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adrienne79 has written 36 posts

calling a Colombian cell from a landline in Colombia

How do I do it? What do I dial before the 10 didget number?

Bus from Cartagena to Barranquilla

How much can I expect to pay for a ticket? and how long does it typically take via bus? Thanks!

Cartagena- Boca grande vs. Centro neighborhoods

My husband and I are planning a trip for several days to Cartagena, We would like to keep it economical and safe. I have found it difficult to find cheap hostel type of accommodations in Boca Grande and most of those type of accommodations to be in the neighborhoods near centro. Is it okay to stay in the centro area? Is it full of hookers and crack houses or is it still fairly decent and safe at night? I am not worried aout the type of accommodations as we will be fine mostly anywhere that has a ...

tattoo removal in Colombia

anyone had it done? Prices as high as in the US? any info would be great.

Who pays maintanace on a rented apartment?

My husband and I are renting an apartment direct from owner with a standard Colombian one year lease contract. When we need a repair, who pays? the owner or renter? Our latest example is that the door lock on the inside of the door will not function (we can not lock the door from the inside). Owner is saying we pay because she leased us the apartment with everything working so therefore when there is a problem then we must pay even though this apartment is atleast 20 years old and has a lot of w ...

Meeting for American Citizens

The U.S. Embassy in Colombia is pleased to announce a meeting for American citizens visiting or residing in the Cartagena area. A U.S. consular official will be available to discuss security issues and Embassy services, and to address your questions and concerns. Location: Hotel Caribe, Cra. 1 No. 2-87 Cartagena Date: Saturday, June 1, 2008 Time: 11:00 a.m. Seating is limited to U.S. citizens and their immediate family. Please bring your U.S. passport or other proof of ...

How is it to live in Barranquilla?

I am curious to hear from people that currently live or have lived in Barranquilla. My husband is interviewing for a job there and we are seriously considering relocating from Bucaramanga to there. I am interested in opinions of this city. Also, wondering how hard or easy it would be for me to find a job teaching there? I am already teaching at a private bilingual school in Bucara with 6 months of experience. ...

How long to spend at Parque Tayrona? and other questions.

We are planning a trip for 5 days/4 nights to Santa Marta. By the sounds of it, there is not much to see in Santa Marta so we were planning to go to Parque Tayrona and stay on the hammocks there. Is all 5 days/4 night a bot long to spend at the park. Meaning are we going to get bored really fast? Also, how busy does it get on a holiday weekend? Do we need to worry that we might not be able to get a hammock? We were thinking we might splurge a night or two on a cabana but I can't find an ...

need help identifying a spider in Bucaramanga

Does anyone know of a website that will help me identify a spider here in Bucaramanga? Or are any of you spider experts? I want to find out if it is a poisonous one or not. In the past month, I have found two of these things in our apartment and I am not so happy about it. The spider is huge (IMO). I would say at least 4 inches across. Appears to be all black. The legs are thinker than most spiders I am familiar with but not very high (not like a tarantula). The body is about the size of ...

Full Time teacher needed in Bucaramanga

Anyone, looking for a full time teaching position in Bucaramanga? I currently work at a private school and they are looking for a new teacher to replace a European that walked out on the job. Send me an email if you might be interested and I can give you more details. The salary is confortable but nothing fantastic. I work there because the people are nice to work with and I love teaching. They also helped me change "hogar" on my visa to "docente" which I understand many places don't like to ...

Married or single on USA tax return?

My husband and I were married in Colombia in Aug 2007. We never regestered the marriage with the US. It is only register here in Colombia. My husband only had income here in Colombia in 2007 and I had income only in the US last year. Now I am trying to do my taxes for the IRS and I am at a stump. He has a social security number from when he was living there so that part is easy but I don't know whether I am considered married in the US or if I should just file as single. My husband won't b ...

Bogota-Bucaramanga Bus fare

So I know the new posted rate for this route in 2008 is 70,000. I used to always buy my tickets online from Berlinas for 55,000 but now their site is not working so I can't. Any idea how much the rate will be at the terminal? I am guessing from Bucara to Bog I can get it around 50,000 for a night bus this week, am i about right? Someone told me though that in Bog it is nearly impossible to show up at the terminal and haggle a rate for the way back. Does that sound right, should I plan to pa ...

