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March 15, 2005
A magazine that knows how to keep its reporters happy
Marta turned 39 yesterday, so we went out to celebrate with a few of her friends from Revista Semana, Colombia's lead news magazine. Marta is a festy reporter and an expert in Colombia's conflict, which she has been covering for nearly a decade. Semana sponsors a Monday night happy hour at a cafe that sits a half-block from its headquarters at Zona Rosa, where Bogota's elite lives. Anyone who works at the magazine can drink two of anything they want on Semana's tab - whisky, rum, beer, whatever. Hey, do you guys have an opening?
Semana's editor-in-chief, Alejandro Santos, is a balding young man who hails from the most powerful media family in Colombia, the Santos family. They own El Tiempo, Bogota's largest daily newspaper, and have a direct line with Casa de Narino, Colombia's White House. Yes, my friends, Santos is a powerful last name in this country, though my Brazilian accent soon tells that this Santos is not from here, which means I get no special treatment.
After our free drinks, we left the cafe and headed to Marta's apartment to end the night drinking a bottle of Johnny Walker Red Label to the sound of Argentinian tango. She lives five blocks from where I'm staying, but I called a cab to take me home. Bogota may be a safer city these days, but no respectable citizen would dare walking its streets alone late at night.
Posted by Fernanda Santos at March 15, 2005 05:32 PM
Comments
My dear Nanda,
Let's talk a little in English. I would like to comment about your daily activities yesterday, the 15th march. I apologise to dare this to a famous jornalist like you. You are doing quite well, I am proud of having so inteligent daughter. Actually, I miss you a lot but at the same time I feel good to know that you are working a lot and at the same time enjoying a lot.
Martha's birthday was great, wasn'n it?
I'm completely sure that besides working you are learning many interesting things about this enjoyable country and people. What I wish you is good luck and God bless you ever.
Love Vera
Posted by: Vera Saraiva at March 16, 2005 03:20 PM