53rd Avenue, Barranquilla, Colombia. At left, one of the most important buildings of the city: Centro Ejecutivo I, nicknamed as "Miss Universo".

It is known as Colombia's Golden Gate (Spanish: La Puerta de Oro de Colombia) as well as La Arenosa (the Sandy City). While the city bears no established record of its foundation, its settlement or foundation can be traced back to at least 1629. However, its residents traditionally have come to commemorate the city's "birthday" as the date when Barranquilla was legally established as a village, April 7, 1813. By 1834 Barranquilla had a population of 11,212 (official census), which made it slightly smaller than Santa Marta and not quite half the size of Cartagena.^[3] As Barranquilla became an important port, it also served as a haven for immigrants from Europe during World War I and World War II, and for different waves of immigrants from the Middle East and Asia.

Barranquilla was Colombia's first port^{[citation needed]} and is proud of its level of industrialization and modernity, which earned it the name of Colombia's Golden Gate. The first airport in South America was also built in Barranquilla, and the world's second oldest commercial airline doing business today was founded there, SCADTA (now known as Avianca). The Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport, the first airport built in South America (1919), is served by domestic and international flights.

In the 1940s, Barranquilla was the second largest city in Colombia and one of the most modern cities on the Caribbean and South America, but sadly later local administrations, given to widespread corruption, brought about a decline in the standard of living. As government investment increased in other Colombian cities, Barranquilla's national stature was surpassed. Nowadays, Barranquilla is Colombia's fourth largest city after Bogotá (capital), Medellín, and Cali as well as the most populated city on the Atlantic coast of Colombia with 2.6% of the country's population, 1,112,837 people. [1]

Origins and colonial period

The territory of Barranquilla was first noted by Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés, dating from 1533. He described it as part of the route of Pedro de Heredia, founder of Cartagena de Indias, just a few weeks before founding that city, who affirmed that the Magdalena river's mouths served as dock for Indian canoes belonging the Governorate of Santa Marta.

The Kamash Indians (castilianized as Camacho or Camach) are known to have been the first settlers of Barranquilla. In the 16th century, the Spanish Crown created an encomienda for the captain Domingo de Santa Cruz, as reward for his military performance. This Encomienda disappeared in 1559 when it passed to doña Ana Ximénez, widow of Santa Cruz. This lady suffered stealing by the second Encomendero of Galapa, Don Pedro de Barros I. He arbitrarily took all the work force of the Encomienda of Camacho to his own Encomienda.

Many years after, between 1627 and 1637, the Estate San Nicolás de Tolentino was founded by Nicolás de Barros y de la Guerra, great-grandson of don Pedro de Barros I, second Encomendero of Galapa. The Estate was established on the shores of La Tablaza stream. In this Estate, don Nicolás de Barros allowed his free workers to build their own houses so they could work on their own land and support their families. Moreover, after don Nicolás’ death, his descendants allowed another sort of resident: people who, for reasons of health, age or a relationship with the owner, were allowed to live within the Estate. These included natives from Malambo and Galapa. By 1681, the Estate was considered a town. The Estate and its nearby sites were known as Barrancas de San Nicolás.

Geography

Satellite View of Barranquilla.

The city's topographical layout is fairly simple: to the east, it's bordered by the Magdalena river; to the west, it's bordered by a bypass called the Circunvalar. The city grid is divided in the typical Colombian way: calles (streets, going from north to south) and carreras (avenues, going from east to west). Downtown is located near the river, on the eastern edge of town. The two main axes of the city are Olaya Herrera Avenue, which goes from downtown to the western edge of town, becoming the highway to nearby Cartagena de Indias, and Murillo Street, which goes from the southern, working-class neighborhoods to the city's downtown. Upper and middle-class neighborhoods are to the west and north of the city.

