bufalo has left 1834 comments

bufalo comments on

imho BAQ wouldn't be such a great place to learn Spanish - too costeño. The interior would be better. This is of course outside of classroom instruction.

bufalo comments on La Herradura Gourmet - Santa Marta

McDonalds!!!!!! in SM???!!!!! I think I remember hearing about this a few posts ago - there goes the neighborhood.

bufalo comments on anything else new in Armenia???

hmmm, I guess it's good about the public toilets - I imagined that about the coffee shops. The tourism in Quindio is not in the city itself. I hope they are able to keep up the maintenance of the huge project they constructed there. I notice that's the bad thing with most parks/public spaces in Colombia - not maintained....

bufalo comments on Rainforest Tour Guide in Leticia Contact

I'll try and look it up when I get home. He's a legit guy. Most guides will make up stories to make a tour more "interesting" for tourists. This one doesn't do that, he's a local Huitoto that I worked with for awhile. Hit Puerto Narino and take a boat to the dolphins - but it's lights out at 10PM!

bufalo comments on 3 days in Leticia 3 days in Santa Marta what to do?

Can't people just show up and find their own way anymore?

bufalo comments on they definitely celebrate better in Colombia....

I definitely agree, but I do kind of get a good vibe with the colombian celebration when they do it. I see it as pointless in the states - the fans didn "do" anything to win, the players did.

bufalo comments on New Park for Kids in Armenia

how can you paddle on that? I could jump across it...

bufalo comments on

too long, can you just get to the point and sum it up ?

bufalo comments on they definitely celebrate better in Colombia....

Exactly, gringos have to plan a parade, get the permits, probably had to hand out hand sanitizer so all the little Johnnys (from Jersey too) wouldn't catch something.... Outside the stadium could have been nuts, but in Colombia it would've been all over the place.

bufalo comments on New Park for Kids in Armenia

They have boats in Parque Sucre now? I'm going to imagine that the water area has been enlarged just a bit. Shame.... that used to be a great place to here the frogs at night.

bufalo comments on they definitely celebrate better in Colombia....

and they're big teams, but in Colombia even the small stuff is greatly celebrated

bufalo comments on

look who's staying there as of late... it explains it all.

bufalo comments on Aeropuerto del Cafe

Yeah gregyohn, that freaked me out as well.

bufalo comments on WHERE TO INVEST

uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....... SM the next Cartagena? CALI the next Medellin???? have you known anyone with any type of income properties in Colombia???

bufalo comments on Advice from EXPATs in Colombia

out of curiosity, what is the middle east gig? 4-6K in two weeks?! I spent used to live it up in SM for way less than that for two months! Regular living you could do for about 1K a month, alright, more than that seeing the dollar tanked.

bufalo comments on no new members

PBH isn´t accepting newbies?¿¿¿¿¿

bufalo comments on USD 1 = $1,858

Wasn't he a transvestite model or something?

bufalo comments on Adding pages to an American passport

I did it in Barcelona, Spain, while living there. Don't remember the details, but it was pretty simple at the consulate.

bufalo comments on Colombia's dying tribes

A bunch of tribes in Leticia are refugees from the rubber barons that escaped way back when.

bufalo comments on USD 1 = $1,858

I just googled and found no data for that early on

bufalo comments on USD 1 = $1,858

Trying to remember what it was when I first started going in the 80's.... 800 or 900 maybe? Been a long time, guess I'll try togoogle it and find out being curious and all.

bufalo comments on USD 1 = $1,858

Ignore my comments.... sleeping 3 hours a day has made me a bit batty...

bufalo comments on USD 1 = $1,858

Sorry about that I meant people who sold in the states and invested in Colombian property when it was 3.000 and now need to sell and move back.

bufalo comments on Coming to live in Colombia

yeah the extra 180 days after january 1 sounds a bit off to me as well...

bufalo comments on USD 1 = $1,858

I guess that sucks for all the people that bought when the peso was close to 3.000 and now want to sell...

bufalo comments on Travelling Dad Trip Report

We went straight from living in Leticia, Amazonas to a trip to Disney world - my daughter loved disney too, but was bored on the Amazon ride. Guess she got used to the real deal

bufalo comments on FutBol The Golden Age League in Carona Park, Queens, NY

I cuaght it on TV - really good doc.

bufalo comments on Central Colombo Americano

I worked at the one in Armenia a few years ago - NO certification needed, just walked in and asked if they needed a teacher. The pay is squat (not meaning it as insulting) but your high degrees don't matter for anything - they simply pay squat. I was actually the only teacher there who got paid regularly because I complained about how they didn't pay the teachers. Most had to wait several months to get paid. Since I didn't need the job, I had a big mouth so they kept me happy. The people are nice though and the students were OK. Less of an attention span at night. I was really impressed at the level of English at the later levels. I did the English teaching thing in different parts of Armenia - it isn't worth it .

bufalo comments on THE COLOMBIAN FISHERMAN. Have you ever wondered what benefits earning more money would bring?

(of course it was just a story) But glad to see the old fool isn't such a fool anymore! We're working on getting ourselves back into that situation sometime soon as well.... We've been living pretty poorly according to most people I know - no house, no steady job, no steady income and even though we don't take them - I'm sure we qualify for food stamps! Yet, we've lived in 4 countries several times within the last 7 years, us parents speak 2 languages, daughter is on her third, the movie's almost finished, and lots more I can't think of now. - But we don't own a car, no 401K and shop at the discount store. Maybe I'm foolish too, but it beats life in a cubicle......

bufalo comments on THE COLOMBIAN FISHERMAN. Have you ever wondered what benefits earning more money would bring?

