Shooting out of Sequence: Colombia

By No Reservations Crew on July 14, 2008 2:19 PM | Permalink | 42 Comments

By Jared Andrukanis, Segment Producer

I know it is going to be a unique shooting day for No Reservations the minute I jump out of the drab green helicopter the Colombian Government provided us with for this scene. Since I am first out, I bolt like my a** is on fire towards the shoulder-high plants at the edge of the clearing we chose as a landing zone. My feet sink into the soft soil as I run, making the few yards I need to travel to reach the safety of the crops seem to take forever.I look back and see our military handlers file out next ... there are three of them, and all are dressed like Navy SEALs, ready with their MP5 machine guns to provide us a blanket of what is known in the military world as "suppressive fire" to protect us in case an emergency extraction is warranted while we are filming the upcoming scene.

Todd and Zach from our crew emerge from the heli next, and as they near my position, they both perform a perfect tuck and roll into the safety of the brush. Watching this, I am immediately amazed by how nimble our camera guys are while carrying around 30 pounds of lenses and gaff tape.

Tony and Tom hop out last. Tom boldly takes what is known as the "human shield" stance to protect our host in case things get hairy on the ground. They make it to our position with no incident, and we are all safe and under cover in the field.

I do a quick head count, and while doing so, notice Todd frantically plucking leaves off a nearby plant and jamming them by the handful into his camera bag. He sees me staring and shrugs, "When in Rome...ya know?" I let Todd get back to his gathering, and start thinking about our next scene.

What I had considered was the logistical difficulty of filming a hot dog scene in the Colombian rain forest. It is just a b***h to get in here in one piece...and it is hot -- hotter than one could imagine. My backpack is full of bottled water for the crew, and I offer one up to Zach - he shakes his head, too busy looking for a spot in all this green to white balance his camera.

What I had not considered was that Zach's intricately modified camera rig looks dubiously like a shoulder-mounted Stinger missile launcher ... this may create problems for us, especially if someone sees us from a distance.

As our helicopter lifts off and heads to the rally point I begin to wonder how the hell we are going to pull this thing off...and if the hot dog will end up being the end of Act 4 or possibly the beginning of Act 5 in the final cut of the show. Hot dog scenes are delicate in that way -- it all depends on the quality of the toppings, and if the bread is fresh baked or not, also if the actual dog is pork or beef.

BOOM

Our transport helicopter explodes mid-air with a shockwave so powerful it blows my annotated copy of the filming schedule for the day out of my hand. The explosion is followed by the arrhythmic popping sound of machine guns on full auto - I can hear the bullets cutting through the vegetation around me.

My first thought is - I hope the guys are filming this.

Our handlers scream for us to "hit the deck", and as I dive to the ground, my ears are still ringing from the blast. Landing face first, I spit out a mouthful of dirt as my head spins, and there is a redundant sound pulsing through my head akin to a phone ringing at full volume inside my skull...is this what shell shock feels like?

I gather myself and try to make a another head count - to my right I see Tony calmly drinking a beer and eating a slice of pizza while chatting up one of the soldiers working with us (where the hell did he get that piece of pie?)

To my left is a collection of spent mortar shells and ammo cases as well as an old style rotary phone, half buried in the moist Colombian soil.

The phone is ringing in cadence with my head.

So I answer it.

"Hello?"

"Buenos Dias, this is your 7AM wake up call."

I hang up the phone, and tuck and roll out of my plush bed at a beautiful and safe hotel room in the walled city of Cartagena -- it is time to go to work.

As my dream fades, I laugh out loud at it. Turns out Colombia is a completely different kind of dream...it is one of the most amazing countries I have ever visited. The Colombian people are awesome - unbelievably kind and accommodating, and the food is out of this world. Cartagena de las Indias is spectacular in its old world glory, and Medellin is as progressive a city as any I have been to in the USA (and much, much, more into their food).

You need to see it to believe it. But right now, I really want some coffee - I need to think about our trip to a remote fishing village off the coast of Cartagena that shoves off in about an hour.

