Bucaramanga questions

adrimm says on Jul 5, 2005, 21:51:

Bucaramanga Alot of my mother's relatives still live there, and as a foreigner visiting, I thought it was quite nice. Personally, I like it more than Bogota for longterm, but this is in part because life seems a little less frenetic than in Bogota (which is mindblowingly huge to me). The climate is nice 22-24 C (a tinge warm for me, which is where I do appreciate Bogota's climate). I have also heard it called la ciudad bonita, and ciudad de los parques.

My impressions of it the Canadiana scale of things to do (with Bogota being about Montrealish) and Cartagena being Quebec Cityish), would be sort of Edmontonionish/Calgaryish in the summer, minus the sprawl. So a bit quieter, but still plenty, plenty going on.

There are plenty of young people - Bucamaramanga has ***9 or 10 Universities***, so I doubt social life is boring.

I don't measure cities by how many international glitzy shops set up (which Bogota does have). Bucaramanga is probably more quintessentially Colombian that way. It is big enough (1 million metro, 2 million greater) to have all the services your heart could desire and the nearby towns are wonderful weekend getaways.

This is the local paper: http://www.vanguardia.com/
Other links:
http://www.comunidadandina.org/turismo/cuente7.htm
http://www.viajeros.com/diario-219.html
http://www.colombialink.com/01_INDEX/index_turismo/destinos/bucaramanga.html

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Sylvie says on Jul 5, 2005, 21:56:

adrimm Awesome! Thank you very much for your response. I will check out those links ASAP.

You've been to Montreal? That is where I'm from. How did you like it?

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adrimm says on Jul 5, 2005, 21:57:

PS I would go!

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Sylvie says on Jul 5, 2005, 21:58:

You should. It's a great city. ;)

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silviat says on Jul 6, 2005, 00:13:

Ok my opinion may be influenced by the fact that I am from Bucaramanga.

However I think it is a very cute city, really calm (which doesnt mean boring) and with a decent cultural life due to the presence of so many universities.

Its an affordable place and I would recommend you to take the job, santandereanos have an image of being sort of defensive people, but once you get to a santandereanos heart you have a permanent place. I would also agree with Bucaramanga being very safe if we talk about guerrillas and paramilitares, kidnappings or bombs or things like that. If we talk about thieves in the streets I think you can find them as in any other city, just watch your purse and dont walk in lonely streets late night.

I post something about Bucaramanga here http://www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/10321
check it out and if you decide on coming and you need any specific advising, please feel free to PM me, I will leave the city at the end of july but I still have many friends and family here that would love to help.

Silvia

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elmodefoque says on Jul 6, 2005, 04:42:

Never mind all this talk abou Sylvia, Never mind all this talk about Bucaramanga, where the f—k is that anyway? Listen, I ‘m about to get my old ass dumped. The doctor recommended that this time I date a 23 year old Canadian chick from Montreal, I was there over 30 years ago and all I remember was freezing my ass and a clean metro. Have you ever been with a corroncho? once you go corroncho you never go back.

any colombianita willing to date me, IS UP TO NO GOOD

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brunito says on Jul 6, 2005, 07:45:

maybe we should arrange a webcast out of Montreal.. ... for all colombian expats and canadienses in a meetup at Salsatheque. I'd be willing to meet you ladies!

brunito who lives in Ahuntsic (barrio which is in central north part of Montreal island near Des Prairies River)

Sylvie, how was your commute back home last night? (60mm of rain within 60 minutes!!!)

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Sylvie says on Jul 6, 2005, 07:50:

Brunito Traffic as terrible. They shut down the 15 and so everyone was on Decarie.It was absolute hell!

You're from Ahuntsic? I used to live lived right on the boundry of Ahuntsic in New Bordeaux. Right on the corner of Cote Veru (Sauve) and de L'acadie. :-)

What a small world!

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Sylvie says on Jul 6, 2005, 07:51:

Thank you Thanks to everyone who provided feedback and info about Bucaramanga. I'm starting to like it more and more. :-)

Elmo, I don't know what a corroncho is but I suppose I would date one. I don't discriminate :-P
But you must have a nice smile with big teeth.

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brunito says on Jul 6, 2005, 07:52:

Christophe-Colomb corner of Prieur! Well I should watch out nex time I go to Marché Central!

;-)

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Sylvie says on Jul 6, 2005, 07:55:

haha I just recently got into a fight with a chinese woman at Marche Central in teh Costco. I took the last big box of toothpaste as she was thinking about getting it.

