First Trip to Colombia

goin_south says on Nov 7, 2006, 14:16:

I have heard recently that there are FIREWORKS In Samaniego almost every night. Step carefully. Required attire: Camouflage, with black headgear.

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

adrimm (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 7, 2006, 14:47:

EMAN says on Nov 7, 2006, 16:00:

Feria De Cali The Feria De Cali begins December 25 and will have events all week. December 28 will be the Festival of Flowers and Parade of Antique Cars. Information can be found on the below link.

http://www.colombia.com/turismo/ferias_fiestas/feria_cali/index.asp

Eje Cafetero is a few hours from Cali and wonderful!! Parque Cafe, Armenia, Pereira, Manizales, Salento/Valle de Cocora, Santa Rosa De Cabal and the Thermales are worth seeing! Balsaje is very fun - it is a bamboo raft with a guide and you spend 3-4 hours going down the river. You have a great traditional lunch cooked on stones and spend an hour swimming in a waterfall.

I would recommend spending a few nights in this area. This would be a good half way point if you are to go to Medellin which is a GREAT city!!!

I will be in Cali on December 26 as well and then heading to Medellin. As far as exchanging dollars for pesos, I have only used the ATM Machines in Colombia as they give the most favorable rates. I have checked the Exchange houses at the Miami Airport and they DON'T give a favorable exchange rate. At that time the rate was 2240 COP/$ and they would give me 1700 COP/$. Most of the exchange houses in Colombia will charge a hefty fee as well, best to use the ATM Machine.

If you need phone numbers of hotels, bilingual guides, or any other information please let me know.

Have a great trip!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

johnarizona says on Nov 7, 2006, 16:06:

us ATM at airport in Cali for dollars or ATM near your hotel....I got burned changing money in Miami airport..the rate they gave me (US DOLLARS TO Colombian Pesos) was much worse than what you get at an ATM in Colombia., or even on the street.
Keep some 1 dollar bills handy for tips when Colombian change is not available and all you have is 10K and 20K bills, which seems to be often for some reason. Giving a 10K and a dollar instead of 2 10Ks for a 10K bill and tip saves you a wait for change, or being short changed.

Ave Sexta (6) is fun most nights. Between 15 and 25 the streets basically. And also the area around Avenida 9 and Calle 15 has some nice places to eat and drink. All that areas seems relatively safe till you notice the crowds thinning out.

Chipi Chapi mall is a 3 dollar cab ride from there. Pretty nice.

Take cab also to Zoo a nice time. Plenty of other places but I cant tell you how to navigate there.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

johnarizona says on Nov 7, 2006, 16:07:

I meant to say use ATM for Colombian Pesos (COP) rather than dollars in the earlier post.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

elgringopapijudio says on Nov 7, 2006, 16:20:

great time hey man im a gringo too and was in cali last year it kicked ass..

email me

bereksaz at aol.com

ill give u info

RT

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kalder says on Nov 8, 2006, 05:12:

Cali Hi NJGringo5! It all depends on what kind of things you like doing: Cali is a comparatively modern and, it must be said, ugly city and is rather light on standard tourist attractions. If you’re a ‘churches and museums’ kind of guy, there’s not a lot there for you. However, I’m guessing that it’s Cali’s reputation as a party town that’s luring you down there. If so, it’s a great place to spend some time.
Wandering around the Chipichape Mall, enjoying a couple of beers and a steak dinner, while watching the beautiful caleñas swanning past is a pretty nice way to spend your lunchtime, let me tell you.
As for the evenings, well, speaking personally I like to spend them in the cosy, intimate restaurants of the Santa Teresita barrio (near the Hotel Intercontinental) with my wife. But if I were still a single guy, barhopping along the Avenida Sexta would be the chosen way of frittering away my pesos. Especially in the open-to-the-street corner bars like ‘El Viejo Barril’ or ‘La Pesabrera’...sipping on a Club Colombia, soaking up the atmosphere...
Yup, the Feria de Cali EMAN talks about can be enormous fun. But do exercise your street smarts: the crowds will be big and although the overwhelming majority of Colombians are decent, hardworking, family-minded people, some of them ain’t and you don’t want to run into them alone and with your guard down in an unfamiliar city. In fact, do take a moment to study PBH’s ‘Colombia safety guide’: It’s full of excellent advice; much of it from gringos who have actually lived or live in the city. Well worth the read.
But most of all, do enjoy your trip, have a great time. I'm sure you will:Colombia is intoxicating!

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

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 8, 2006, 07:59:

and then this one... "Cali is a comparatively modern and, it must be said, ugly city and is rather light on standard tourist attractions." (kalder)

Yes, Cali is comparatively modern but has it's historical parts too. The downtown area of Caliviejo is full of small hidden treasures of architecturally interesting houses, unfortunately in disrepair more often that not.