Climate

Barranquilla's has a tropical savanna climate (Aw) according to Koppen climate classification; it is hot all-year-round, with high levels of Relative Humidity. Average temperature is around 28.4°C (85°F). Daytime temperature usually remains around 32°C (90°F). Nevertheless, from late November to early April, trade winds more or less cool it to a more comfortable temperature during daylight. During evening and through the night, temperature can change due to the strong winds it receives. Rainy seasons are from April to June and from August to November, when some streets flood producing "arroyos" (streams) that can be very dangerous, given the lack of appropriate rain drainage in some sectors of town.

Economy

Barranquilla

Barranquilla is home to a thriving trading industry, as well as to a number of staples of the Colombian economy, such as Bavaria S.A., Carulla-Vivero, Monómeros, Olímpica y SAO, Expreso Brasilia S.A. and Cementos Argos. The city is the birthplace of Grupo Santo Domingo, one of the major business conglomerates in Colombia.

Education

Barranquilla is home to a number of universities, like Universidad del Norte, Universidad del Atlántico, Universidad Metropolitana, Universidad Autónoma del Caribe, Universidad Simón Bolívar, and the Corporación Universitaria de la

View of the Parque de los Fundadores near the Romantic Museum

Costa. The city has one of highest literacy rates in the country—96.4 percent—as well as one of the highest rates of bilingualism in Colombia [2]. Marymount School, Colegio Hebreo Union, Lyndon B. Johnson School, Altamira International School, Colegio Karl C. Parrish, and British International College are a few of the local bilingual schools.

Media

The city's two main newspapers are El Heraldo[3] and La Libertad. Other dailies include newspapers of nationwide distribution, such as Bogotá's El Tiempo[4]. The local TV channel is Colombia's Caribbean regional network, Telecaribe. Local radio includes the customary assortment of tropical music and news. The two main highbrow alternatives, Radiodifusora Nacional de Colombia and Uninorte FM Estéreo, broadcast on 640 AM and 103.1 FM, respectively.

Transportation

A typical public transportation bus.

Public transportation in Barranquilla mainly consists of buses and taxis. The main bus terminal is located near the southern edge of town, at the end of Murillo Street. A bus rapid transit system called Transmetro, similar to Bogotá's TransMilenio, will begin operating by late 2010.

Recently, an illegal form of transportation denominated mototaxismo developed. A regular motorcycle is used to carry a passenger for a lower fare than a bus or taxi. This unregulated and potentially dangerous practice has led to protests by the legally operating transport companies and drove many of them into bankruptcy.

The city's airport, the Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport, receives domestic and international flights. Domestic flights are mainly operated by Avianca.

The port of Barranquilla is located by the Magdalena River, and accessible to ships coming from the sea thanks to dredge ships, that constantly make way for the ship canals, named Canal de Acceso (Access Canal).

Culture

View of Barranquilla from the Magdalena River.

Literature

Barranquilla was home to Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez during his early years as journalist and bears substantial weight on his literary production. García Márquez's old bohemian hangout, La Cueva, has been restored and is open to the public as an artsy bar. It was here that the writer met with the Grupo de Barranquilla, an informal group of local writers and journalists.

Music

Barranquilla is lovingly known as Curramba, La Bella (Curramba, The Beautiful One). Great musicians hail from Barranquilla, like international recording artist Shakira and Billboard-award winning Rock Band The Monas. Other local celebrities include Esthercita Forero, a popular composer and singer, also known as "The Bride of Barranquilla."

The city celebrates the Festival of Orchestras, groups who compete for the Congo de Oro.

The city has been a mecca for Caribbean traditional music (rhythms like cumbia which date to the Spanish colonization era) as well as a place for creation of new rhythms, especially tropical ones. In the first half of the 20th century, the city was the birthplace of Merecumbé, Porro, Raspacanilla, and so on, and was a critical point in terms of the spreading of Cuban salsa throughout South America.

Other events in the city are "Barranquijazz" (a jazz festival and the "Miche Rock Festival", a small and young, yet ever growing event which supports local and regional rock, metal, punk rock and alternative rock bands. These have been in the underground scene of the city. The Miche Rock Festival has been organized for less than a decade but has received huge support from local audiences. The city also has numerous salsa music spots.

