Colombia

Photo Essay: Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, in Bogotá

Written By: jeff

Posted On: August 30th, 2010

Every year in August, for the past 30 years, Colombia sets aside a day of solidarity.  It is a day of remembrance for all those affected by the civil strife that still afflicts parts of the country.  There are big fund raisers to collect money to send to the victims.  As part of this day, Bogota puts on a big parade which is peppered with folkloric dancing, bands and floats of companies sponsoring the parade or full of some of the biggest Colombian TV and film stars. Even Juan Valdez, who turned 50 today (the brand, not the man), made an appearance. While not a celebration per se, the parade is a lively event with a vibe that is distinctly Colombian: colorful, flamboyant, loud and definitely fun.  Here are a few of my pics from the parade on Sunday.

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

Big and colorful parade floats featuring a Vallenato band, music from around Cartagena. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

Flame on! Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

Yes, those are people walking underneath the guys on stilts. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

Are we seeing a future Miss Colombia here? Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

You gotta love the costumes. It's not everyday that a decadent gown can get upstaged by a bull-themed ballerina. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

Traditional folkloric dancing from around Colombia was on display. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

Check out these big, bright and beautiful headdresses. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

More folkloric dancing . Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

Big floats with over-the-top recognizable characters. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

These two guys had a great view to the parade. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

More pageantry on display. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

I don't know who this singer is. But the crowd went wild when he showed up. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

Some of the top TV stars on Caracol TV. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

Another star of the Caracol TV telenovela. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

Some of the top TV stars of RCN including Javier Jappin (right) of the telenovela Chepe Fortuna. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

Sex sells! Gratuitous eye candy hawking products. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

In case you didn't get the point. Sex sells! Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

And they were dancin´in the streets. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bogota Colombia, Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, Colombia travel, festivals in Colombia, Colombia in pictures Bogota parades

View of the parade from my apartment balcony. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

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4 Responses to “Photo Essay: Day of Solidarity Parade, Caminata de la Solidaridad, in Bogotá”

  1. [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jeff Jung, Jeff Jung. Jeff Jung said: Start your week with my photo essay of yesterday's parade in Bogota. Click for the gratuitous eye candy, stay for… http://fb.me/I3Zk6fj6 [...]

  2. ayngelina says:

    So jealous. I was traveling to Cali yesterday and totally missed it!

  3. Olga says:

    Oh man! Makes me sad I am in the States and missing out on some good music. I did listen to Carlos Vives yesterday for hours while I cooked and cleaned. One of those guys looks like my cousin :)

  4. [...] for two free airline tickets, making my upcoming flights to Colombia (oh, you heard me, here I come Bogota and Cartagena! Finally, on the road again) F-R-E-E! The real beauty is that there is no catch and [...]

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