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San Andres Island has anyone every lived there?

I like allot of others on this board and Big Juice's Board about San Andres have visited the island. However, I have never heard of anyone actually living there. I recall a couple that that ran a bed and breakfast but that was it. I am thinking about going there for 5 or 6 months to see I would like the island living. Also, the fact that allot of people there speak English. What kind of internet do they get there and being able to rent an apartment would be interesting for me to find out about. If any of you have some first hand knowledge about living there it sure would be appreciated.

By Lostgringo on Mar 18, 2008, 23:30 in Friendly Talkzone.

Atrevido (☼Travelguide writer) says on Mar 19, 2008, 05:04:

I believe becoming a resident is very difficult and there´s sort of an underground marriage trade used to accomplish residency. I know two wealthy caleños who have vacation properties there. They can come and go as they please but I don´t think they can stay permanently. Or maybe being wealthy caleños they finagled residency.

https://sites.google.com/site/colombianaturesite/nature-images

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tejasmarcos says on Mar 19, 2008, 06:35:

you can only stay on andres for so long. i think it is 4 months per year...

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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mranderson says on Mar 19, 2008, 07:17:

my wife's cousin is a policeman stationed in san andres for the last 3 years and he says its so boring there.

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Lostgringo says on Mar 19, 2008, 07:35:

I have a pensionado visa. Does that mean I am only allowed to stay there for 4 months out of the year. mranderson boring does not bother as much as it used to when I was younger. The only negative I have seen so far is the cost to travel to Bogota or Medellin on occasion. I spent 1 year in a small barrio called Sabaneta. Some would call that boring but I enjoyed it for the most part.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Mar 19, 2008, 10:15:

Is there a particular reason you would chose SA over any number of other Caribbean spots?

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msaucey says on Mar 19, 2008, 10:34:

Actually, I believe you cannot live there for more then 6 months out of the year.... I think you need a separate clearance to live on the island, since it's a providence and not a department.... You should check with "Oficina de Control de Circulacion y Residencia", if you want to live there, they give you a different card (similar to the cedula), but it's specific for residents that live and work on San Andres...

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

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Lostgringo says on Mar 19, 2008, 17:08:

Hollywood I was thinking it would be nice for me since my Spanish is lousy. I wanted to live there for awhile and see if I liked it. Maybe open up a B & B there. But if there are all kinds of restriction then it may be too much of a hassle. Last time I was there almost everyone I spoke to understood English. I toured the entire island and found most of it to be quite nice.
mssaucy you are likely right on the mark, I was hoping it would not be difficult to live there but there does seem to be a few restrictions. Maybe that's the reason people are not flocking to San Andres?

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Sam Salmon says on Mar 19, 2008, 18:04:

Didn't OldBongo used to live there?

Haven't seen him posting here for a while but I know he had 'associations' with the area.

' a la orden!'

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Mr. Hollywood says on Mar 19, 2008, 20:15:

If I were wanting to live in El Caribe I'd look at the Bocas del Toro area of Panama or the Dominican Republic.

Bocas del Toro is similar to SAI in the linguistic mix, but not nearly so isolated or restrictive.

The DR wouldn't be good if you don't speak Spanish but it's a beautiful island and country.

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Lostgringo says on Mar 19, 2008, 22:52:

Hollywood for better or worse I am kinda stuck on Colombia. Don't get me wrong...I mean worse in terms of me not being fluent in Spanish. I have nothing bad to say about Colombia except for their driving tactics lol. If it's a no go in San AndresI am going to try a few high tourist areas like Santa Marta and Cartegena. As a last resort I will hire an interpretor to take me around 2 or 3 days a week. I really liked Medellin and Sabaneta. However, Sabaneta as beautiful as it is, is a little small for me. Envigado is larger but certainly not as nice as Sabaneta. I may in the end return to Sabaneta as I did enjoy the people there and it has changed somewhat since I left. Apparently the tallest Office building in Colombia is going to built there soon. The Metro will be running there I think next year. The new Exito and mall are built and there are new movie theaters to go to there now. I don't know if you have been there or not, but the place is quite nice. There are some nice pictures on http://www.flickr.com of Sabaneta. Some I have taken.

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goin_south says on Mar 19, 2008, 23:19:

You have to be 'direct descendant of Captain Morgan',.. to live there.... I think.. ja

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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Lostgringo says on Mar 20, 2008, 01:03:

goin south does it help if I drink allot of rum? lol. Well I leave the Philippines after being hear for 5 months for Thailand. I will travel through out Thailand and see what it's like. I will be spending allot of my time in Koh Samui.