Sports

Though baseball is popular, the locals fervently follow Barranquilla's soccer team, Atlético Junior. The team plays at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez, one of the largest soccer stadiums in the Americas.

San Francisco Giants shortstop Edgar Rentería was born in Barranquilla.

Shooting sports, Basketball, Auto racing, Boxing, Golf and tennis tournaments also take place in the city.

Arts

Amira de la Rosa Theater.

In 2006, the city unveiled a massive six-ton statue of famous local Shakira after she attended the groundbreaking ceremony of a school she is sponsoring in La Playa, a depressed suburb of Barranquilla. [5]. The Teatro Municipal Amira de la Rosa is the city's main cultural scenario. Barranquilla is also home to the Cinemateca del Caribe, the Alliance Française (Barranquilla Chapter), the Centro Cultural Avianca, and the Centro Colombo Americano. Performances by touring bands or artists are usually held at the city's Coliseo Cubierto or within the facilities of the local Country Club.

Sofia Vergara, a Latin TV actress who works mainly in US-based shows and sitcoms, was also born in the city.

Back in the 1940s the city lived a passionate modern art development: Alejandro Obregón, personal friend of Gabriel García Márquez lived in Barranquilla and Cartagena and many of the institutional buildings of that time have unique relation with modern artist frescos and wall paintings, sculptures and color design. A type of Aesthetics now lost but present in many houses of that time include many unique artwork in the entrance access.

The city has also a Modern Art Museum, the MAMB (Museo de Arte Moderno de Barranquilla)as well as numerous art Galleries.

There is an art carnival as well which takes place in April, called Carnaval Internacional de las Artes (International Arts Carnival).

Fashion

Nina Garcia, a fashion director at Marie Claire and judge on the Bravo reality television program Project Runway, was also born in this city. The city is also developing a fashion industry with renowned fashion designers Silvia Tcherassi, Amalín de Hazbún, Judy Hazbún and Paola Dangond.

Festivities

Barranquilla's Carnival (Spanish: Carnaval de Barranquilla) is celebrated for four days before Ash Wednesday. It is broadly recognized as one of the world's largest carnivals; it is third only to the carnival of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and [[Mexican|Carnaval de Veracruz in Mexico.^{[citation needed]} In November 2003, UNESCO proclaimed it as one of 28 different "masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity."^[5]

Sister cities

Sister cities of Barranquilla include:

• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Tampa, Florida
• Nanjing, People's Republic of China
• Kaohsiung City, Republic of China (Taiwan)

References

External links

• (English) Barranquilla travel guide from Wikitravel

Municipalities in the Atlántico Department Baranoa • Barranquilla • Campo de la Cruz • Candelaria • Galapa • Juan de Acosta • Luruaco • Malambo • Manatí • Palmar de Varela • Piojó • Polonuevo • Ponedera • Puerto Colombia • Repelón • Sabanagrande • Sabanalarga • Santa Lucía • Santo Tomas • Soledad • Suan • Tubará • Usiacurí

Coordinates: 10°57′50″N 74°47′47″W / 10.96389°N 74.79639°W / 10.96389; -74.79639

From Wikitravel

Barranquilla is a city on the Caribbean Coast of Colombia.

Understand

Barranquilla is a cosmopolitan and primarily industrial city, often visited by businessmen of all nationalities. However the main attraction for tourism is its carnival "Carnaval de Barranquilla," that takes place four days before Ash Wednesday. In November of 2003, UNESCO proclaimed it as one of 28 different "masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity".

Barranquilla is also called by its residents and Colombians in general "Curramba" (from a language game, in synthesis, Curramba is a reference to "party") and the Golden Gate to Colombia (Puerta de Oro de Colombia), this due to its location on the delta of the Magdalena river, making it the most important commercial sailing port to the Atlantic Ocean for the nation.

Residents are known as "Barranquilleros" and are characterized by their outgoing and friendly attitude and relaxed behavior. This makes the average barranquillero an optimistic and open individual, as well as goal-directed and hard-working.

