° Barranquilla ° Bogota ° Buenaventura
° Cartagena ° Santa Marta
BARRANQUILLA
The city was legally established in 1813 with the status of “village.” In 1834, over 11 thousand people lived there. During World Wars I and II, many European immigrants came to the Port of Barranquilla, and waves of people from the Middle East and Asia also came to the city.
The Port of Barranquilla was the country’s first port, and it has the nickname of “Colombia’s Golden Gate.” It boasts the first airport in South America, and the second oldest commercial airline (still in operation) in the world – Avianca.
The Port of Barranquilla was Colombia’s second biggest city in the 1940s. Municipal problems, however, brought a decline in its residents’ standard of living. Over time, it was eclipsed. Today, it is Colombia’s fourth biggest city and the most populous of Colombia’s cities on the Caribbean.
BUENAVENTURA
Originally founded in the mid-16th Century, the first site for the Port of Buenaventura had been destroyed by indigenous peoples before 1600. For most of its history, it was a small village with a hot humid climate and few dependable transportation routes. After the Panama Canal was opened in 1914, it began to grow and prosper as a port. During the 1930s, the modern port was built and an airport was constructed, bringing new prosperity to the Port of Buenaventura. Today, the port is important not only for exports but for imports of raw materials for distribution to nearby areas.
BOGOTA
Bogota in central Colombia, is the country's capital, located at an elevation
of about 2,650 m. / 8,660 ft. on a mountain rimmed plateau high in the
Cordillera Oriental of the Andes Mountains. This gives it constant spring
like weather. It lies only 4°36' north of the equator.
Bogotá was founded on August 6,1538 by the Spanish conquistador Gonzalo
Jiménez de Quesada. Quesada immediately understood he was on good land.
Impressed by the savannah, with its rivers protected by enormous hills,
he immediately decided this would be the site for the city. Not even
the difficulties in building at such altitude and such distance from
the sea could dissuade him. The city was named after Santa Fe in Granada,
Spain, where Quesada was from. Soon after "de Bogota" was added to the
name, after "Bacatá," the name the natives gave to the place. In 1819
it became simply "Bogota." And when it was 453 years old, it went back
to being Santa Fe (or Santafé) de BogotaThe city became the vice-regal
capital of New Granada in 1717. It was captured by Simón Bolívar in
1819 and was the capital of the independent nation of Great Colombia
(which included modern day Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela).
The city grew slowly because Bogotanos (cachacos) wished to preserve
their old culture. They cherished their churches, convents, homes (built
in the ornate Spanish colonial style) and the National University, founded
in 1573. They also prided themselves on speaking the purest Spanish
in the New World.
When the Spaniards came to Bogota, the capital of the country was a
large Indian village. In the mid-1800s, its population being estimated
at over 80,000 and the city was elegant and luxurious. The city was
well built, of adobe and brick, as well as of stone. There are many
houses of two stories, and some few of three. Within, they had every
modern improvement, - gas, water, electric bells, telephones, etc. The
streets were paved, and the sidewalks are flagged, there was a medical
college, well-equipped and well-trained military troops.
General Dabney Herndon Maury, USA Minister to Colombia in 1890s, wrote:
It is remarkable that a country so surpassingly rich should continue in this age so secluded and undeveloped. With a sea coast of vast extent on her eastern and western shores, she has harbors and bays of absolute safety, and the healthfulness of her seaports is at least equal to our own. Yet we have no trade there, and except for the Pacific Mail Line, we have no American steamers plying thither. The English, German, and French do most of the transportation. Mr. Wheeler states that thirty two steamers visit Colombia every month, of which fifteen are British and only three American.
The social life of Bogota is very attractive; the dinners and balls are sumptuous and elegant. The races are always largely attended by the ladies.
The important question now is, Why have we not trade with this most beautiful and fruitful of all the regions of the earth? And what can be done to promote our commercial relations? The Spanish language, with which for many reasons we should be familiar, is rarely taught in our schools. There is not a school that I know of south of the Mason Dixon's line in which Spanish is taught. Most of us have spent eight or ten years of our boyhood in learning Latin and Greek, and to what end? This Colombian trade must be worked up by commercial travellers who can speak Spanish well. American merchants should have sample-rooms in Bogota and other large towns.
Taxes should be adjusted to encourage commercial intercourse between the countries. The packing of goods for the Colombian trade is peculiar. Flour for that trade is sent out in bags coated inside with a paste of their own contents. Yorkshire hams are protected by water tight and air tight cloths, and kept for a long time sweet and good. Dress patterns and dry goods must be of a certain length, no more and no less, and every pack should weigh one hundred and twenty five pounds, or half a cargo. There are many other practical details essential to this trade, as the commercial traveller will learn. A railroad from the Magdalena to the Plain of Bogota is of vast importance, and will pay well. The mail facilities are few and very insufficient. Sixty days are needed to send a letter and receive an answer, and a large part of the business of the Legislation is crowded into one or two days.
At the beginning of the 20th century, several French-style palaces were built nearby. This was the Republican period, by which point the population of the city had reached 100,000. A new cultural flourishing could be seen in the streets, driven by the creation of universities, and a traditional Bogota character began to develop: men dressed in black gathering to drink coffee and speak about politics and other issues. The streetcar appeared at the same time, and gaps between social classes widened as more people immigrated to the city from the countryside.
CARTAGENA
The Puerto Hormiga Culture lived in the Port of Cartagena area during the Pre-Columbian Era as early as 7000 BC. The oldest ceramics discovered in the Americas, dating from 4000 BC, were discovered here.
Artificial mounds from 3200 to 1000 BC show that today's Port of Cartagena was a center for organized societies. Cartagena de Indias was founded in 1533 by Don Pedro de Heredia.
