Frank_44, since you are leaving soon

Lostgringo says on Feb 2, 2006, 20:58:

thanks for your interest I am reluctant to post anything on this forum because of the nature of comments posted against what I have to say. Once the policy of this blog changes then I would love to post my experiences. You can always email regarding any questions you may have.

sincerely,

frank Hobson

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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rocinante says on Feb 2, 2006, 21:12:

franko when are you leaving? I thought we were going encendar varios puros juntos?

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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Wastelandlive says on Feb 3, 2006, 06:53:

IMorcombe... Since Frank doesn't feel free to speak in this forum, and I can't find the original conversation under his profile...

Could you link us? First I read that he was retiring there, then that he had some awful experiences with doctors and dentists... then? I must have missed his decision to leave, and I too would like to know more, whatever criticism of Colombia it might entail.

R/

Wasteland

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IMorcombe says on Feb 3, 2006, 07:45:

Wastelandlive Sure thing but I don't think that we can blame him for feeling this way. If he posts that he pays the maid such money, then he is exploiting people, if he says he gives a little more, then he is setting a bad example for the rest...darn if you do, darn if you don't..
Will PM him to see what I get; I am very interested, since I had the pleasure of meeting him in September during my visit.
Thanks,

Maria Ines

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Crazy4Cali says on Feb 3, 2006, 09:00:

That's just proof... That's just proof that you can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can never please all the people on PBH at any time. It's a shame Franko_44 takes it so personally.

Besides, who cares what a bunch of faceless internet posters think, anyway? If the posters treated this as a popularity contest, we would lose the most interesting (i.e.provocative) posters (Trolls excluded, of course).

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Mr. Hollywood says on Feb 3, 2006, 09:44:

Franko I, too, would be interested in hearing how your Colombian reality compared to your ideas you had before coming down here. Both good and bad.

Also, I'm curious how it was moving into a real world relationship with someone you'd primarily known through the internet previously.

Whatever your take-away, I'm sure spending 6 months in Colombia has been a priceless change of pace from Canada.

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Gomezman5 says on Feb 3, 2006, 11:04:

Franko---you cannot look at it that way Since day 1, I have been subject to endless rounds of criticism because of some of the positions I take. I see you have been the subject of the same. You the "outsider" have been held to a higher standard. Some people here are really goofy. I remember reading the post where you said you only pay the maid $8 a day. Then some jerk accused you of exloiting Colombian people, and even suggested that you were using children as slave laborers. That was completely uncalled for, yet you responded well. You said you paid the "market rate." Your taxi analogy was also fitting. But you see Franko, some of my Colombian people are hypocritical. To them it's ok for a Colombian to pay a maid $8 a day, but if a gringo comes there and pays the same, the are exploiting "the locals".

It just does not make sense my man. But, look, you cannot allow these types to affect you. Let them take their shots. There are many that agree with your observations. I for one would probably agree a lot you have to say. As someone above said, you cannot please everyone. There are those that will agree and those that will disagree. Nevertheless, your observations are as valid as they next persons. So please, by all means, go ahead and post your assessments and observations. For those who want to criticize, let them do so.

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GringoinBucaramanga says on Feb 3, 2006, 12:52:

waaaaaaaaa
I want my momie

jj_jp@msn.com

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fugdis says on Feb 3, 2006, 15:17:

come on franko dont be so precious,the more in country posters the better! look at the flak GIB and some of the others get but they keep coming back.

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Lostgringo says on Feb 3, 2006, 16:17:

Adios Bogota Thanks for all the positive comments. Unfortunately it is not the silly comments about maids etc that bug the heck out of me. It is language and rude comments I find discusting. I give GIB credit for taking all the flack he does. I must admit that there are some very intelligent and good people on this board. Who actually have something to say..cudos to these people. Truth is, this board has helped me alot. I have met good people in person from this board. But I find the language of some and their crude and sexual remarks a hard pill to swallow. If only some could say it with class like Elmo it would be ok lol. But they can't and they are always posting their poison here without anything being done. So, I do not want to be part of this nonesense. I will gladly tell people my experience here if they want to personally contact me. I hardly stayed in my apartment for a full day. I was always out and about. I went to every area from estrado 3 to 6. NO I did not go to lower estrados. I cannot comment on them except to say....from a friend who lives here...they are filled with hard working Colombians...the maids, security people etc you see in the higher estrados working in the days. I am sure there is a bad element there but this is the way he explained it to me. Another reason I did not venture into the lower estrados is that I do not speak good Spanish. If I did, I certaintly would have went there "during the day". As mentioned many times on PBH you should learn as much Spanish as you come before you go to Colombia. Very good advise. The more you know, the easier everthing is and the more fun you will have.

