Cali - how good?

expatriate says on Sep 12, 2007, 07:45:

I moved from California to Cali more than three years ago. I haven't had any problems. My main peeve is that I have a car, and get irritated when I drive around Cali, because the streets are not maintained, and people drive and park as if there are no traffic police, which is indeed the case.

If you live fairly close to the Cali river, or in the north, it will be cooler than elsewhere.

To be safe in Colombia, I suggest:
1.) Don't screw anyone over in a drug deal.
2.) Don't be a politician or a judge.
3.) Don't go stumbling drunk down the street.
4.) Be nice to everybody, especially in your own neighborhood, and they will probably take care of you if you don't follow advice 3.).
5.) Don't take a large amount of cash out of the bank from the teller. Many people will be witnessing this, and the bank tellers have access to your home address. Robbers will probably be waiting for you when you come home.
6.) When using the ATM, cover the buttons with your hand when entering your PIN.
7.) Live in an apartment with a guard downstairs who decides who comes into the building.

I'm sure there are more items of advice to list, but that's all I can think of for now.

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Monpirri says on Sep 12, 2007, 07:58:

I do not know much about Cali, except that my mom and three bothers were born there.
I do know however that the food in Cali is G O O D!!! I was in Cali one time but just for a couple of days, oh yeah I love chontaduro.

www.caliescali.com

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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bufalo says on Sep 12, 2007, 07:59:

See, now I'd go into the whole "you're moving to a city/country and you don't know anything about it?!", but I didn the same thing moving NYC-Montevideo 5 years ago. haven't been to Cali much, but I haven't seen anything there that would keep me around. Hope you find it.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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Crazy4Cali says on Sep 12, 2007, 08:18:

I don't think Cali, in and of itself, has much to offer. Certainly nothing that you couldn't find anywhere else in Colombia (or the world).

It's a large city with something like 2-3 million people so you're sure to find whatever it is that you're looking for, in some form or another.If you know someone or have family, then it's got all you need to get by, so long as you don't mind living in a large, run-down city with lots of un- and under-employment (and all that that brings with it).

Cali is Cali. Truer words were never spoken.

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bostonmickey says on Sep 12, 2007, 09:24:

I lived in Cali from '93-'00. It was a great city for me. Depending on what you are doing for work and your free time available, life could be good for you too. On weekends I played softball or basketball at las canchas panamericanas. I also did scuba there and took a couple of trips for scuba stuff. We did some bike trails in and around Cali and Voragine. Long weekends could be spent in Dapa, Km. 18 or 30 or El Carmen or Calima. Silvia and other towns could be done on long weekends or vacations.
The bar and disco scene was great, but it seems like bar/restaurants in Granada are very popular now.
It was supposedly dangerous back then too, but I don't recall any serious, life threatening exchanges.
I think you can make of Cali what you want to make of it. It all depends on you.
Give it a shot.

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billyb says on Sep 12, 2007, 11:06:

So true BostonMickey, it is what you make of it.

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manINred says on Sep 12, 2007, 11:11:

The best bowl of soup that I had in Colombia, and perhaps indeed in my life, was in Cali, a typical comida calena, and I wish I could remember its name.

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billyb says on Sep 12, 2007, 11:15:

Sancocho?

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Frank Rizzo says on Sep 12, 2007, 14:02:

Big party!! hot women, cheap, men own it !!! Women do what we say. That's Cali baby!!!

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wendell13 says on Sep 12, 2007, 14:05:

Be careful Frank...don't piss off the mods

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wendell13 says on Sep 12, 2007, 14:05:

Be careful Frank...don't piss off the mods

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Frank Rizzo says on Sep 12, 2007, 14:57:

You're right Wendell.....sorry....Cali is a historic town full of wonderful people and amazing sights. It and Medellin are my favorite cities..

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arthur brode says on Sep 12, 2007, 17:13:

Chill out Frank:)

What i like about Cali is that i can get one of these delivered to my apartment for 16,000 pesos

http://www.calirentals.net/

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podborski says on Sep 12, 2007, 19:06:

the shrimp looks good arthur but the ears in cream sauce not so much

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la campiña says on Sep 12, 2007, 21:00:

All of the above is true, more or less, but you must have a reason to choose cali, I've been here for 5 years on and off , good choice, look forward to meeting you , 11pm here but have to get back to the pool , late night dip then deep sleep aahh londres no mas

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la campiña says on Sep 12, 2007, 21:08:

I read alot about people meeting in bogota what about us Cali people meeting, I know its a bit short notice PERO mañana 13th blues brothers bar ave 6ta (a) con 22 great live salsa band can't miss me I'm with the other brits rok on

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Whitty says on Sep 13, 2007, 03:16:

Sounds like fun, but afraid I'm not there till the 26th. I'll keep it in mind though la campiña.

The reason I'm going is that my friend has got a job teaching English, and for want of something better to do, I'm following. No great plans, just seeing where things take me, which is as good a reason as any for everything I've done so far.
Trying to look for development work with charities...

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la campiña says on Sep 13, 2007, 15:44:

as a matter of interest, if you don't mind me asking, where is your friend going to teach english because I have many contacts here regarding the aformentioned.

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Whitty says on Sep 19, 2007, 00:58:

British English...do you know it? I seem to have also got a part-time position there but they haven't been in contact with me directly.
By the way, do you know where we could start to look for somewhere more permanent to live - either a private flat or shared with other people?
cheers

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