The only risk is wanting to stay COLOMBIA

National Urban Transport Program in Colombia!!!

Symbols and pubs Vs. symbols and discos

The red rose is widely recognised as the national flower of England. The red rose is on the badge of the English Rugby Union Team.

But in Colombia some items related to the national identity are: Colombian coffee has a protected designations of Origin, the largest Emerald in the world: Colombian emeralds have the highest quality; Colombia is the main producer and exporter of roses worldwide but its national flower is the orchid which is one of the most beautiful flowers in the world and selected as National symbol; the Wax palm tree is a palm native to the Andean high altitude valley of Cocora in the department of Quindio, northwest Colombia and it is the National Tree of Colombia. Although they are not Colombian symbols but they identify Colombia around the world we have: Paso fino horse, is the national horse breed; the largest amount of amphibian and heliconias species worldwide and sombrero vueltiao. The national bird of Colombia is the Andean condor, one of the largest birds on Earth.

The word pub is short for public house. There are 60.000 pubs in the UK (53.000 in England and Wales, 5.200 in Scotland and 1.600 in Northern Ireland). One of the oldest pubs, Fighting Cocks in St. Albans, Herts, is located in a building that dates back to the eleventh century.
Pubs are important part of British life. People talk, eat, drink, meet their friends and relax there. Pubs often have two bars, one usually quieter than the other, many have a garden where people can sit in the summer. Children can go in pub gardens with their parents.
Most pubs belong to a brewery (a company which makes beer) but sell many different kinds of beer, some on tap (from a big container under the bar) and some in bottles. The most popular of British beer is bitter, which is dark and served at room temperature (not hot, not cold). British beer is brewed from malt and hops. Most pubs offer a complete range of beers, local and imported, with German, Belgian and French beers being in demand.
Although most people think pubs are places where people drink alcohol, pubs in fact sell soft drinks (non alcoholic) drinks too. British people drink an average of 99.4 litres of beer every year. More than 80% of this beer is drunk in pubs and clubs.
Opening Hours: British pubs are required to have a licence, which is difficult to obtain, and allows the pub to operate for up to 24 hours. Most pubs are open from 11 to 11.
Pubs have traditional names which date back over 600 years. Some typical names are The Chequers, The White Swan, The Crown, The King´s Arms, The Red Lion and The White Horse. People often refer to the pub by its name when giving directions: e.g. Turn left at the Rose and Crown. There is usually a sign outside the pub showing the pub´s name with a picture.

If a church has the name St.Mary´s the nearest pub is traditionally called The Star.
The places where people go out to when they want to take a free time, talk, eat, drink, dance or play some game are the canteen, casinos, coffee bar, nightclubs, pizzerias, restaurants, youth club and discos which are the most common places and they have not the importance that have the pubs in Britain.
Moreover, Colombian people enjoy the carnivals and festival held on various occasions that form a major part of the festivities of Colombia. Cali Fair, held towards the end of December, The Flowers Fair, characterized by the flowers parade, Rock at the park, inviting the participation of rock bands and the traditionally celebrated Carnival of Blacks and Whites are some of the popular Colombian fiestas.(Follow link example http://rio.divertidus.com/flash/visita.swf).

ABOUT THE GAMES

Conkers is the name of favourite children´s game. During the months of September and October, a favourite playground game is conkers. It is a game which has been played every autumn for generations but nowadays fewer children are playing it. We hope to revive this British custom by telling you more about it. The game of conkers is known as “kingers” in some parts of the world.
A conker is the seed of the horse chestnut tree (not the sweet chestnut tree where we get edible chestnuts from),it is a hard brown nut which is found in a prickly casing. The green outer of the seed will turn brown and crack open revealing the conkers inside. They fall from the tree when they are ripe during the autumn months. Each seed pod can house many conkers.
Various games, especially darts, are common features of pubs; many of the old country pubs continue to promote traditional games, such as “Bat and Trap ”which have been played for hundreds of years.
There are many traditional games in Colombia for example hopscotch (golosa),among the more traditional children´s game are Jump Rope, Tag and Chase, Circle Games, Marbles, Tops, Games with sticks and Stones and Games for Toddlers.

