Cultural Research Paper- Bogota, Colombia
In order to defy of the Spanish rule, the people of Bogota formed a council of representatives in the first steps toward independence on July 20, 1810. Only 3 years later, they proclaimed complete independence. After forming the Republic of Greater Columbia in 1819, they elected Simon Bolivar as the first president. Alongside Bolivar, as vice president, Francisco Paulo de Santander provided the Colombians with an opposing party, the “Liberals.” Bolivar and Santander serve as representatives for the two political parties that make up Colombia today, the Conservatives and Liberals. Bolivar’s followers believed in a centralized government with many ties to the Roman Catholic Church. The Vice President, in opposition, served the Liberals who believed in a decentralized government without church ties to civil and educational matters.
No party has dominated the Columbian rule for a significant time period to this day. We see something very similar to two parties alternating leadership here in the United States with the Democrats and Republicans.
The city of Bogota is known to have an older, high-class ambiance spread throughout the city. In fact, Bogota has grown very slowly culturally as a city since the historic value of homes, buildings, and other churches is very important to the people living there. However, Bogota is one of the fastest growing cities in South America in a continuous expansion with growing suburbs. Historically, the people of Bogota called cachacos valued their historic culture and speaking the purest form of Spanish at the time. Their emphasis on mastering the Spanish language shows the pride that the Bogotanos bestow on each visitor. After 1940, the slow growth of Bogota was put to a halt when the Bogota migration movement began. Many of the farmers and rural Colombians saw the economic opportunity in Bogota and decided to move there. During this time period, Bogota became the fastest growing city in Colombia and has now become the center for financial and political endeavors through much of South America as well.
Although Bogota began to grow rapidly, the historic nature did not disappear. Many of the buildings and centers are still preserved as historic leaving the city with much of its colonial architecture. The elder bookshops, churches, and pre-Colombian gold art are a few trademarks left of the colonial ambience in Bogota. However, the colonial architecture and historic nature are not the only things you can see in Bogota. The historic is coupled with a futuristic, modern architecture leaving the city with highrises, trendy museums, and skyscrapers. When reading about Bogota, I am often reminded of downtown Houston. These are all the wealthier ends of Bogota that doesn’t describe this city in its entirety. New coupled with old, rich coupled with poor is also a notable trademark for Bogota. The city has numerous orphans, beggars, and crude dwellings in the worse areas of town.
Bogota has mastered the areas of business, history, and nightlife for any tourist to put their hands on. The economic opportunity many rural Colombians fled to now are made up of textiles, printing, banking and car manufacturing. The historic presence is seen in the architecture of homes and the Roman Catholic churches, the dominant religion in Bogota. The nightlife is also very abundant in Bogota. There are higher end nightclubs in the financial district downtown and many very crazy party places. Some are even open all hours of the night! I can’t imagine what it would be like to party until seven or eight in the morning.
Bogota, Colombia is a very interesting city that I hope to someday visit. I have three friends that I met in Switzerland that live there, and would love to experience the city first hand.

Works Cited
"BBC News - Colombia Timeline." BBC News - Home. BBC. Web. 15 Aug. 2011. .
"Colombia Culture | Colombia History." World Travel Guide. World66. Web. 14 Aug. 2011. .
Connelly, Patrick. "Top Five Places to Visit in Colombia | LatinWorld." LatinWorld | Latin America Information. Web. 15 Aug. 2011. .
"Historia De Bogota - Bogotá History." Bogota DC Colombia. Web. 14 Aug. 2011. .