Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia

When British foreign correspondent Richard McColl purchased, on a whim, a ruined colonial building in the rural Colombian town of Mompós, he imagined a lifestyle of relaxation, with idle afternoons reading the works of Gabriel García Márquez, writing glib observations and enjoying the hypnotic momentum of a Caribbean tropical narrative, swaying in a hammock and the promise of an ice cold beer never far away. He was mistaken. His first restoration yields a hostel, which later becomes a hotel and then spirals into further projects including the restoration of three more colonial houses, experiencing challenges that make him reconsider his upbringing, education and outlook on how he fits into his adopted homeland. With two hotels in Mompós, he experiences the joy of new friendships and a despair over the predictability of guests. With a journalist's eye for a story, McColl navigates the history of Mompós and how its society is a microcosm of today's Colombia, with its feudal system still very much in place, inherent prejudices, stigma surrounding the politics, the people and the past, all coming to the fore.
 
Buy the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/ezGbsP3

Or in selected bookshops in Bogota, Cartagena, Santa Marta, at Waterstones and Daunts in the UK.

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, Richard McColl speaks with Emily Hart about her extensive reporting - for a piece in Delayed Gratification magazine -  on the phenomenon of Colombian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. 
 
They discuss the complexities of recruitment, the motivations behind these young men joining foreign conflicts, and the harsh realities they face on the battlefield. 
 
The conversation also touches on the economic factors driving these decisions, the impact on families left behind, and the ethical implications of such recruitment practices. 
 
Emily shares poignant stories from her interviews, highlighting the human cost of war and the psychological toll it takes on soldiers. 
 
The episode concludes with reflections on the broader implications of these conflicts and the importance of human stories in journalism.
 
Tune in for this and the Colombia Briefing.

On this week's Colombia Calling podcast, we make in-depth analysis of Colombia's recent presidential election, voter turnout, regional voting patterns, and the implications for the country's future political landscape. I speak to colleague and friend Adriaan Alsema of Colombia Reports. You are warned, I get personal in this one!

 
The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart.

In this latest update from Colombia Calling and Colombia Reports, we look at the most recent developments in the lead into the second round of the presidential elections on 21 June.
Ivan Cepeda revives the parapolitica scandal and accuses rival of being a member of the right wing AUC paramilitaries.

Has the Pacto Histórico shifted from its slumbering state?

We look at the different accusations levied at Abelardo de la Espriella, including fraud, bribery, corruption and connections to drug traffickers.

Also, what does it mean that Aberlardo de la Espriella is a US citizen? Trouble ahead?
And tune in to the Colombia Briefing reported by Emily Hart.