FOOD FOOD FOOD!!!!

You may already have several ideas about typical British food, but did you know that the most popular dish in England at the moment is....curry!

British food has traditionally been based on beef, lamb, pork, chicken and fish and generally served with potatoes and one other vegetable. The most common and typical foods eaten in Britain include the sandwich, fish and chips, pies like the Cornish pasty, trifle and roasts dinners. Some of our main dishes have strange names like Bubble & Squeak and Toad-in-the-Hole.
The staple foods on Britain are meat, fish, potatoes, flour, butter and eggs. Many of our dishes are based on these foods.
Fish and chips is the classic English take-away food and is the traditional national food of England. It became popular in the 1860´s when railways began to bring fresh fish straight from east coast to the our cities over night.
The fish (cod, haddock, huss, plaice) is deep fried in flour batter and is eaten with chips. Traditionally, the fish and chips are covered with salt and malt vinegar and, using your fingers, eaten straight out of the newspaper which they were wrapped in. Now-a-days small wooden forks are provided and the fish and chips are wrapped in more hygienic paper.
In the north of England, fish and chips is often served with “mushy peas” (mashed processed peas).
Britain is a tea-drinking nation. Every day we drink 165 million cups of the stuff and each year around 144 thousand tons of tea are imported. Tea in Britain is traditionally brewed in a warmed china teapot, adding one spoonful of tea per person and one for the pot. Most Britons like their tea strong and dark, but with a lot of milk.


Tea breaks are when tea and biscuits are served. The traditional time for tea breaks are at 11:00 (Elevensee) and 4 p.m. in the afternoon.
Colombian cuisine is very diverse and varies depending on the different regions of Colombia. In some areas you will find specialties like roasted ants or guinea pigs while in other areas Colombians wouldn´t even touch those dishes.

Colombia is not a paradise for vegetarians as the Colombian diet includes a lot of meat. In the coastal areas you will find a good variety of fish, lobster and seafood often prepared with a sauce made out of coconut milk. The offer of fresh fruit is overwhelming and many of the varieties you have probably never heard before. Depending on the areas you can have for lunch ajiaco, bandeja paisa with arepa, arroz con coco, and the diverse offer of fresh fruit in Colombia is immense and many of the different types have probably not been tried or seen by most of the people outside the tropics.

Colombian coffee is famous all around the world and is the traditional drink in Colombia. Unfortunately most of the high quality coffee will be exported and some people say that the coffee you find in Colombia is not of such a high quality. When they ask you if you would like a “tinto” don´t always expect a glass or red wine. In Colombia it is the name for a light and sweet coffee as well. A cup of coffee is offered to the guests too your home, at the office, at the cafeterias and restaurants, and somewhere you go and it´s used in breakfast, lunch or dinner.

ENGLAND AND COLOMBIA...... TOO MANY DIFERENCES II

Something strange is both the post box and the telephone box have a picture of a crown on them. The crown on the postbox also has the monarchs initials underneath. We have postboxes with VR (Victoria Regina) and GR (Georgeus Rex) still in use today. Victoria Regina is latin for Queen Victorian and Georgeus Rex is latin for King George.

In most of Colombian cities, the telephone cabins are in somewhere at the streets, they are public and have telephones that work out with coins, but the vandals are their worst enemies to keep them in good conditions. We think there is no point of comparison with the cabins of England.
Regarding the post, there aren´t postboxes in the streets, in some offices buildings and houses may have a mail box at the doors of them, but usually people post their letters or documents in order to be sent at the post office like Servientrega, Adpostal, Envia and so one. I think it´s another great difference between the Colombian people´s behavior and those of Britains.

Symbols and pubs England and Colombia... too many diferences

London´s double-decker red buses are world famous. The city has nearly 1.000 routes and buses of many other types and colours also travel on them. You can see loads of them in London. There are two main kinds of buses in London: the red double-decker and the red single-decker. You must buy a ticket before boarding the buses in London. There are ticket machines at most bus stops.

The main places a bus goes to are shown on the front of the bus. Some double-deckers have automatic doors and you pay the driver when you go in. On single-deckers you sometimes buy your ticket from a machine in the bus. Most London buses have a conductor who will come round and collect fares.
There are many sightseeing, open top, buses in London and other cities.