Going to the MRE in BGA and need trip advice

In the next week or so I have to make a trip to the Ministry of Exterior Relations in Bogota. I'll be coming by bus from Bucaramanga. I have only been to the MRE once before and it was with my husband so I had someone leading the way. This time I have to go alone. 1) From the bus terminal to the MRE via taxi, how much should I expect to pay? and how long do you think it will take? I know all about getting the ticket from the window before I get in a taxi so it is documented. 2) What is ...

If you used a Visa, MasterCard, or Diners Club CC with a foreign merchant between 1996 and 2006 check this out

There is lawsuit against them for not disclosing foreign transaction fees and not doing conversion rates properly. Check out this link for more information: http://www.ccfsettlement.com/ In re Currency Conversion Fee Antitrust Litigation (MDL 1409) Subject to final Court approval, a settlement has been reached in In re Foreign Currency Conversion Fee Antitrust Litigation (MDL 1409). This web site supplies information about the litigation and the settlement, and provides links to releva ...

how long to get the perm cedular

I have had a temporary cedular de extranjera for almost a few months now. How long does it typically take DAS to issue the official one? Did they contact you when it was ready or do I need to follow up with them? Thanks. ...

changing "Hogar" on my conjugal visa???

Less than two weeks ago, I got my first conjugal visa to stay in Colombia. If you are familiar with these visa's you know how they say "hogar" as the occupation and this is what mine says. Well, I found a school that wants me to start with them for next school year and they are willing to provide me with whatever I need to get this changed on my visa. The problem is, I don't know exactly what I need. Have any of you made this change? what did you need to present to the minisrty? I wo ...

How long to become a Col Citizen???

I just got my first Colombia visa this past week. I am from the USA and married to a Colombian so it is a conyugue visa. On the ministry website we read three years but when we went to DAS this week, they mentioned that it takes 5 years. I'm not sure if this is just a case of bad information or if it really just takes a long time after applying. Also, anyone know what all is required? Like taking a test or mastering the language? Thank you! Looking to hear form anyone who has "been there, ...

Paying for a visa (Dollars or Pesos)

I am going to the ministerio de ER to get my spousal visa to live in Colombia. I think I read somewhere that I pay the fee in Pesos but I noticed on the website that the fees are are in Dollars. So which do I pay with? Can I chose whichever I want? ...

Authenticating a diploma/transcript from the USA

Have any of you had to authenticate your transcrips/ university diploma from abroad? My husband seems to think that once I get serious about looking for a job I will need to have it done. He says they do it at the ministry in Bogota and since I will be there in couple of weeks, I was wondering if any of you know any information about having it done and if you think I really will have to. My husband doesn't know any other information about it. I am not looking for work in the field that I stu ...

Bogota Bus Terminal to BOG Airport via taxi

I'm taking a Bus to Bogota on a weekday morning so I can catch my afternoon flight to the US. I am curious as to how much I can expect to pay the taxi and how long it should take with or without traffic. Also, I am assuming it will be safe but if you have any suggestions... I speak spanish fairly well but I do look gringa and I'm sure having two suitcases with me, isn't going to help. ...

Ministry Questions concerning getting my Colombian Visa

I have tried many times contacting the Ministry of E.R. in Bogota and it is so hard to get them on the phone and they take weeks to respond to email so I figured I would rely on some of you who have been there, done that to ask some questions... Please, even of you only know the answer to one, feel free to help me. Background- I moved to Bucaramanga, Colombia over a month ago from the US. I am here as a tourist knowing I would be getting my status changed. This last weekend, I went to Sa ...

Is there cheap shopping in San Andres?

I've been living in Bucaramanga for about a month and next week my fiance and I will be going to San Andres. Everyone keeps telling us that we can buy cheap clothes, electronics, perfumes, etc over there. However, I recall reading that it is not the case anymore. I don't recall where I read that though. So what is the truth? Will we be able to shop for inexpensive items there? I want to know so we make sure to bring luggage to ring stuff back if that is the case. ...

Contacting the Ministry of Exterior Relations

My fiance and I have been trying to contact the Ministry in Bogota with Visa questions all week without luck. We have a few phone numbers but whenever we get through they just ring and ring. Does anyone know of an email address that they will respond to or a phone number to call for visa questions that they will actually pick up? ...