Iam not leaving Bogota because I no longer like it. I have to leave as my airfare time 6 months has run out. And, it is time for me to go home and pay taxes. No, I will not retire in Bogota in the near future... Bogota has grown on me and I will always have fond memories of Bogota, especially the people here. They have been wonderfull. Maybe I will change my mind later on about posting but right now I would like PBH to drag itself out of the gutter and be more professional. Sorry but that is how I feel.
I hope that anyone thinking about going to Bogota does so. I hope that you experience some the lifestyles and loves of Bogota as I have. The music and the people epecially!

I have experienced much in Bogota. More than I could have ever expected. Most important is that the love between my novia and me has grown alot. I have gotten to know her family. Wonderful honest hardworking people.

If I never return to Colombia I will have some of the greatest memories of my life. For those who are timid and scared off by potential danger read more and learn. Read between the lines. There is danger everywhere in the world. If you are into drugs or deviant lifestyle etc., you will certaintly experience some danger here and maybe more than you expect. But if you are a reasonable person who is here for love or to learn about Bogota and the people, who is just a little street smart you will have less of a potential of being a victim and you will enjoy Bogota. Crime happens here I cannot deny it. I have not seen it though and am happy I have not. I take precautions to avoid trouble. Yet I know it can happen to me as I am vulnerable like everyone else.

Again, I must say that for me Bogota has been a positive experience. I am grateful for those of PBH who have been an excellent source of information and help to me.

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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Crazy4Cali says on Feb 3, 2006, 16:28:

Elmo sets a high bar WRT: "If only some could say it with class like Elmo."

I just hope I can be like Elmo when I grow up, (though it's hard to imagine a blond-haired, blue-eyed Elmo....)

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utopiacowboy says on Feb 3, 2006, 16:48:

Yo tambien, Senor. Quiero ser como mi idol, Elmo. Espero que no este demasiado tarde para apprender culiar las burras como el. Y poner las mujeres a gatas y hacerlos gritar como cerditas.

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.

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Miguel says on Feb 3, 2006, 17:43:

UC... Es "chillar como cerditas"...cue the banjo music, 'cause elmodofoque gonna be in B/Quilla in less than a week, with my gringo ass to follow soon thereafter. We have made a deal; he gets all the burras and blondes, and I get those rica "kat1" style costeñas.

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Crazy4Cali says on Feb 3, 2006, 18:09:

puedes llamarme el corroncho rubio

algun dia, no hoy.
Todavia tengo mucho para estudiar :)

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Rubiazo says on Feb 3, 2006, 21:03:

AHEM that name is already taken, IF YOU PLEASE :)

Franko, you did go to an Estrato 2 area. Restrepo is mostly 2 and even some 1!

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Mr. Hollywood says on Feb 4, 2006, 08:55:

Likewise Candelaria Most of Candelaria is estrato 1 or 2 and I'm sure you visited there. Estrato doesn't map directly to how "nice" a neighborhood is, anyway.

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utopiacowboy says on Feb 4, 2006, 08:55:

Si, si, Miquel. Gracias. Tuve prisa. Tengo envidia de tu viaje!!!!!

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.

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Lostgringo says on Feb 5, 2006, 04:03:

Rubiazo I did not know that I did not know that the Brown's Bar I went to and saw you play was in estrado 2 or 1. One thing that I found in that area the night I saw you play is that the streets were alive! I left the bar fairly late and wondered down the street and bought a hotdog from a stand. I stood there eating it watching all the activity. I also remember one black guy that could speak excellent English...he wanted to introduce me to his friends. Apparently they do not see many Gringos there. That night there was two lol.

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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