The bus adult single cash fire is L2 for any journey. The One Day Bus Pass is L3.50 and the 7-day Bus Pass is L14.00 (Prices last updated December 2008).The cheapest option is to buy the Oyster card Pre Pay (see form). The fare is L1.00. Oyster uses also never pay more than L3 regardless of how many trips they make each day. (Prices last updated December 2008).

The buses are boarded from the front. Bus routes are identified by numbers and sometimes letters, for example the 73 runs between Seven Sisters and Victoria.

Buses display their route number in large digits at the front, side and rear of the bus.

One way of seeing London´s major sights is on an open-top double-decker bus. Tickets are valid for 24 hours and allow unlimited “hop on/hop off” travel.

Urban transport in Colombia is dominated by people making short trips multiple times per day and can consist of single-decker buses, taxis and vans of different colours, sometimes each transportation company makes difference on their colour.

In addition to the buses; at the great cities like Bogotá, Cali, and Medellín, the sectional governments have improved the urban transport because of the number of people, so there is The Transmilenio in Bogotá, El Mio in Cali and The Metro in Medellin that are the most modern ways of transport in our country.

There aren´t ticket machines, you must pay to the driver on buses, at Trasmilenio, for example you must pay your fare at the enter on the platform.
People often stand at bus stops in groups, and only queue to get on the bus and the fares changed according to the distances and cities, but we think they fluctuate between $1.000 and $1.500 pesos all over the country.
In London the taxis, are black but in the rest of the country they are different colours. London´s distinctive taxis, black cabs, are as much a feature of city life as its red double-decker buses.
Like buses, black cabs are also being modernised and many are now painted other colours with advertising.
You can telephone for a black cab, hail one in the street or find one in a rank, especially near large railway stations or some major hotels. They carry a yellow “For Hire” sign above the windscreen which is lit up when they are free. To stop one hold out your arm in a purposeful, and determined way. When the taxi stops tell the driver your destination.
In Colombia as in many other countries of the world, taxis are yellow and you usually can catch one in the streets, or find one in a rank in the airports, department stores, and so one. Middle class, over all, use to commuting to work or to school, by byke, bus or motorcycle; three-wheeled motor van and horse-drawn carriage are still use to carry different stuffs. (Follow the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HzUjAZvviU)

How many different languages are spoken in London everyday? Why?

Probably almost all the languages of the world are spoken in London. The major languages would include English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Turkish, Chinese, Nigerian, Punjabi, Persian, Pushto, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian and more. Furthermore, the English language is the main language spoken throughout England, although there are many different regional accents. It can be difficult to know how to spell or to pronounce some English words, because the language has been influenced by Latin and Greek (languages used at the time of the Romans, and used in religion and education until recent times), German (the language of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes), French (the language of the Normans), Gaelic/Scots (Celtic languages) and Danish (the language of the Vikings). There are now many people throughout the United Kingdom who speak a foreign language either as their first or second language, mainly due to immigration from Europe. Or the Commonwealth (countries which used to be part of the British Empire).

In Colombia, the castilian (español) is the official language of the country and the languages and dialects of ethnic groups are also official in their territories. In the country speak about 11 dialects of the same elements in common which give rise to some peculiarities of the Spanish spoken in Colombia.

In the country speak about 11 dialects of the same elements in common which give rise to some peculiarities of the Spanish spoken in Colombia.
Among the major dialects include mountain country, and Narino cundiboyacense-The dialects are warm and the costeño.El Santander Opita (Tolima), along with dialects magdalenenses, are very similar to each other, in the plains the east, the valluno in the Cauca River valley dialect peaceful and complete the major linguistic groups of Colombian Spanish.
By the discovery, conquest and colonization of America and some islands 0ceanía by the armies of Castile, the Spanish spread to such distant lands, and it is currently the Castilian is spoken in almost all Latin American countries and Islands Philippines. With the discovery, conquest and colonization of America and some islands 0ceanía by the armies of Castile, the Spanish spread to such distant lands, and it is currently the Castilian is spoken in almost all Latin American countries and Islands Philippines. English, French, German, Italian and other languages are spoken in Colombia.

