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Pereira

I´ve been in Pereira nearly a week, really like the city perhaps I like it more than Cali if only because I find the heat of Cali quite intense. But I don´t want to start any “which city is better discussions” so lets just say both are great places. Have been to Manizales, Armenia, Quimbaya, Finlandia, Salento where I rode a horse for the 1st time in 15 years, luckily for me my horse knew the track like the back of his hoof so I just had to sit there and enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery. Magic. There´s plenty to keep you occupied in and around Pereira. Everything is very green, lots of fincas, coffee & banana trees everywhere, will try to post some pics sometime.

My girlfriend´s family are great, her dad bought me a paisa sombrero & poncho with the colombian colours. Have met all the tios, tias, primos, sombrinos, abuelos, huge family compared to mine. No one speaks any English other than my gf & her brother a bit, and I think this is helping my spanish. The 2 yr old nephew who lives with us and I learn new words all the time then he repeats it for an hour, drums it into my head I guess. Quite funny talking to the dog in Spanish, I keep saying sit to him & he looks at me blankly. I would say after a yr here I should be pretty OK with spanish. But will always have a funny accent.

Last night we were out drinking with her uncle and hired a vallenato band on the street and they played for us for an hour, great stuff. Things are so different here, you couldn´t do that in NZ or London. We bought the band a bottle of rum they drank between songs. It must be hard making a living like that, living on what you earn from playing. One corner in the centro is where all the marachias hang out, you can hire them to play 6 songs I think. My gf says they are expensive, but would be cool to hire them one day.

I love all the music here, I´m a big fan of spanish music but in Colombia it permeates everything and you hear it all around you 24-7. Bought the new Juanes album and it is as good as his previous album which is fantastic. Here you´ll hear La camisa negra played everywhere at the moment.

I saw a gringo yesterday in the city centre otherwise haven´t seen any, unlike in Cali where you hear english spoken sometimes. But talking to some locals there are quite a few extranjeros living in this region.

We live in a barrio 2 area across the road is barrio 1. It is very different to what I´m used to but they only thing I don´t like is it´s dangerous and I can´t go out alone. Using my iPod in the street would be suicide, it would be gone in 10 seconds. I have a not-from-round-here look about me and people stare when I go outside, but so far no problems. I´ve been in areas where the locals call barrio zero, so bad you can´t walk there at any time, and drive thru fast with the windows up. Yesterday we cleaned up the house, threw out some old junk as my gf has been away 5 yrs, put it on the roadside and it was gone in 20 mins, all of it. Some people are living in real poverty here.

I´ll be back in Cali on the 26th for the feria and I think we are gonna live in Cali as my gf likes it. For me I´d rather say in Pereira but any place is cool with me. So anyway, my email is nzfrazer at hotmail.com, if any one wants to meet up in Cali or Pereira drop me a line. Haven´t got a prepago mobile yet, will buy one soon.
Kiwi

By kiwi on Dec 14, 2004, 13:15 in Friendly Talkzone.

ColombianoX says on Dec 14, 2004, 13:30:

kiwi,

I'm glad you're enjoying Pereira, it's a great city! Has your girlfriend taken you to La Lucerna ice cream parlor yet? I love going there. I heard that new Pereira Plaza is pretty nice too.

Saludes,

ColombianoX

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

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2retirensa says on Dec 14, 2004, 17:43:

Kiwi, Tell me please What did you think of Armenia? I was there a little over a month ago and loved it!
Maureen

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kiwi says on Dec 15, 2004, 13:14:

Armenia Maureen, I liked Armenia, walked around the town, reminded me of Pereira. You have to be careful when saying what you like and don´t cause today I was asked what I thought of Manizales by a guy, I told him when I was there it rained like hell, was freezing & I didn´t think much of the place. Turns out the guy is from Manizales and got pissed off, rightly so I guess´.

Roofus, mate u know the women always have the final say, don´t try to win little battles you´ll end up losing the war! Seriously I´m keen to go live in Cali for a while. Are u from Medellin? I´m always hearing how nice it is there. Will go there sometime next yr. Hope to see all of Colombia while I´m here for the year.

As far as women go, I would say the women of Pereira would rival their caleña primas for beauty any day...who´s with me on that one?

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kiwi says on Dec 16, 2004, 14:28:

Roofus Do u live in Medellin? I hope to get up there one day. We can meet up for a couple of cold ones.
Kiwi

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litost says on Dec 16, 2004, 16:47:

kiwi, why haven´t you come by to Santa Rosa??? just a few minutes away, you have to come to the Thermal Waters plus the town itself is very nice too.

I am here... my cell phone is 311 3630059.

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Save the Wildcats says on Dec 16, 2004, 16:53:

Oh, you're back.... I missed ya while you were gone!

Kim

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Miguel says on Dec 16, 2004, 23:53:

Kiwi Interesting thread on two levels; women and Pereira. I talked with my barranquillera about the travel plans for my upcoming trip and was informed that Pereira was where "we had" to go; therefore, any info you can provide will be appreciated!

