How does one "spot a Gringo"

miamimike says on Sep 24, 2006, 15:55:

Cowboy Boots, sometimes a Hat(cowboy) Large Dinner plate size Belt Buckles, large Gold Rings and Watch(maybe faux)LOL. I do an about face pronto when I see these types heading my way LOL

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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dagui says on Sep 24, 2006, 19:14:

pasty i believe is refering to acolor of the skin thats has no sign of melanine or exposure to suunlight and no color or fleshtone is produced. like thick paste sin color..i don't know i'm just BS 'n now.But a typical midwestern olgingo i think one canspot.

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arthur brode says on Sep 24, 2006, 21:00:

i can usually spot the stereotypical gringo a mile away wearing shorts,sandals,t-shirt and with a look like they havent gotten laid in like 5 yrs.

http://www.calirentals.net/

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Sep 24, 2006, 23:24:

I'm very bad at spotting any gringos or anybody else, for that matter in a crowd. I'm just too busy minding my own business...and trying to spot the potential thugs, pickpockets, thieves...

One thing I do notice, however, say we're sitting at a fast food restaurant at a mall minding our own businesses and you hear this voice, a slightly higher in pitch, a slightly more nasal behind your back and then you realize it's American English being spoken there...

Cheers,
Desi


Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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famsearch says on Sep 25, 2006, 00:34:

hmmm.... on both trips to where my wife and her family live (just outside of medellin), i'm pretty sure it was easy to "spot the gringo", since i was probably the only one the barrio, lol. but then again, i didn't go around calling attention to myself either. when i spoke outside, in spanish i spoke quietly (as if my busted-assed spanish wasn't a giveaway), and if in english even quieter. i was keeping allll my papaya to myself... lol
dan

dan

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MacGringo says on Sep 25, 2006, 04:27:

I think i've got more chance of spotting the Loch Ness Monster than The Pasty Gringo. If things are solely based on skin colour then I'm your man, but as for all other things , the loud talking, gold watches etc, forget it!!!!

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tomtom33 says on Sep 25, 2006, 04:43:

Most Colombianos can easily spot anyone who is not from their own area. Extranjeros are easy.

The pasty Gringo thing doesn't work too well in BOG and MDE because the Rolos and Paisas can be quite pasty.

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DanielPaisa says on Sep 25, 2006, 05:10:

mhhh, how to spot a gringo???

1. white sneakers.... you guys always have white shoes.

2. tatoo... most gringos i see have tatoos

3. whiiite ass modefoques: you're bright!!! glow in the dark skin is always easy to spot

it's natural, i can spot a gringo from 2 miles, i can find them easyer than japanese guys.

Daniel, el Paisa

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MacGringo says on Sep 25, 2006, 05:31:

How to spot a Paisa....this could be a good question!

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DanielPaisa says on Sep 25, 2006, 05:50:

How to spot a paisa? He's trying to scam someone. That's how.

Daniel, el Paisa

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gringolondinense says on Sep 25, 2006, 06:48:

maybe I can help out! 1.Hawaaiiiian shirt with tan coloured shorts
2.Chubby pasty legs (like Benny Hills!!)
3.Big belt buckle that says HARLEY DAVIDSON or JACK DANIELS, that is hidden underneath the huge beer belly.
4.Cute white socks and new CLEAN trainers, so that you can tell the guy hasnt actually been walking anywhere.

If any FARC are reading this and you spot a gringo in a "BON JOVI" TM t-shirt, please SHOOT ON SIGHT. Cheers!

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Sep 25, 2006, 07:39:

How do you spot a gringa in Colombia? If she isn't talking, I mean? The blond goddess with 10 Latin-lover-candidates hangin around her and staring at her with puppy-dog eyes...or not?

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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gringolondinense says on Sep 25, 2006, 07:56:

yep yep! youre right Don. Americans take all the blame for pasty-gringo behaviour. Nobodys gonna say "Look at that Canadian", unless they are wearing the "official" canadian sports jackets with a huge maple leaf on the back that a lot of them wear.

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adrimm says on Sep 25, 2006, 08:01:

Challenge to DG We'll have to test the whole physical appearances one ...april...
I'm not posting any pics of myself.

My colouring is within Colombian ranges (as I suspect many of you are cos there are naturally fair Colombians out there) but I know that many locals can still tell I am foriegn - it is more than colouring. We'll have to see if you can pick me out from the locals.

