adrimm has left 3387 comments

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Bogotá introduces new transmilenios- longest buses in the world

Like this?

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Rich Bogotanos

It isn't the top that is prone to it (nothing new to them), rather a portion of those more recently able to afford such things (and become ultra-consumerist).

adrimm (Moderator) comments on

Ok... well then ask the consul if the confirmation-of-process is sufficient to enter the country. They'd still be entering as US citizens, but on the grounds that they are already in process for the cedulas - what more can they do?

adrimm (Moderator) comments on

I would guess that the situation would be different for the adopted from Colombia, than the one born there (but I am not an expert). If both already doing all they can to get their cedulas issued and have a record-of-confirmation of the process (and how long it will take), then I would expect that they should be fine to enter the country. Who knows, in Colombia they may be able to issue them that much faster (I don't see how it could take 2 years), if everything is in order, I can't imagine it being very long. My suggestion to double-check would be to contact the cedula-issuing agency in Bogota and ask them how long it would take to issue the cedula there in person, and then ask THEM how it works with DAS for someone who has grown up in the US. Speak with the most senior person you can, get their name telephone number, etc. My mother, who is Colombian-born (but has a cedula), entered Colombia once on her Canadian passport becuase she didn't have a chance to get her Colombian one renewed. She showed a letter from the consul and was given a 14-day stamp and told to get her Colombian passport renewed. She did her second day there. It took less than two hours.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on What is the best institution in which to study Spanish in Medellin?

What about Bucaramanga? Medellin seems to be fairly well tourist-ed (for Colombia), and at 2-3 million is still a pretty big city (imho). This is a bit corny, but shows & describes parts of the city well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVmYf5U6x3k I don't have a good feel for how things are there at the moment, but have heard that the Venezuelan trade policy fluctuations are having a negative impact on the Santanders.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Drumroll..... T-Shirt voting

5/6 black

adrimm (Moderator) comments on How would you describe the security situation in Colombia for someone travelling from the United States?

Kurious - why not an account of how you find it there compared to the hollywood and newsreels...? Just curious..

adrimm (Moderator) comments on How would you describe the security situation in Colombia for someone travelling from the United States?

BTW welcome to the forum :)

adrimm (Moderator) comments on How would you describe the security situation in Colombia for someone travelling from the United States?

If you've travelled in Mexico (outside of the resport towns) without incident, I am confident you would do fine in Colombia. I'd say hands-down, that any place on the existing tourism circuit for Colombians is safe for a foreigner. Most of the people I have met in Colombia (hostels, etc) had not planned to visit but were on multi-month trips of south america and had heard from others that it was well worth it, and so went. Even now reading blogs, I read that. "wasn't planning to, went, loved it". No it isn't Disneyland (but is the rest of the world), and there are pockets that are no-go zones, but **tons** to see. With some homework, a bit of spanish and a bit of common sense, Colombia can be an awesome place to visit ( and study). I think it would be a great choice for Spanish immersion or homestay. If you've travelled in Mexico without incident, I am confident you would do splendidly in Colombia. It is growing on the radar tho (New York Times, Conde Naste, National Geographic) http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2008/11/colombia/carlos-villalon-photography http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/10622 http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/travel/26915/bogota-colombia http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/02/12/travel/12coffee.html?scp=1&sq=Coffee%20Travel%20Eje%20Cafetero&st=tcse (ps - I didn;t realize Jostens was international - they did all my kiddie pics in elementary school)

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Canadian considering Bogota

Welcome to the forum AM - I think we do have a few folks who know of or are a part of various aid/charity organizations - maybe keep checking back and bumping your thread up to see if you can network with them for something to get involved in. I find Bogota's climate very comfortable - I think coming from Fort Mac in the fall, it will be a nice change.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on

This thread is going to the Off Topic branch.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Swedish Comments On Saab Bofors Weapon Deal

Quote: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes, and to obtain a permission to sell weapons abroad the seller has to get the government's security clearance to make sure that these weapons are not to be used by terrorists, a measure that was signed by the Venezuelan government. The serial numbers are also recorded and archived in Sweden. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ^^Excellent^^ All arms manufacturers should be held to this. Then we might see some accountability. If someone is going to make money off of a tool for killing, this should be a minimum requirement.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Are there any backpacker buses in Colombia?

