Lifestyle... Cartagena vs. Bogota

Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 3, 2007, 08:54:

Without a doubt, you would be bored as shit in Cartagena and much happier in Bogota.

I love Cartagena but it's hardly a center of intellectual ferment or cafe society.

ducaticole says on Aug 3, 2007, 09:06:

Thanks, that's good to know.

Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 3, 2007, 09:08:

Keep in mind, if Bogota doesn't work out, you could always join the cafe society and deep intellectual discussions on PBH.

(Yes, tongue is firmly in cheek)

Peter (Moderator) says on Aug 3, 2007, 09:23:

Bogota would be a great place for you, to be honest. There is LOTS of culture, young people to discuss things with etc...

Cartagena doesn't really have that scene as far as I know. So I'd argue Bogota. For your brother, it also has one of the best party scenes in South America. No beach and hot weather, but you can always take weekend trips to the coast etc.

Poor but snappy

Peter (Moderator) says on Aug 3, 2007, 09:24:

ps: Tinto: that made me laugh out loud!

Poor but snappy

gringoloid says on Aug 3, 2007, 09:45:

The heat, humidity, and vendedores in Cart will become rather annoying in a very short time. Although a little slap and tickle with a costena while the air conditioning is running can provide some well needed relief from the rigors.

Bogota is the big city, with pollution, high prices, (for colombia), traffic mess, and a little colder people. My biggest problem: not enough sunshine.

So soon, I'll be doing Bogota along with Santa Marta. I don't think you can have everything you want.

ducaticole says on Aug 3, 2007, 09:50:

I'm really looking forward to experiencing things in Bogota. I've done a bit of travelling but other than that, I've lived a fairly sheltered life in Canada. I'm not a stranger to hard work or a challenge but I've never really experienced any cultural changes or anything.

My brother isn't really into the party scene either and he hates big cities. His ideal life would be a small house on the ocean, an old boat that he fixes up and a beautiful, loving wife.

ducaticole says on Aug 3, 2007, 10:00:

I'm from Vancouver, lack of sunshine shouldn't be an issue at all. We hardly even see the sun from October to April.

I'm also assuming that it's not too expensive to take a weekend trip out to Cartagena. I can get flights for free since I charge them to company expenses.

Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 3, 2007, 10:32:

Just out of curiousity, what's your family connection to Colombia? Why move there?

Waterdawg says on Aug 3, 2007, 11:47:

Gloid : Keep me posted on your Santa Marta romps ! I like you , live in Bogota but am going to have to find a part time sunny local ... Soon !

ducaticole says on Aug 3, 2007, 11:49:

My Dad is a director for a gold exploration company with property in Colombia. This has been in the works for years but they have finally got their funding and are going public. We're going to be starting our drilling program sometime next year. We are moving this fall to familiarize ourselves with the country and to start learning Spanish. One of my Dad's business partners grew up in Colombia and currently lives there as well so he is helping to get everything set up as well.

Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 3, 2007, 12:27:

Hmmmmm.

I don't mean to be a hand-wringer, but given what you just said, I'd take that picture down ASAP (unless it's not you) and start cutting a low profile

fernan2007 says on Aug 3, 2007, 12:43:

Things a very different as soon as you step out of the USA, but Colombia for you would be a drastic change and a rude awakening , I make sure that you keep a low profile like somebody mentioned before and just try to be street savvy...know what I mean?

porra

Philly says on Aug 3, 2007, 14:09:

"take that picture down", I am sorry but I can not stop laughing. I have to agree, you might want to learn some street smarts first. Universities in Bogota are more expensive then others, most people go to the smaller towns. I am a Professor at University de Pamplona, its a nice average size University. I am not sure how you would attend a University and you do not speak Spanish? Good Luck

Cerealkiller says on Aug 3, 2007, 14:42:

Ducaticole, Cartagena is a nice city to visit but after a week or so, you will probably start considering suicide. Don't get me wrong is a nice enough place but it is a small city with tons of tourists, hookers, not a very strong student population, let alone a place to find intellectual stimuli...it gets extremely hot and humid during the rainy season. Some people enjoy that, I totally hate that kind of weather.
As for Bogota, weather is very nice, its a big city with a very active and strong studept population. The best universities in the country are in Bogota as well as the higher paid positions. Many universities offer spanish for foreigners. Los Andes, Externado, and Javeriana have a couple of foreign students learning spanish as they take their regular classes. You can't possibly beat the quality of life in Bogota with that in Cartagena...Good luck!!!