PS Our Florida snowbirds rarely venture south beyond the predictable comfort of the penninsula. Within Colombia I'd say that Cartagena would be far better for gringo-spotting than elsewhere - the camera-toting subset seems to cluster in flocks on brightly coloured tour-buses departing from the cruise ship ports!

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adrimm says on Sep 25, 2006, 08:07:

sportsjacket? so what you look on their back to identify them? do you look at everyone's back?

- just curious..

anyhow I always figured that the ubiquitous thing amongst them was backpack flag (again on the back of packs - don't usually see it if you are talking with them until they turn around).

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gringolondinense says on Sep 25, 2006, 09:27:

come on! youre telling me you havent seen the famous canadian sportsjackets? They are red (like the flag) and have huge maple leaves on the back. And, incase youre a bit slow on the uptake, have the word "CANADA" written across the top. Usually accompanied by a red baseball cap with the word CANADA on it also.

Yep seen the flags on backpacks. Another dead give away!

Have a great evening gringo-spotters! Im getting good at this shit! :-)

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Boatygringo says on Sep 25, 2006, 10:10:

Gringoes I wonder if any one has done a study as to what % of the Colombian economy Grongo,s contribute. I would bet its quite high. What with all the Chicas collecting money every month from Gringo boyfriends who dont live here. Boatygringo

Boatygringo

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morphus says on Sep 25, 2006, 10:34:

Spot the gringo? I'm too busy looking at the girls :)

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tomtom33 says on Sep 25, 2006, 10:46:

Come on Adri, not even one photo? You know that UC has been asking for years.

No es marica Morph? You don't even check out those Euro-doofs with the nut-hugging speedos? They are hilarious.

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Miguel says on Sep 25, 2006, 10:56:

oye Pedro en Perth Él está siguiendo con su "Stone Age Spanish".

You gotta love it.

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adrimm says on Sep 25, 2006, 11:13:

Nope, and it suits me just fine. I live in a small world and I like my privacy.

Besides I did have one posted for awhile in my gallery - UC must have seen it becuase I was spared the pestering.

Gringolondinese: sounds as if you are describing olympic-gear (it is commercially available). Perhaps you keep on seeing the same person/people? The bomber-style jackets were made by Roots for the 2002 winter olympics aren't really worn so much any more.

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Sep 25, 2006, 11:23:

I remember that! The photo was next to an unusual rock or a piece of petrified wood, maybe near the beach...?

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Sep 25, 2006, 11:23:

:) I didn't, adri but I'm pretty sure that I could've told you're a gringa even if you don't look like one...it's not even the clothes you were or the coloring of your hair or eyes or skin or anything such, anything that obvious...
there are gringos that just have the word GRINGO written all over their faces but there are others that you have to observe a while before you see their gringoeness: it's in the body language, the way gringos walk, use their hands, sit, move their heads. It's the waythey talk, of course, that's the easy part. The language doesn't matter: gringos talk with gringo voices and often loud. They have gringo smell and gringo sound and gringo perception of time and space...

Cheers,
Desi
(not a "gringa", an europea ...."mijo, son las pioresssssss!!!!!!!!)


Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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adrimm says on Sep 25, 2006, 11:28:

Exactly it Tinto. Desi, I think you could tell too - you're fortunate to have lived in three continents, i think you must be fairly adept at identifying people.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Sep 25, 2006, 11:49:

adri, I'm just teasing you! I blend in pretty well too, I think, but my friends don't agree. Anyway, I don't think it's easy at all, in most cases. I'm not that good at spotting gringos in a crowd, as I should be, perhaps. It could be that having lived on three different continents just makes it more difficult, not easier. There's such a variety in form,size, shape and color....and it's easy to make a mistake. I have to say that I really admire those people who say that they can spot a gringo anytime, anywhere. I'm not one of them.

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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bufalo says on Sep 25, 2006, 12:01:

when people ask me where I'm from I say "la costa". OK so I should complete the sentence and say "La costa de Nueva York", but I don't. Sometimes I'll speak off spanish with a portugese (brazilian) accent and they usually just shrug thier shoulders and walk away.

