Boatygringo has left 199 comments

Boatygringo comments on Porqué en USA la gente tiene tantos problemas de sobrepeso?

I think the reason a lot of people in the USA are over weight is the quantity of food they eat. On my resent vistit back to the USA I a was amazed at the size of the portions served at resturants, one portion would feed my family of four in Colombia, and even when eating at home the portions my family served me were huge compaired to what I normaly eat when in Colombia.

Boatygringo comments on Colombia self-defense laws

How about shotguns, do they have to be registered?

Boatygringo comments on Teaching English in Cartagena or Barranquilla

Sorry my E mail is wdb3050 at yahoo.com

Boatygringo comments on $40,000 to invest, Hate Uk, Want to live in colombia, Barranquilla or Cartagena

It,s tough to make money in Colombia and there are a ton of internet cafe,s in Cartagena. See reply to your other post, My friend would rent you a room and probably hire you untill you can get eastablished.

Boatygringo comments on Teaching English in Cartagena or Barranquilla

craigyvane, I have a friend in Cartagena who owns an English Language Institute who would probably hire you. I also have an other friend who teaches at an other school and has no credetials though he is fluent in Spanish. send me E mail if you are interested at wdb30503050 at yahoo.com

Boatygringo comments on Compassion and Decency

Bluesdude, I totaly agree with your post. I also live in the Cartagena area and have to put up with the same shoddy services, both from merchants workmen and government officials though I find if I become (an ugly american) and make a fuss I can get things done that the locals will just just accept with no complaiint. By the way I dont like to do it but some times the Gringo in me just takes over.

Boatygringo comments on Buying a Colombian SIM card etc.

Yes, you can just buy a simcard it will work with any GSM unlocked phone phone. I buy unlocked GSM phones on e-Bay when I am in the USA and they work with all the cell companies in Colombia, though you will have to sign up for the service to get the simcard and they may reqire you to have a Cedula I have not been able to get one with just my passport..

Boatygringo comments on MotoTaxis now in Bogotá

Most Moto riders dont own the Moto they ride in Cartagena, they lease it by the day for 15.000cp and get to keep every thing over that, less the gas they have to buy. In Cartagena they have Pic Placa for Moto' only, so they end up having to lease two bikes one with an odd tag and one with an even tag, form some guy that may own a number of Moto's. Also the rules are not Moto;s after 10pm, no gas sold to a Moto after 7pm and the first friday of the month no moto's of any kind. So the Moto guys are poor and can barely make a living and thats the way the Bus and Taxie owners want it. If they could they woul ban all Moto Taxies.

Boatygringo comments on Gas conversion on trucks and cars..

mranderson, I have a little switch console that has lights to advise me of the amount of gas I have, 3 green the gas cylinder is full, 2 half full, 1 1/4 tank, yellow you need gas and red you are about to run out, on the dash that you just flip, gas or gasoline, There is a gas tank mounted in the bed of the truck, along with the original gasoline tank. The cost to convert to Gas or Gasoline is quite high, i am told 3 to 4 million depending on the car or truck, mine was converted before I got the truck, but you save a budle every time you fill up with Gas.

Boatygringo comments on Bolivia's Richest Region Votes Solidly for Autonomy

I feel, there is a lot of social unrest in Colombia that only lacks a carismatic leader to start a revolution. Though the government would not alow one to exist, and would probably assasinate him. There is oppression of the poor by the monied class and the government that has led to some protests that are quickly put down by the local police and army with very little coverage in the newspapers or t/v. And before the Colombia huggers jump on me for facts. A recent Moto Taxie protest in Sincilao was put down by poilce with tear gas and tanks. Last year the Moto Taxies blocked the main roads into Down town Catagena that resulted in harsher restrictions on Moto Taxies, though a similar protest by bus drivers protesting Pica Place seems to have resulted in the idea being dropped. The concusion I make is Bus owners have money, moto taxis are poor. I also feel that the Goverment don't want ease of travel by the average person as seen by the high cost of intercity bus travel and air fares.

Boatygringo comments on Gas conversion on trucks and cars..

