Cali Newsflash

Miguel says on Mar 7, 2006, 06:58:

Alerta Calipro "Incoming"

utopiacowboy says on Mar 7, 2006, 08:57:

I used to use my horses to mow my lawn. The only problem with them is they are more finicky eaters than cattle. The problem with having cattle do it is they are such klutzes they end up breaking things.

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.

kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 7, 2006, 09:15:

and Greenday, miguel.

maybe it wasn't the hunting season Desi

engage brain before opening mouth

SPECTRASORT says on Mar 7, 2006, 10:21:

Chippi Chappi Mall I suggest that you visit the Lenos Y Carbon whilst in Chippi Chappi , this is my favourite Mall in Cali.

arthur brode says on Mar 7, 2006, 20:05:

Hi Desi welcome back to cali.hope iam on the virtue list. G.I.B.,did you know that the mayor of Cali is blind?last month,while i was walking downtown i was asked to sign a petition to have the mayor removed from office.

http://www.calirentals.net/

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 8, 2006, 05:36:

there's nothing much wrong having cows to mow the lawn. In Sweden the King has sheep eating up the grass on state properties like large parks and forests. They have a definite edge over cows for leaving the lawn really short and even and they don't leave much excrement lying around on the ground.

Last night we (Adela and Desi) ate at Leños y Carbon de Unicentro. I have also eaten at Leños y Carbon at Palmetto. Nice, both.

LOL tinto, I didn't check out the other variety of pasties. They could walk by me at a public mall and I wouldn't even recognize them. Lots of silly-looking silicone, though.

Cheers,
Desi





Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

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

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 11, 2006, 13:09:

Cali mayor Polo is just one more in the line of lousy administrators Cali has had to endure in this past decade. He is just not up to the job, unfortunately. The caleños are generally pretty fed up with this situation and I'm fairly sure the next mayor will be one from the old political oligarchy, with all the baggage of the past, but better schooled and possibly more capable of taking care of the city administration.

The streets of Cali are a shameful sight, besides being a mortal trap to both drivers and pedestrians. We'll be needing somebody who can *see* to that; of course, that's just one of the myriad of problems Cali is having right now.

Cheers,
Desi


Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

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

Atrevido says on Mar 12, 2006, 09:34:

When, oh when will the city put up trafic lights at Sameco?! And while they're at it how about the U-turn on sexta in front of the casino at Chipichapi!!!

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 13, 2006, 13:00:

I dunno if they need more traffic lights in Cali I think they need less traffic, less cars, wider streets in better repair, massive transportation and get rid of all those little busetas and zillions of taxis. Zebra crossings, round points, traffic dividers..and by golly, less pollution! My face is turning black here in the end of the day.

Getting back to the safety issue here; I have been here almost three weeks now and still haven't seen anything scary (except traffic).

There's a whole bunch of lovely, new neighborhoods in the south plus new, very neat strata 3-4 barrios. In general, the city has experienced some progress since the last I was here. I just don't get why they build so much in Cali, especially luxury high rises where almost nobody can afford to live anyway.

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

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

Crazy4Cali says on Mar 13, 2006, 13:04:

Luxury Hi-Rises I would wait until after they have a good earthquake before considering some of those luxury hi-rises down south.

Nothing like a good "shakedown" to see which ones were built well and which were built quickly.

Atrevido says on Mar 13, 2006, 19:02:

I think you're located sort of in the south and may not be familiar with Sameco. It is a chaotic traffic circle in the North end whith five entering thorofares. The via Yumbo, Calle Setenta, Avenida Tercera and some additional lanes all come together with heavy southbound "mula" traffic coming off the via Yumbo. Try it at la hora pico sometime and see if you still think it can do with out a traffic light.

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 14, 2006, 07:02:

you're right atrevido about me being located in the South, as a matter of fact pretty much in the middle of it, in Camino Real.

No, I'm not familiar with Sameco traffic circle. I tend to think that traffic circles are a better solution than traffic lights for making the traffic move along smoothly. Of course, you'll have to know how to drive in a circle and observe the rules strictly. (Hmmm...could this be an issue why circles are not so efficient here in Colombia?)

Getting to the other side of the Quinta is a task for titans. With MIO being built and the crossings all obstructed it can take me twenty-five minutes to reach my Lido house from Camino Real by car, a distance no longer than a couple of kilometers. Wouldn't try walking, however.

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

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

calipro says on Mar 15, 2006, 02:47:

I just got back from Cali last night. And I'm happy to report I didn't see a single gringa eventhough I visted Chipichape with my girlfriend on various occasions.