Odd though, whenever I reenter colombia,the first few weeks everyone thinks I'm from anywhere BUT the US- they say italy, france brazil... But after a few weeks, people come straight out and say the US. This has happened every time and I have no idea why.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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podborski says on Sep 25, 2006, 12:07:

being a pasty white canadian might I say I am totally offended by all these anti-canuck comments, and if they don't stop I'm going to take back Pam Anderson and Shania Twain.

But you can keep Jim Carrey (who BTW, my friend tells me is dating a bumanguesa?)

There does seem to be an over-abundance of canucks in colombia for some reason, but all the ones wearing the flags are yanks in disguise.

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famsearch says on Sep 25, 2006, 12:20:

here's an idea... we could set up a few ground rules, and market this as a board game. if monopoly can make it big, i'm sure "spot the gringo" will too! lol
dan

dan

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adrimm says on Sep 25, 2006, 12:23:

Desi: Ohh. ok LOL.. Yes I guess it makes sense that you might lose "spotting ability".

Podborski: Really? do you think that the proportion of Canadians in Colombia is higher than then the proportion of canadians (relative to other nations) in other countries?

Ignoring other travelling folks (and there are lots of them: I met swedes, isrealis, koreans, germans, brits and brazilians on my last trip to Col) I've always found about a 30/70 or 40/60 split amongst Canadian and American backpackers in most places.. ditto Colombia.

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podborski says on Sep 25, 2006, 12:25:

maybe jim carrey stole dagui's girl, and that's why he's mad at us?

Can someone translate point #4 into english for me please? I think we could have fun with that.

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podborski says on Sep 25, 2006, 12:44:

mmmmm yeah I think so adrimm but as you say, only in proportion to the size of canada. Seems to me there is more than 1 canuck for every 10 yanks in Col, for example? Totally unscientific, and I am not counting embassy staff and military, just tourist types. Ah, what do I know...

But the scandinavians really seem to be over-represented, don't they? I keep running into norewegians and swedes every time I turn around, what's that about?

Lots of brits too, which is good because just when your colombian friend thinks they understand english, you can pop them in front of an east londoner and knock them back down to earth. Even I don't understand those guys, but they are damn funny.

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adrimm says on Sep 25, 2006, 13:41:

"more than 1 canuck for every 10 yanks in Col, for example"

Yes I said 30/70, but I found the same thing in Europe when I was backpcking around so I don't think it is specific to Colombia.

"Canadians in San Andres"

DN that's probably becuase one of the bulk package vacation companies has direct flights to San Andres as part of their offerings.

http://www.sunquest.ca/destinations/sanandres.asp

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 25, 2006, 13:52:

unless they wearing the flag unless they wearing their flag over their head I can't spot difference between a Gringo, Canadian, British, Australian.

engage brain before opening mouth

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podborski says on Sep 25, 2006, 15:38:

canadians are secretly infiltrating countries all over the world and eventually we will make you all worship the one true god...

Tim Horton

if you don't know who he is yet, you will soon...

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adrimm says on Sep 25, 2006, 16:00:

phsshaw Timmy's is owned by KFC.

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podborski says on Sep 25, 2006, 16:26:

no it's not adrimm! It was private, sold out to Wendy's, who just spun it out again to the public. You can buy shares on the tsx, and recover some of your coffee and donut dollars, but not sure I'd recommend it, it has such a cult following, might be a bit pricey. You should have bought Wendy's stock before the spin off.

p.s. I bet I've seen you at Tim's in ScotiaPlaza right? Or are you a Second Cup type? I doubt you're a Starbucks type, colombianas are more sensible with their $$$, right?

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dagui says on Sep 25, 2006, 18:05:

mentality I mean a developed country mentality "Mr. know it all"versus a let it be smell the coffee laid back ladino.kinda like I'm from the most powerful part of the world and you guys are livin barely. This is just a small trait of the 'ugly gringocan".

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adrimm says on Sep 25, 2006, 19:30:

" "Or are you a Second Cup type? I doubt you're a Starbucks type, colombianas are more sensible with their $$$, right?"

Wow, you're really new here aren't you?

-

Ahh I stand corrected but really: Wendy's, KFC how different are they really? If it isn't public then anyone can own it.. doesn't necc make it Canadian.

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podborski says on Sep 25, 2006, 20:33:

ahh ok dagui I get it now Gringocans, I like that!