Not yet that I know of (I guess one of the hostel owners would know)- BUT even if there were I don't know that I'd use it just yet. First I can't seem them ever competing well with the plush comfort, super frequent, and reasonable prices of the existing bus companies. Second, while it seems road problems are thing of the past, on some routes a bus known to be full of foreigners (even budget travellers) might be too tempting to some overzealous threatened-feeling group. Third, at the very least the police would probably flag it down super often for kicks out of pure curiosity/entertainment to see what different passports look like. Fourth, The regular buses are a good op to mix'n'mingle with Colombians. Sign language, charades, whatever you need to communicate = fun.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Swedish Comments On Saab Bofors Weapon Deal

I think it would be a good idea. I'll bet governments spend nearly as much as the manufacturers make combating insurgent groups whose arms must come from somewhere.. at least whoever buys them would have to be more accountable for them. Lifecycle accounting - we can assume anything that dissapears has landed in unstable hands.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Swedish Comments On Saab Bofors Weapon Deal

Is there some sort of international law that forces ALL arms manufacturers to record and make available what country sales go to? That would be interesting to map out. Obviously after the initial sale things can fall apart, but imho it would show how much goes where and who is selling to who.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on T-Shirt Submission finalists (in no particular order).

My vote is for 6 - the black version.... actually even the back would do as a front - I like that it is rather cryptic. Comments on others: 1) I think the Chiva is good, but would prefer slightly more polished version of it. 2) # 9, 10, 11 are all way too bright and primary (plus my flag is missing). I think T shirts with too many primary colours on them look too gaudy and tacky - I'd never buy it. 3) The blue one with the planet is too generic, but I like the travel theme. 4) I also like the "Muah" one - it looks polished, but I don;t like the "Muah" part. maybe "Viajar" would work better paired with a Chiva instead of the lips.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Rapid Bus Transit for D.C.

Hmm DC has a beautiful metro system - the nicest I've seen in North America. Since money should not be an issue (not the way it is for a developing country), and it is the Capital of the US, I'd rather see them invest in extending it. Pretty much all the BRT systems in North America suck compared to TransMilenio, so they can just scratch those as examples to be inspired by. My hope is that rather than cheaping out where precedents for high quality transit exist, is that the US will use it in areas that cannot otherwise afford anything else - the suburban, spread out mid-sized cities, the giant freeways that get clogged.. Other than on freeways, I don't see most US cities willing to hand over the four lanes of road it takes develop anything that could actually compete with TransMilenio capacity-wise and speedwise... but I'd love to be proven wrong.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on T-Shirt Submission finalists (in no particular order).

Sorry all, I missed one and the numbering wasn't correct. Please check to make sure that your vote is still valid. The numbers are above the images. Apologies.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on U.S. Revokes Diplomatic Visas for Four Honduran Officials

LOL - I wish...

adrimm (Moderator) comments on is vietnam repeating itself ?

I am moving this to Off-Topic.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on wedding enterance of the year

It seems to be a growing trend - I went to a wedding that did it last year. Will it catch on in Colombia? Maybe - probably depends on what type of ceremony it is. I can't see an old school Catholic priest being keen on it.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on U.S. Revokes Diplomatic Visas for Four Honduran Officials

The friendly talkzone is part of the Colombia forum I am moving this to the Off Topic thread.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Cultural Problems with the Inlaws and babies involved...

Makopp - if it isn't done with mom's support it is all wasted effort and energy.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on American-French Couple looking to live in Colombia (one day)

If think that you will be able to comfortably settle in into life in any larger Colombian city without much difficulty - especially an area where locals are accustomed to a foreign residents. Once they find out, I suspect that the neighbours will probably be more fascinated by the franco-american aspect of your relationship than anything else (albeit in a quiet unobtrusive way). If you have mastered French then that also bodes well for your Spanish skills. Re racial aspects I agree with Bill, and would add culture plays a big deal . My mother (uni grad in the late 60s in Bogota) had a couple of black university classmates who are absolutely beloved by the the class, one of them passed away recently and ppt memorials showing photos of them over the years were very moving (they have mostly all stayed in touch).

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Looking for house's stuffs

Web, is "venta de garaje" finally catching on in Colombia? Dela - and keep checking back here as well - there are usually a few moving-sale type posts that come up. Dela - if you don't mind sharing a place there is always: http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/rental-resource/

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Cultural Problems with the Inlaws and babies involved...

Well I think before you can lay down any laws, you need to get 100% buy-in from your GF. You both have to be in it together, as crazy as it might seem to her, otherwise it just won't work. I think that as parents you have every right to lay on the table what the rules for your child are (of course after you both are agreed on what these are), and make it clear to caregivers and relatives that this is how it is to work. I believe that children need consistency in their lives regardless of who is caring for them, rules, schedules should stay the same. It might seem kind of crazy, but sit down with your GF and write a child-care manual for your child - get it down on paper - let caregivers know how you expect things to be handled (schedules, activities you would like to see her involved in, appropriate corrective strategies), what kind of attention you think would most benefit your child. Ex - If getting out to a park isn't always an option, maybe reading books and singing alphabet songs is a good compromise.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Colombians and cold showers

Becuase an icy cold one will probably go much faster than a hot one, leaving enough water for others to use :) Bogota has 8 million people.... Personally, as much as I loathe getting into a cold shower in Bogota - once I am in it, I freely admit there is nothing more invigorating and awakening- much better at waking one than having coffee. And as a bonus the cold water probably ensures very fast efficient showers (in addition to energy-savings).

