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The Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina is formed of a group of Colombian islands far removed from the Colombian mainland. They are idyllic tropical islands, many of which are close to Nicaragua. In this episode we talk about what you can do in this vacation destination, as well as tales of pirates and how English is an official language there!

Many people in Latin America work six days a week, which means that people’s days without work are even more precious. In this episode, we discuss the variety of events that happen on domingo – from family outings and cultural events to church and food! And Cristian also wonders whether people are particularly ‘relaxed’ on a Sunday… Paola is not impressed!

Many of us have heard of the Rio carnival, but far fewer the second biggest carnival. This takes place in the sultry city of Barranquilla, on the northern Colombian coast. Today we look at the carnival’s history, some of the fascinating characters who join the parades (such as Rey Momo!), as well as the intriguing fantasy parade. We also discuss the fun that people have for 4 days in the heat – or some 40 days if you include the pre-carnaval!

Cristian shares a fascinating article he recently read about how short-sightedness in children has increased in China due in large part to the amount of time that children study. This leads on to a variety of topics – including how much people read in Colombia and why not many people seem to wear glasses there… Plus so much more!

The Colombian Gabriel Garcia Marquez was possibly the most important Latin American writer of the twentieth century. His magical realist writing produced such classics as One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera. Here, we discuss his fascinating life, books, and how learners of Spanish can benefit from reading his books! Oh and how he knew Fidel Castro...

Many people sell products on the street in Latin America. In this episode we look at this serious issue in a different way… We focus on the people who sell products on public transport. From the charismatic man who spent 30 minutes selling health products on a bus to the popularity of English books, and bus rappers to the very unique way that Coca-Cola is sold, this audio podcast will provide an insight into the innovative ways that people sell!

Coca is a herb that has a long and mystical history in many parts of South America; whereas cocaine does not. There is much confusion around coca as it is a (very very small) part of the cocaine production process. Partly for this reason, coca is illegal in many countries. In this episode, we explain coca’s fascinating history and important cultural elements.

We look at the little-visited Pacific coast of Colombia in this episode. With it being difficult to reach, much of the region is largely unknown to foreigners. So in this episode we tell you how to get there and some of Cristian’s adventures in the region – including the little plane, the deserted beach, the incredible heat, and a search for whales…

In the episode we learn about how important New Year is to many people in Latin America. In fact, it is just as important as Christmas for many. We also find out about some very quirky and unusual new year traditions that Paola has been involved in!

In the second episode of the audio podcast that will greatly help your Spanish, we look at vacaciones! After all, summer is with us in much of Latin America!

The first ever episode of the Learning Spanish Fast podcast series has arrived. It is about Christmas – Navidad! In this episode Paola tells us what happens during Christmas in South America, in particular in Colombia. And Cristian shares his experiences of Christmas in another Latin American country.