I haven't seen too much of that attitude in colombia though? But I do tend to avoid the really loud gringocans so maybe I just have not seen it. I do know what you mean though, I have seen some pretty bad north american tourists in my time.

You could always point out that there must be a reason they have chosen to be in your country instead of their own.

Adrimm: uhhh yup. No idea what you mean, but don't worry, I've finished my twice yearly rampage and I am off to do some work now.

Somebody wake me up when elmo is back ok?

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 26, 2006, 01:50:

Rubito to what God are you swearing? you don't believe in God I recall.. :P

engage brain before opening mouth

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gringolondinense says on Sep 26, 2006, 02:38:

Please.... keep Jim Cary out of Colombia. That guy puts me off my food. Right, Im off now to listen to the latest Spice Girls CD.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Sep 26, 2006, 02:44:

oh, I agree totally about the meaning of the word "gringo" with you rubito. A gringo is a foreigner, a stranger, a person who speaks gibberish like it's all greek to me:)...however,
not to get people all totally confused I'm using the word as shorthand for US. American, even if in Colombia everybody who speaks English (plus a few other nationalities) are all lumped together under one umbrella denomination: GRINGO!

I'm pretty good, however, spotting a Colombian in Stockholm, especially after listening a while...avemaría pues....

Cheers,
Desi


Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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dagui says on Sep 26, 2006, 06:19:

gringo even though biologically i am latino ancestory my culture is north american california style.once i utter sound I'm transformed from being taken as a colombian to a gringo,as refered to by my in laws ,but in a loving way.But having been going to and fro for twenty years I know, feel,love and respect mi familia colombiana.

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podborski says on Sep 26, 2006, 07:12:

Rubito Canadians will flock anywhere it's warm, and Costa Rica has stable government so it's seen as a safe place to retire (although I imagine your buddies are there for other reasons).

As someone else pointed out, San Andres is a super cheap package destination from Toronto, even cheaper than places a lot closer, rivals Cuba prices. I have looked at getting a package deal to san andres as a cheaper way to fly to colombia from here...

Reggie Leach's sister huh? My only is growing up a few blocks from Paul Bernardo...not much to brag about...well I guess I also grew up Paul Tracy, the Bare Naked Ladies and Mike Myers. Scarberia rules! (you'll never again hear me admit to being from there...) oh, and of course, my cousin played jr hockey against Gretzky, but didn't everybody's?

did (do) you live in TO or Montreal?

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andresvv75 says on Sep 26, 2006, 17:18:

white sneakers hehehe that is true most of the gringos use white sneakers.

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elchantajista says on Sep 26, 2006, 18:04:

she 's so worth it how can u spot a gringo he's the one paying the check after his young sexy colombiana's friends and famliy had thier fill with beer and areapas and she 's so worth it lol!!!!! yea it's political correct to bash gringos, given the state of the international problems hell even the gringas and other white girls from other countries are jumping on the band wagon but if u think about it it's kinda of cool ,cause when u on top every body wants to take shots at u, nobody talking about other countries like UK etc just the ole good USA or EEUU.SO TALK AWAY , we gringo love u Colombians anyway cause u have the most beautiful chica in the world and most hombre Chevere .from USA with love
"Vicente"

anda de parranda en Bogota "Vicente"

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famsearch says on Sep 26, 2006, 20:35:

that's it! i'm inventing spot the gringo game! i can just see it now. roll of the dice, move 5 spaces, ay no! barrio peligroso! leave your wallet and move back 3 spaces... lol
dan

dan

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Guajira says on Sep 26, 2006, 22:53:

Not all gringos Dagui, I think you'll find that thats not true for all gringos, just yanks!

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elchantajista says on Sep 27, 2006, 00:11:

you have been kidnapped Don't forget do not pass bogata u have been kidnapped , go to jail pay 100,000 dollars lol
"Vicente"

anda de parranda en Bogota "Vicente"

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elchantajista says on Sep 27, 2006, 01:13:

south africa I think the whites in South Africa might be gringos too ,cause of getting thier ass kick around in a country they use to run. they went from el jefe to cabrones. lol broma

"Vicente"

anda de parranda en Bogota "Vicente"

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miamimike says on Sep 27, 2006, 01:18:

Hey Chentajista You forgot to mention the Monthly Money Transfers from the USA to Colombia.. At the Col Banks, you can always Spot the Chicas who have an American Novio because she will be the one cashing the Biggest Money Order in the line. LOL(needs the money to pay the Nurse who cares for her sick mother)LOL

I wonder out of Curiousity, what the Total yearly remittences add up to, that is Money sent Col Chicas by their Northamerican Novios?