This is going to be a great day. - JA

Tags: anthony , bourdain , todd , zach , colombia , camera , crew

42 Comments

1

myriam acevedo - July 14 2008 @ 5:49 pm thank you for bringing the show to Colombia, as a colombian my self (Medellin), it is refreshing to know that you took the show on the road to Colombia dispite of many people maybe telling you it may not be a good idea for ratings, but i know your show will wake up some people and intregue others into the beauty and wonders of a misunderstud country, GRACIAS
2

Andres - July 14 2008 @ 6:14 pm Thanks for showing the world the real Colombia; so many people believe that we are the Colombia shown in the movie Mr. and Ms. Smith, with chickens in our airports and bandids in every corner. As you might have seen we are a nice country with millions of good people; unfortunatley there are bandids in the jungles and they get all the international propaganda. Not sure if you visited Bogota where I am from; also, a nice city full of restaurants and nice people... Thanks for your visit....
3

Ashley Summers - July 14 2008 @ 8:26 pm Thank you so much for featuring Colombia in your line-up. I am three days away from boarding my flight from Oregon to BogotÃ¡. I've been adamant with all I meet- "Yes, I'm going to Colombia. Yes, Colombia, Colombia." I'm thrilled that Mr. Bourdain and the people at The Travel Channel are branching out to less-popularized places. I will be spending my 6 weeks learning the language, catching up with friends I haven't seen in a year, and inevitably- eating some amazing cuisine. Thanks agian, and I look forward to the episode!
4

jim robinson - July 14 2008 @ 11:45 pm In a sequence of tonights show it pictures the star riding up the hill in the back seat without his seat belt on as well as other passengers . I love the show and the risks Anthony makes in jumping off cliffs and eating at road side stands etc but this is one risk he can and should avoid .
5

Jose Iregui - July 15 2008 @ 12:18 am Awesome show. I was born and raised in Colombia - yes I know.. every day I lived in the abroad, I had to justify the stigma of being Colombian; I am glad you had the change to see the rea; face of the country, its people and the culture. Colombia is great despite its many problems. Thanks, thanks, thanks. you know must feature Bogota and Cali.
6

Kevin O'Dowd - July 15 2008 @ 12:30 am I am very happy to see Tony and the Crew went to Colombia. I am an American and have gone to Colombia a few times. I am also a freelance camera man and have worked in Colombia. The Colombian people are one of the nicest people in the world. I really enjoyed Tony's and the Producers approach of showing the, "new," Colombia. It is not perfect but they are trying. Colombia is a magical place and could use all the positive publicity. Keep it up Tony and the Crew!! Great job.
7

Gloria Villa - July 15 2008 @ 12:48 am I don't know if you ever read an article about MedellÃn that the National Geographic published about tow year ago or so; if you didn't, I can tell you it was an insult for the people not only of MedellÃn, but of Colombia. I'm very glad to see that finally someone takes the risk of visiting and seeing Colombia with different eyes, without that amount of propaganda that media is always selling about thins country and with an objective point of you. Thank you very much for coming to our country an realize that we are great, kind and sweet people and not that stereotype that ignorance and media want everyone to believe
8

Catalina Garcia - July 15 2008 @ 12:50 am Tony Tony Tony..... and the Travel Channel and the Crew. THANK YOU FROM THIS VERY THANKFUL PAISA !!!! I can't say enough about what you have done with this show. Over the years it's been a tough sell for me to get my friends from abroad to come and visit Medellin. Some have, after constant reassurance, and like yourselves have found the "very special place" that is Colombia. I have been thru the good and the bad there but am so immensely proud of my culture and what my city of birth has done to rise out of what seems now just bad dream. Thank you Thank you for being open to experience and appreciate Colombia it's people and oh yeah..... THE FOOD !!!!!!
9

Annonymous - July 15 2008 @ 12:56 am You guys showed some guts by making this show tonight being able to go to a place where a lot would not even consider going, but you proved them all wrong and I want a thank you for that. It fills me with a great joy to know that you took the time to show the world the real face of a country that has been labeled through out the years, there have been some difficulties, but there is also more good people than bad, and that you showed to us tonight, as a Colombian I tell you from the bottom of my heart THANKS! Please go again to show the world what they've been missing!... By far one of the best of your shows ever (I'am not saying that'cause I'm from medellin... lol )
10

Esteban Beltran - July 15 2008 @ 1:02 am thnx for bringigng the show to COLOMBIA....i enjoyed watching it....im from MEDELLIN, El Poblado to be more exact...i enjoyed it alot....i hoped you liked it too....have a nice day
11