I don't think hunting season is ever over in Cali. But I did lose my hunting license in September when I let my girlfriend move in.

I just finished my pre-matrimonial classes with her at the Catholic church. The only thing I got out of it was some COLD FEET. Maybe I'll have to renew my hunting license again. jejeje!

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 15, 2006, 06:55:

you just might´ve seen me... calipro, but I blend in really good. Just kidding, of course, I haven't been to Chippy Chappy Mall since that one time two weeks ago. Plenty of nice malls here in the South, Palmetto, Jardín Plaza...guaranteed gringo-free!

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

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

Atrevido says on Mar 15, 2006, 18:46:

Chippy Chappy would be the Finnish spelling.

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 16, 2006, 06:11:

wrong atrevido "Sippy Sappy" would be the Finnish spelling.
Since there's only around 5 million of us that spelling is not all that popular. DroolTrail Chippy Chappy is just about as gringo as they come.
Cheers,
Desi

GringoD,
A day without a gringo to bother me? I don't know. It doesn't bother me when you are bugging me, though.

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

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

Gator says on Mar 16, 2006, 07:50:

Desi... Would you be interested in meeting one of the wife's sister's?

"Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscripti catapults habebunt."

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

Atrevido says on Mar 16, 2006, 07:55:

No kidding. So what idioma is "DroolTrail Chippy Chappy" supposed to be?

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 16, 2006, 15:54:

Gator I'd be delighted to meet any of your family here in Cali. Send me a p.m. on Colombianblog (if you're still a member there) and I'll reply with my cel number for the contact.

Tinto,
thank you for an accurate translation of my "Finnish". About my roofing project: the "dwarf has grown" as my maestro de obra says. I'm just repairing the roof this time, the work is almost finished. I'm getting new kitchen cabinets, repairing humidity damages on walls, repainting, fixing the ceilings, prettying up the front, plus a series of smaller jobs and running out of money.

The floors, the plumbing, the closets, the bathrooms and the second floor will have to wait. There won't be any Desi's B&B this year either; the house is in such a disrepair that I won't be able to do everything at once and furnish it too plus that my renters have a contract for another year. I also intend to do everything using only my own money and it may take some time.

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

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

Davethebear says on Mar 16, 2006, 16:47:

Tourism I am looking to set up a submarine tourist buisness in Colombia. I need to have clear deep water. What city would have the largest number of tourists? This submarine would have large portholds to see the marina life. I need to have a place where the water has the marina life as well as the tourists. Any ideas?

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 21, 2006, 14:14:

Finally I saw my first police chasing a thief in Cali. Other than that, only lots of car accidents. The syringeman is in custody, the elections having a break until May and the road to Buenaventura safe up to Kilometro 30 at daytime, at least. Again, your greatest worry will not be kidnapping or petty crime, but deadly traffic on the Carretera al Mar. We went to a restaurant called La Cabaña yesterday, up on that road, nice and cool. I had baby beef medium rare, grilled to perfection, my friend róbalo, nice and flaky. We drove up to Kilometro 30. visited a friend who lives on a finca off the mountainside (boy some steep and narrow roads and the only scary moment was when our car was attacked by two huge rottweilers and had to roll up the windows really fast.

Nice change of climate, may want to swap my Cali house for a little finca in cold climate.

Cheers,
Desi
(and Davethebear, sorry no submarines in Cali or thereabouts. Try San Andrés and Old Providence.)



Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

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

Monpirri says on Mar 22, 2006, 15:26:

You make a difference! Thank you Desi for the updates on Cali.
Please do not forget to look up for the music CD or tape.

Ciao

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 31, 2006, 15:56:

I had totally forgotten that I had a running thread on Cali news. Thanks, monpirri, for reminding me. I bought a cd with llanera music, including the song I especially wanted, "El Anima de Santa Helena" but will be looking for the one you recommended me.

I haven't finished yet with the repairs of my house; money goes fast and every time I think that I'm almost done there are new things that must be fixed. It's like throwing money in a bottomless well.

There are women walking around in the malls and streets of Cali with a painfull expression on their faces and watching their step very carefully. I've been informed that many employers don't consider elective cosmetic surgery (lipos, breast augmentation and such) as a reason for a sick leave, so these wome have extensive surgeries on a Friday afternoon and they're back to their jobs on Monday morning.

I've taken pics of the cows grazing in public parks. Will post them when back in Sweden.

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

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

Monpirri says on Apr 1, 2006, 06:29:

Hola Desideria The song I recommended to you is called, Romance de la Cañada from the "Las Bellezas de mi Llano" collection.