What were the early invaders of Britain?

Early Invaders - Julius Caesar's Raid on Britain:
Julius Caesar invaded Britain twice, in 55 BC and 54 BC. Presumably this brilliantly successful Roman commander envisaged no difficulties in overcoming the wild Celtic Britons who inhabited the island. The natives, however, had some nasty surprises for Caesar.
Before Julius Caesar and his army of 10,000 soldiers landed in 55 BC, the Romans' concept of Britain was comparatively vague. The only solid facts that Caesar knew were that the Britons had aided their fellow Celts in Gaul in resisting the Romans and that they had sheltered refugees who managed to get away. Otherwise the Romans regarded Britain as a wild, mysterious place ruled by terrifying priest-magicians, the Druids. To them, ISOLA SACRA, the sacred isle, as they called it, had an aura of superstitious dread. The Romans also mistakenly believed that Britain was a rich source of pearls and gold. Moreover they were invaded by Romans, Saxons, Vikings and Normans armies and later Africans were brought to Britain by force in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries as slaves or servants.



The Conquest of Colombia led by the Spanish empire in America. The Spanish first sailed to the shores of what is now Colombia was an expedition sent by Alonso de Ojeda on the coast of the peninsula of La Guajira in the Cabo de la Vela, among them Juan de la Cosa, but never landed . In 1502 Juan de la Cosa organized their own expedition and returned to La Guajira, landing in 1502.


The most notable of the Spanish colonization was miscegenation, due almost exclusively to the relationship that had Spanish men with indigenous women. With the arrival of Spanish colonists, European diseases (smallpox, influenza, measles and typhus) to which native populations had no resistance, and working systems such as farms and way of mining, where natives remained in a semi-slavery regime decimated the American population.
Today, the population of Latin American countries share indigenous ancestors, Europeans and Africans to varying degrees

Why is Britain a multicultural country?

In fact there are big cities and towns, which mean larger populations and greater cultural diversity. Besides there are people from all over the world living in England. Manchester, for example, has large Chinese, Afro Caribbean and Indian/South Asian communities within it – plus the vibrant gay village in the city centre. Many cities in England have good mixes of cultures and lifestyles. Yes, definitely. The music, films, TV, radio, literature. The strong religious and cultural communities in cities. The number of 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants that no longer consider themselves immigrants. In conclusion, Britain is a multicultural country by the reasons previous.

Ethnic diversity in Colombia is the result of a mixture of Amerindians, Spanish colonists and African descent. Among immigrants, the largest groups are from the Arabic world, Europe (Spain, Italy and Germany) and China, as well as Jews and Gypsies. In the late nineteenth century, Barranquilla received large numbers of European immigrants (Germans, French, Italians), Arabs in the Middle East (Lebanon and Syria), U.S., Japanese, Cubans and Chinese, among others, who were dispersed throughout the country . In Maicao, Guajira, is the largest Arab and Muslim from Colombia, the descendants of Arab immigrants also have a strong presence in the department of Cordova, in Barranquilla, in Valledupar, in Bogota and in the Valle del Cauca.

The largest ethnic group in Colombia is the mestizo, which is 58% of the total population. [82] The second group is the white with 20%, [82] followed by the Afro-Colombian with 10.6 % En the Colombian Caribbean region are ethnic Kogi, Sanha, Wayu, Kankuama, chimilas or e ikas Arhuaco. In the Pacific Colombian groups are the Kuna, Embera, waunama and kwaiker. In the Amazon region are Tikun, Huitotos, coconucos, andokes, Muinane, Saliba, yakunas, Cube, Curripacos and toucans. In the Andean region are Yukos, Bari, u'was, Guambianos, Paeces, Sibundoy and Muiscas. In turn, the region of the Orinoco are the TuneBase, Tinigua, Guayabero, Achaguas, piapocos, Saliba, Guahíbo, Piar, betoyes, and Puinabe Yaruro..

What is the capital of Wales?

The capital of Wales is “Cardiff (Welsh: Caerdydd)”
Is the youngest capital in Europe. Thanks to an extensive restructuring, Cardiff has a sporting and entertainment of the highest quality. Add to this excellent shopping, diverse restaurants and the arts, history and culture
They were conquered by the Celts, the Romans, the Saxons and the Vikings
There are ancient castles where famous battles were fought, fortresses built to keep invaders at bay.