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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famsearch says on Sep 27, 2006, 01:39:

no, no, no elcha... the one corner space is you've been kidnapped. you must either throw a doble seis, or pay 500,000 cop ransom, and lose a turn.
dan

dan

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famsearch says on Sep 27, 2006, 01:42:

there could also be... the various servicios, agua, electricity, etc. but what would take the places of the 3 railroads? servicio publico, metro, and metrocabale? i may have to break out the monopoly board for this... lol
dan

dan

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elchantajista says on Sep 27, 2006, 03:54:

no money no honey Lose turn, due to no funds sent to your "la nina de su ojos". go straight to dog house ,no spins allowed untill payment made.
Gringo ;Green go term used back in the 1800's when Texas was part of Mexico ;when green coat American soldiers came to Texas,Welcomed; but when the Mexican realized what was going on, told them "green go" leave,but it was too late, then we took Texas for EEUU , sorta whats kinda happening in Texas right now, but inreverse lol
"Vicente"

anda de parranda en Bogota "Vicente"

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utopiacowboy says on Sep 27, 2006, 11:14:

How is it that all you gringos are paying the bills when you are a guest? I don't pay for a GD thing when I'm in Colombia since I am a guest of the family. Time for tough love.

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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King_Sarah2 says on Sep 27, 2006, 12:21:

Spotting a GRINGA When I traveled to Colombia this past summer... the GRINGA *me* was easy to spot... I was the one giving all my money to the poor children on the streets, the ONLY one walking and not noticing that EVERY one is starring at my blond hair and whispering "gringa....gringa....", the girl everyone crowds around at the club to dance with, even if she doesnt speak spanish!, GRINGA is buying every piece of jewlrey within eye sight!..... this.... is how you spot a gringa.... ouh, and when she is completely wasted on Aguardiente, all of a sudden knows fluent spanish AND can dance salsa!!

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podborski says on Sep 27, 2006, 12:24:

you've moved up Rubito! Not many places I don't see SOMETHING good in...but the peg is truly awful, although I have friends from there who love it...no idea why. Brutally cold in winter, giant mosquitos in summer.

I went to school with a guy you might know as his family is well known in the peg, Gord ohhh what is it...Orlowski? I think that's it? ...damn my memory for names is bad...anyway his uncle was a loooong time local MP. Always wondered what happened to Gord...

(BTW my last post got screwed up, I tried putting quote marks around some parts and it just cut those parts out, but think you got the general idea)

Anyway, NYC is the place if you can afford it, I love that town. How do you manage to afford it? I figure I can live for decades in Latin America for the price of about 1 year in NYC.

Montreal in summer is pretty damn good and vancouver still might be best of all, if you like the outdoor stuff and don't mind the rain.

Apologies to the rest of you, rubito and I are having a little chat.

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morphus says on Sep 27, 2006, 12:51:

How to spot a gringo He does'nt dance quite as good as this guy

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8186185108371297707&q=cuba+salsa

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Sep 27, 2006, 14:35:

"And, now...... acoording to Desi...
everyone else from all over the world, other than the USA, are not 'foreigners'. gringos estas solamente de Estados Unidos." (Ringodingo)

Did I say that??????

Cheers,
Desi




Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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famsearch says on Sep 27, 2006, 21:03:

spot the gringo game update... ok, here's where i need the help of them that know better than i. i've pretty much gotten the easy stuff out of the way, added a zero to the amounts of cash started with, and the peso equivalent. renamed the utilities, renamed the 4 railroads for 4 departments. instead of being kidnapped (funny, but not all that funny), you go to jail. you either roll doubles to get out, pay a 750 peso fine, or pay a 2500 peso bribe to the jailer. one hard part was how to divide up the properties according to stratos, but that finally worked out. but now, here is where i need your help. should i use street names or barrio names? street names would be confusing i would think, if one didn't know better. but i need 2 names for 6, 3 names for 5, 6 names for 4, 6 names for 3, 3 names for 2, and 2 names for 1. though not as hilarious as some of elmo's stories, this could be a bit of fun.
dan

dan

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utopiacowboy says on Sep 27, 2006, 21:41:

I agree with you, Rubito. We used to go to NYC in the late '70s and it was like being in a movie about the end of civilization. Graffiti covered everything! You couldn't even walk on the sidewalks because there was so much garbage piled up everywhere. Lunatics on the subway platforms. Abandoned cars on fire in the breakdown lanes of the expressways. Times Square was like a sexual Armageddon. It was a trip. I used to get nauseous feeling when we would enter the city limits up in the Bronx. Kind of sad to see the city all cleaned up and "normal".

