Medellin vs. Bogota

dwmte7 says on Jun 23, 2007, 06:11:

usher...a mad dog would be happier in medallo... now many nay saying bogatanos will take me to task for such an opinion and against such stiff measure i will concede...sure, there's plenty of cold shoulders there (bogota) but what else? rain? cold weather? impersonal attitudes? political bullshit? different strokes for different folks. it's like saying/asking, where would you rather be, baghdad or marrikesh? malibu or bo-hunk arkansas?>

rest assured, there is no comparison, none. medellin is calm, warm, amiable, and enviting. the paisas are the true representatives of colombia. whether in the city or in the rural pueblos and fincas, the atmosphere is cordial and memorable. medellin or bust!

dw






1

dwmte

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Robert Jorge says on Jun 23, 2007, 08:54:

I have never been to Medellin. But I went back and forth from Bogota to Villavo. It is amazing the difference in people's friendliness and attitudes between the 2 cities. I also found Bogota cold, and not just the weather. I found Villavo hot, and not just the weather. I chose to live in Villavo.

BEWARE of gold diggers.

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ColombianoGringo says on Jun 23, 2007, 11:31:

Since I was a kid, I have spent the vast majority of my time in Colombia in Northern Bogota. It certainly holds a special place in my heart and I love going there. Over my lifetime I have cumulatively spent a total of several years there. The only thing keeping me in the US for now is the fact that I have two young kids from my previous marriage and I would never leave them without their dad.

However, when I think about the possibilty of permanently living in Colombia, I think I would prefer Medellin any day. While Medellin is not immune to big city problems such as traffic, pollution and crime, I think it would be a much more pleasant city to live in.

I find that the people are friendlier and more pleasant and that the city in general simply has a better vibe for me. Also the weather tends to be nicer in Medellin, but it sometimes will rain every day for months at a time. The last time I was there I couldn't go paragliding because it rained for ten days straight and had been raining practically every day for the previous two months.

I'm sure some folks may disagree, but I find a lot people in northern Bogota can be real pricks. They can be extremely arrogant and downright mean. I don't know how they treat gringos, but I find the most unpleasant people in Colombia concentrated north of Calle 60 in Bogota. It is a lot easier to notice the differences when you are native to the language and customs than as a foreign tourist. Now this isn't to say that everyone or even most people in Bogota are this way, but to me, the difference is very evident when you go to other parts of Colombia.

In any case, Medellin would be a better place for me. It is only my opinion and I would recommend that if possible, you visit both cities and see which you like best.

Peace,
CG

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dwmte7 says on Jun 23, 2007, 12:18:

rubito....the entertainment life in medallo is different. sure there's the typical tourist clubs but lets get real...that ain't entertainment. in medellin, the entertainment in the best settings is ala colombia. in clubs, bars estaderos, after hour haunts, etc. ther is zero comparison between the two. bogota is just plain people-cold. period.

art? medallo is crawling with art, everywhere. were do you think botero is from and el maestro arenas betancur? those are just a couple of the headliners. don'[t be as one who pretends to know the contents of the cupboard before opening the door. come to medallo and see for your self. if you like the temp cooler, hang out up country, ie carmen, la ceja, llano grande, el retiro, maranilla...find out how colombians party. it's the best. go visit san antonio on a fri and sat night. you'll REALLY never want to leave. that's partying.

dwmte

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gringoloid says on Jun 23, 2007, 12:38:

Everything written above is correct. I came to Bog first, then MDE, and back to Bog.

Paisas are friendly immediately, but Bog's warm up in about 30 seconds. Paisas have a cool pronunciation of spanish.

MDE has a good old boy thing going so it is not as easy to do business as in Bog.

So why did I return to Bogota?: The Weather! I love the cold as my body runs really hot and I don't like airconditioning. I can deal with everything else here, just give me the cold weather.

In summary, if you can deal with the heat, rain, and humidity of MDE, then go for it!

