Go Dollar!

Saltador says on Jun 13, 2008, 07:39:

Where are my dollar cheerleaders?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 13, 2008, 07:42:

gimmedub says on Jun 13, 2008, 07:43:

yeah colombia needs to cut interest rates - it's just stifling their economy (and hurting the exchange rate)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Joel y Luza says on Jun 13, 2008, 07:44:

Go greenbacks!!! COP 0.0005 against the dollar by December. 0.00045 in a year...All driven by energy induced inflation and our little credit crisis in the US...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jun 13, 2008, 07:44:

1714 is not a lot to cheer about.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 13, 2008, 07:47:

sloopskipper says on Jun 13, 2008, 08:01:

DAMN!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

larryrn says on Jun 13, 2008, 08:07:

I am getting a hassle at Bank of America. Spoke with supervisor Scott in card services. I have a large credit balance on a BOA CC from a balance transfer on a Wamu new account. I want to transfer the money on the BOA CC to checking for immediate access to transfer to Colombia (grin). Scott says due to Patriot act, they cannot transfer the money to checking and give immediate access to funds - this can take up to 10 days. I said fine, then transfer 9999 today and the rest on Monday. He says their internal limit is 6K not 10K and they can't "skirt" the law. They said they, quote, "we had problems with people transferring and spending money in foreign countries". Imagine that, people want to spend money in "foreign countries". Mind you I am in such a foreign country on a VoIP call. I asked for clarification, "We had people write multiple cash advance checks at the same time and deposit into separate accounts then quote, "leave to another country and BOA is out all of the money". Nothing but the run around. I get the run around here in Colombia all the time (EPM the other day, complained about their triple play pricing and complained about competition with Telemex and competition and they lowered the triple play with a 12 month contract by 20,000 pesos a month).

I guess no one wants to give up money (imagine that). I just want to buy a Finca in the mountains in Colombia..

After previous comments here from others about not needing a car, I am starting to agree. It’s the American frame of mind - having a car. Here, I do a little walking and ride the bus, metro and cab. The walking is great. I live up the hill on Calle 1 - walk down, over to Las Vegas by EAFIT, catch the bus to Sabineta, get off my Majorca Mall then walk south and over the bridge to Itagui and then am at my GFs office. The cost, 1400 pesos, nothing. Plus a little of exercise.

If I had a car, the expense per month including insurance would be $1000 USD/month. I am still thinking a horse would be a better investment -- especially if I live in a rural area. I could always take the horse into town (Sabineta) and get a pack for the Pilsens with ice (grin).

Larry

Larry Snyder, www.rn.org

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jun 13, 2008, 08:14:

larryrn says on Jun 13, 2008, 08:07: flag

"I am getting a hassle at Bank of America. Spoke with supervisor Scott in card services. I have a large credit balance on a BOA CC from a balance transfer on a Wamu new account. I want to transfer the money on the BOA CC to checking for immediate access to transfer to Colombia (grin)."

I don't understand why you want the money in a gringo checking account if you are living in Colombia. You can access the funds via ATM from the CC account, but I understand that gringo checks are of little value there.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gator says on Jun 13, 2008, 08:38:

Try the International Banking Division, CitiBank, New Yoek City. We have almost no problems.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Simon says on Jun 13, 2008, 10:09:

GO PESO!!

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

0 funny, 0 helpful.

BillBigD says on Jun 13, 2008, 10:17:

B of A is not the Bank you want to do Business with. IMO
$- Right now 1706 COP. Still a long way to go to get back to $1800. LOL

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Saltador says on Jun 13, 2008, 10:21:

And even longer way to get to 1400 LOL.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Jun 13, 2008, 10:39:

don't tell sloopskipper....

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

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sanandressi says on Jun 13, 2008, 10:39:

Well, I guess if the US Treasury would raise interest rates than the dollar would get stronger and oil prices, gas, might stabilize and or even drop since oil is paid for in dollars. US economy might go into a worse recession and the number of foreign companies investing in the US might drop.

Peso was near 3,000 about what, 2.5 years ago? Was 1200 in 1997 when I first went to Colombia.

How is a strong dollar good for Colombia? I know it is good for US tourists.

"This train will stop in Tucumcari"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

BillBigD says on Jun 13, 2008, 10:40:

Black Market-ALWAYS pays a premuim for which $ is the strongest. When the $ was $2500 COP I often got $2600 on the streets of Medellin

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Joel y Luza says on Jun 13, 2008, 10:57:

Basically the Black Market is playing an agressive futures market...If they felt the dollar will strengthen against the COP, less spread? IF it will weaken more spead?, or in the case of Big D,, they felt the currency will devalue at a pretty rapid clip actually pay you to exchange your USD? comprende?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Joel y Luza says on Jun 13, 2008, 11:05:

these look like dating advertisements out of Guns And Ammo/Soldier of Fortune Magazine!!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Joel y Luza says on Jun 13, 2008, 11:13:

good catch Doc!! that is pretty funny!! BTW, they look pretty well fed for revolutionaries.. I think maybe the excess per capita KCAL intake is catching up with the back woods of Colombia!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sanandressi says on Jun 13, 2008, 11:39:

My wife's brother had his store taken by the FARC in some small town. He lost pretty much everything. Later, the FARC called him as if they were going to give it back. Never happened!

"This train will stop in Tucumcari"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jun 13, 2008, 17:12:

goin_south says on Jun 13, 2008, 10:39: flag

"don't tell sloopskipper...."

I HEARD that! LOL

0 funny, 0 helpful.