She dindt' even look like she used toothpaste for crying out loud!

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elmodefoque says on Jul 6, 2005, 08:04:

i happen to have a great smile with chiclet size teeth, paid almost 5 thousand bucks.
a corroncho is a colombianas worst nightmare. to be given that great honor you gotta be from hot coastal cities like barranquilla, cartagena, santa marta, monteria, valledupar, riohacha, sincelejo among others. you gotta dance vallenato and come from poor ass neighborhoods with little education. your first sexual experience is with a donkey.

any colombianita willing to date me, IS UP TO NO GOOD

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adrimm says on Jul 6, 2005, 08:39:

Bucaramanga Sylvie check my recent posts, there are some with some pictures of the Bucaramaga region posted.

Montreal seemed wonderful, I love the atmosphere of the city. But I was only there for 5 days so I can't say I really know it.

GIB, I'm not from there and I thought it was alright. I get the sense that it is more peaceful than other cities we hear of.

Vicshere is another PBHer foreign resident of Bucaramanga you could ask about the city.

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adrimm says on Jul 6, 2005, 08:42:

Landscape It's a bit dryish like parts of Spain or the Okanagan in BC.

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adrimm says on Jul 6, 2005, 17:45:

PS on Montreal and "I would go" I mean I have been to Montreal, and that you should go to Bucaramanga!

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Sylvie says on Jul 6, 2005, 19:49:

Last question Are the guys there hot?.... just curious. I need something to look at! :-P

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Cerealkiller says on Jul 6, 2005, 20:28:

Sylvie it depends on the kind of guys youre into...Colombian guys, in very general terms, are quite fun to look at, im sure youll get a run for your money.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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Sylvie says on Jul 6, 2005, 20:31:

Cerealkiller hehehe I'm glad to hear that. I like all kinds of guys but I do prefer the intelligent ones with a awesome sense of humor and nice teeth. :-D

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adrimm says on Jul 6, 2005, 20:31:

Can't say I don't really think I thought them too different from Bogotanos...But in terms of eye candy/book cover perspective I hafta admit most Colombian guys just don't do it for me, fewer than at home at least. But as in all places people with great personalities shine out.

They generally do take care of themselves tho, so nothing really horrible (and generally groomed-looking hands). But I don't think this is too different from Bogota.

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Cerealkiller says on Jul 6, 2005, 20:39:

Oh well Sylvie, you did say "look at" so maybe you weird Canadian people have the ability to tell if someone's bright by just looking at them ;) Wish I could do the same thing though, seems like I always end up smiling, nodding and thinking "Alright now, its 8.30 I should be home watching soaps *yawn*"

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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Sylvie says on Jul 6, 2005, 20:42:

...... You're right Cerealkiller, I suppose I meant that I would just ogle and sexually harass the cute ones and become good friends with the smart ones.

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Cerealkiller says on Jul 6, 2005, 20:50:

Thats the attitude Sylvie, I can see you have a promising future ahead. But be nice, some cute guys are smart enough to be both victims of sexual harrassment and potential friends...I havent heard of that happening often anywhere in the world mind you, but there must be an exception...

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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Sylvie says on Jul 6, 2005, 21:01:

I'm always nice... I was just joking. I would never sexually harass anyone...unless they asked for it indirectly. :-P

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Cerealkiller says on Jul 6, 2005, 21:06:

So youve been pulling my leg all this time? And to think Ive been dead serious :((

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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Sylvie says on Jul 6, 2005, 21:08:

..... sorry, here is an internet hug from me to you *hug*

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vicshere says on Jul 7, 2005, 11:39:

