Anyone know the latest on Girardot?

NataliaV says on Sep 4, 2008, 11:00:

Bump...

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LilaM says on Sep 4, 2008, 12:03:

Girardot, tourist´s city, second home for Bogotanos, I like it, nice places to stay, a nice club "El oasis", but for me... just for vacation, boring as much as it can during the week, becomes alive during weekends and holidays, they have very nice houses, good prices, lot of gringos (military base Tolemaida) close to Melgar, hot as hell, but at the end nice as any town in colombia.

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

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webmanco says on Sep 4, 2008, 12:12:

Girardot la tierra del Sol Ardiente

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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NataliaV says on Sep 4, 2008, 13:05:

Thanks Lila. I have been there twice and it did seem pretty quiet. My abuela wants me to buy her houses there as she is getting older and doesn't want the hassle. When I was there last year my husband seemed to be the only gringo around. We saw more in Cali. If we buy a home there which we eventually planned to do, I want to make sure he is comfortable. I have also been to Melgar which was nice as well.

This may seem like a silly question, but any trouble with the FARC in Girardot because of the base? Where we stayed last year, there were many soldiers all around late at night and it made me a bit nervous.

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LilaM says on Sep 4, 2008, 13:29:

Actually, what i know it is safer as always, no problems on the road, 2 ways to go from Bogotá one thru soacha and the other one thru la mesa, I´ve never heard of something dangerous there, and if you go is safe to do it by Soacha during day and night, and thru La Mesa only by the day. But as I said before, it is a safe town.

Try to take a look in La Vega little town, warm and just 1.5 hours far from Bogotá, little town and safe too if you like warm towns.

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

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mrgizmo says on Sep 4, 2008, 14:29:

I spent a few days in Giradot this summer (end of june) at a Condo my in-laws rented. It was nice, my son who's 13 told us that he had never made so many friends in such a little time here in the states. One night he stayed by pool until 2am with a bunch of kids playing (nice clean fun). I did see soldiers on the road, they didn't make me feel nervous, they made me feel secure.
Then we went to Melgar (Cafam) it was a great family resort but you have to be a member or know someone who's a member and can let you in. Cafam has everything from a bowling alley to cinemas, zoo, lake, about 13 pools, big slides, trails, restaurants, dancing, etc.

Behind every successful man, there's a nagging woman

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beisbollover says on Sep 4, 2008, 17:44:

I was in Giradot last week, in Pinalisa which is owned by Colsubsidio. The place was very nice and clean. The main problem with Melgar or Giradot is the pesky misquitos that are so small you can't even see them but when they bite you they leave a serious bump for weeks. I still have mine. And they itch like mad. The problem is that its so hot you gotta find shade and in the shade of trees is where they live. So your sorta forced into them. Bug spray works well but anyplace you miss will get bit. The people who live in Giradot seemed very nice and although there is poverty there it didn't seem poor at all. Many smiles in the street and helpful people giving us directions and such.

The drive on la mesa was faster than Soacha but much more curvy and steep. The drive through Soacha is one of the most congested streets I have ever seen in my life. On a Friday "puente" weekend it can take over 2 hours just to get out of Bogota.

There are plenty of buses and private drivers that can take you to Giradot for around 150 - 170,000.

I have no idea about home prices but the architecture seemed to be very nice and I saw secure neighborhoods. Looks like South Florida a little.

If you like parks then Piscilago is there with lots to do.

I also stayed last year in Melgar at Club Militar and it was a very nice campy place.

Good luck

"The reason you don't understand me Edith is because I am speaking English but you are listening Dingbat!" -Archie Bunker

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NataliaV says on Sep 4, 2008, 18:09:

Thanks for the updates! From what everyone says it wouldn't be a bad place to have a home for a few yearly visits. Its actually two houses, so we would rent one and keep the other for when we come visit. Thanks again for helping.

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billyb says on Sep 4, 2008, 20:57:

If you want something real secure, look into El Penol Condominio campestre on the outskirts of Girardot, it has its own private lake for water skiing, golf course (ranked #1 in Colombia by Planet Golf), several community pools as well as most house having their own and it is guarded tighter than Fort Knox by a mini army of private security armed with sub-machine guns around the perimeter. Unless you are registered, you don't get in. On the downside, you don't get any of the local flavor there.

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LilaM says on Sep 4, 2008, 20:58:

Jajjajaj yes beisbollover, those mosquitos (jején as we say) are the worst!!!! if you bring a good mosquito repelent is the best way to enjoy the plan, absolutely itchy

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

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billyb says on Sep 4, 2008, 21:19:

Ah yes, those damn mosquitoes and the closer you got to the water, the worse they got. I prefer to use a natural repellent called Aguardiente.

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pavo says on Sep 5, 2008, 06:10:

Natalia. Where do you have the houses. Are they for your vacation pleasure? If vacation is your goal, I would say Girardot is an amazing place. If I had the money, I would have vacation houses there. I do go there frequently and rent fincas in Penon or Penaliza. Amazing golf course. This is a classic hotlands escape. The scenery is beautiful and lazy days by the pool are the rule.

If leisure is not your goal and living in the town of girardot with a job is your goal. Yuck. Too hot and dirty for me.

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NataliaV says on Sep 5, 2008, 08:03:

Pavo - I'm not sure where exactly the houses are. I am waiting for the info from my abuela. I have been there twice, so I know the condition and style of the houses. My abuelo had the houses built some years ago and we have family there taking care of them and renting them out. My abuela wants me to buy them from her since she is getting older and I'm the only one in my family that goes back often. It would just be for occasional visits, not to live-in year round.

Do you now how I could compare prices of houses on the market right now over there? I want to pay fair market value, but I'm not sure how to figure that out. We would just want to transfer the property to my name and then I would pay her in dollars most likely. Any idea how to accomplish that?

Thanks!

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pavo says on Sep 5, 2008, 08:25:

Here is a link of houses for sale in Girardot. Could give you an idea. All depends on the area. There are million dollar fincas in the area and less expensive houses in lower income areas of the town.

http://www.metrocuadrado.com/servlet/co.com.m2.servlet.demanda.BuscarI... (Cundinamarca)&idTipoInmueble=2&idTipoNegocio=1&imageField.x=36&imageField.y=15

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NataliaV says on Sep 5, 2008, 11:33:

Thanks Pavo! I'll take a look.

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Noelito40 says on Sep 5, 2008, 12:34:

The father in law lives in Giradot, and I've been there twice and really liked it, especially the waterpark in Piscilago. Although I was with the inlaws I found it quite safe, and in fact I told the in laws that I'd consdier settling but they laughed because my milky white gringo ass would be burned there, Giradot is hot, hot, hot!!!

Noelito

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NataliaV says on Sep 6, 2008, 05:44:

It is pretty hot there. Have you traveled anywhere else Noel? I also have family in Ibague. I did like Girardot better than Ibague. For some reason the shower water in Ibague seemed a lot colder than anywhere else. Brrr...

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Noelito40 says on Sep 6, 2008, 10:34:

I'm currently resident in Bogota (the wife is from here) but am not a fan of Bogota. I didn't come half way round the world to live in a climate which is only a few degrees better than Dublin!! and when you add in the size, traffic problems and the cost of living (Number one lesson for anyone considering moving to/retiring in Bogota, it aint cheap!!) So I'd like to move to a smaller city, within an hour or so of Bogota, with a better climate. Some options are Fusagasuga, La Vega, Villeta. We've been to these places a few times, but I think we would rent there first for a few months, and if we settle, think of buying a place.

Noelito

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