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usher127 says on Jun 23, 2007, 14:11:

Thanks for the meaty response. I guess im pretty sure I would prefer Medellin. The weather here is really getting me down. I think its better in London! But, I need to be sure its possible to do business in Medellin, i.e. teach English privately. Does anyone have any horror stories, i.e. having to run back to Bogota because people in Medellin are too tight?

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dwmte7 says on Jun 23, 2007, 15:04:

on running a business....in medellin, if you have something/anything happening, they'll come to you. just the way the city works. you can be in the funky parts of prado and if your business is hot, people will come. idon't think it's that way in bogota. it's just too damn big.
dw

dwmte

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elreydelostrolls says on Jun 23, 2007, 16:21:

The mayor's office should make you the official gringo ambassador for the city, DW. Of course I agree with you completely.

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dwmte7 says on Jun 23, 2007, 18:24:

thanks, rey... you'ld be a bit surprised, but about two years ago, the mayor of medellin was posting here on pbs. when he finally divulged his identity, he disappeared.

dw thanks for the comment.

dwmte

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dwmte7 says on Jun 24, 2007, 04:59:

amen...

dwmte

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Robert Jorge says on Jun 24, 2007, 06:42:

I want to officially apologize to juancho00 for commenting in this thread ... I haven't been to Medellin. Of course I acknowledged that fact in my little post.

BEWARE of gold diggers.

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bogotabrian says on Jun 24, 2007, 07:14:

I live in Bogota and have been teaching privately for about 4 months. There are a lot of really cool people in Bogota but as far as meeting strangers, the people here can be really cold. In Medellin people are a lot more friendly to strangers and it's easier to meet friends. I will be moving to teach at a private school in Medellin in 2 weeks and opening up a small tutoring business for my time off. Medellin, hands down, is a better city I think for ex-pats.

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dwmte7 says on Jun 24, 2007, 13:21:

when i had my bar and restaurant in llano grande, about 45 min up the hill from medallo via las palmas, i was asked by eafit to teach english there. for those who want to teach and want a peaceful, cheap, tranquill environ ment i suggest this campus of eafit. i turned them down, because i was teaching english to the children of the campesinos for free and helping them compete with the rich and priviledged kids.

any anticipating a move to medellin need to check out up the hill before depositing their ass in some expensive condo in town. i've had expensive condos, huge houses in poblado and have as well, lived up in the finca. give me the finca, please. f***k town.

dw

dwmte

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usher127 says on Jun 25, 2007, 08:12:

OK, i'm definately off to Medellin. I was simply afraid of having less business opportunies there. Thanks everyone.

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elmodefoque says on Jun 25, 2007, 08:24:

"gomer friendly" gib

hey GIB, great analogy!!!

ASK NOT WHAT THE PUSSY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THAT PUSSY!!!!!!!!!! CAT LOVER

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divina22 says on Jul 19, 2007, 16:10:

I know it's late, and you've probably already moved but my experience with Bogota was cold as well. My hubby, a Paisa, and myself asked a guy onthe street where the closest bakery was and he looked at us and kept rigth on walking...... I only spent two days there but as far as medellin, where i have been numerous times, I can't sya enough about all of the people there.... it's amazing and somethign you don't see here in the U.S..... everyone calling each other hermano, parce..... a la orden, mi Dios le pague, such polite, God fearing people, I love it!!!!

Winners have simply formed the habit of doing things losers don't like to do.......

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webmanco says on Jul 19, 2007, 16:22:

Without putting Medellín or any other Colombian city down, Bogotá ROCKS

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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Cerealkiller says on Jul 20, 2007, 02:02:

I love bogota too, i think its the place to be regarding jobs, nightlife, concerts and networking.

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

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usher127 says on Sep 6, 2007, 19:53:

Well, i've been in Medellin for about 6 weeks now. I have to say, the moment I arrived I felt so much better. The people are much easier to deal with... not only friendly, but seemingly much better at keeping their word... so far I really can't fault the city.. I'm totally stunned and fully intend to become as Paisa as possible for the next few years. Any doubts I had about going back to London at some point are totally gone. The only danger is if too many foriegners like me keep coming here.. it might end up like Costa Rica... eww.

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