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kiwi says on Dec 17, 2004, 09:25:

Litost hey dude, well when i went to Manizales i wanted to stop & buy some chorizo in santa rosa cause they say its the best in all colombia! but we didn`t stop. but we have plans to go to the termal aguas, got the info about it the other day. looks cool. best to go at nite or day? now i got a comcell prepago so i will give u call. mine is 3113648892.
kiwi

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kasper says on Dec 26, 2004, 19:01:

Thermal baths - santa rosa de cabal Don't forget there are two very different themals at santa rosa - one much more up-market (and expensive) but botha re terrific. I would suggest the lower thermals for day (low cost) and a great selection of baths - plus you can slip your way to the pool at the bottom of the falls for a VERY cold refresher. The upper thermals are more developed and are more expensive but have better facilities - though both are perfectly acceptable.

I agree on manizales - it rains, is cold and is not a spot on Pereria - but don't say THAT to a local!

Last time I was in Periria (christmas 03) it was so much more relaxed than in '01 - and I was positively kicked out of the appartment by the inlaws rather than being escorted everywhere - and I still get a giggle out of remembering walking through the plaza simon bolivar 'cause your average 6'2" australian sticks out like the proverbial.

TTFN and enjoy Colombia - esp pereria and the themals at santa rosa de cabal.

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fennell01 says on Dec 27, 2004, 11:29:

Danger in Pereira I spent a week in Pereira and never felt as though I was in danger. Maybe I'm just a blind Gringo but in Cartagena and Pereira I felt very safe. I went running near the "gallery" (an area known for drugs and other bad stuff) and people all smiled and waved. Of course I am 6'3" 210pds but I really never felt danger. I met some local guys at the Gym and they took me to a boxing ring where I showed them what its like to fight a Gringo who is not afraid. The Guys were fast and pretty tough but not strong. Much Fun!

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jpagm says on Jan 18, 2005, 18:10:

NUEVA PEREIRA WELL PEREIRAS GOT THE VIADUCTO, BRIDGE BETWEN DOSQUEBRADAS AND PEREIRA, LA PLAZA DE BOLIVAR, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY KINDA LIKE A PARK, NEW MALLS AROUND THE CITY LIKE LA 14, PEREIRA PLAZA, CARREFOUR, MAKRO IN DOSQUEBRADAS AND SOME OTHER NEW ONES THAT I FORGOT. THAT RIGHT THERE IS GOING TO HELP THE ECONOMY IN THAT CITY IF THEY GET NICE STUFF TO BUY OVER THERE AT REASONABLE PRICES A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BUY MORE CRAP IN THERE LIKE I DO ALL THE TIME. DANCE CLUBS FOR SALSA, MERENGUE, VALLENATO, REGGAETON AND EVEN ROCK PLACES ARE EVERYWHERE YOU GOTTA TRY LA BADEA, ALL OF IT, LA CIRCUNVALAR, REALLY GOOD AND EXPENSIVE PLACES TO PARTY AND TO GET SOME FOOD AT NICE RESTAURANTS. MOTELES ARE A MUST, JANDAIA, ZEFIRO, LA CASCADA AND SOME OTHERS ARE GREAT FOR AN AFTER PARTY WITH YOUR SPECIAL ONE, ENJOY BUDDY

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Angel_Gabriel says on Jan 18, 2005, 21:37:

Great post about Pereira & surroundings, keep it up!

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santarosano7 says on Jan 22, 2005, 22:30:

santa rosa de cabal !!!! is sooo wonderful !!!

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go2pr says on Jan 24, 2005, 05:27:

Manizalles was worth a visit ? Does anyone know which hotels are considered as the best in Peirera and Manizalles ?

What about the best nightlife venues in those cities ?

About Manizalles, I thought it was worth a visit, a city with interesting views on the cordillieras, quite busy with many universities ..... I'm surprised with the negatives comments here .....

Anyway how is the feria there ?

Cheers

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go2pr says on Jan 24, 2005, 06:18:

Peirera Are there direct flights to Pereira from Medellin, and how is Manizalles accessible, any airport there ?

Thanks in advance for any answer.

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litost says on Jan 24, 2005, 09:36:

Best hotel in Pereira is probably Hotel Melia. Manizales is definitely worth a visit, I personally prefer it over Pereira but it really depends what you're looking for. There is more culture, it's better organized, cooler weather which I like and it feels safer (don't get me wrong, I like things about Pereira too). The Feria is a very big event, lots of partying and drinking, but also cultural expressions to be seen and enjoyed. Yes, there is an airport in Manizales, it's called La Nubia I think and should get daily flights from Bogota, and from other big cities I imagine.

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litost says on Jan 24, 2005, 09:40:

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go2pr says on Jan 25, 2005, 01:28:

litost Litost thanks for your answer.

Cheers

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CLALORENA says on Feb 18, 2005, 08:19:

PEREIRANA NICE ONE KIWI, I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE HAVING A WONDERFUL IN MY MORENA Y CIUDAD TRASNOCHADORA PEREIRA, I LIVE IN LONDON, I AM GOING TO COLOMBIA PEREIRA VERY SOON ON THE 30TH OF APRIL, I HOPE YOU WE CAN MEET UP. MY NAME IS LORENA AND THIS IS MY EMAIL ADDRESS. CLALORENA at STARMEDIA.COM. I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU VERY SOON. HAS YOUR GIRLFRIEND TAKEN YOU TO LA BADEA WHERE THE VERY GOOD RUMBA IS, FROM THURSDAYS NIGHT? BYE LORENA X

Lorenita

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