Get in

Air

Visitors arrive to the city traditionally by plane. The airport "Ernesto Cortissoz" is on the far south side of the city. The fare is usually USD$8-12 to get to the city center by taxi.

International direct flights are available to Miami and Panama City. Domestic non-stop flights arrive from Bogotá, Medellín and Cali.

Airport car rental services can be arranged from abroad with two main companies: Hertz and National Car Rental.

Bus

Buses run by the terminal as well and will get you into the city for $0.55 or less, with the drawback of a significantly less comfortable ride experience.

Barranquilla can also be a connection to other cities of the northern coast of the country, provided the traveler doesn't have a flight connection to anywhere else in Colombia already. Long-distance bus fares (in US dollars) to some cities are :

• Cartagena - $12
• Maicao - $13
• Santa Marta $13
• Medellín $20
• Maracaibo - $26
• Caracas - $44

Get around

Moving around in Barranquilla depends largely on the traveler's budget, language barriers and spirit of adventure.

Renting a car is an option for visitors with a more comfortable budget, the daily fare for an economy vehicle being around 150.000 pesos a day (about 75 USD), and with gasoline prices of about 8.000 pesos (4 usd) per gallon. However, driving in Barranquilla can be obviously tricky if you don't know your way around or the changes in traffic during rush hour. Rent a car services can be dealt with from abroad or upon arrival to the hotel, may that be the case.

Taking a taxi is by far the best option for the newcomer. They will usually take you anywhere for less than 5.000 pesos(2.5 USD). They may more a bit more expensive at night time or during rush hour, but taxis in Barranquilla do not have a meter: The fare is decided by the driver on the basis of distance, travel time and daytime vs nighttime. The most you will ever be charged for an in town trip is 15.000 pesos (7 USD).

For those with more spirit for adventure, buses are another option. In this case, talking to the driver may not be necessary, but knowing someone in town is definitely of great help when choosing the right route. Bus fares are around 60 cents per ride, sometimes a little more if the bus is equipped with air conditioning (not all of them are).

Mototaxis are an illegal way of transportation that has grown in popularity over the past 3 years. These consist of motorcycles charging significantly less money than a regular cab to take you virtually anywhere, but this mean of transportation is riddled with risks for personal safety, as these drivers have the tendency to be reckless.

See

Every year by the end of February or early March (four days before Ash Wednesday), Barranquilla hosts its famous "Carnaval de Barranquilla" (carnival of Barranquilla), a four-day-long celebration in which the true partying spirit of the city is unleashed. Parades, dances, concerts and many cultural manifestations take place all over town. For more information visit [1]

Barranquilla also houses the beautiful and famous Teatro Amira de la Rosa, the old Customs building-Edificio de la Aduana, that serves as library as well as a museum; the Museum of Gold; and many other great places to visit. There are also a large number of art deco buildings built from the late thirties into the fifties. (See the book Barranquilla-Ciudad Art Deco By Gustavo Garcia)

Another place to visit is "Bocas de Ceniza", where the Magdalena River meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Do

Barranquilla is a small city. Daytime activities are mainly of shopping and eating, but nightlife is active all year round, with bars and nightclubs open from Thursdays to Sundays in most cases. Some of the main party spots in town are UVA Club, Seven and Frogg Leggs if you plan to dance.

For a more relaxed environment some options are Luna Negra, Beba Genobeba, Old Times (an 80's retro bar) and some spots known as "estancos": These are basically liquor stores with or without tables, where music is played on weekends. Commonly people gather in these places to drink listening to music from the place itself or from their own car audio systems (in Barranquilla sound restrictions are quite lenient). As well there are magnificent restaurants in the area known as "Washington" such as Naia, Mix where the tourist can experience an elegant, chic night.

Some places are known as "puntos frios" or "mundo de la cerveza" (world of beer), in which you should be able to get beer pretty much any day. There are also small tiendas (convenience stores all over the city).