I have an Isuzu/Chevy truck that runs on CNG, compressed natural gas, it costs about half of the price of gasoline. About 20,000 cp to fill up. The power loss is not bad and I don't realy notice it. Though on cold starts untill it warms up it has a real rough idle, so I usualy run on gasoline for a few minutes to warm it up. CNG is real popular around Cartagena and all other cities, most buses and taxies run on CNG. The down side is if you are not in the city they dont sell CNG but you can always switch to gasoline untill you come to a large town. There are huge repair shops that do conversion and repairs to CNG powered cars veichles. Also once a year you have to have the system inspected so it will not activate the CNG pump at fill up time. Cost me about 100,000 cp. All in all I am real happy with it. CNG is produced in Colombia and a by product of the oil industy.

Boatygringo comments on a cellular phone issue

I usualy buy GSM unlocked phones from e-Bay when I am in the USA, much cheaper and good quality, they work with any of the Colombian internet providers simcards. I then buy pre -paid phone cards. You will have a problem getting a phone in Colombia if you have no Cedular. Post paid plans seem to be almost impossible to get as thay require soooo much paperwork like a cedular, bank records, and co signers.

Boatygringo comments on What is this, and what shall I do with it?

It's Mortcillia or Blood Sausage and depending on who makes it can be delicious

Boatygringo comments on COPA AIR STARTING UP FLIGHTS FROM MCO??

What I need is some competition on the Cartagena Miami Route. I am stuck with Avianca's high fares.

Boatygringo comments on Cartagena Airport to Cartagena Terminal de Pasajeros?

To keep the cab drivers honest, you now can pre pay your cab fare at the cab office, they give you a reciept that you give to the driver so you know up frpont what you are paying. Cartagena cabs have no meter so you used to be at the mercy of the driver and Grigoes AWAYS pay more.

Boatygringo comments on Warning Identiy Theft in Colombia

Thanks for the input and ideas guys and girls. I live full time in Colombia and all of my accounts are overseas so I have to do my banking on line.

Boatygringo comments on Warning Identiy Theft in Colombia

I use internet cafe's in and aroung Cartagena but I think it happend in the small town I live in 22kl out side of Cartagena.

Boatygringo comments on DOVES OF PEACE

The V for victory sign was widley used by British Prime Minister Winston Churchil, as a sign of Victory over the Nazie Germany in WW II.

Boatygringo comments on Colombian holidays

I think the USA ToDay article got it right Most Colombians are blissfull ingnorant

Boatygringo comments on

Poco, I dont need a link, I see it every day in the small town I live in just 22kl outside of Cartagena. The Pueblo is POOR most are sqaters and some people live in dirt floor shacks, or mud and stick shacks, some live in tent like structures buit from poles driven into the ground and covered with plastic. and one room block houses that the whole family lives in, with no water or sewers, they cook outside over wood fires. A lot of the kids spend all day gathering wood to cook with, every morning I see what I call foraging partys heading out to the woods and fields to gather poles to build with hunt rabbit or fish in the river. Even in the city of Cartagena there is a whole section down by the lagoon and airport that live the same way.

Boatygringo comments on

morphus, I think you hit the nail on the head

Boatygringo comments on Colombian prostitutes tell magistrate of hardships

Ater talking to a some of working girls, I found that they are hired from the city they live in by a company, and are given a three month contract, get a one way airline ticket to there working city in Panama, Bonair, Aruba, San Andres, Catagena, ect and if they full fill the contract they get the return ticket plus the money they made, Less there living expenses, to return home with. Most of the girls tell there friends and family they are working for an overseas company, so no one will know what they are realy doing but they realy do. Chances is that Mama did the same thing.

Boatygringo comments on

america, Shurley you know the basics in life are, as we learned in school, food, clothing, and shelter. When you can meet these requirments you can start to be concerned about other things, A good portion of the Colombian people can-not meet these reqirments, so why would they be concerned about the bullying of a child in school. A goodly portion of children dont even go to school because there parents are too poor and the child has to work or they can't afford shoes and the school will not let them in with no shoes. Yes it's deplorable that the disabled are treated badly but when you dont know if you will have food or a place to sleep, other things are on your mind and they become less important. One hard lesson I have learned after living in Colombia for three years is I can,t impose my standards on Colombia I just have to go with the flow. and treet the locals with repect. I could list safety a mile long that would apply in the USA or England that are not considered important here in Colombia. As you say you are English so you cant impose your cuture on Colombia but just try to treet the people you meet with the repect you would treet a Brit.