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

ducaticole says on Aug 3, 2007, 15:28:

I'm not too worried to be honest. My Dad's business partner in Colombia has an entire team that works for him and the company they're with. They'll be accompaning us almost full time until we learn what we need to know. We'll also be living in a staff apartment complex for the first 6-12 months.

I'll be arriving in Colombia fall 2007 and starting Spanish lessons right away. I should hope that my Spanish is strong enough to start attending classes by fall 2008.

Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 3, 2007, 20:02:

Trust me.

Be worried.

Not that you shouldn't come to Colombia or live a full life and have fun, but putting your picture on an internet bulletin board and mentioning the kind of circumstances you described is just asking for trouble. It would be even more trouble when you start posting that you've decided to go to such and such university and you like to hang out at this bar...

People with "entire teams" are the kind that get kidnapped, Or else their girlfriend or loved one does.

houstongal says on Aug 3, 2007, 20:29:

And some kidnappings occur because of employees telling someone about about this rich person. Inside jobs are quite common. Don't be fooled by the security of having bodyguards. You're still going to a dangerous country. My company now has a travel restriction for all of Colombia (i.e., need approval and good business justification for traveling). Until recently the restriction was for Bogota and Medellin (and I think Cali too?). Travel to Barranquilla and Cartagena was not restricted. We take the security of our employees quite seriously and much differently than tourists.

Ducaticole - This is your second post asking for similar advice and once again you provide personal information in such a public forum. In your last post you received a number of comments telling you to take down your photo and stop divulging information about your father's company, your brother wanting to buy a beach house, etc. These posts are still available for all to see. Listen to the PBH posters and heed their warnings.

Culture is language and language is culture - Dr. Annamaria Napolitano

ducaticole says on Aug 3, 2007, 20:31:

Any recommendations on staying safe then?

Gomezman5 says on Aug 3, 2007, 22:34:

I have to agree with many of the above. Bogota', hands down. Cartagena is as touristy as you can get. It's great for a long weekend, but to compare it to Bogota is just silly.

In fact, comparing the two cities is like comparing apples to oragnes. Bogota is very cosmopolitan, a city where there is a lot to do all the time. Cartagena, has it's beach, the Old City, more beach, ....and that's it. Worst of all, it is one of the hottest and most humid places on earth. I hate the climate.

Philly says on Aug 4, 2007, 07:16:

Please, stop giving the rich brat advice. Its obvious he thinks his sh*t doesn't stink. I think we all need to just pray for him.

Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 5, 2007, 13:44:

That seems a little harsh, Philly.

I can see he took the advice about pulling down the photo.

Ducaticole, just take the lead from Colombians. No wealthy Colombian whose family owns a gold mine would EVER speak of it publicly. The reason why, simply, is that kidnappers and extortionists go where the money is. With what you've already told us about your family it's a given that there's a kidnapping and ransom policy out on you, your brother, and your dad. To criminals that just makes them salivate. Easy payoff! That's why K&R policies generally have a stipulation that if you TELL anyone you have the insurance it violates the policy.

houstongal says on Aug 5, 2007, 13:52:

Maybe he can get peter to delete his prior post where he provided a lot more detail than in this post. for his security....

Culture is language and language is culture - Dr. Annamaria Napolitano

Piapo says on Aug 7, 2007, 04:16:

Ducaticole, you don't even need to wait a year for start your university studies. As I told you before in the Universidad de Los Andes, the education is very similar to the american and the pensum is 90% in english. You can contact the international office for information about spanish courses, also given by the university. In Cartagena, you will not find a good university, maybe Universidad del Norte in barranquilla?

Piapo says on Aug 7, 2007, 04:20:

I forgot to say that the security in Los Andes is VERY high, as both sons of Uribe went there (actually I was in the same class with Tomas :)..) and perhaps you'll open your social circle if you're planning to take over the family business.

Cerealkiller says on Aug 7, 2007, 11:03:

Piapo 90% English? Maybe if youre majoring in Languages and happen to choose English, but most people in Los Andes are taking basic English courses just to cope with the second language requirement. I don't know where you're getting that from, unless theyve changed the complete system in the past 6 months. I only took 2 classes in English and they were both CBUs.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill