Ciudad Bolivar

kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 22, 2007, 01:54:

sorry colombiano81, but i think is plain dumb, why on earth you want to go there,it's ugly, dusty, dangerous, boring and there is nothing interesting in there. it's just like another poor area of bogota, people strungling to survive.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 22, 2007, 06:54:

jajaja DG, i like that "play rana" jiji or tejo

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Colombiano_81 says on Mar 22, 2007, 13:17:

actually Im Colombian but the type that looks like he could live in Chico so I might stand out a bit. To me it would be interesting because I have lived most of my life in Canada so those ghetto slums bring alot of curiousity. i guess curiosity killed the cat but there's gotta be a way. Would love to see how those ppl live...and I bet they do have hot chiks (for me hot chiks are poor brown latinas too). I remember riding around the bus in way up North Bogota and seeing great looking poorer girls get off and walk up the slums of the barrios in the mountains. Basically, i look at those barrios on the mountains and for some reason I wanna go and see. Dont know why. Anyways I wouldnt dare going alone and I guess I would definately have to dress up like a scrub.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 22, 2007, 15:37:

Oh well como decimos en Colombia, NO HAY MUJER FEA, SINO MUJER POBRE :(

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Colombiano_81 says on Mar 22, 2007, 15:46:

hey DG in which localidad de Bogota do you live?

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 22, 2007, 15:51:

I know DG why did you said that? i was a kennedy girl ;)

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manINred says on Mar 22, 2007, 22:29:

Seriously? I know Toronto like the back of my hand (for better or for worse), which area would you say is worse than areas in Bogota?

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manINred says on Mar 22, 2007, 23:03:

hahaha trust me I am not a Toronto promoter. I would rather live in a poorer area (but not paramilitary/guerrilla area) of Medellin than to have to suffer in dismal places such as Mississauga or Rexdale. Ugh, depression beyond belief. Bogota I don't know well enough. I live just below 'the jungle' which is not the greatest of areas, but has gotten better.

I once saw a film made in Winnipeg, backwards natives leading depressing lives, it made me fear going to any of the places you just listed, not fear as in fear of the guerrilla, but fear of utmost depression. I like avoiding cold boring places where sniffing glue is commonplace.

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manINred says on Mar 22, 2007, 23:07:

and I actually did a paper that earned me top marks, on how Canada has an internal 'third world'. Yep, good ol' Canada has a developing country within itself, and the country has been named Nunavut, for the sake of political correctness. Well, the borders are not what counts, it is the population, the native one. The statistics of our native populations are damning, downright surprising, given Canada's high regard for excellence in development.

It just goes to show, marginalized native populations exists all over the Americas, and boy, that's one thing that many Canadians aren't surprised to see when they come to Colombia, in fact we're used to it.

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manINred says on Mar 23, 2007, 06:13:

It probably is Mr. Gringo but no, poverty in Canada is not nearly as widespread as in Colombia. Nowhere close. Canada, as I stated before, does have an 'internal' third world, not one that I've seen first hand, so I can't compare it to Colombia's, it's different. More depressing perhaps. As you can gather from Rubito's description, Canadian cities have neighbourhoods that you don't wanna mess around in, but generally the cities are alright. You probably have harsher barrios in the states. Every country has its dark side.

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manINred says on Mar 23, 2007, 06:16:

And what's so bad/good about ciudad bolivar? Any reason to want to go there? Is it actually a part of Bogota?

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aztec says on Mar 23, 2007, 06:24:

kat1, do you mean as in the Bogota neighborhood? i was a kennedy girl ;)
By kat1

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webmanco says on Mar 23, 2007, 15:58:

I could go just by myself But it would be better with a nice company and better yet for a nice cause.

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

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 23, 2007, 16:20:

dear aztec this days you are picking in some of my words, can you tell me what are you trying to say???? :))))

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Lostgringo says on Mar 25, 2007, 20:56:

Canada and the Poor I won't get into an argument here with those have have a hate on for Canada. I won't even post again in this room because I know it is useless. I will say one thing and go. In Canada, if you have absolutely nothing in this world. You will be given a clean bed to sleep in, clothes on your back and something to eat. Don't you dare tell me the poor in Colombia are like the poor in Canada! And yes, I know all about the natives in Canada. By the way, how are the natives in Colombia treated.