It was soon famous for the large fleets that stopped there every year to load gold for transport to Spain. The Port of Cartagena was a major port for Europeans moving to the New World with their worldly goods. From the beginning of the Conquest until the Colombian War of Independence, the Port of Cartagena was the main port for Spain's New Kingdom of Granada.
By the end of the 16th Century, about 90 Spanish galleons were using the Port of Cartagena. Its fame as a gold port led to plunder, pirates, and thieves and the construction of castles, forts, and walls to protect the city. But the Port of Cartagena was still attacked by pirates - French Roberto Baal and Jean du Casse and English Francis Drake and John Hawkins among them. The Spanish left almost 7 miles of walls around the city, the San Felipe de Barajas Castle, the San Sebastian de Pastelillo Fort, the San Angel battery, buildings to store food and weapons, and underground tunnels.
The Port of Cartagena was not only a port for trade of precious metals but also for slaves. Slaves were worked to cut cane and build roads, plunder tombs of the original populations, build fortresses, and work mines. For over 250 years, the Port of Cartagena belonged to the Spanish Crown. In 1811, the province declared its independence, and fighting with Spain continued for many years. The city was finally taken from Spain in 1821. As shipping changed through the 19th Century, with new steam engines and steel ships appearing on the seas, it became necessary to change the Port of Cartagena.
Week's News, London, United Kingdom
October 10, 1873
SPAIN
NAVAL ENGAGEMENT OFF CARTAGENA
A naval battle was fought off Cartagena on October 11. Four Intransigente ships—the Mendez Nunez, the Numancia, the Tetuan, and another—encountered Admiral Lobo with the Vittoria, the Almansa, the Villa de Madrid, the Carmen, and two paddle-steamers, and after an engagement of two hours were driven back to Cartagena.
The Intransigentes showed great spirit, but handled their ships badly, not acting in consort or supporting each other, and the Numancia had at first to bear the brunt of the combat almost alone. The firing was also at too long ranges. When the Vittoria was endeavouring to cut off the retreat of the Tetuan into Cartagena, simultaneous broadsides were exchanged at very close quarters. The effect was very fine, and drew loud applause from the English sailors.
Other despatches say that both squadrons suffered considerable damage in these final volleys at close quarters. General Contreras commanded the insurgent frigate Tetuan, which was manned by a crew of 900 men. The insurgent vessels Mendez Nunez and Numancia were much damaged. It is rumoured that a French vessel interposed between the Mendez Nunez and the Vittoria, and the Numancia only escaped capture by boarding in consequence of her superior speed. Another account says the Mendez Nunez was probably saved by a French man-of-war, the machinery of which broke down, so that she could not get away from between the Mendez Nunez and Vittoria. The loss of the insurgents is stated from Madrid to have been thirteen killed and forty-seven wounded.
The Intransigentes were apparently not much disheartened by their defeat, and the ships were received with cheers as they went back into the harbour :— They attribute their defeat to the cowardice of Admiral Contreras, whom they will not allow to command again. He took the Numancia very gallantly into action far ahead of the others, but brought her out again immediately on being pursued by the Vittoria, leaving his consorts unsupported. A shell from the Vittoria had killed seven men, among them Moya, the Vice-President of the Junta, and wounded seventeen. Thereupon, Contreras retreated against the wishes, it is asserted, of his own and the other crews. They seemed to have behaved gallantly, and insist upon another engagement, declaring that if the Numancia is properly commanded they will conquer. The Intransigentes have all suffered, but were not disabled. The Tetuan had five killed and twenty-two wounded; the Mendez Nunez one killed and nine wounded. Admiral Lobo is generally considered to have displayed great gallantry, but not to have handled his ships well, or he would have captured the Tetuan. The forts ceased firing from Saturday afternoon until five o'clock on Sunday evening, when they all resumed the cannonade almost simultaneously. They hoisted their flags half-mast in consequence of the interment of Moya, the member of the Junta who was killed in the naval fight. To make up the crews of the insurgent frigates they had to force workmen of the harbour into the service, and many of the latter escaped, and presented themselves at the head-quarters of the Republican forces.
The British Admiral (Yelverton) sent Lieut. Hammet into Cartagena with offers of surgical assistance for the wounded. He also sent Capt. Boyes with the Hart to Admiral Lobo to make the same offer. Both parties expressed great gratitude, but did not avail themselves of these offers. Admiral Lobo declared he had no wounded or killed, which has created considerable surprise in our fleet. The Almansa is, however, the only ship that has much suffered. There is great irritation among the officers and men of Admiral Lobo's ships on account of the French vessel getting in between the Vittoria and the Mendez Nunez. The Admiral says he had great difficulty to prevent his men from firing into the French ship, and adds that he did not cut off the Tetuan, as he did not wish to destroy so valuable a vessel.
A telegram from the special correspondent of the Times dated Cartagena, October 13, says:—"The Intransigentes vessels are now coming out of harbour, and a harder fight is expected than the last, as the command of the Numancia and fleet has been given to the captain of the Tetuan, a very determined man, and the Intransigentes are greatly ashamed of being beaten by wooden ships, and are eager to retrieve their disgrace. Admiral Lobo is full of confidence, declaring that though the Intransigentes have better ships he has better men."
Advices from Cartagena, received in Madrid, state that the former city is provisioned for only three or four days more, but that the inhabitants are unaware of the scarcity of food.
A telegrarn from La Palma states that a general attack upon Cartagena is being prepared by the besieging forces, and that the insurgents are said to be demoralised.
In 1894, the Port of Cartagena dredged the Canal del Dique and added a river wharf, a shipping dock, and a rail line that connected Cartagena Bay with the Magdalena River.