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Flag new post

Did you intend to put it into the "off topic"? It can be moved.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on MY COLOMBIAN GIRLFRIEND WAS AN ASSASSAIN

I didn't know the girlfriend part until later, but he was pleasant & interesting enough to sit and have drinks with.. the guy has seriously been all over the world - some amazing stories. He shared this clipping with us:

adrimm (Moderator) comments on

The last two posts have been removed in an effort to simmer down the thread. Please play nicely and do not intentionally provoke anyone.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on

I demoted the post and I have now removed it altogether. You are correct in that this action was taken due to Adult content.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on MY COLOMBIAN GIRLFRIEND WAS AN ASSASSAIN

I met him in 2006, nice guy - but obviously a bit crazy. He was just completeing work on a 2 photo essay books (one about Colombia and the other about the Middle east).

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Buses May Aid Climate Battle in Poor Cities - Transmilenio Case

It's a very narrow view to take - transit that is affordable, pleasant and functional enough to coax people out of cars in North America would have a huge impact on carbon emissions and climate change. After all what countries have almost more cars than people?

adrimm (Moderator) comments on New York Times, Transmilenio Bogotá

NEW??? My god what rock has the NYTimes been hiding under?!

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Urgent Question

Wow - coastsalad - that **really** worked out for you, congrats. I'm impressed.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Accommodation

Yep - usually very easy to find a larger group to head out with/share cabs with if you are looking to do the evening thing - there were at least several groups headed out the nights I spent at the hostel in Candelaria - I personally was tucked in with my journal and other other travellers listening to and sharing trip-stories and adventures. Going back awhile now, but I doubt it is different in other hostels (Platypus, Feb '06).

adrimm (Moderator) comments on

Actually yellow lemons do grow in Colombia - there is still a yellow lemon tree in the yard of the small finca that once belonged to my grandparents - limon dulce.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Help

Go by the book. Report your crime, visit DAS, own up to your error, go home, recover, and then try Colombia when you can. Why risk not being able to visit ever again?

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Are there any Canadians in Medellin who can help

An oldie - the Log Driver's Waltz.. no longer current, but much-loved.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Johanesburg's TransMilenio nears completion

I just wish "most cities" included north american ones. North American BRT is dreadful - if it looked like TM people would actually want it.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Johanesburg's TransMilenio nears completion

Ah South Africa - can't be a nice place at all with news stories and stastics we hear/see. Not like Colombia, which everyone back home regards as a top notch destination.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Are there any Canadians in Medellin who can help

Are there other places that have poutine ? I've only ever considered to be Canadian (french-Canadian/Quebecois)... My personal experience is that it makes a great post-beer snack, otherwise it is too heavy.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Johanesburg's TransMilenio nears completion

I believe it is a public body that is developing (and owning) the system, and if they followed a similar model it will be operated by a P3 agreement.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Johanesburg's TransMilenio nears completion

Well, I think that in terms of capacity and infrastructure TransMilenio is the next major forward evolution after Curitiba. Ottawa for example was a sideways maybe even backwards step. I know that Bogota is one of the cities that the South African delegations most visited while they were researching the system (I even met a group of them while there myself). I am not trying to take away from Curitiba but the Rea Vaya is really far closer to TransMilenio than it is to Curitiba. Really if were to be totally objective I would have had the title say "(phase 1 of) Johannesburg's BRT Nears Completion" - but BRT isn't really a widely understood term, while many visitors to Colombia have likely at least seen TransMilenio - and this is a Colombian forum bam_m I am afraid that I do not follow your post, can you expand on that?

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Bogota and Boyaca to be linked with a new tourist train

Like a choo-choo? Or a decently fast train? I love trains, honestly anything to get people (forget the tourist-build for the locals) places faster than stuck-in-traffic on the friggin' autopista, much safer too.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on What is considered rude?

My mother considers it very rude to say nevermind, along with pointing, etc. I don't think it translates well. OTOH I can think of language quirks in Spanish that do not translate well to English either (ie nicknames).

adrimm (Moderator) comments on best gift for host family

I was going to suggest Ghiradelli chocolates, some liqueur, and maybe an invitation to dinner/lunch somewhere for the immediate family.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Professor: 'Make London like Bogota'

I attended a lecture by Alan Gilbert (Geography prof from London), while in Bogota last trip and he compared Bogota and London.. it was amazing to see - I just wish I could remember the main points more clearly. Bogota had made strides in some areas that even I hadn't considered before then, while of course London was far more advanced in others. He may have the lecture posted online somehere , I will see if I can find it.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on

In Portugal people often keep aviaries with some sort of dove/pigeon to eat - very tasty.

adrimm (Moderator) comments on Are there any Canadians in Medellin who can help

LOL - that's cute and true. Google any recent grad class picture and you will see. Actually that would be a good way to start the conversation, just a giant photo of a crowd of people and get the kids to guess "what country"