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cheap dates

I don't particularly want to get into the endless debates that seem so prevalent on this board regarding the nature of paisa woman, rather I'm looking for some practical advice. My situation is this: I'm an English teacher without a whole lot of work right now. I've been dating a great paisa for nearly a month right now, and the problem is that I'm expected to pay for everything even though my cash flow is seriously limited at the moment. She's not a golddigger, nor is it that her tastes are very expensive, it's more a bunch of little things that add up when you aren't making much money.

So, I'm looking for advice on things to do, or places to go in Medellin that are cool, or romantic, or interesting but are free or don't cost very much. (advice on finding a high paying job would be great, but belongs in a different thread). In New York, there used to be listings in TimeOutNY of all the free events/activities in the city. Is there anything like that here? What cool places do you know of that might be off the beaten path?

thanks in advance,

dt

By dtbrooklyn on Aug 29, 2008, 10:13 in Friendly Talkzone.

Peter (Moderator) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 29, 2008, 10:43:

Go camping :)

Poor but snappy

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paisa29 says on Aug 29, 2008, 10:46:

free movies at San Fernando Plaza every Monday at 19:00

"Fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality" Conrad Hilton

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paulr says on Aug 29, 2008, 10:52:

The bests things in life are free(So the beatles used to say), stay in and make sweet love.

"paulr threatens me with death !" pobrecito

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paisa29 says on Aug 29, 2008, 10:52:

don´t go to expensive restaurants, try to make some home-cooked meals.

"Fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality" Conrad Hilton

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mranderson says on Aug 29, 2008, 10:54:

Sorry but if you´re a foreigner then you´re expected to have cash. No cash, no dates.

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lpdiver says on Aug 29, 2008, 11:01:

The"Parque de los Pies Descalzos" is free and good for an afternoons entertainment. There is an inexpensive tourbus that hits Publito Plaza, el Centro etcetera that departs from there.

I was amazed that the hooker were on the sidewalks in el centro topless and bottomless in broad daylight. I am sure the driver has that on his "route" by no mistake.

ts

"cook some rice!"

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richardshari says on Aug 29, 2008, 11:48:

Try honesty! Tell her the truth about your financial situation.

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dtbrooklyn says on Aug 29, 2008, 13:44:

Thanks for all the helpful comments. Beyond all the crap, there is a wealth of information here, and I'm grateful to tap into it. I'd love to hear more.

How is El Salado for a nice afternoon picnic ? (if it ever stops raining!)

To address other points:

1) I don't need dates. Already got a girl and cash had nothing to do with it.
2) She knows about my situation, as she's helped me look for jobs, but she doesn't have a whole lot of cash either and culturally it seems like the guy is supposed to pay.

porque no te callas?

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mranderson says on Aug 29, 2008, 16:55:

El Salado is nice..I´ve been there once.

The theater is cheap and entertaining.

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manINred says on Aug 29, 2008, 18:58:

Paulr: "The bests things in life are free(So the beatles used to say),"

They then proceeded that line with: "So give me moooonnneyyy, that's what i want (yeah, that's what i want)" !!!!

;)

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joelg says on Aug 29, 2008, 22:31:

the malls have free events, call oviedo for their schedule 321 6116 (cocina, cocteleria, etc.)
downtown...cheap eats, museums, the centro commercial (c.c. guttenberg) with entrances from plaza botero has a cool cafe called, el caminito, all kinds of comida casera en el centro and on junin street
free concerts - stop by eafit and look at the posters
rent good movies at the DVD place near parque lleras www.dvdhome-video.com
cheap eats and people watching around the cathedral, smoke a joint
take a bus to sabaneta and hang at a cafe
pack a lunch and have picnic in any park, you can swim at the pool at unidad deportiva de belen for like 3000cp
take the subway to the remodeled jardin botanico, it's sweet
take the cable car to the top and get off and have a coffee/beer and watch a football game in one of the local dives (just stay within a block of the metrocable)
hike up to pueblito paisa, it's been renovated
your options are as limitless as your imagination....most importantly, just make friends with colombians and hang out

do what you like, take risks, build something

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GregYohn says on Aug 30, 2008, 08:42:

Hola!

