Gringo first time in Colombia

britabroad says on Dec 1, 2007, 10:50:

I´ve been living in Cali for almost 3 months now. Although I´ve visited before, living here is a whole new ball game. I´m still getting used to things.
For me personally there are 6 things which are/were a shock to the system.
1. The zancudos. They appear to relish northern european blood, as it´s thick and sticky. Repellants attract them. Cover up in the evenings or in rural areas and kill as many of them as possible to give the rest of us Gringos a chance.
2. The driving. How can such a polite and pleasant race of people change so much when they get behind a wheel?! Take a cab for a thrill.
3. The helpfulness of the Caleños. Forget the shit you read in the newspapers, as you know, Colombians are basically very helpful and friendly people who find foreigners fascinating. Hence...
4. The staring. Last time I looked I didn´t have two heads, although I often find myself checking in mirrors due to the open staring. I´d like to think it´s because I´m so windswept and interesting, but I think it´s because I´m pasty white and look lost!
5. The potential for armed crime. I´ve been a victim and it isn´t fun. Be conscious and switched on, even in the cities - maybe more so in the cities.
6. The extremes of wealth and poverty. While in Cali show your friend the mansions around Cuidad Jardin, then show him Siloe from a safe distance.
Enjoy la feria!

Leave the big stick at home...carry a cannon!

britabroad says on Dec 1, 2007, 11:24:

I forgot a couple of things.
If I didn´t know that Cali was the plastic surgery capital of South America I would be forgiven for thinking that there was something in the water that made the womens tits here huge! (And possibly gave the men beer-bellies). :-)

Leave the big stick at home...carry a cannon!

adidas6953 says on Dec 1, 2007, 18:51:

You are doing your friend a great favor taking him down there. This will be my second trip. I also am lucky enough to now people from Cali, with whom i stay with while on vacation. I assume your friend does not live in a bubble. He has seen poverty, crime etc. Of course it is different in everywhere, including Colombia. But as long as he has an open mind, he shoul be fine. Yes, many things shocked me while I was down there the first time; but Colombia is a beautiful country with even more beautiful women. La feria should also be a great time for him. I know i enjoyed myself last year. Good luck,

isinc2003 says on Dec 1, 2007, 20:19:

My advice.. Don't have him look like a gringo.. dont wear any jewlery ever.. Have him start studying Pimsleurs Spanish Course fastest way I learned when My spanish was horrible.. Use a debit card to get your Peso.. and Best advise.. Add medellin to your travels.. I'll be there Dec 13 2007...

la campiña says on Dec 1, 2007, 21:24:

brit here, look me up the number is easy to find

goin_south says on Dec 1, 2007, 21:48:

it's all true; We closed our eyes, walked......
AIMLESSLY WONDERING......
next thing you know, you look up and......

La_Campiña IS THERE!

and, thank you.

fugdis says on Dec 1, 2007, 22:00:

britabroad. There are some other Brits that live here in Cali,sometimes we get together for a beer or two. If your interested PM me or la camp.

la campiña says on Dec 1, 2007, 22:04:

ha goin south your right what the hell happens in the north, or whilst pondering the significance or northern people then looking south has an almighty scarey perspective if your inbetween or somewhere else like rum country ha

goin_south says on Dec 1, 2007, 22:16:

you have a good day in the mail; next thing you know....
you're paying $1600 to get back to Cali... fast as ya can....
Thanks to Sailor Jerry ;)

and, thank you.

goin_south says on Dec 1, 2007, 23:32:

where's the post/thread about Cali being the center of plastic surgery in South America?

I don't believe ....that 50 % of Colombianitas can or have afforded surgery.
I do believe....God created tits in Colombia ;)

Perdon, por favor... Medellin Traveller.... for once again referring to God.

and, thank you.

christobeldawg says on Dec 1, 2007, 23:35:

I think he will be ok if you only refer to the Lifeforce, Source Energy, All that is.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

scotty says on Dec 2, 2007, 03:34:

my advice, hold on tight in the taxis and close your eyes as your taxi approches a intersection at 50 mile per hour. drink bottled water. try not to fall in love with the first beauty you see as there are plenty there to adore. oh yeah if you get hungry and want a good burger, fo to EL Corral.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

webmanco says on Dec 2, 2007, 05:35:

Britabroad thanks for sharing, your input is most welcome, it shows somehow the bad and good of Cali y/o Colombia without any bitterness.