You can probably find it at La Música, un paraíso de sonidos, in Cali: Unicentro Local 271 Local 223, Cosmocentro Local 26 y la 14, Boulevard Av. 6 Bis Calle 29 Esquina Calima La 14- CALI
O en Bogota: Boulevard Niza, Centro Comercial Santa Bárbara, Centro Comercial Andino- SANTAFE DE BOGOTA.
I do not remember where I bought them if it was in Villavicencio, Bogota or in Cali but I saved the store gift bag, which is where I got the above addresses.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

Desideria (Moderator) says on Apr 2, 2006, 15:08:

hola monpirri "You can probably find it at La Música, un paraíso de sonidos, in Cali: Unicentro Local 271 Local 223, Cosmocentro Local 26"
I'll look for it at these locations since I visit these two malls every week several times. Thank you for the information!

Cheers,
Desi
(with nothing really new to report from Cali)

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

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

Monpirri says on Apr 4, 2006, 10:30:

Desi, the Rasmus in Colombia Who are The Rasmus? Last night while watching the entertainment section of Caracol, I saw all the girls going crazy for the Rasmus from Finland.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

Desideria (Moderator) says on Apr 4, 2006, 14:42:

I had no idea, so I googled: "Recientemente integrados en el mainstream europeo como sus compatriotas HIM, The Rasmus son una jovencísima banda finlandesa que con su cuarto disco han visto abiertas, de par en par, las puertas de la fama pasajera, los caprichos consentidos y las groupies quinceañeras. Obra de soft rock inofensivo, con querencias oscuras, menos afectado que la penúltima opereta pseudogótica de HIM, y más cercano a los discos de Bon Jovi o Europe, `Dead Letters´, su cuarto disco, está compuesto, casi en su totalidad, por medios tiempos que se endurecen en los estribillos. Un disco sobre dolor existencial adolescente, sobre dolor físico adolescente (ya saben, acné y menstruación) en el que hay himnos hiperdramáticos, con tendencia a la melodía siniestra (es curiosa la gran influencia que una banda de pop electrónica, como Depeche Mode, está teniendo en el reciente rock para nenas europeo), como el tema que abre el disco, `First Day Of My Life´, el conocido single `In The Shadows´ o `Time To Burn; baladas con sabor a rock épico ochentero (`Not Like The Other Girls´ en cuyo sonrojante texto, seguro, se verán identificadas todas las fans con un ligero dominio del inglés o la divertida depresión prepúber de `Funeral Song, que cierra el disco) logrando, en sus momentos más brillantes, acercarse sin complejos ni vergüenzas a AOR más desprejuiciado, donde reciclan el sonido de guitarras del post-grunge uniéndolo a los estribillos más comerciales del pop europeo más comercial, con, probablemente, Roxette a la cabeza (hay están `In My Life´, quizá la mejor canción del disco, `Guilty´ que podría estar en el repertorio de los mencionados Bon Jovi o de Foreigner, el riff completamente demodé de `Back In The Picture´) convirtiendo a, The Rasmus en una joya para posmodernos, revivaleros y semejantes tribus, los mismos que corean a The Darkness y reivindican a Survivor. O tal vez para estos modernos, el hecho de que el disco se haya grabado este pasado año, le resta valor. Pero créanme, el valor, es el mismo . "
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.therasmus.com/


Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

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

Monpirri says on Apr 5, 2006, 21:39:

De todos modos muchísimas gracias por tomarte el tiempo para dejarme saber de que se trata el grupo The Rasmus.

Que tengas una buenas noches.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

Desideria (Moderator) says on Apr 18, 2006, 14:24:

just a couple of things as already told in another thread, the road to Buenaventura has been blocked off for several days due to mudslides that have left around forty people dead, including a Noticinco tv reporter buried under the sliding masses of loose soil and rocks. There are many people still missing, a hundred or so injured people and hundreds of homeless. I can get an update on excact numbers by tomorrow after watching the evening news. The road is supposed to be reopened tomorrow for trucks from the port (the largest and most important seaport Colombia has) as the goods are starting to get damaged in the trucks and the economy and trucking business is taking an enourmous beating. This is the only road from Buenaventura that can be driven by heavy trucks. They are planning to build an alternate route via Loboguerrero/Buga (this road already exists but cannot handle heavy traffic)

I'm getting my extension (prórroga) tomorrow. I went to DAS on Monday, did all the paperwork and was fingerprinted, but have tu return for the stamp in my passport tomorrow. They can't stamp the passport ahead of time! The cost is Col Pesos 60.600,00 (Sixty thousand six hundred) as of today. I'm sure it'll be more next month.