Jennifer - July 15 2008 @ 1:14 am THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GOING TO COLOMBIA!!!! I enjoyed watching it, I'm from Pereira and I notice you did a quick stop. It brought me back to my childhood days, once again thank you for showing people the real COLOMBIA. Hope this isn't your last visit there.
12

daniela palacio - July 15 2008 @ 1:16 am thank you so much for having the guts to show the world that Colombia is much more than just Pablo Escobar. i have lived in the U.S. for 8 years now and i have witnessed now people portray my country as a place of drugs and violence.Colombia is such a wonderful place but it is very hard for people to get over the stereotypes that the media has created. By making this episode you have showed people that Colombia is worth visiting. i wished you would of gone to more places. i would really recommend Capurgana my family has a really nice hotel there called Tacarcuna Lodge (This place is beautiful beyond compare and the food is to die for)
13

JV - July 15 2008 @ 1:22 am Agreed that this was a great episode. All of us are proud of our country, this helps show why. There is so much more of it to show. No country can be fully depicted in 45 min, but there are many more colors, places,sounds, smells and food to experience. Thanks
14

Gustavo - July 15 2008 @ 10:33 am Thank You so much man! People must know that we are 41 million people and that only a very very small part of it are the "bad guys". Yes, we have problems like any other country but thanks to you a lot of people can see the real face of my country. Media can be very harmful and just like it can glorified a country or person, the same way can destroy a reputation of a whole nation. Man you went to places that even Colombians ignore. Again Thanks a million times.
15

Freddy Rodriguez - July 15 2008 @ 1:19 pm This was a great episode. I really got to know parts of the country I would have never gone too. I'm from Bogota but living in the U.S.A. I wish you could have covered more of the small towns like Villa de Leyva, Girardot. Or maye take a trip to the (llanos orientales) plains region where the food is also exquisite. Well I hope you guys will go back someday to cover other parts of Colombia. All I can say is Colombia is a beautiful country with wonderfull people and you have covered this well in your show.
16

Juan Carlos Forero - July 15 2008 @ 1:54 pm I was scared for a minute reading your blog... but I also got to the alarm clock line and woke-up. We all have woken-up in Colombia. With the exposure of our good things to the eyes of the world Colombia and its people will grow for the better. Thanks for visiting... and: Come back. There are may other regions of the country full of delicious food to explore.
17

Diana - July 15 2008 @ 2:15 pm I'm glad you liked Colombia. I loved the show! Thanks for showing the world the good thinks about my country, we are working very hard to rebuild our reputation.
18

Nicolas - July 15 2008 @ 4:46 pm It's plain and simple, we all know Colombia is beatiful in every way possible. Now more than ever more airlines are flying to Colombia including the low-fare Spirit Airlines which recently opened direct flights from the US to Cartagena and Bogota. I'm an American citizen and moved here 13 yrs ago from Colombia, but I have been back with some of my American friends and they have fallen inlove with the people, the music, the food, the vibe, the most gorgeous women on earth, basically anything and everything that has to do with Colombia. So, I envite you to go and see it yourself. Cheers to the travel channel. Thanks!
19

Federico - July 15 2008 @ 5:37 pm Thanks one again for your good comments, your good impressions and of course because of your courage tovisit the most wonderful country in the whole world. I am not colombian, but I have lived here since I was 23 and believe me, I am not going out of this paradise. You are always elcome in the country of the Holy Child, were everythin can happen, specially good and wonderful things. I love you Colombia!!!!
20

Maria M - July 15 2008 @ 5:40 pm Thank kou Tony and all of his amazing crew for this opportunity and chance to shows us a different Colombia. we are nearly 45 million persons orking, laughing and living every day. Colombia is a country full of surprises, taht as you have done it, everyone must visit, and you want stay for the whole life. Kisses
21

Orlando Suarez - July 15 2008 @ 6:20 pm What else can I say.... Anthony's show is the best show on TV, his way to approach food, places, people, did I say food?... Last night's show was, as some one else said before, the best episode ever..you could see Anthony's joyful face, and that was trully transmitted to all the millons watching the show. At about 10:30pm (et), my wife (pure jersey girl) asked me if I could get her some colombian food for lunch the next day. Thank you Very much for showing my beautiful country on my favorite show. One more thing... If you did not go to Monserrate in Bogota, I thing you guys missed a huge part of not only a great grastronomical experience, but one of the best views from one of the best cities in South America. I will be waiting paitenly for "Colombia Part Dos, Bogota and La Sabana".
22