I was with my GF and yesterday we went to a panderia and got some pastries with cerveza and pony malta. Later, we got choritzo grilling with arepas con caso. It was a place nice to eat and talk off a side street. With the right person, anyplace is good. It costs about about 8000 pesos total!

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg

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wabbits says on Aug 30, 2008, 14:21:

> Sorry but if you´re a foreigner then you´re expected to have cash. No cash, no dates.

I think you´re confusing normal girls with pre-pagos. If you´re paying a girl to hang out with you, then your relationship isn´t about love, it's about money. You´re making a transaction of cash, free drinks entertainment etc for companionship and sex. Stop kidding yourself.

Additionally, if the guy is working in Colombia, then he's making Colombian wages, which means he´s no more wealthy than anyone else.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Aug 31, 2008, 05:02:

Do like many Colombians couples used to do or still do in el parque la Independencia or Nacional in Bogotá, take a picnic, seat under a tree and let her start picking your blackheads :)))

they did look so much in love .. really....:)))

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dwmte7 says on Aug 31, 2008, 05:45:

you might start by applying a colombian mannerism...when you go out, both parties contribute to the costs incurred. it's not rocket science in colombia for the young couples to know that neither have deep pockets. so, if they want to go out together and have time together, they both, to their ability, pay the way.

go for walks, go 'fun' shopping, (looking in the shops, not buying), lots of activities in the malls, go to the nature park in envigado, it's wonderful; pueblito paisa; the museums; take a walk from the bassilica in centro, down junin, do your feeding, with the street vendors (lots of good eats, cheap) enjoy each other privately rather than feeling the necessity to always seek entertainment out in public. take a day walk all around poblado. go to parke envigado in the evenings and eat at the vendors, listen to the music of the guitar players, it's always fun and only costs a taxi or a bus ride.

dwmte

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dwmte7 says on Aug 31, 2008, 05:45:

for real, kat.

dwmte

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mranderson says on Aug 31, 2008, 06:22:

I ask that question a lot in my classes. Who pays on a date? The majority of the women in the class say they don´t pay for anything.

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paisa29 says on Aug 31, 2008, 12:19:

the best things in life are for free.

"Fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality" Conrad Hilton

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kalder says on Aug 31, 2008, 13:04:

Nonsense. Beer and pies cost money.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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drvannostren says on Sep 2, 2008, 19:14:

Definetly find a nice place and just go walk around I asked my girl plenty of times what she wanted to do, and when in doubt we kinda just cruised around, go take the Metrocable (either one, but the Acevedo one is more entertaining at the top) and walk around, most stuff is cheaper up there if you do spend some money, and just enjoy the company and hopefully nice weather. I'm no expert, but definetly use good weather to your advantage, and if the weather is bad, use that to your advantage too ;) dates don't have to be too complicated, especially if you've been doing it with that same girl a while, the two of you can just hang out and be merry, run errands, whatever.

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gringoloid says on Sep 2, 2008, 19:30:

get some game.

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rhydewithdis says on Sep 2, 2008, 20:50:

a Sunday afternoon at el Stadio watching a game (sitting in the el Sur section) shouldn't cost you more than 8mil a ticket, just bargain with the guys selling tix outside the stadium.

They said I couldn't play football I was too small / They say I couldn't play basketball I wasn't tall / They say I couldn't play baseball at all / And now everyday of my life I ball.

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papiChulo says on Sep 3, 2008, 01:21:

kat... "let her start picking your blackheads :)))" yea I have had 2 novias in colombia... why does that intrest colombianas so much? lol

I never thought my big nose could be so interesting.

some of the rudest people I know don't smoke

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papiChulo says on Sep 3, 2008, 01:23:

rhydewithdis... I love section sur for the games its the best time and free weed too.. ;)

some of the rudest people I know don't smoke

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paisa29 says on Sep 3, 2008, 05:39:

Kaliko...frist at all... get someone who really cares about yourself and you´ll know
what I´m talking about.

"Fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality" Conrad Hilton

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