some answers Hello Sylvie. I saw you had some questions about Bucaramanga. Well lets set the record straight. Bucaramanga is a not that big a city like Bogotá or even Montreal. I believe the pop is about 1.5 mill. anyway I fine it very easy to get around town where it be by bus taxi car or motorcycle. I would say from the center to porta del sol its about 10 minutes by taxi 5 minutes by motorbike. Porta del sol is on the way out of Buca. towards Bogotá. The weather is great. during the day can be as high as 35C but the humidity is very low so it very tolerable not like the coast when its 35 it fell like 45. I remember the days back in Toronto when it was a mere 33 and you sweat buckets all day. Then at night its a comfortable 17C ... nice sleeping weather. As for someone saying its very dry here that's far from the truth.... although we do have dry spells we don't have a dry climate. We are at 3900 feet ASL similar to Calgary altitude. The cost of living here is very cheap compared to other parts of Colombia. You can fine a fairy cheap room with private bath for about 200,000 or 100 bucks Can. per month. The bus are 850 and taxis 2,200 min ride...... 2,200 will get around a 3 kms from the center of the city. As for things to do...well ...this is far from a vacation resorts area..... unfortunately the ocean is a 9 hour bus ride or a 7 hour drive by car. There is no lakes to speak so people go for outings in the near by rivers. Which are full of rocks and fast flowing water. There are things like white water rafting, rock climbing, paragliding, maintaining trekking there is many parks which are cool on a hot day to walk around in. We do have a lot of history in the area and with many old churchs and old building dating back to the Spanish explores if that suites your fancy. You will find very cheap areas to shop and expensive shops in the strato 6 neighborhoods. The people are friendly and always want to help you.....but be careful ...always remember if its too good to be true is a scam. A vast number of Colombians are very good at scamming....its a major industry I think. Now as for the Bucaramanga men being hot..... I have never looked at men as being hot so I cant help you there....but you will find many men with green or blue eyes and white skin.....not all Colombian have black hair and dark skin.....thanks to the German inbreeding early in the last century. Anyway I have been living here for 2 1/2 years and this place is really growing on me the only thing I miss is the beach which I love. If only the beach was a drive down the mountain this place would be the cats meow. well that's it for now if you have any other question feel free to ask. PS may i ask what kind of work you will be doing here?

listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

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Sylvie says on Jul 7, 2005, 21:15:

... I will be part of a team developing online learning materials for ESL program (ESL= english as a Second Langauge)

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xkss2002 says on Jul 8, 2005, 09:19:

Hi Vic,
I sent my friend by your place to see if she could locate the restaurant. She said she found it last week, but that it didn't look open. Perhaps she was in the wrong area or it was the wrong time of the day? Anyway, I'll be back in B'manga in September, and will be staying about a month and a half. I'll try to find you and say "hello". I was in the city in March for a month, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Cheers!

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terco panzone says on Jul 8, 2005, 09:28:

If you want let us know when/if you get there Sylvie!

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vicshere says on Jul 8, 2005, 11:19:

good...
Sylvie.... sounds like a cool project....hope to see you when you are here
xkss2002....are your friends Don and Fannie??? if they are they dropped by last night....we had a long conversation about Colombia....it was a good break for me as I was able to speak English for a whole 2 hours...


listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

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adrimm says on Jul 9, 2005, 14:24:

Vic Not saying it is very dry, and Okanagan may have been an exaggeration, but I'm from a very lush and green place so to me it looks dryish. Ie. Bucaramanga vs a spot in El Gallineral. El Gallineral is lush and green, the city is not (but I suppose the same can be said of all cities).

All I can think is the chicamocha canyon without a speck of green on it.

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xkss2002 says on Jul 9, 2005, 16:45:

Vic If they are the people I THINK they are, then Fanny is the sister of my friend (Una Bumanguesa), and her novio Don is fron the southwest USA. Does this sound right? They are in Colombia now because her mother is very sick. I have never met her novio, so don't know if it is the "Don" of whom you speak.
Regards,

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carter says on Jul 9, 2005, 16:50:

vic do you ever pass by San Gil?

catch you for a beer sometime

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ColombianoX says on Jul 9, 2005, 16:59:

"If I told them I was living in a place called Bucaramanga they would never stop laughing!"

Whenever I mention Ft. Lauderdale to my family in Colombia, they also think that's a pretty goofy, unpronounceable name.


ColombianoX

'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

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adrimm says on Jul 9, 2005, 18:39:

Santandereana My mom goes generally by Santandereana, becuase although she lived in Bucaramanga growing up, she was born in a small town nearby.

The song "Campesina Santandereana" plays alot at her house.
:)

But I catch your drift if there ever was an odder sounding city name, Bucaramanga would be it.. although Honduras has some pretty trippy-sounding city names.

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tomtom33 says on Jul 9, 2005, 18:54:

Barrancabermeja Just like the sound of it.

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vicshere says on Jul 9, 2005, 22:13:

hey carter actually I washed my car in sangil just this past Wed heheheh on way back to bucaramanga....stayed in Socorro Town for a couple of days at sister in-law...... dam its cold up there heheheheh....drop me a private with your addy and next time I will pop by or call

listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic
homepage
http://spaces.msn.com/members/jacintoplace

listo

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