Cheers,
Desi


Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

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

poco says on Apr 18, 2006, 15:48:

Sad to this happen Dec. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Colombia's biggest seaport, Buenaventura, is handling 28 percent more cargo since President Alvaro Uribe's offensive against guerrillas improved security on the roads leading to the Pacific coast.

Traffic through Buenaventura rose to 8.7 million tons this year, generating about $60 million in revenue, from 6.8 million tons in 2001, the year before Uribe took office, said Victor Julio Gonzalez, chief executive of Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Buenaventura SA, which runs the port. Exporters and importers are less concerned guerrillas will steal their cargo on the 600 kilometer (373 mile) trek from Bogota to Buenaventura, he said.

Things were looking so good at the end of 2004 2005 was even better. :)

My GF has an album with many great photos showing her and the husband vacationing in Buenaventura. I was surprised to see how nice the area looked, 15 years ago, little swimming areas, toddler pools, rock outcroppings,,, but sadly,, the guerillas took over and until four years ago it was not a place to have fun in the sun.

Then Uribe took over the reins and the port area was showing steady improvement. Several security improvements some with the Mayor of Cali to assure food for the poor people, the ones left behind by previous administrations, and create hope for a Buenaventura tourist rebound but it looks like that is NOT in the cards for a while and the Bogota flowers might wilt in the hot sun.

Yes, I’m sure the EXACT body count will be on the news. I always look to Television when I’m interested in exacting details.

Maybe this is a good thing, I’d been envious of her poor dead husband, all the fun they must have had but at the same time being warned that the heavy stress of Colombian life that lead to his early death by Heart failure at 35.

They’ve dug up his bones by now,, I’m sure,, where they are now enshrined in a little brick hole, one of many that line the walls of the cemetery. I can only hope the cool breezes from the mountain blow his way. A fitting tribute to one who was so fond of blow.

"Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent" - Isaac Asimov

Southern_Dyme says on Apr 18, 2006, 20:37:

Interesting! Hey Desi,

I just finished reading all of the posts concerning your trip in Cali, and it does make for very interesting reading! I laughed very hard when you mentioned the cows eating grass...as much as gas costs here in the USA now, that might be our next alternative as well! Hearing about the progress of your house is interesting as well. Is the cost of living very high there?

Keep the stories coming!

~SD~

Desideria (Moderator) says on Apr 20, 2006, 08:53:

poco I really don't know who that rant of yours was aimed at but just in case it was me (this is my thread, after all) please back off.

The cool breezes comment was made based on opinions of people who live near the hillside in the southern barrios(Santa Isabel, Lido, Nueva Granada)and yes, the estimated raise in temps was a guess I made based on the stats (the average temp of Cali was reported 24 degrees back in the late seventies, 25 degrees in the late nineties and I don't think it has gotten any cooler since then.

I am not even trying to discuss your expertize on building materials or the impact of tar-burning pits on a city environment, I'll grant you that knowledge. I was commenting a newspaper article where four prominent caleño architects were interviewed. I don't, however, appreciate your aggressive and ironic style of responding to my messages, especially since I have done nothing to deserve that.

Cheers,
Desi


Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

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

Desideria (Moderator) says on Apr 26, 2006, 15:25:

Creo que sé donde la compraste, debe haber sido en la area general del puente Ortiz-Plazoleta del CAM donde hay muchos puestos de gente que vende artesanias. La proxima vez cuando esté por ahí voy a mirar si las encuentro. Gorras o cachuchas, creo que son sinonimos.

Utopia,
I don't know why, but reading poco's response, even if it was not directed at me I found several sarcastic expressions referring to something that I said in this thread and another thread.(Cool breezes, body count and evening news etc.) Anyway, either I'm forgetting my English or there's intentional irony in the message aimed at making my comments sound ridiculous.

A short progress report:
I'm almost finished with the repairs now. I'm getting the kitchen cabinets installed (finally) tomorrow and I'll be bringing the cleaning crew to the house to start removing all the construction material and garbage left inside.

This coming weekend is a "puente". I'm hoping to be able to take the trip to Parque del Café at this time.

Cheers,
Desi


Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

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

utopiacowboy says on Apr 26, 2006, 18:49:

Geez, maybe you're right, Desi, and he was giving you the barb. I didn't catch it at all the first time I read it but when you mention these specific items and I go back and look at it, you may be right.

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.

Monpirri says on Apr 27, 2006, 10:14:

La cachucha bacana de paja de color café I hope you are able to find it somewhere in Cali and please let me know if you do find the vendor(s)

Have a nice day,
Monpirri

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008