Bogotá, D.C., is the capital of Colombia-
The name originated in Bogota the indigenous word Bacata, name the capital of the confederation of ZipA Muisca in ancient civilization, which means "outside the fence plowing" or "territory near the border.
Cosmopolitan city, close, affectionate and tourism. A minute about its tourist attractions, historical and cultural, that make Bogota a city full of charm.
its population is about 7 million inhabitants, and it is home to the main administration of the country. It is also an important cultural center in Colombia. Theaters, libraries, cinemas, museums .. In Bogotá there are two peaks for their height, Monserrate and Guadalupe, both with just over 3.000 meters above the sea and Bogota is an industrial city. Its population is about 7 million inhabitants, and it is home to the main admin istration of the country. It is also an important cultural center in Colombia. Theaters, libraries, cinemas, museums .. In Bogotá there are two peaks for their height, Monserrate and Guadalupe, both with just over 3.000 meters above the sea and Bogota is an industrial city.

Sea between Ireland and Britain is “Irish sea”

The Irish Sea lies between Britain and Ireland and surrounds the Isle of Man. It covers just over 100,000 km2. The North Channel and St. George's Channel connect it with the Atlantic Ocean. A relatively shallow sea, it is less than 90m deep in most places with shallow sandbanks off the Irish and north-west English coasts. The sea floor is mostly of mixed sediments, with rocky areas off Anglesey and muddy areas to the west of the Isle of Man.

There are a few oil and gas fields in the south-eastern Irish Sea and major shipping lanes running into Liverpool off the coast of north Wales.

Colombia has sovereignty in the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Ocean- The salinity of the Atlantic Ocean is about 36 grams of salt per kg of water and the species caught are sardines, herring and cod. He is also the largest ocean on Earth from the point of view. With regard to the Colombian coastal fish stocks, one can say that it is very large, although it is not yet used or exploited conveniently.

Where does the name of “England” come from?

The name England comes from the words "Angle land". The Angles were people who came from northern Germany in the 5th and 6th centuries, after the Romans had left. The French name for England is Angleterre, whic h also means "Angle land". There were also invasions of southern England by Saxons and Jutes (people from another part of northern Germany). English people are sometimes called Anglo-Saxons. The Celts who used to live in this area were forced to move back into Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall and into Western France (the area known as Brittany).

Colombia, Its official name is: Republic of Colombia. The name "Colombia" comes from the name of Christopher Columbus (Cristoforo Colombo in Italian). Colombo, in turn, comes from the Latin columbus, meaning pigeon, male pigeon columba in Latin), an animal that symbolizes peace.

The origin of the name of Colombia is also mentioned in one of the stanzas of the national anthem, which reads like this: "... it is washed in the blood of heroes, land of Columbus ...»

Who gave Britain its name?

Britain was the name made popular by the Romans when they came to the British islands. Besides The name Britain goes back to Roman times when they called England and Wales "Britannia" (or "Britannia Major", to distinguished from "Britannia Minor", Brittany in France). The Roman province of Britannia only covered the areas of modern England and Wales. The area of modern Scotland was never finally conquered.

Colombia was conceived by the Venezuelan Francisco de Miranda to appoint the union of American republics after independence, this way of paying tribute to the discoverer. Francisco de Miranda Venezuelan general, regarded as a precursor of the emancipation of American Spanish Empire, was the creator of the idea of Colombia as a nation.

On February 15, 1819, during the Congress of Angostura, which was proclaimed the state adopted the name Republic of Colombia

What is the official name of the U.K?

The official name is United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Geography.
The United Kingdom (UK) was formed in on January 1, 1801 and constitutes the greater part of the British Isles

Colombia, officially Republic of Colombia is a country located in north-western South America.

U.K consists of..................

The UK consists of the regions known as England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This is Scotland's Flag.
Scotland is represented by the flag of St. Andrew. It is called the "St Andrews Flag".


This is Scotland's Flag. Scotland "
This is England's Flag.
England is represented by the flag of St. George.