Emilia Manis - July 15 2008 @ 7:38 pm Thank you soo much for showing a positive show about my beloved Colombia. I'm from Cali-Valle-Colombia. I see all your shows every time I can. The introduction of the show was poetic and as a LDS member very prophetic as well. In Bogota is the location of the first Mormon Temple and is one of Josheph Smith Prophesies that the Lamanites were going to conquer back their land, and as a Colombian native I can testify of such promissing and vivid prophesy that is taking place now. It is wounderful to view the development of a great nation in front of our eyes and be witness of the most vivid and wounderful miracle. The Miracle of Liberty. Thank you again for all your hard work and sacrifice to bring the world to my home. May God guide you and bless you and all your crew where ever you all go.
23

Emilia Manis - July 15 2008 @ 7:39 pm Thank you soo much for showing a positive show about my beloved Colombia. I'm from Cali-Valle-Colombia. I see all your shows every time I can. The introduction of the show was poetic and as a LDS member very prophetic as well. In Bogota is the location of the first Mormon Temple and is one of Josheph Smith Prophesies that the Lamanites were going to conquer back their land, and as a Colombian native I can testify of such promissing and vivid prophesy that is taking place now. It is wounderful to view the development of a great nation in front of our eyes and be witness of the most vivid and wounderful miracle. The Miracle of Liberty. Thank you again for all your hard work and sacrifice to bring the world to my home. May God guide you and bless you and all your crew where ever you all go.
24

jennifer - July 15 2008 @ 7:54 pm Thank you,thank you! For going to Colombia. I am from Medellin,I remember the last time I was at the Botero museum,shopping at the Minorista and eating all that wonderful food. I felt homesick and proud as I watched the show. It was tears of happiness that rolled down my cheeks last night. It's been two years since my last visit, but it feels like a lifetime. Watching Tony eat 'chinchurias' where my aunt eats them because she literaly leaves down the street made want to call Avianca and book the next flight out. thank you so much for taking me home, if only for one hour!
25

Ivonne - July 15 2008 @ 8:25 pm I don't have the words to thank you enough for such of great show in Colombia. The comments below are just a little piece of the results, and how much we Colombians value your effort to show our beautiful country. For the ones that never been in Colombia and are going soon...Have fun!!! The food, the music, the natural views, but specially the people makes Colombia a wonderful place. I live in USA and always go back every year, because every time I go....Colombians make me feel like a Queen. Thanks a lot for such of beautiful show....=) The show helped me to make my American husband to travel with me.
26

Adriana - July 15 2008 @ 8:35 pm Thank you for the show, my daugther and I , we were so happy and remeber how much we miss Colombia , you bring little piece of home to our USA home.
27

Martha - July 15 2008 @ 9:59 pm Hi Guys! Great show last night! I give you props for filming in Colombia, you belong to a small group of people. I was born in Bogota and came here very young. My parents tried to go back as often as possible and the show brought back some great memories. I think you will be missing out if you don't go back and check out Bogota, Los Llanos (it's like cowboys, horses and the most amazing food). Not to mention the road that leaves from Bogota and gets you there.. not to be missed! And Girardot a beautiful place with the most incredible people and food. Here's to a Colombia Part II...!
28

Peter - July 15 2008 @ 11:46 pm Just a quick question: I haven't seen Tracy Gudwin, Diane Schutz and Nari Kye's names on the credits this year. Are they no longer with the show? I know. I'm a geek, but Tony used them really well in previous seasons, and I'd be interested if they were gone or whatever happened.
29

anamaria uribe - July 17 2008 @ 6:58 pm Jared... I was so confused reading your blog, I almost quit before I found out it was a dream sequence! I knew you'll had no business in an army helicopter. Colombia is nice! You should do behind the scenes with the crew trying to eat some of these exotic foods. Are you all a match to Tony's Iron Stomach?? My biggest question is how do you get to contact the best people to guide and tour you around????...You really got some good guides for Medellin! The shots are beautiful...all of the programs show the great quality of your production team... I could only wish to one day be part of anything like this. Great admiration for your show...great producing!!! It's gotta be fuuun!!!!
30

anonynous - July 23 2008 @ 10:09 am I did enjoy your show in Colombia. In particular I enjoyed the way you presented places tht used to be extremely dangerous in times of guerrilla and drug-related violence. I agree with the image of optimism you projected about Colombia, and I think this trully reflects how Colombia feels like these days. Congratulations on an excellent show!
31