Where to ATM?

I am now living in Bucaramanga and am trying to find the best bank to ATM at, if it even matters. I am from the US and have a Washinton Mutual account that claims they will not charge a fee for use of ATMs worldwide. So now, I just need to find a bank that doesn't change much. Any suggestions? Adrienne ...

Packing my bags, Bucaramanga here I come...

It’s official, in less that one week I will be leaving my home in TX to start my life in Bucaramanga, Col. My fiancé is from there. He was spending the last 8 years here for university and work when we met two years ago. Now we are moving to his home town. It will be a permanent move and I am excited about the change. I know many of you suggest going back and forth a lot but I know research has proven the best way to integrate into a new culture is to dive in. Going back and forth can a ...

Notary question: closing on US real estate while in Colombia

I will be moving to Colombia in less than a month. I own a home in Texas that is currently on the market. It was under contract and all was looking good for a closing this Friday when my buyers backed out on Monday. I sold almost everything I own over the weekend and already have a plane ticket so I figure I might as well go ahead an move and keep it on the market and sell while abroad.

My realtor said that as long as they have notaries in Colombia I should be able to still clo ...

direct deposit

I have heard Colombia employers offer direct deposit just like they do here in the states. I am making the assumption that what I heard is true but I still have a question.

Can I set up direct deposit from my employer in Col to my US bank account or is direct deposit only available on a national account?

Anyone have any experience with this? ...

Questions about gettng married in San Andres

Hi,

I am Texan and my fiance is Colombian. We were planning to get married in Bucaramanga (his home town) but I am getting frustrated by all the paperwork I have to take with me. Anyhow, we are now thinking of skipping all of that and just going to San Andres to get married the easy way. I have a few questions about this, please.

1) How long will we need to make sure we are on the island for? I assume the notary is only open on weekdays, right?

2) ...

Opening a Bank Account

I'm moving to Bucaramanga this summer from TX with my Colombian fiance. He isn't sure if I can open a bank account without a cedular. Does anyone know if I can just use my passport or if there is any other way to open an account. If not, anyone have any idea how long it will take me to get a cedular after we are married there? Thanks!

PS- I'm sure this has been discussed before but I did a search and couldn't find this exact question addressed. ...

yellow fever vaccine $$$

How much does a yellow fever vaccine cost more or less in Colombia? I am moving from Dallas to Bucaramanga in a couple of months and am hoping it will be cheaper to get it down there. Here at the county clinics it is over $100 and my insurnace won't cover it. ...

Online department stores in Colombia

I am going to be moving to Bucaramanga soon and I want to get a feel for prices of things like kitchen stuff, funishings, or whatever I will have to buy to start my life down there. I am sure, just like here in the states, prices can vary greatly from store to to store but that isn't so important right now. Can anyone give me some links to some department stores in Colombia that have websites with prices of items so I can start to familiarize myself with the prices of things?

Th ...

Cell Phone (not service) in Colombia

Currently I am living in Texas and own a Nokia cell phone and have service through sprint. I plan to cancel my contract once I move to Bucaramanga. I am wondering if I will be able to get service on my current phone through a Colombian Company even though it says Sprint on it. Anyone know? ...

traveling outside of Colombia

I am wondering what countries can a Colombian Citizen with a Colombian passport travel too without having to get a tourist visa? Anyone know of some or know where I can find a list of countries?

Thanks in advance! ...

Marriage Help Needed

Hi. My name is Adrienne and I have been lurking on this site for a while and I know you all will be very helpful to me in the future. I am so glad I found this site. I need help with my future marriage of my Colombian fiancé. I am pretty sure all the information that I need is somewhere on this site but I need case specific help, please. I’ve already tried emailing the consulate in Houston but never got a reply.

So here is the deal. (sorry this is long) Sometime in the next ...

Checks in Colombia

Hi! My sister-in-law is flying to Colombia next week. She lives here in TX. She is going to deliver a check from me to my other sister-in-law that lives in Bucaramanga. I was wondering what kind of check would be the best to send with her and the easiest for her to deposit/cash? Should I just send a personal check, a certified check or traveler's checks to her? All three options are free on my end so it doesn't matter to me, I'm just wondering which would be easiest for her. All three wou ...

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