If you are lucky enough to go during Carnival you will find yourself in a place in which everybody is up to party for entire days with no rest.

Learn

The language and culture!

Buy

There are many shopping centers with national and international brands. The biggest two are Buenavista and Villa Country, both located to the north.

If what you want is artisanal souvenirs, the corner of 72 street and 46 avenue is the place to go. There you will find kiosks selling cheaper artisan work and a store by the name of "Artesanias de Colombia", where more certified, yet more expensive souvenirs can be found. At the down town you will also find these for a lower price but usually of lower quality. You can also find the true and authentic artesanias in nearby towns, many of which are worth visiting.

Eat

Both local and international cuisine are available in town. Local delicacies include arroz con coco and sancocho de guandul (a soup made of pigeon peas or "guandules" and meat), bocachico frito (fried fish from the Magdalena river), sancocho, and fritos (fried foods), including arepas and empanadas. If you wish to try local food, good choices are;

• Mag Mondongo
• Narcobollo
• La mano Costena
• El Tremendo Guandul
• El portal del Marisco (seafood).
• El corral del Marisco (seafood).

Try to go to "Las Flores" in the nearbies "Bocas de Ceniza". There is a seafood restaurant next to Magdalena River. Very good food and environment.

All the above offer traditional food at very affordable prices.

Some other places to go, for a more international menu are:

• El Arabe Gourmet (Lebanese food)
• Pepe Anca (steak)
• La bonga del sinu (steak)
• El Merendero (steak)
• Cafe de la Casa (Colombian gourmet sandwiches, salads, drinks with outdoor lounge area)
• Naia (Fusion cuisine)
• Mix (Japanese/Peruvian)
• Bora Bora (Thai)
• La vera cucina italiana (Italian)
• Nena Lela (Italian)
• Enoteca (Italian/winery)
• La Caprichosa (Pizza) Very good pizzas. You can order by pieces (very huge pieces) for only USD 1.50, and it will be enough to keep your stomach up.

Drink

The local beer is Aguila, and is also the cheapest one. However, Club Colombia is a Colombian beer with great flavor and quality, and just a little more expensive.

International beer is available widely, with Heineken being the preferred brand.

The spirit of preference by locals is rum, in a variety of national and international brands. Another popular drink is Aguardiente (an anise-flavoured liqueur derived from sugar cane), and is worth a try. Aguardiente literally means "burning water", and it honors its name. As well Scotch, which is a little more expensive, hence it is consumed by the elite, the preferred brand is called Old Parr.

Almost any type of liquor is available, whiskey, vodka and tequila some of the most prevalent.

For wine tasting, La Cava and Enoteca (an Italian restaurant) are good places to visit.

• parque washington area, ☎ 3003003000, [2]. ?. best in town ?. (?,?)

• Villa Giron, Carrera 38N #41-31. Clean. Friendly staff. A bit dark and institutional feeling. Restaurant on premises. Doubles (matrimoniales) available starting at $10, or $8 w/o air-conditioning.  edit
• Hotel Olimpico, Carrera 42 #33-20. Clean. Friendly staff. Free WiFi. This area is not particularly safe at night. Doubles with Fan: ~35.000 COP.  edit
• Hotel Colonial Inn, ☎ 3790241, 3790057. Doubles with Fan: ~35.000 COP. Clean, safe, friendly staff. Pretty courtyard. They have a sister hotel 2 blocks away, similar. Calle 42 #43-131.  edit

There are many inexpensive hotels in the area between the above hotels. Walk around and ask to see rooms, they're all quite decent. Generally the ones not listed in the guidebooks are a bit cheaper.

• Hotel El Prado
• Hotel Puerta del Sol
• Hotel Dann Carlton
• Hotel Barranquilla Plaza
• Hotel Golf
• Hotel Royal

Stay in touch

Internet access starts at about $0.60. There are tons of places that serve up access for $1.00 or less, but shops are typically tucked up in centros comerciales (malls) without signs out on the street.

From LoveToKnow 1911

(There is currently no text in this page)