I got my bags packed on a roll heading out there and I'm ready to go looking real good

in my passport photo. Amateur Traveler Good.

Amateur Traveler episode 143.

Today the amateur traveler goes to Columbia.

You may be surprised that we're talking about traveling to a country that so many people have

been avoiding, but keep an open mind and listen to what our guest has to say about travel to

this beautiful South American country.

Welcome to the amateur traveler.

I'm your host, Chris Christensen.

One thing we should point out as a news item

before we get into the interview today is since

we recorded this episode on Columbia one of the things that's been in the news

has been Columbia as there were some people who were hostages who were

taken by FARC that has been fighting against the government of Colombia for a

while there and were released or were rescued by the government.

So before we spend a little time telling you that Columbia is much better and safer,

I will read you this story in its entirety.

The rescue last week of 15 hostages in Colombia held by the revolutionary, read Terrorist Gang

FARC, was as unbelievable as a Robert Ledlam novel.

Columbian commandos disguised as members of the humanitarian mission

gathered the 15 hostages plus two of their guerrilla captors

ostensibly to fly them to another outpost. Once they were safely in the air, the

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