Advice for first time traveller...I'm sure you're sick of this question...

Hi everyone

I only stumbled across this site recently and have had a great time reading everyone's posts. Now it is time for me to ask some questions. I am dating a Colombian man I met more than a year ago when we were both living in Australia. Since then we have both moved back to our home countries, and so have been struggling with the distance for some time. Now I am planning on visiting him in Bogota in June and want to get some advice. I am Armenian, but very fair skinned, with light coloured hair (brownish/blond) and I speak English with an American accent. I speak virtually no Spanish (terms of endearment and rude words aside of course :-) hee hee). I will be staying with his family in Bogota, and we will also travel to Boyaca, Cartagena, and some other cities. I just wanted to know what anyone can tell me about what I might expect. Sadly, my biggest concern is the security issues. My boyfriend jokingly tells me I shouldn't speak too much in public or I might end up on a 'free' eco-tourism jungle excursion with a 'friendly' band of kidnappers, but I somehow wonder if behind the jokes there is some truth. No matter the fears I may have or the dangers I may face I am going to go (love is too important not to face fears), but I'd like to know what advice anyone may have for me.

Oh...and one other silly question. What is the airport like in Bogota? Am I going to find it difficult to manoeuvre since I don't speak Spanish. And what about customs? I will be travelling on an American passport if that piece of information helps in answering.

Thanks in advance for any comments!

By teppar on May 19, 2004, 02:25 in Friendly Talkzone.

villdkatta says on May 19, 2004, 08:04:

You'll get lots of great advice here.... the only thing I would say is to try to brush up on your Spanish as much as you can. Even basic phrases would be helpful, and you still have some time to learn those, even if you're going in June.

Good luck! I've never been, but I'm going down to Manizales (alone) in a few years, I hope. You will have to let us know how it goes!

Kim

utopiacowboy says on May 19, 2004, 12:39:

You will be all right if your boyfriend and his family are going to meet you. I am as gringo as they come and I have never had any problems on my 5 trips to Colombia this past year. Learning as much Spanish as you can is an excellent idea - unlike Mexico, very few people in Colombia speak any English, although Medellin is far "worse" than Bogota.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

Desideria (Moderator) says on May 19, 2004, 12:50:

not sick Yes, this question comes up pretty often, and it's only natural regarding the information and misinformation about Colombia that circulates.
You'll be fine but do listen to your boyfriend! An ecotourism trip through the jungles and mountains of Colombia with 50 guerrilleros marching right behind you pointing at your neck with their guns is not fun...and then the food you'd get would be mostly fried platanos and broiled guinea pigs, and not to talk about sleeping on the top of the roots of some old tree in the jungle in the company of spiders, scorpions and other unfriendly small thingies...
The airport in Bogotá (Eldorado) is a piece of cake, nothing to worry about. Be sure to get your tax exemption paper at a booth next to the baggage claim.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

Mr. Hollywood says on May 19, 2004, 13:53:

The airport is easy El Dorado for incoming flights is easy. There's only one way to walk from the plane, straight to immigration. You stand in line at immigration. They'll look at your pre-filled form (have the airline staff help you on the plane if you don't understand it) and give you an appropriate length tourist visa (I assume Australians have easy visa requirements). From there you can only walk to baggage claim. If you have a lot of stuff, hire a porter to get your bags and lead you through customs. I've never been searched. Be sure your boyfriend is waiting outside the exit because that's the most chaotic thing and if something were to go wrong for you it would be there.

Then enjoy the country. You'll have a great time. Learn as much Spanish as you can before coming because it will accellerate your learning and enjoyment once you're in Colombia.

Sam Salmon says on May 19, 2004, 14:00:

I can only add take a quality Spanish/English dictionary-it will be invaluable.

' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

teppar says on May 20, 2004, 04:21:

one more thing..... Thanks everyone for your comments. I'm sure you're all so sick of the same questions here, but unfortunately the bad PR about Colombia makes its rounds a lot more loudly than the good PR. I am really looking forward to my trip though!! I'll admit to a little nervousness about security issues, but that isn't going to stop me.

I do have one more question for all of you. I have a GSM mobile phone with international roaming that I will be taking with me. Does anyone know how good the GSM networks are in the major cities (Bogota, Cartagena...) and if I will have any problems receiving and making calls?

Thanks again!

Mr. Hollywood says on May 20, 2004, 07:39:

Comcel is GSM technology. I have a US phone that roams here with a fair degree of success. A better solution for a visitor is to just buy a cheap phone here that you can fill with minutes as you go.