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am

romy says on Dec 2, 2007, 09:20:

Thanks for the advice everyone. What worries me the most is the extra attention or staring like britabroad mentions, trying to identify and avoid dangerous people/situations will be of primary concern.
My friend has certainly been warned about the driving down there. But to me I'm excited for it, driving up here is so tidious and such an ordinary routine experience. Driving in Colombia is so engaging and such a thrill.
Certainly looking forward to las Calenias and falling in love many times over. I'll be brushing up my salsa skills in the next weeks to be able to go after the quality females.
And isinc2003, I would love to go to Medellin but time will just not permit this time around. Probably my second favourite city after Cali, but for my friend's sake seeing la capital took presedence to metrallo.

john_stark says on Dec 2, 2007, 10:17:

He's gotta worry about a couple of things. No, not kidnapping. Gringos are used to pedestrians having the right of way - anyone who thinks like that in Colombia will be road kill. The second thing he has to worry about are women throwing themselves at him - he'll think he's Brad Pitt if he's not careful. Me, I think I'm George Clooney.

Robert Jorge says on Dec 2, 2007, 11:11:

I am Johnny Depp when in Colombia. Here, I am Al Bundy.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

goin_south says on Dec 2, 2007, 13:08:

but, por su Colombianita.... You're still Johnny Depp!
...funny, Rob!

Romy... DRINK DE WATER.

and, thank you.

travelingirl says on Dec 2, 2007, 21:43:

Perhaps another way of trying to fit in is in the wardrobe. I think pretty much anything goes except for white tennis shoes and shorts. Can anyone think of anything else one should steer away from? Diesel jeans, puma shoes, and aviator sunglasses seemed to be everywhere I turned, oh, and of course, the man purse. Yes, I know, it is a mochila and is used to secure all those much needed belongings men need to keep on their person... but I still giggle everytime I see a man carrying one. I'm sure that's just me being an American and thinking back to a particular "Friends" episode.
I also agree that one should just close their eyes while in a taxi (after locking the door) and that El Corral's burgers are better than McDonalds.
I'm not sure about Cali's elevation but I didn't feel all that wonderful when I first landed in Bogota. I eventually blamed everything on the altitude.. feeling sluggish, getting a nose bleed, decreased appetite, feeling dizzy after climbing just one flight of stairs, etc. But that all went away after a couple of days.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

john_stark says on Dec 2, 2007, 21:56:

Why try to fit in? There is no way I'm gonna pass as a Colombian so why even bother? Unless you can play the part, I'd just wear whatever I wanted.

christobeldawg says on Dec 2, 2007, 21:58:

I was always sleepy when in Bogota, and I drank over 3 liters of water every day. It is definitely an altitude, and attitude, adjustment city.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

john_stark says on Dec 2, 2007, 22:02:

Strange. I've been to Bogota several times and I've never experienced any problems there. In fact I never even noticed the altitude there unlike when I lived in Utah and went up to Snowbird or Alta.

christobeldawg says on Dec 2, 2007, 22:06:

let's face it John, you are not know for being particularly sensitive. even though you are a good guy, and funny ok?

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

john_stark says on Dec 2, 2007, 22:10:

So what are you saying? That I'm as sensitive as a toilet seat?

christobeldawg says on Dec 2, 2007, 22:15:

Personally, I am about half wiped out when I am there, the first few days, but I gotta say, I pretty much sleep through all the random noise. the noise is actually less during the days.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

travelingirl says on Dec 2, 2007, 23:08:

That's so weird b/c I've been to Utah and was just fine but had all that weird stuff in Bogota (dizzy, etc). And then when I came back home to the States it took a while for my ears to get readjusted (I kept having to pop my ears all the time). I guess I'm just a nerd. ;-) Oh, funny thing in Bogota... all my creams, shampoo, lotions, etc exploded all over the bathroom (walls, floors, sink, door, even ceiling) when I opened them the first time. haha! Same thing happened when I went to the coast and then back to Bogota. You would think I would have figured it out by then but I didn't realize the altitude was that much of a difference between Cartagena and Bogota.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

christobeldawg says on Dec 2, 2007, 23:10:

it takes about a week to fully adjust to the Bogota altitude.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

goin_south says on Dec 2, 2007, 23:25:

