is hot water that hard to come by in Colombia

Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 15, 2005, 08:28:

Define average Average meaning "middle class" or average meaning the one the 50th percentile lives in? Many middle class houses have some sort of hot water, like those showerhead heaters that electricute you every time you shower. But I suspect it's safe to say that "most" Colombian houses don't have that. In much of the country, the tierra caliente, hot water seems pretty extraneous.

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vladimiro says on Jan 15, 2005, 09:05:

Hot Water Bogotanos (rolos) only shower once or twice a week because its colder in Bogota than the rest of the country and there's no hot water:) (Serves them right, those malditos rolos are so rude and pushy!).

I lived in a place in Medellin without hot-water for awhile and felt like a such a spoilt weakling whining about cold showers when everyone else, including women and children, take cold showers without complaint:) You can get so spoilt in the US; its not good for you.

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jan 15, 2005, 12:56:

spoilt me had three water heaters on all the time in Cali. One for the kitchen, because I don't want my dishes washed in cold water, one for the main bathroom, because I hate washing my hair in cold water (gives me a headache) and one for the guest bathroom because I'd want my guests wash their hands with warm water after they use the facility.
In general, most families from strata four and up have a water heater they connect half an hour before they are planning to take a shower. After everybody has taken a morning shower the heater is disconnected and anybody who wants to take a shower later on in the day will have to take a cold one. Which is just fine.
Cheers,
Desi

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

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mrxcol says on Jan 15, 2005, 15:37:

That's not totally correct No Desi, most of the families in strata 4 (except for Bogota and maybe Medellin which are cold cities) don't have hot water. We don't need it because of the weather of the city. neither does in strata 5. It's possible that many people in strata 6 have water heaters but most of the people don't because they most of the people say that they consume too many energy (even though they turn it on for only 2 hours daily).

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kernow62 says on Jan 15, 2005, 15:58:

I noticed more Colombians using the type of instant hot water heater that are used in Europe instead of the wasteful tank heaters used in the US. The tap water in Bogotá is like ice water, so a heater there is really not a luxury if you can afford a little unit for just the shower.

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dwmte says on Jan 16, 2005, 08:56:

oh boy do i remember this... brrrrrrrrr....cold water showers in colombia. only an elect number of homes, anywhere, have hot water; at least in my experience. if you're in el campo, nobody has em. get used to that cold water.

personally, i installed these in-line heaters and tank heaters, every where i lived. i did the cold shower trip until i couldn't stand it any more. especially in llano grande, where my water came from a water fall in front of my bar/restaurant. it was ice-ice-cold. i just couldn't take it. pussy? yep. however, taking that ice bath early in the morning may make you wake up, but you'll be stiff all day. not my cup of tea.

now as for the colombians. they don't even talk about it. it's just the way things are. even well to do folks i know have/use cold water in their fincas. not all of them, but enough for me to think they're nuts. it's just to damn cold.

my wife, a paisa, with us now living here in florida, and on another stateside stint in california, always uses cold water. she's nuts! i tell her that it isn't necessary, but all words awaste, she continues in her life habits. cold water showers, hair washing, dishes. it's like she thinks maybe she'll tempt me into something secret she's privy to. aint gonna happen. gemme that old hot water

dw

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kernow62 says on Jan 16, 2005, 13:09:

My wife says that most of the folks she visited had hot water, this being strata 3 and above in Bogotá.

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