This flag is the Patron Saint of Ireland.
On the Union Flag, Northern Ireland is represented by the flag of St. Patrick.

Republic of Colombia is a country located in north-western South America, with its capital city Bogota. Its area is 2,070,408 km2, of which 1,141,748 km2 corresponding to its continental territory and the remaining 928,660 km2 of its length at sea. Is bounded on the east by Venezuela and Brazil, the south by Peru and Ecuador and northwest by Panama.

1.Great Britain is made up of…:

England - The capital is London.
Scotland - The capital is Edinburgh.
Wales - The capital is Cardiff.

Colombia is composed of 32 departments and one capital district (Bogota). According to the Constitution of 1991. Colombia is recognized worldwide for the production of soft brown, flowers, emeralds, coal and oil, and its cultural divers ity as one of the richest countries in biodiversity in the world.

What should you do if you receive an invitation ?

If I am invited to someone's house for dinner at half past seven, they will expect I to be there on the dot.
An invitation might state "7.30 for 8", in which case I should arrive no later than 7.50. However, if an invitation says "sharp", I must arrive in plenty of time.

*At the exact time specified – for dinner, lunch, or appointments with professors, doctors, and other professionals.
* Any time during the hours specified for teas, receptions, and cocktail parties.
* A few minutes early: for public meetings, plays, concerts, movies, sporting events, classes, church services, and weddings
*If you receive a written invitation to an event that says “RSVP”, you should respond to let the person who sent the invitation know whether or not you plan to attend
*Never accept an invitation unless you really plan to go. You may refuse by saying, “Thank you for inviting me, but I will not be able to come.”
*Although it is not necessarily expected that you give a gift to your host, it is considered polite to do so, especially if you have been invited for a meal. Flowers, chocolate, or a small gift are all appropriate.
*A thank-you note or telephone call after the visit is also considered polite and is an appropriate means to express your appreciation for the invitation.

In Colombia the customs vary from one ethnic group to another and from one region to another. Usually, friends and relatives are visited unannounced, especially in rural areas, where there are not readily available for a phone call first and set the appointment. When you invite someone to dinner, usually the invited arrive around 30 minutes after the scheduled time. You may bring a small gift, but is not expected to do so. When the guests leave, it is natural that the host accompanying them to the door of the house and even down the street

o Give personal gifts, like clothing and perfume, only when you know people well.
o Bring your hostess fruit, flowers or chocolates.
o Send flowers ahead of time, if possible. Roses are a favorite.
o Give your colleagues fine scotch and wines, engraved pens, calculators and gifts from your home region.

Do British people arrive on time?

Yes. To the British people the punctuality have a considerable value.
In Britain, people make great effort to arrive on time. It is often considered impolite to arrive even a few minutes late. If you are unable to keep an appointment, it is expected that you call the person you are meeting.

Colombians will typically arrive up to thirty minutes late for social engagements. A 10:00 pm party will often begin a half-hour to one hour late.

Are manners important in England?

Yes, the british people is reknown for their good manners. The good manners do not come naturally, they have to be learnt. If children were not told and shown how to behave politely they will grow up rough and rude like savages. Manners are something used every day to make a good impression on others and to feel good about one self. Being polite and courteous means considering how others are feeling- We are also setting standards for other’s behaviour and encouraging them to treat us with similar respect. “Treat others the way you want them to treat you” Good manners are very important as they teach us the way to behave in society.

In Colombia the Politeness, proper behavior, good manners and courtesy are valued, some advice:
o Never put your feet on furniture in a hotel, office or home
o Yawning is impolite and viewed as a sign of hunger or sleepiness
o Always cover your mouth when yawning.
o It is considered demeaning to beckon someone with your index finger
o Instead, beckon with your palm down, waving your fingers or your whole hand.
o Smiling is very important

What do you answer if somebody says “how do you do”?

I would answer: fine thank you, but this is a mistake because, how do you do? is a greeting not a question and the correct response is to repeat ‘How do you do?' You say this when shaking hands with someone.

Do English people talk loudly in public?

They don’t like to speak loudly in public. Is considered bad education

In Colombia, talk loudly in public or too low, as in secret, no would it be correct.