PRESENTLY IN CALI, MANIZALES BOUND

caslug says on Oct 19, 2005, 12:27:

dude.. weekdays in cali are a little boring.. if you don't have things to do during the day. I'm here in cali but i have class everyday and it keeps me busy til the weekend, then finding there's LOTS of partying going on. Don Jamie is OK, but i think they charge extra if you have guest staying the night. ;-)

I recommend aparta hotel del rio is across the bridge fr police station 3 or 4 blks fr avienda sexta, rooms are fr 90-110k/night, no guest fees.

or aparta hotel monte carlo(75k/night for a one bedroom apartment, 1 blk off of aveinda sexta and on 5th avienda i think, tell the taxi driver it's near olympica supermardo near avienda sexta/5. no guest fees.

If you make it to manizales, takes lots of fotos are tell us about it. But if you go all the way to manizales(4-5hrs busride, safe) you might as well head to MED afterward(esp if you can catch a weekend in MED or any lg COL city), MED is about 4 hrs(on bus) fr Manizales.

If you make stuck in cali on the weekday, during the day go checkout the mall, i've been meetings amigas for dates a palmeltto mall, it's a brand new mall really relaxing. I'm beggining to like it more than chipichape. Movies cost 3k. i'm heading there right after this email to catch a movie then meet an amiga afterward. If you like to gamble hang out at the casino. I usually play blackjack at unicentro casino once a week, the minimum is 2k/hand versus 5k/hand at all the other ones.

You can read my travelblog, i posted other places to check out. have fun in cali and pm w/ anymore questions.

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cali373 says on Oct 19, 2005, 12:35:

Has it become safer to take a bus from Manizales to Medellin since 2003? I know that it was not recommended if you can fly, or if you were a foreigner. Many guerilla road blocks.

Smile if you are a thinker!

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caslug says on Oct 19, 2005, 12:39:

good questions..i would check with locals.. BUT when i took the bus fr Medellin to Pereira(august 2005), i felt very safe couple of police checkpoint. We actually had to get off the bus and get ID'ed.

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marcastillo says on Oct 19, 2005, 15:46:

CASLUG Actually to find police or army checkpoints on the road do not necessarily mean “it is safe� that could be good or bad all depends on the situation. For example, if the police or army takes the time to set up a checkpoint that is because they are expecting “something� to happen. On the other hand, guerrillas and army wear almost the same uniform. I will suggest taking a flight. Colombia is a beautiful place and I do miss and love my country so much, but “ NO DES PAPAYA� rule # 1 to live or stay in Colombia!!!

Marsh

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lostinparadise says on Oct 19, 2005, 16:51:

say hola to gustavo for me ,the porter at hotel ryan o'neil tampa ..

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litost says on Oct 20, 2005, 10:13:

No need at all for a flight from Pereira or Manizales to Medellin. Just take a day bus for extra peace of mind.

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Colombiche says on Oct 20, 2005, 12:12:

I was in colombia in September Took a taxi from Manizales to medellin and back, two girls travelling alone (me and my cousin). Just go to la terminal de buses and get yourself on a cab or bus. I felt pretty safe, to tell you the truth, on the drive back it was just me and my cousin and another guy we didn't know, plus the cabdriver. The cabdriver had to pull over on the road because he had a flat tire, but at the time he pulled over I didn't know he had one. When he stopped in an empty stretch of road, he gave a look to the guy beside him, I thought it was their cue to jump us and rob us. At that moment, seeing that we were alone in a cab with 2 strange men, I though okay, this is where my life ends, at least I am going to die where I was born.... But it turned out to be JUST a flat tire, I realized how grossly paranoid I had been and proceeded to enjoy the rest of the trip, although I had hearburn from the scare.... ja ja

Be happy, take the bus or a cab that is full of people, women and children. Try not to do what I did, get in a cab with only 2 strange men and a girl cousin who is clueless like me, that was kind of stupid now that I look back.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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