PAZ SIN FRONTERAS, March 16, 2008

Concert in Cucuta: PAZ SIN FRONTERAS
March 16, 2008

What an exciting day for the people around Cucuta, Colombia! Today was the big day marking the huge concert at the bridge that serves as the border crossing between Colombia and Venezuela just outside of Cucuta, Colombia. Just a few weeks ago there was friction at this exact border, which set the concert project in motion. Juanes, a native Colombian, launched a free concert set to play at the border to bring musicians from all over the latin world together and entitled it appropriately “PAZ SIN FRONTERAS” (“Peace without borders”). Other musicians joining Juanes were Carlos Vives of Colombia, Ricardo Montaner of Venezuela, Juan Fernando Velazco of Ecuador, Juan Luis Guerra of Dominican Republic and Alejandro Sanz of Spain, and Miguel Bose of Spain.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in the dried up river bed below the bridge to take in the day’s events. What an event!

Shakira and Ricky Martin were some of the others who were contemplating performances in the event but chose not to. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe was planning to attend the concert, but at the urging of Juanes who wanted to keep the concert free from any politics, President Uribe then cancelled his plans to attend.

All I can say is Juanes, you absolutely rock and are truly a native son of Colombia and an ambassador for peace!!! And let it be known, if I ever get an opportunity to meet Juanes, you’re in for a huge hug for a good minute or two, so just be prepared! In the meantime, keep up the good work!

To Juanes and all the others performers, you have my respect, my admiration and are lifted up in my prayers for how inspired you are in your quest to bring peace. May you touch many souls and be richly blessed by your good deeds and services to mankind!

Tens of thousands of people gathered in the dried up river bed below the bridge to take in the day’s events and had a strong gathering from both Colombian and Venezuelan sides.

Our family was able to catch a glimpse of the concert on the Telemundo coverage and my kids thought it was so great to hear the reporter say, “Coming to you live from Cucuta, Colombia”, (in Spanish of course). They let out roars and jumped up and down for a few minutes -- they were so excited. A taste of their homeland, their hometown, just a little speck on the map of a town named Cucuta – I mean how awesome is that???

Signing off with a stream of Youtube’s performance of Juanes’ ever-popular crowd-pleaser, La Camisa Negra

Enjoy and Many Blessings!
Genece