NY Times articles about Quindio and Bogota

kernow62 says on Feb 12, 2006, 03:24:

also a short article on Bogota http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/02/12/travel/12bogota.html

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Monpirri says on Feb 12, 2006, 05:56:

kernow62 Thank you sir for the NYT articles!
I also missed you before when you were taking a break and now I am very happy that you are back!! I think I will try that restaurant in Bogota.
I hope your mom is feeling better!!

Regards,
Monpirri

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

0 funny, 0 helpful.

caulfield2 says on Feb 12, 2006, 11:55:

From reading the article, the thing that really struck me is how there needs to be a better effort to communicate the eco-tourism opportunities that are available here to the US, Latin America and Europeans.

I think one of the wisest approaches (for Quindio Department) would be to promote the haciendas and fincas as a collective group, along with other popular options like horseback riding, Panaca, hang-gliding (parpente), river excursions, etc. Parque del Cafe and Salento, of course.

Of course, one of the natural barriers is language...I already have a couple of jobs teaching, lol, but I think if they had all this together on a website, along with some English speakers who could make the foreign tourists feel more comfortable, it would be a pretty natural fit. The majority of the websites down here are done in Spanish, and are targeted at people coming from Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Medellin and Bogota. According to the statistics, there are 300,000 tourists every year, but that is still less than 1,000 per day for an area that is Colombias second largest tourist attraction.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

poco says on Feb 12, 2006, 12:57:

I'll agree on this one Armenia is the capital of the state of Quindío. Both are being promoted as a tourist destination BUT,, it seems,, not to foreigners ? or at least not enough, or they won’t come in more significant numbers?

The 2003 article (linked) says 300,000 tourists per year. This is good,, but what would the number be if “things were different”? This is an example of how the “safety” issue is hurting Colombia.

A group to promote the finca rentals is an excellent idea. The fincas are not cheap,, prices I’ve seen run between 300,000 and 1 Million pesos per night. Probably cheaper rates are available,, depends on amenities,, I guess,, hot and cold running water and women ? Probably not,, must be house, pool, horseback right, domestic and ranch help, food etc.

The finca consolidation should be a winner,, but like stated,, this is time and work,, time,, no problem,,, work,, big problem, get started and it never ends :Quindio Travel Guide I’d assume this is one of many and maybe not the best but it is in English.

More Quindío – 2003 article

Sadly,, when I get these inspirations,, I’m reminded of how things “work” (or amazing enough they do work). Like the TYPICAL communications, electrical and T.V. cabling rats nest in Armenia, this is TYPICAL of Colombia.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

0 funny, 0 helpful.

caulfield2 says on Feb 12, 2006, 13:12:

Well, Poco, the structure already exists.

My perception is that many of the owners just look at it is an additional revenue stream and not a means of survival...in other words, whatever they get is gravy, so to speak.

One of the obvious barriers is the fact that it often takes one and one-half days to get here (unless you come from NY, Miami, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta), because it often takes two domestic flights in the US, then the flight to Bogota, then you get in too late to make the Avianca over here.

Yes, the idea with the fincas is just like the chiva bus...you get a group of 6-8 people together and you end up paying $10-30 mil per person (per night) and you have a really great, relaxing time. Somewhere closer to $200,000 per night is probably closer to the average...the haciendas and most deluxe sites are higher, but they still are largely patronized by Colombians. I think $500,000 would be the high range, with some exceptions.

Is the 2003 article from the Washington Post?

We have a nice hotel here on Avendia Bolivar (Hotel Estelar), although it is probably a 3 star and certainly not a 5 star. If you did double the tourism and catered to more tourists outside the country, you could certainly support that type of hotel IMO.

As far as the waiver or liability issues...well, you are basically a match-making group bringing foreign tourists and Colombia together.
This topic has come up before about whether dating sites (Internet or not) are responsible for a guy going crazy with a woman after they have met in real life after an on-line intro via e-mail. And there are plenty of waivers and discussions that would have to go back and forth on this top, lawyers, MOAs...but it would not seem to be an impossible barrier. You can always have guests pay a security deposit, that would be an option.

I am not particularly interested in catering to the sex tourist crowd, although that would be a significant revenue stream...or, I will put it this way, I dont care why you are coming, but I am certainly not going to go out of my way to offer pimp-guide services. We dont need for Armenia to get the same reputation as Pereira, and I think that would be one negative of increased tourist traffic....more disposable income....more prostitution opportunities, especially with Americans, Canadians, Japanese and Europeans.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

poco says on Feb 12, 2006, 14:18:

You do have some good ideas ,,, (except for the soup kitchen).

The longer you stay,, the better you’ll understand the whys of Colombia,, at least that is what happened with me. There is usually a reason for ALMOST everything,, most of the time it’s money. Ie: It’s better because it’s cheaper.

The American way may only be different,, so why change?

Starting this as a school project,, I’ll agree,, charging for it ??? My first thought is,, that's a bad idea,, good idea to help the poor,, but what if it became successful ? What if more money came into the area ? Think of the connections and experience gained. How many new opportunities would there be for employment? Employment that might not require a university education.