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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morphus says on Sep 28, 2006, 02:34:

I used to like writing graffiti and smashing windows when I was a youngster in NYC. It was fun!

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podborski says on Sep 28, 2006, 09:22:

Rubito and UC I didn't get to see NYC before it was cleaned up, but I admit I am a chicken shit yuppie who likes it clean and safe. But maybe NYC has gone too far that way, like Toronto for example, clean and perfectly safe, but borrrrring.

Have either of you checked out Buenos Aires? just about all the things you mentioned you missed about NYC are here...graffiti for sure, and very creative graffiti I might add, lots of political messages very cleverly done, HUGE nightlife scene, avant garde theatre (not my thing but my friends go), music of every type, definitely still an edge here, it is not totally safe and if you resist a hold up for example, you will be shot, guaranteed. I felt much safer in Bogota, far fewer police here. There are lots of areas here I wouldn't go to that you guys would probably enjoy. Jeez, I even just went to a korean restaurant with the bbq's inside.

The night life in BsAs probably is not up there with, say, Tokyo, but maybe is better than London or NYC, because it just never seems to end. I love being able to go out for dinner at 11 PM on a Tuesday night and having to wait for an outdoor table because the streets are full of people. Better yet, while you wait they serve free champagne as it is almost as cheap as water. Most clubs open at 3 am, even on weeknights (weeknights are actually busier than the weekend).

Best of all, the climate. "winter" lasts 4 weeks, lowest it gets is maybe 3 celsius overnight, then spring arrives and it is between 15 and 25 with sun every day for months. And the name of the city is no accident, the air here is by far the cleanest of any major city I have seen. Despite being about twice the size of Bogota, with just as many collectivos, the air is about 100 times cleaner. For a canuck, it seems like paradise.

One last thing...argy women are spectacular, but quite full of themselves. "creidos" is the term I believe that other latin americans have for them. It's a generalization that is very true. Amazing girl watching though if you are into that. And if you have any game...well I imagine it would be as good or better than colombia. I have not yet run into a visa chaser here, unfortunately!

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utopiacowboy says on Sep 28, 2006, 16:03:

Good post dude! When are you starting up Poor But Happy, Argentina?

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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elchantajista says on Sep 29, 2006, 01:07:

univision I know everybody on the forum watches Spainish tele and I have noticed a lot of the beautiful Models are mostly from Argentina, met one in isla de Margarita she was guapa .

"Vicente"

anda de parranda en Bogota "Vicente"

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Colombiche says on Sep 29, 2006, 07:06:

Spotting a Gringo....

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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webmanco says on Sep 29, 2006, 07:15:

There was one at Salento will post the picture later. And he wasn't doing the famous Elmo dance.

(I really hate it when women get their panties all bunched up their butt, they can get so cranky!) Poor butt happy

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utopiacowboy says on Sep 29, 2006, 11:15:

Where was that photo taken, Colombiche?

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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podborski says on Sep 29, 2006, 19:45:

BsAs is as cheap as Bogota It's almost exactly the same price for everything, except wine here is excellent and dirt cheap, unlike Bog. Seems to me there is a lot better selection of clothes and things like that too. Some of the big name labels are expensive, but not all of them.

The women: A topic that I believe deserves much discussion...so here goes. First, I'd say the average colombiana is better looking and more fun than the average portena. The portenas are generally a bit too skinny for me, although there are quite a few pear shaped women here too. Grunge style clothes seem to be the rage here, lots of girls wear jeans that are baggy in the ass and look kind of dirty.

Please tell me that look hasn't caught on in Col too?

It's a bit hard to explain, but the women here seem to be more masculine, they have husky voices (which can be sexy, but I dunno, it's over the top here) and just look a little hard to me.