Your Home Away from Home www.welovebogota.com and www.apartmentinbogota.com "Luxury apartments and rooms Cheap" Only 2 blocks from the American Embassy! 24/7 hour security.

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goin_south says on Mar 26, 2007, 00:04:

I'm a lil bored, Colombiano_81 I'll be (happy???) to head south with ya, when I arrive for interview! :(

Colombia es

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aztec says on Mar 26, 2007, 06:44:

No problem, was just curious. "i was a kennedy girl ;)' kat1

"dear aztec this days you are

dear aztec this days you are picking in some of my words, can you tell me what are you trying to say???? :))))"

kat1, Your statement seems to imply you had lived in Kennedy neighborhood in Bogotá. I asked because our nieces in-laws live there. Certainly no malice intended with my inquiry.

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Colombiano_81 says on Mar 26, 2007, 09:54:

Don Gringo please..as If you have gone to Ciudad Bolivar...If we all took you up on everywhere you declare that you have been....right. ramble on and someone will be believe you right? How the freakin hell do you know wether there is a bar there or not? Because Colombians say so? They havent gone up. And neither have you. So like yourself I prefer checkig out poorer barrios..and this one happens to have fame as the most dangerous...doesnt mean a city of 600, 000 doesnt have life ya dumbass.

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Colombiano_81 says on Mar 26, 2007, 10:00:

you're on flizafortunado!
you're on flizafortunado!

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Colombiano_81 says on Mar 26, 2007, 10:43:

Who said i only wanted to check out the bars? Plus I know what a bar is and It's not what you think that I think it is. I was talking about having a drink period nd chatting up locals.

"Also if you knew anything at all about the south you would know that Ciudad Bolivar encomapases a lot of different barrios, some dangerous and some not so. But you are talking out your ass."

And I happen to know that ciudad Bolivar is not only 1 big dangerous barrio...that there are actally some normal barrios also so Im not talking out of my ass so you dont like me to judge you dont judge me....Rich Colombiano Punk? You find that funny? whatever gringo.
I find it funny how offended you got by me doubting you ahd been there.

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Colombiano_81 says on Mar 26, 2007, 11:00:

whatever you think you are so tough ...my little pussy world eh jaja dont judge if you dont wanna be judged right? I called the bullshit on you because to me it's obvious you ahvent been there if you have good for you. And when you laugh at what I have to say and pretend you know it all you are dignant of a dumbass comment. Unlike yourself I am Colombian and have lived there also and I do not run with no freakin rich crowds Im beginning to think you envy those ppl...and trust me Im the first one to stand up y poner cara so this wiggling out I have no idea were you got it from. I really just dont wanna start cussing in a public forum know what i eman jellybean? HaHa.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 26, 2007, 11:00:

I have been in Ciudad Bolivar with my husband, in sierra morena specifically, and what they call bars are a little chuzos, nothing fancy and i don't think anyone will like to be there until midnight. usually a fight breaks and somebody is kill, taxis won't go there, and buses at night are limited, I was there because a friend of my dad bought a house and invited us to BBQ, And the funny thing is my friend's dad is not poor, he just like to buy houses in poorer areas, don't ask me why. the view from the house is quite nice actually. you can see Bogota.
my husband went twice cuz this guy invited him and my dad to try to make some beer, they ended making chicha.

my opinion? is nothing to see there, nothing at all. we left the bbq soon I was bored, and there was a little chuzo near with two doggie character drinking beer listening to carrilera music which i decided not to go...

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Colombiano_81 says on Mar 26, 2007, 11:06:

see thats the stuff i would liek to see...all these Colombians not daring to go there not even during the day....I dont know were Mr bigshot got the idea i wanted to go barhopping? A bar in my country (Colombia) is just that a chuzo or a hole to drink beer and dance vallenatos (during the day that is). Who said about going at night??

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 26, 2007, 11:09:

colombiano but there are many places you can go and listen to carrilera music and drink beer in chuzos, apart from ciudad bolivar, i have lots of contacts in kennedy i can send you there not many gringos hang around there and you can see another side of colombia that is not la zona rosa.

