Come to sunny Columbia – notes

Come to sunny Columbia – note

– a typical phrase you might see on a tourist poster. Sometimes it is used humorously of a place which is not at all attractive!

Seriously, it’s almost safe – honestly, you may not believe it, but it’s more or less safe now……; this phrase indicates that the journalist knows full well that he is writing something which readers will find surprising, as it goes against what they have read, heard or thought for a long time

to serve to – to result in (vb ….ing)

clad (literary adj) – clothed

a promotional budget of – a sum of money set aside specifically to advertise sth

a hotspot – a country, city or area of a town which is particularly in favour at the moment

a hot spot – an area with a high temperature; an area of particular activity or danger