Of course, these are huge generalizations, and I have seen lots of absolutely stunning argy women, no question. But for me it's the sheer numbers of hot women that helps BsAs compete with Bog if that makes any sense. One on one, I'd take a colombiana.

There also are just huge numbers of cougars here, or barbies I suppose. There are literally bars full of them. I never saw that in Bogota (in the same numbers I mean).

A little story: I was in a bar (the Soul Cafe) on a saturday night and it was full but kind of quiet, lots of attractive women around but no one dancing or anything.

Two girls barge in, march up to the bar, ask loudly for drinks, and I immediately think, these are NOT portenas. One girl says hi to me, the other to the guy on the stool beside me. Within 5 minutes it's champagne all around, the girls are singing, dancing, yelling, getting drunk. I was enjoying watching the locals eye these girls like they were some sort of evil form of life from another planet.

I didn't have to ask them to know where they were from, but just to be sure I did. "Bogota" they yelled in unison.

They left after about an hour, staggering out the door with about 5 argy guys running after them. The bar returned to it's 'cool' laid back atmosphere. I wished I was in bogota.

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podborski says on Sep 29, 2006, 20:03:

No PBH argentina for me no time for that...I am building a small (6 room) boutique hotel here. Just getting started this week.

roofus can be my first guest.

I don't think my place would appeal to elmo though...perhaps fortunately.

Now I am going to go get a sidewalk table, have a nice charcoal grilled steak and half bottle of good red wine ($12) and watch the girls go by. Life's not bad.

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podborski says on Sep 30, 2006, 07:12:

Ringo and roofus I am in BsAs now Ringo, just wishing sometimes I was back in bogota.

Roofus, the reno on the place I bought starts monday, should be 4 to 5 months work, so I plan to be open march 1st. Might be too late for you?

no website yet, but I'll let you know. I haven't got the name figured out either, that's the hardest part of all.

In case you know (or don't know) BsAs, I'm in Palermo Soho, a 'rediscovered' neighbourhood that is full of the latest trendy bars and restaurants. It's named after Soho NYC of course, which it resembles only in spirit, but is probably like what Soho NYC was 20 years ago. You see very high end bars next door to very large but run down old houses, many of which are architecturally beautiful, just not looked after. Every week a few more of these 'shacks' get bought up and transformed into shops or restaurants or small hotels. But it is still very much a residential neighbourhood.

There are lots of very modern buildings going up too, so the mix of styles makes it very interesting. Much as I like Bogota, the architecture there is incredibly similar everywhere outside of candelaria. Medellin is the most homogenous looking place I have ever seen...brick, brick and more brick (not that there is anything wrong with that).

Anyway, IMHO (and most guidebooks') Palermo is the only place to stay while in BsAs, that's why I bought there.

Going rates for a nice room in a boutique hotel in Palermo(of which there are only 4 or 5 now, but many more in the works):$90 to $180 a night. That's costly for here, but shows the demand. It's very hard to find an available room on short notice. I will have 2 small rooms that might go for as little as $70 a night, but the rest will be bigger with balconies, rooftop terrace with outdoor jacuzzi, etc.

I'm thinking the rooftop jacuzzi might be entertaining to say the least. I haven't told the neighbours about that part of the plan yet...

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webmanco says on Oct 1, 2006, 21:54:

En Salento How do you spot a Gringo?




For bigger pictures click on each one.



Salento

Banco Agrario

Tienda

Iglesia

Plaza

Vista

Entrada

(I really hate it when women get their panties all bunched up their butt, they can get so cranky!) Poor butt happy

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robi666 says on Oct 2, 2006, 07:33:

How to spot a gringo? I don't know, but you can see his girlfriend in the queue at Western Union.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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Colombiche says on Oct 2, 2006, 09:49:

UC The picture was at Plaza Santo Domingo in Cartagena. Notice Botero's gordita in the foreground.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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goin_south says on Oct 2, 2006, 09:52:

Look at the disappearing list of PBH?

'what does it mean, when one of you (colombians) tell another: YOU WERE NOT/ARE NOT. 'COLOMBIAN ENOUGH'?? jejeje..a mixture, I think, of stupidity mixed with a false sense of arrogance.. How 'colombian' do you have to be? to be 'colombian enough

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utopiacowboy says on Oct 2, 2006, 10:48:

It was obviously a Botero but I wasn't sure which city. The gringoes were pretty obvious too.

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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