Boatygringo comments on Books in Bogota...& Cali & Medellin

If any one lives in cartagena you can trade your books, one for one, at Club Nautico. They have books in English Dutch French German and other languages. The selection is pretty good but depends on what the cruiser have to trade.

Boatygringo comments on A few Bogota photos:

Nice Photos, but not one of a hot chica, there must be some in Bogata?

Boatygringo comments on Meet Mabel Lara, new anchor for Caracol Television

It's good to see that Colombian TV is finaly starting to give the other half of population the opertunities that the white ones seem to monopolise. I am amazed that there are few if any black or native news casters, or actors in the tely novelas., I have only ever seen one TV add with a black person in it. The sad part is that most Colombians dont even question why or even to care.

Boatygringo comments on

America, I live in a small town about 22 kl outside of Cartagena with a high % of poor people, a lot of the kids dont go to school but forage in the fields for wood for moma to cook with, fish and hunt rabbits for food. I dont think they are bad kids just kids, also they know a gringo owns the finca so they get a kick out of lobbing stones at the gringo;s house.

Boatygringo comments on Cargo Container from northern California to Cartagena….(No.PBH.PH.A)

dITO, Frank RuzZo, Stuff the container with any thing you think you may need, barbecue, fans, power tools, lamps, out door furniture, vacumn cleaners, washers dryer, all are priced at least 50% higher in Colombia. Towels and sheet are also higher and of poor quality.

Boatygringo comments on Colombian Exports soared 48.8%

Lets face it the biggest export to the USA was Coke, and that dosn;t count in the 48.8%

Boatygringo comments on

They love to throw stone or use a catapult to break the bulb in my security light, also the like to throw stones onto the roof of my house so they clang off the metal roof.

Boatygringo comments on Visitors visa to the USA

I guess I didn't ask the question clearly. My wife and I would like to visit the USA to attend a the wedding of one of my children from a previouse marriage. We would travel together as she speaks no english. I am a US citizen and my wife is Colombian, we live full time in Colombia. I own a finca, live stock, a truck, and two moto's outright in Colombia. We have no intention of living in the USA we just want to visit for a week or two. We would be staying with one of my children. How hard would it be to get my wife a tourist visa.

Boatygringo comments on is it possible to open a bank account without being a resident?

Unless you have income in Colombia why do you need a Colombian bank account. From what my friends tell me the fees are sky high and the service is poor.

Boatygringo comments on Colombia To Seek Oil Off San Andres Island With Jamaican Company

Now we know why Nicaragua is trying to claim San Andress as it,s own territory.

Boatygringo comments on Visitors visa to the USA

I forgot to say my wife is Colombian

Boatygringo comments on About US Tourist Visas and Travelling to Cuba

When I visited Cuba theý didn,t stamp US passports but gave you a slip of yellow paper with the entry stamp on it, if you visit be shure to ask the immigration officer not to stamp the pasport and but give you the paper stamp in its place.

Boatygringo comments on Colombian Orchids

I love Orchids and have been trying to buy some in the Cartagena area but no one seems to known about them where to buy them or even what they are. I even tried to find some when I was in Medellin but no luck. Does any one know where I can buy them in Colombia.

Boatygringo comments on Building a house in Colombia?

First of all there are very few if any building codes in costal Colombia, if there are they must pay off the inspector. Secondly you are going to get screwed over by every one and any one to hire or who is involved in the project. It seems no one does any thing for nothing in Colombia. You will pay top dollar for all of your building materials unless you speak fluent spanish and are able to bargen. If you hire a consultant expect him to take kick backs from all suppliers after he has inflated the prices. My advice is do all the work yourself, buy all the material your self and over see any work done by some one else. This advce reflects my experience in Colombia.

Boatygringo comments on US Airways competing with JetBlue for Colombia routes

I personly dont care who gets the fights as long as they break the price monopoly Avanca has. I am tired of paying $650.00 or more for a 2.5 hr flight to the US from Cartagena.