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Colombiano_81 says on Mar 26, 2007, 11:17:

yea thats great I will be seeing those other poor barrios also but if i go to kennedy then i can go to ciudad bolivar right..plus if gringos go like they say they do on sunday mornings and all then heck Why cant I be curious too? ..On second thought, If it's true that all these gringos go to CB then I dont wanna go anymore..Next

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Colombiano_81 says on Mar 26, 2007, 11:26:

what would you like me to do DonGringo? Would you like me to put you down and have a fight? How am i weaseling out? Funny how so many of all of us colombianos do it? Just trying to keep a level head to your smart comments.

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Colombiano_81 says on Mar 26, 2007, 11:29:

oh and thanks for all the info great stuff by the way. (No im not weasiling out didnt intend on fighting in the first place just arguing).

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Colombiano_81 says on Mar 26, 2007, 11:37:

All hail DG...
All hail DG...

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 26, 2007, 11:41:

I can see a good business here, I team up with my dad's friend, we gave gringos a tour of Ciudad bolivar, and afterwards we will have refrescos at his house. uhmm :))))
his house have a wonderful view of bogota so maybe we can have refrescos al fresco ;))

maybe i can talk to the guy that own the chuzito inn, near and see if we can have few drinks there to meet some local, good business for him too.

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manINred says on Mar 26, 2007, 11:43:

I agree with Lostgringo Canada, with all of its flaws, does have a wonderful social safety net. I think the poor in Canada have it much better than the poor in Colombia. And yes, if you don't have a place to sleep, you can go to a homeless shelter. Many choose not to go there though.

And what is Ciudad Bolivar, why do people go there, what is its appeal??????

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 26, 2007, 11:48:

and if you want something a bit safer then, a tour to Kennedy, we can take you to La Primera de Mayo where is all the bar and discos also know as cuadra picha, we can take you to Banderas, Bosa, Roma, casablanca, tintalito, el socorro, puerto Bolillo, even corabastos for a taste of a good Colombian market...hehehe

Actually La primera de Mayo is good, there are good bars there, and plaza de las americas is an excellent shopping center. you can go to mundo aventura one of the best theme parks of Bogota

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 26, 2007, 12:16:

DG In kennedy not everybody is poor, there are people I won't said rich but have good wages and live well. my sister have been in la primera de mayo with many friends colombians and foreigner and the foreigners don't experience that as far as she knows, as soon as they are in the nightclubs girls are very friendly towards them. I don't think the guys feel threaten i think they are friendly too. about jelousy well I am sure any man would be jelous of her GF watching another man, doesn't matter if he is colombian or foreigner.

One thing they do prefer the guys that can dance

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Mr. Hollywood says on Mar 26, 2007, 12:57:

Poverty in the US Given the discussion about comparative poverty in the US and Canada vs. Colombia, I thought this story today from the LA Times was rather eye opening.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-trailerpark26mar26,1,1763020,full.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage
The Southland's hidden Third World slums
In the Coachella Valley, hundreds of trailer parks house desperately poor Latino workers amid burning trash, mud, contaminated water.
By David Kelly
Times Staff Writer

March 26, 2007

THERMAL, CALIF. — Like most of their neighbors in the sprawling, ramshackle Oasis Mobile Home Park, the Aguilars have no heat, no hot water. On cold nights, the family of eight stays warm by bundling up in layers of sweaters and sleeps packed together in two tiny rooms.

Bathing is a luxury that requires using valuable propane to boil gallons of water. So the farmworker clan spends a lot of time dirty.

Jose Aguilar, a wiry 9-year-old, has found a way around the bath problem. He just waits until dinner. "My mom makes frijoles," he said, "then I take a bath in that water."

Jose and his family live in a world few ever see, a vast poverty born in hundreds of trailer parks strung like a shabby necklace across the eastern Coachella Valley.

Out here — just a few miles from world-class golf resorts, private hunting clubs and polo fields — half-naked children toddle barefoot through mud and filth while packs of feral dogs prowl piles of garbage nearby...

(rest of article at the URL above.)

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manINred says on Mar 26, 2007, 15:06:

Really Rubito? Well, I won't disagree, but I don't necessarily agree, it's hard to believe. I have seen poverty much much worse in Colombia than Canada. The poor that I have seen have not been as bad as in Colombia, nowhere close, and I'm not trying to make Canada sound better than it actually is, but I'd say the same for England too.

But poor aside, Canada's social safety net is much more advanced than Colombia's, at least for lower-middle class families. The rest don't need it.

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Colombiano_81 says on Mar 27, 2007, 13:59:

SIgn me up Kat1!
SIgn me up Kat1!

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