In case you haven't noticed,, I believe in furnishing an opportunity,, then,, lets see you do something with it. Free is NOT in my vocabulary.

Plus,, someone WILL NOTICE if it is successful and you might create even more jobs and opportunity. Hard to see someone take your idea and make money,, but that should be the nature of assistance. Plus the educational interest might alleviate your other problems.

Another consideration,, you will have competition from business who have employees AND that business puts “food on the table”. Humm,, a proposal to give to the poor and take food off someone’s table to do it,,, not good in my opinion. Helping people learn,, that is something else.

I like the chiva idea. Reminds me of Jurassic Park.

The price looks OK,, 200,000 per night. Armenia is more expensive than Cali (I think so anyway). Current market research should prove interesting,, hell,, think of the great time you could have going on field trips looking at properties with your students.

I'd keep it simple,, concentrate and fine tune finca rentals. I doubt there is much competition.

The finca idea you have would be of greater interest to read about than soup kitchens and I believe would be of greater benefit in your future endeavors.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Monpirri says on Feb 12, 2006, 15:36:

Does anyone know if this restaurant is expensive? "And then there's Andrés Carne de Res in Chía (Calle 2, No. 11a-56, 57-1-863-7880), a restaurant in name but really a riotously decorated spectacle of art and music and eccentricity (check out www.andrescarnederes.com, to get an idea).The endless menu is heavy on the beef (that's what Carne de Res means, after all) but they also serve everything from ajiaco to banana splits. Those wanting relative calm should eat in the afternoon; those going at night should go early to get a table, and stay late as the mayhem (eat, drink, dance, dance on tables) ensues.

The Andrés experience is representative of what the world misses out on by not going to Colombia: it manages to be profound, spellbinding, beautiful, tumultuous, confusing and fattening all at once."

http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/02/12/travel/12bogota.html

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

0 funny, 0 helpful.

rocinante says on Feb 12, 2006, 16:00:

there goes the neighborhood! NC

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

0 funny, 0 helpful.

juanalejo says on Feb 12, 2006, 17:22:

monpirri For Colombian standards very expensive. I was yesterday, full meal and bottle of wine for 100 USD.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Monpirri says on Feb 12, 2006, 17:47:

Juanelejo Thanks, here is about $25.00 USD. Meal includes baked potato, salad and soup.

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Monpirri says on Feb 12, 2006, 18:04:

Too expensive!! One time I stopped by Christie's Steakhouse and I ended up paying about $100 or more. It was my worst mistake I ever made!!

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Monpirri says on Feb 12, 2006, 18:34:

Tinto Yepp that's the name, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse!!
This particular outlet is right near to an Athletic Complex Center/Gym.
I was just hungry and craving for steak, I did not bother to look where I was heading to!!
Later, I learned high caliber basketball players and US senators go there to chat and dine.

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Monpirri says on Feb 12, 2006, 20:02:

No joke, I do not know how we sometimes can be so careless with our money!
As I share and type my comments about this unfortunate incident my fingers hurt and I feel like a perfect idiot for spending all that money in one steak and one glass of wine.

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bufalo says on Feb 12, 2006, 20:34:

I honestly don't give Armenia's tourism much time. I've been living there (not there at the moment) off and on for about three years or so. Aside from what Poco said, all true, there are other reasons as well. There are way better theme parks in the states, usually it is families that go to those places. How much would a foreign family have to pay to go to colombia to go to so-so theme parks? This apart from convincing them that the rebels aren't much of a threat there, that they won't get robbed, the usual stuff (and let just one incident happen in the news and - game over). The national families right now like El Quindío, but how many years in a row are people going to go to the same theme parks? El eje cafetero will never beat out the coast, hell there's a beach, enough said. One of the best attractions about El Quindío is the mountains. Problem is, there are still a lot of problems with the mountains! A lot of the little villages (buenavista, the others on the cordillera) are really cute, but not advisable to go to. People that are into extreme sports aren't going to come if they can't practice their extreme sports. I think that if the security would be fixed in the area, then people would come in droves, but I don't see that happening soon. Yes, Armenia is relatively quiet and safe, remember, I'm talking about the hikes in the mountains and stuff.
On a positive note, I beleive that their will be direct flights to/from Madrid in about six months to a year or so. I forget the exact date.

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

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bufalo says on Feb 12, 2006, 20:53:

the writer said something like "in colombia, like argentina, steak is king". WHAT? The meat in Argentina was way better than what you get in colombia, and I also see a lot of other dishes besides meat in Colombia. Yes, of course there are other dishes in Argentina too... but they really take their meat seriously.

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

0 funny, 0 helpful.

juanalejo says on Feb 13, 2006, 06:17:

Sorry That was dinner for two. Still expensive for Colombian standards. That was apetizers, main courses and desserts and a bottle of wine.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Monpirri says on Feb 13, 2006, 08:05:

Piquemacho, thank you! I am sorry I missread the thread, Thank you for your NYT contribution!
I thought kernow62 posted both articles.