Jose - July 25 2008 @ 5:28 pm What were you guys thinking!! Why travel to Colombia?! And worse, why create a travel show on Colombia?! The secret's now out. Millions of people across the globe will now want to experience all the goodness in this underestimated often misunderstood country for themselves. They're going to want to discover the kaleidoscope of colors, flavors, sounds and climates that Colombians have enjoyed all along. It's a turning page for a nation, a people, that yearn for change. I only hope those traits that make it so unique and special don't dilute and vanish in the globalization blender that makes things blandly predictable. Yes, I'm talking to you McDonalds and Starbucks of the world!! One of the biggest things I cherish about my home land is its unique, local atmosphere. It's only a 5 hour flight from New York but it might as well be 25 hours from Gotham because once you step out of that plane, you're transported to a world unlike any you left back in the states. And the food!! Give me a breakfast of Changua followed by calentado with fried egg and a hot cup of Chocolate "el sol" with cheese any day over, ugh, artery clogging industrial concocted fried Oreo's or donuts. No wonder fat is now the new "epidemic". Anyhoo, enough of my ranting. If you plan to visit make sure you meet up with a local. I'm sure they'll be happy to show you all the best there is and you won't be disappointed. Colombia is the emerald of the Americas (north or south). Or as legendary Argentine folkloric musicians Los Visconti put it "Jardin de nuestra america del sur".
32

JM - August 07 2008 @ 4:55 pm What a pleasure to have Bourdain and team film an episode in Colombia. Coming from a person who has traveled the world like he has, reading his words about his Colombian experience is really an honor. I can't think of a better person to show the country and food like it is. Thank you for reassuring the world that Colombia is indeed a vacation wonderland. Hopefully, in a near future he continues to explore the other beautiful regions of Colombia where he will find very different and delicious foods but the same passion in the people.
33

chino metal - August 12 2008 @ 9:12 am Hopefully you found your coffee along with arepa de huevo, that should of got rid of the horrible nightmare you had....if you missed it, go back.....
34

David - January 28 2009 @ 6:53 pm
I think you should stick to the food and booz. The pseudo combat scene is lacking something...
35

Kate From Maine - January 28 2009 @ 8:28 pm
Loved the episode. I did a few shows with a girl from Colombia, and she was more like what I saw on this show than in any other show that had "Colombians". (Of course, she was an MIT student, which kinda skews the data a bit.) I don't know if she ever saw any drug-related violence, as it was none of my business so I didn't ask, but the only thing that made her different from most of the other students was her accent. That's what I saw on this show: people. Just like us. Okay, some different traditions, but that's true wherever you go, even within the same country. If there was a living stereotype on the show, I missed it. It made a nice change.

FTR, when a girl with a Colombian accent tries to imitate a German accent, it sounds like Natasha from Rocky & Bullwinkle. Made for an interesting take on the character she was playing.
36

Simon Tamayo - February 17 2009 @ 8:07 am
To Anthony and the rest of the crew: THANKS! As a Colombian I have to say -thank you- for helping us to change the image of war and drugs that we used to have! You’ve shown the real face of Colombia with all of its colors and flavors, you’re doing a great show. You rock!!!
37

JESUS GALINDO VANSTRAHLEN - March 03 2009 @ 12:29 pm
Anthony, thanks for coming to Colombia and really show how happy we live here, sometimes there are difficulties, but our people are friendly, cheerful and good heart .................. ....; Colombia is the world's best vividero ...........
I invite you to visit the paradise on earth.

Colombia living.

COLOMBIA ES PASION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
38

Alex - June 18 2009 @ 12:28 pm
As a Colombian(living in the states) and in the production field, I really enjoyed reading this. Hope to come across this episode on TV one day.
39

Angela - June 23 2009 @ 4:01 am
I am pretty sure from now on your dreams about Colombia will be more pleasant and accurate.

Thank you for taking the risk of letting colombians show you their reality (or should i say magic reality?).
40

hector - June 28 2009 @ 7:14 pm
how can i have the cartagena show, it was exelent thaks for care about our country
41

Alejandra - July 28 2009 @ 11:59 pm
Loved this episode.I was born in Colombia & adopted in 1985 by Americans.I was thrilled to see that the Country is beautiful and becoming peaceful.I do hope to seek my biological family in the future. This gives me hope that if I return to Colombia it would not be a war torn country as many describe.
Where may I find some recipes? I have never had authentic Colombian Food.
42

GERMAN - September 30 2009 @ 11:26 pm
I always wondered when would we get the chance to show Tony our beautiful country and our enchanting food, finally, tonight I watched the program you made about Medellin. I was delighted with the result, It was so nice to hear your words of praise and recognition, thanks for the image you showed of the city of the eternal spring and, particularly, the great people that make it one of the nicest places to live in.

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