Martinque Island...is that what you are talkinhg about Robi666. 401,000 population and all French. I cannot see living under French rule nor learning the language. But hey the island looks wonderful. Also there are few problems with traffic in Koh Samui check this traffic cop out...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQN7C0ipq6Y

I'll stay here likely for a week until I find a place to rent..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UpVCl-IqlA&feature=related

Later

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Mononoke28 says on Mar 20, 2008, 12:15:

Why don't you e-mail that lady who takes care of the San Andrés weddings? She's a foreigner living there and co-owns a hotel with her husband. She would know.

Diana

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Lostgringo says on Mar 21, 2008, 01:40:

Robi666 That's a good question. I just assumed it was. I'll have to look into that. Mononoke I will get in touch with the person you referred to. So far, it looks like not many gringos live on the island except for the tourists that come and go.

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lpdiver says on Mar 21, 2008, 10:19:

I lived on Aruba for sometime. It is much larger and it got very small very quickly. You might enjoy in more if you just spent "some" time there.

t

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

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goin_south says on Mar 21, 2008, 14:12:

"does it help if I drink allot of rum?"

Lostgringo.... I think it might help... if you.. BRING ALOT OF RUM ;-)

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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getting better says on Mar 21, 2008, 15:09:

I know someone who marrried who a local guy and lives there. Last time I heard she seemed pretty happy there but to me it seems like an awkward place to live, though nice for a holiday. And to answer one of your questions the internet is terrible there in internet cafes, and most private houses do not seem to have it. Whether it is too expensive there or just not available at all I am not sure.

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Lostgringo says on Mar 21, 2008, 16:32:

gettingbetter that's good information thanks. Crappy internet is not a great selling point for me. I am so used to having high speed internet now it's hard to go backwards with this kind of thing.
lpdiver so true about places getting smaller once you live there for awhile. San Andres could close in on you pretty fast.
goin south no need for me to stock up on the rum. In my opinion, Colombia has some of the best rum in the world.

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Ctg Bound says on Mar 22, 2008, 14:39:

My friend helped a English guy move there a year or so ago, I will send you his e-mail.

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Lostgringo says on Mar 23, 2008, 20:18:

Ctg Bound I spoke to the person you recommended. Very interesting as I learned the reason why it is so hard to just pick up and move there. Apparently they are over populated and the only way you can actually reside there is if you have some kind of business that they approve of. The person you recommended actually knows the people to approach and will have all the documentation processed for a small fee. I personally think paying to have all this processed is the way to go with allot less stress involved. As I am not prepared to move to San Andres right now I will get in touch with him and follow through at a later date.

Thanks for the contact.

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goin_south says on Mar 23, 2008, 20:53:

Lg.. Capt Morgan did live there, from what I read.

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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beisbollover says on Mar 24, 2008, 05:06:

After reading this thread I think the answer to Lostgringo is......No.

"The reason you don't understand me Edith is because I am speaking English but you are listening Dingbat!" -Archie Bunker

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Ctg Bound says on Mar 24, 2008, 05:31:

Lostgringo,

Glad he was of help.

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Lostgringo says on Mar 24, 2008, 06:40:

While I have not found anyone yet who lives or who has lived in San Andres, I have it is possible to live there you own a business. The man I spoke runs interferance for you the authorities there. Apparently he has done this before for 1 Gringo and he knows who to contact. My main reason for posting this thread was to find the possibility of living there. From what I gather it is difficult, yet it may not be impossible depending on what business you have, or how creative you can be with going through the motions of owning one.

Finding available accommodation there may be a nightmare however.

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Ctg Bound says on Mar 24, 2008, 07:02:

Setting up a busines is easy, I know you are into local handcrafts, do something like that.

There are many options on the business front.

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Lostgringo says on Mar 24, 2008, 09:18:

Hmm great idea Ctg B. Never thought of that. It would be fun selling all that stuff to the tourists and I would have a business to satisfy their requirement.

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Lostgringo says on Mar 24, 2008, 09:19:

Hey Ctg B I could sell some of those Cohiba Cigars too...

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bickerss says on Mar 24, 2008, 09:39:

Lost - my aussie friend lived there for a few months. I will try to get him to PM you. He posts sometimes here. He liked it and rented a place. I dont know if he was there longer than 6 months.

Investment Strategy - buying when others are crying!! Offloading when others are gloating!!!

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Lostgringo says on Mar 24, 2008, 10:50:

Thanks Mr. Bickerss...how is my old Ausie friend? I go to an Ausie bar here in Manila called the Southern Cross everyday. Maybe in a few months I will be able to understand what they are saying lol. See ya later Mate..

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