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Monpirri says on Feb 13, 2006, 17:54:

bufalo I really regret that you had a bad experience with Colombian steak. All I have is lovely memories with carne asada al parrilla in Colombia.
Perhaps you should try
Colombian Coffee Steak right at your home, I believe you are also from Canada?
Recipe by Corporate Chef Ismat Jivani
Fred's Not Here Smokehouse and Grill
321 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
http://www.juanvaldez.com/MENU/preparation/recipes/coffee_steak.html
Just add aguardiente instead!

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Monpirri says on Feb 13, 2006, 18:00:

Believe it or Not, Colombia has good steak houses I know the Columbian steakhouse El Llano is a Vital Info fave, but for some reason despite living semi-close by I had not been to their new location since they moved across and up Lincoln to just south of Irving Park. (Just south of the bad tapas place, and across from the bank which was Molotov Cocktailed when it was a Serbian social club. Not since ex-cop William Drury was gunned down in his Cadillac two days before the Kefauver Crime Commission came to town has Roscoe Village/St. Ben's seen such excitement.)

I was a fool to wait, everything about the place screams "find." The inside is almost Hollywood perfect, Gaucho-meets-Old West-meets-immigrant tourist trap (and I mean that in a good way), the chimichurri is brightly flavorful slathered onto whatever there is to slather it onto it, the wooden plank on which your steak, yucca, plantain and so on are served gives eating here a nice Flintstonian touch, and the cheap steak is everything a cheap steak should be, which is, charred and salty and meaty, I particularly like meat in my meat. I have but one complaint. Imagine you went into a French bistro, and had the following conversation:

YOU: I'll have the coq au vin.

WAITER: The... huh?

YOU: Coke oh van.

WAITER: Sorry... don't really speak French...

YOU: Coo kho vehn. Coal coal bin. Cuckoo Ben-- oh look, here. Coq au vin.

WAITER: Ah! I see.

And ten minutes later he brings you the boeuf bourguignon.

I ordered the New York strip. It's number two on the menu. "New York strip" meant nothing to her, so I pointed to number two. And ten minutes later I got the ribeye steak and chicken combo.

Mind you, it wasn't bad. The ribeye wasn't a New York strip, but it was pretty good and the chicken was really good. But I just don't understand how something can be number two on the menu, one of the words is steak as in the phrase Colombian Steak House which is painted on the FRONT of the place, yes it's a foreign language to her but it's probably one of the two or three most ordered items in the restaurant for crying out loud, and I'm met with a stare of comprehension such as if I had asked for the Pork Neck Larb or ordered in Cockney rhyming slang or Klingon.

But, this certain randomness in the ordering process aside... El Llano is well worth a visit.

El Llano
3941 N Lincoln
773-868-1708

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Monpirri says on Feb 13, 2006, 18:04:

I say go back and try it again... Or go to Prague for Colombian Steak.

Don Pedro
Saturday November 22nd 2003, 11:19 pm
Filed under: Prague Restaurant Reviews
As Czechs travel further and further afield, the cuisines they bring back - and the stories behind them - are richer and more varied. Don Pedro, in the southern suburb of Praha 5 - Radotin, is an excellent example of both excellent cuisine and an interesting story.
The story goes something like this: After starting the Architects’ Club (Dutá hlava) on Betlemské náměstí in the Old Town, Don Pedro’s founder, Petr Novak, went to Chicago. There he met Sandra, a beautiful Colombian woman, who convinced him to come to see Colombia. A series of misadventures later, and Petr and Sandra were convinced they were made for each other.
They decided to move to Prague and open an authentic Colombian restaurant, with meals cooked by Sandra’s mother and served by his sisters-in-law.
The meals are excellent. Emphasis - like in Argentine cuisine - is on grilled steaks, but the difference is they’re done with such care and panache. A better steak is hard to come by in Kafkaville.
I had the Uruguayan Steak, a large slice of imported Uruguayan beef grilled and served with a cilantro-olive oil sauce, grilled peppers and onions and a baked potato. The beef, while a bit tougher than a typical svičková, was very flavorful.
For dessert I had the brownie con helado (homemade brownie with ice cream), followed by Cafe de Colombia.
Digression: Cafe de Colombia has as their spokesman Juan Valdez, right? And the commercials say that every bean is hand-picked by Juan Valdez, right? So what happens when Juan Valdez gets sick or has a bad hangover? Does the entire nation’s coffee output depend on one guy and his donkey? But I digress.
Don Pedro is a bit out of the way, but a worthwhile detour for an excellent Colombian steak.

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bufalo says on Feb 13, 2006, 20:44:

I lived in Uruguay and visited Buenos Aires twice. there is no way in the world that a steak in colombia even comes close. the meat outright sucks and my teeth always hurt afterward. I have had excellent colombian steak...in NYC several places in Jackson Heights, but never in Colombia.

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

0 funny, 0 helpful.

webmanco says on Feb 13, 2006, 23:00:

El Tiempo Periódico 'The New York Times' destacó al Eje Cafetero como destino turístico



February 24, meet up in Bogotá