Cocaine Train: Travels in Colombia Book

Colombia is one of the most beautiful and hospitable countries in the world. Many visitors recall its glorious mountain scenery and geniality of the people. Yet it's also a dangerous country where you feel something wild could happen at any time. 40 percent of Colombia is under guerrilla control and mass slaughters occur daily. This is the aspect of Colombia Channel 4 News reporter Stephen Smith chooses to focus on in Cocaine Train. Smith sets out to trace the life of his enigmatic grandfather, a railway pioneer in Colombia. Smith's grandfather sired a child late in life with a Colombian--and somewhere in Colombia there is a relative no one in Smith's family has met--leading to an unheralded denouement. Understandably, Smith's knowledge of the country's dangers sometimes sours his perceptions. He has a sharp eye for gruesome details, and a sense of panic comes across in his relation of atrocities. When Smith comes across people leading ordinary lives and experiences people's humility in the face of adversity--as when England trounce Colombia in the football world cup--his astonishment is palpable. Those seeking an in-depth look at Colombia's problems may not find Cocaine Train to their taste. Nevertheless, the family history is interesting, and Cocaine Train does shed light on the darkness engulfing one of the most beautiful countries in South America. --Tabitha VertRead More