This is the second time in a short time that I read the word "ugly" as referring to the city of Cali. It always pisses me off. Yes, Cali has many barrios that are not so pretty and the downtown area is really quite modest. Yet Cali has many very attractive neighbourhoods, with lots of trees and vegetation, well-maintained homes and tidy buildings but of course, the typical visitor to Cali only sees the ramble of Ave Sexta (one of the uglier parts) and the night view from the bars and pubs. Avenida Sexta and "Chippy Chappy Mall" is not what Cali is about, except for a bunch of gringos.

Cali is a working city, a hub of commerce and industry and is not mean to be a touristy city. Yet there are plenty of things to do, places to see, day trip destinies around the city. Just don't diss what you don't really know.

Cheers,
Desi
("don't mess with Cali")




«Sé que los seres humanos y los peces podrán coexistir en paz». ( George W. Bush, Saginaw 29-09-00)

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kalder says on Nov 8, 2006, 09:54:

Oops, pardon me!... Although I do stand by what I said. My comments were aimed at a gringo vacationeer and were therefore focused on the sort of things that gringo vacationeers tend to like, ie: bars and nightclubs.
As for Cali being 'ugly', well no, obviously not every square hectare of it is; but the developers did some pretty horrible things to it back in the sixties. And the city fathers don't exactly attend to it like it's a beloved child either. Prague it ain't.
I'm sorry if what I wrote 'dissed' anyone or anything, but, although (apparently) I'm not someone who 'really' knows Cali, I'm familiar enough with the place to be able to offer the occasional well-intentioned bit of advice about it.
Lots of love!

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

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 8, 2006, 11:08:

I don't know if you are or are not but usually people who say things like "Cali is am ugly city" don't know that city well. It isn't the Prague but then again, Medellin isn't Venice or Bogotá Paris; it's an unfair comparison.

I think the nicest neighbourhoods were built back in the sixties and seventies; practically nothing built after that has any redeeming value. Even though, one of the ugliest buildings in Cali, El Palacio Rosa (at the beginning of the Sexta) was built in the seventies. If you look closely, most old houses around Plaza del Cayzedo have fairly elegant lines and clean style, but could be maintained better, of course.

I'm sorry if I was a bit agressive in my response; I just get so tired of all stereotypes about Cali. I agree, BTW, that gringos should be careful in Cali; even during the Feria. They could also go somewhere else or stay home.

Cheers,
Desi
(don't mess with Cali)

«Sé que los seres humanos y los peces podrán coexistir en paz». ( George W. Bush, Saginaw 29-09-00)

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Nov 8, 2006, 15:15:

NJGringo5 So, how was it, that you chose Cali for your first trip? over Medellin, or Cartagena, Bogota, or others?

"Tengo mucha compasión para el loro."

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Marchg says on Nov 8, 2006, 16:09:

Well, it´s funny to hear from Cali through the eyes of stranger Gives you another perspective of the city, specially to a native, as I am. I don´t judge anyone, everyone has it own experience of the place

In my case I can´t give a reliable concept about Cali. When in love I see it perfect: has a sunshine unique, vibrant light which permeates everything, trees, streets, really special. And the evening breeze at San Antonio...
In those cases even the east part of the city has it charm.
When disappointed, I see Cali very oppresive, with no taste, grey, boring with no measure.
Always happens that when I almost give up, the city itself reveals me something new which makes me grateful again for living here.
So it´s a non ending discussion between me and this awful-beautiful thing.
I recommend an author from the sixties, I understand, who was born here and shows very interesting images with a beautiful narrative, of the soul of this place, I dont know if translated yet to english.
His name, Andrés Caicedo. There must be more recent authors but I don´t know any of them.
Marguerite Yourcenar has a tale, who talks about an hindu goddess with a pure, perfect head joined to a body from a woman not exactly saint, named Kali. Sometimes I like to see Cali this way.
(Marguerite Yourcenar, Cuentos Orientales)

In practical terms, don´t worry, here they love stangers and there´s a lot of nice people (take care, anyhow)
Good Luck

p.s. Consider a short trip to Bahia Málaga or Gorgona, will not repent.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

NJGringo5 says on Nov 8, 2006, 22:02:

Cali was decided because a friend of mine is from there. He told me about the city and the country itself. I was very excited to get out of the states. He is going back to Colombia for the holidays and I will be joining him. I don't plan on spending the entire time in Cali, as i will be there for 20+ days.

But I am hoping that it will be a na enjoyable trip

0 funny, 0 helpful.