It only takes about 10 seconds, with the right distractions ;)

and, thank you.

goin_south says on Dec 2, 2007, 23:26:

that's some funnystuff, travelingirl... I think you're related to "I Dream of Genie".

and, thank you.

travelingirl says on Dec 3, 2007, 00:02:

Haha, yeah, my ears instead of nose. ;) I've never been on a trip without a few adventures or crazy mishaps. Luckily I had no run-ins with the military or police while in Colombia, other than the normal road blocks.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

goin_south says on Dec 3, 2007, 00:06:

all my creams, shampoo, lotions, etc exploded all over the bathroom (walls, floors, sink, door, even ceiling) when I opened them the first time.????

I'm taking it, you used Monkey Wrenches to tighten them up before leaving.

and, thank you.

travelingirl says on Dec 3, 2007, 00:10:

Haha, I'm laughing out loud! I did store them in plastic ziplock bags before leaving, just in case. And I noticed when I went to Cartagena, and later when I returned home at lower altitudes, all my bottles looked like they'd been squished. I still can't believe my sunscreen shot up onto the ceiling!

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

goin_south says on Dec 3, 2007, 00:13:

I'm laughing out loud, envisioning all this BOTTLE ROCKETS goin_off in your room, as you unpack....

and, thank you.

travelingirl says on Dec 3, 2007, 00:16:

HAHA! It really was like an explosion every time I opened something! I even had to bring a step ladder into the bathroom to clean it off the ceiling.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

goin_south says on Dec 3, 2007, 00:26:

I think the whole matter needs further investigation...

and, thank you.

morphus says on Dec 3, 2007, 04:51:

Gringos in Colombia? Just bring money and you will have no problem.

elmodefoque says on Dec 3, 2007, 05:00:

mucho mucho mucho mucho money

over 5 million colombianos in USA and only 27 barranquilleros, i'm one.Curramba, el mejor vividero del mundo!

romy says on Dec 3, 2007, 11:16:

Seems like you need a lot of money anyways, seems like Colombia is getting more expensive everyday. Been looking at the prices for la feria and covers are at 70k, the bottle of guaro at 80k, I can't even consider Whiskey this time around(250k ). It's gonna add up over a week. Not looking too good for university students. Hostels will have to do in Cartagena and zona cafetera. Anyone have any experience with hostels in Colombia?
BTW, I'm Enrique Iglesias around here.

RUV says on Dec 3, 2007, 16:54:

Romy,

I stayed at the Black Sheep in Medellin for a couple of days, before I went to an apartment. You can get a private room with a bathroom for 40K. The other option is a dorm (4 beds or six beds in a room) for I think 20K. The people there are really nice and helpful. The girls working there are really nice looking. This is a nice jumping off point for other locations.

Bathrooms look run down but what else do you expect. Check out there websites. You can also look at Kiwi Hostal in Medellin as well. In Bogota you can check out the platapus.

capitan_centella says on Dec 3, 2007, 22:03:

platipus.

;)

"When you open your eyes, you turn around with the world, But it can change, if you only close it, and see a dream to yourself." Me.

goin_south says on Dec 3, 2007, 22:18:

"..Gringos in Colombia? Just bring money and you will have no problem.." morp

you have problems in Colombia, morphus?
por que.... su 17-yr-olds?
they mustn't know any better

and, thank you.

john_stark says on Dec 3, 2007, 22:19:

The 17 year olds are already past their prime.Besides how many of them are virgins? He's sticking to those 13 and 14 year olds.

goin_south says on Dec 3, 2007, 23:27:

Lower the Bar

and, thank you.

Chelesupercono says on Dec 4, 2007, 05:00:

Hey Gringo......! Just remember, in Colombia they are all pre-pagos......bringo muchos pesos....have a great time

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

morphus says on Dec 4, 2007, 05:22:

goin_south, gibberish as usual. You're really retarded, are'nt you?

goin_south says on Dec 4, 2007, 05:31:

jes;
jou listen to your bro en ESL 2 much

and, thank you.