This is a true story???!!!! I thought it was just to show a point.... ... and how about stopping all this "help"?

bufalo comments on THE COLOMBIAN FISHERMAN. Have you ever wondered what benefits earning more money would bring?

exactly - us gringos are supposedly so fing smart. Please no more, "you know what this place needs..", or "why don't you .... ( usually involving something to "improve the local economy")".

bufalo comments on Are gringos good for Colombia

nope

bufalo comments on elchoco

I got banned from emailing the whitehouse when I told Bush to stop being a dick. Maybe I can now that there's a new prez in place???

bufalo comments on 26th Bogota Film Festival

nice poster. I've been going nuts trying to find the submission guidelines for Cartagena. Noone answers emails nor phonecalls... Any idea?

bufalo comments on Armnenia?

If for investment... I wouldn't buy in Armenia - greatly overpriced and there really isn't much work since it isn't a big city. I'd live there due to family and friends. That's going to be difficult for us in the future since even small businesses there have lots of trouble too. Don't go to Vallejo for real estate, I've had bad experiences with them (as have others).

bufalo comments on Armnenia?

Depends on what you want, but I wouldn't go to Colombia for 2-3 days and hit a mall. There's plenty of hotels but watch some in the center of town IBG is OK as well. Northern end does have the more upscalish clubs.

bufalo comments on Colombia seeks eco-tourism boost

same here, "eco" is just another gimmick really. It'd be a lot more "eco" if people didn't fly all over, then drive all over, etc. Personally, I want to walk to Colombia one day.

bufalo comments on What is the purpose of Calling the Police in Colombia?

You could always ask them on the side if they do any "after-work moonlighting". That can always fix your problems permanently (but could bring you more as well!)

bufalo comments on What is the purpose of Calling the Police in Colombia?

the police were called and then pulled me off a guy I was beating the piss out of because I caught him being a peeping tom so I guess they must do stuff from time to time.

bufalo comments on

mongo has a site?

bufalo comments on “Discover Colombia Through Its Heart.” - NYC Exhibition Sept 22-28

I´ll pop on by as well...

bufalo comments on El Rodaero

Had some of the best times of my life in Rodadero, but that was before my fellow gringos found it...

bufalo comments on Raising a kid(s) in Colombia??

When in Locombia I didn''t like the idea of bringing up our daughter there. Sorry to say a female walking alone there is also known as a victim - be it verbal or physical. I didn't like what young girls have to put up with down there, so the States seemed better. But like theflatline said I think 50%/50% is best. She still speaks fluent Spanish (we have to keep on top of her here in the states because most who speak spanish really speak Spanglish) and practice that home. I teach her English. The public schools in NY seem to be begtter to me know. She's in adual language program where one day is intruction in English, next day is French. There's programs like this all over NY Arabic, Korean, Chinese, French, Spanish, etc. All free public school. Also note this isn't ESl, but rather dual language - they speak both seperately. I taught for a bit in an uppity school in Colombia and did not like the education. But I must admit that I see a lot of bad stuff in the states I didn't use to see before, so Colombia is definitely an option for us in the future.

bufalo comments on

Tell you what, you take the north, I'll take the south - but we each have 3 weeks per year to go into each other's territory (but only when the other one is not there and with previous permission). All other gotta go.... 1 or 2 gringos in 5 days! - AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH That's way more than what I saw years ago. The only ones I saw were myself in the mirror, a drunk who was wanted in the states and a few "security personnel" (yeah, sure) - I stayed clear of them. I left shortly after the new Escollera was built. It wasn't fun anymore once the dark corners where you could hide with a cutie were gone.

bufalo comments on

Point taken, it just seems that too many of us gringos have to ask tons of questions before even getting to a new place - it takes the magic away. Half the fun in going is exploring new things. I am also a bit taken aback as to how many gringos are going to El Rodadero. Haven't gone in years and probably won't if it's becoming so gringofied. Not that I don't like them, but I go to colombia and other places for it's beauty and difference. If I wanted US I'd stay in the US. Actually I almost never give up the good local places because all the gringo's would show up, blog about it, and then more show up and screw the place up. BUT here goes.... If you want real good fish, walk along the beach after Taganga, my wife and I ate freshly cooked fish on a beach just to ourselves - maybe the lady that makes them still goes there. I now hang out in other parts so those secrets I'll hold onto....... Have fun!

bufalo comments on Leticia to Manaus on the Amazon

OH, I guess I can't help out much. Like I said they never stuck around much to talk to. I think they were mostly german, so maybe its a german company that does it? I'm going on a limb here and thinking they came upriver from Manaus at least.

bufalo comments on Jobs for Gringos in Colombia

I was a fill in teacher at one of the rich english speaking grade schools - DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

bufalo comments on

El Rodadero is tiny as hell, everything's within walking distance. I was all over that place even when I had a broken leg (El Pirata on the beach used to watch my crutches as I swam). Just go already and poke around... how come us gringos always have research every freaking thing?

bufalo comments on Jobs for Gringos in Colombia

"Elevator Usage Consultant" - you know teach individuals that the "up" button isn't to make the elevator come up to them, rather it is the direction it needs to go after it picks them up. You could make pesos with that.

bufalo comments on Jobs for Gringos in Colombia

I walked into several english teaching jobs, but the walked just as fast as the pay sucks and students don't show up, nor call, etc.