Boatygringo comments on The rainly season in Medellin: How is the weather in Medellin now??

Dont bother to come to the coast for sunshine it´s been raining in Cartagena for over a week and I meen rain, some days it rained continuesly day and night. A lot of people are floode out of there homes and some houses have slid down the hill side of Pia Lapopa. I have liver here for about three years and have never seen rain like we have had this month.

Boatygringo comments on BANKS & MONEY TRANSFERS

PA I have used BBVA twice to tranfare funds from my bank in the US and had no problems each time I used them, they can account for the funds in tow days. BBVA is listed on the German stock exchange so you probably will have no problem with Euro´s. They do howerver hold the funds for about a week before they will release them to you.

Boatygringo comments on Bancolombia

On Tuesday this week I deposited a large amount of Dollars into some one elses account that I control by wire tranfare. The money is now in the account at BBVA and there was no problem.

Boatygringo comments on Surge in safety, cruises lifts Colombia tourism

I see USA TODAY didn´t documented the 22 homicides In Cartagena this September. The tourists dont see the real Cartagena only old town and Boca Grandie

Boatygringo comments on

I hope it means we wont be getting screwed over by Avianca on flights from Cg to Miami any more. Avianca needs more competion so I will lower it´s prices.

Boatygringo comments on Colombia gaining popularity... good or bad?

PeterNC, you sound like a travel brochure. Unless Colombia can get a handle on crime and the Garrilas there will be less tourists not more. The local paper advised that there were 22 murders in September in Cartagen alone. Colombia has a real problem with distirbution of income, there are a few rich Colombians and the rest are poor. History has shown that if welth is not disributed among the poor people there will be revolution it happend in England France Germany and other countries. I feel Colombia is ripe for a change and it wont be pretty.

Boatygringo comments on Real Estate Gunna TANK in Santa Marta, HUMMMM

Real Esate prices are out of sight in Cartagena it´s like gold rush fever, 500 to 2,500 mil in Boca Grandie and Lagheto, and there are buldings going up every where. They are even tearing down three story buildings to build high rises. Even in some of the poorer barios the prices are way too high. 90 100 mil for a row house. I dont know who is buying because most people here cant aford a house or appartment at any price. Dont think it´s because now it´s safer in the city, acording to the local rag there were 22 Homicides in Cartagena in September alone.

Boatygringo comments on Direct Deposit of Social Security Checks

My advice would be to canecel SS part B and direct deposit your SS check in a US bank and get money through the ATMs. BTW it was not the banks that raised the service fees from 1% to 2% but VISA.

Boatygringo comments on Direct Deposit of Social Security Checks

Why would any one wast $80.00 a month on SS part B ($9,600 a year) when health and drug costs are so low in Colombia. I have had medical procedures done here that would have cost Thousands of Dollars in the USA. Dental expenses are real low as are eye glasses. An eye exam by a qualified optician, $7.00. good quality eye glasses $50.00, teeth cleaning $25.00 including flouride treatment. Colonostphie and removal of a polop $350.00, my GF had a hernia operation including two follow up visits at the house by a nurse to change the dressing and three follow up visits at the doctors office for $800.00 incuding drugs and special clothing. $

Boatygringo comments on Santa Marta Safety

Went to the locale Flower Festival in Santa Marta last year and got my pocket picked while watching the parade. I think it was by a buch of cute chicitas standing next to me, caused me lots of problems because they got my passport and other important papers.

Boatygringo comments on Santa Marta Safety

Went to the locale Flower Festival in Santa Marta last year and got my pocket picked while watching the parade. I think it was by a buch of cute chicitas standing next to me, caused me lots of problems because they got my passport and other important papers.

Boatygringo comments on Immigrant with suitcase full of electronics

I flew out of Ft Lauderdale in June and you should have seen what the colombians heading for Bogata where bringing, the old lady in line with me had two laptop still in the Gateway boxes, another couple had a 46" plasma tv and five I counted them five equipment bags of stuff plus luggage. So I would say unless they single you out as a gringo you should be OK, if they do, start yelling about all the stuff the other passengers have.