SOMONDOCO...........Meetup at Bill Turleys........

gringoloid says on Jun 1, 2008, 18:15:

You would never guess the time it took to build this house..........it's very big on the inside also.............

Who are the three blind men?

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gringoloid says on Jun 1, 2008, 18:20:

This 'huggy bear' of a dog named Wrinkles is a lover as well as a fighter..........

Who are the three blind men?

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gringoloid says on Jun 1, 2008, 18:24:

here is another view..................there is an electrified fence that can't hold him in..........................when he gets a command, he'll think about it first...............he can easily knock down a large human being without trying....................

Who are the three blind men?

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gringoloid says on Jun 1, 2008, 18:26:

some local chow..................some very good arepas

Who are the three blind men?

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gringoloid says on Jun 1, 2008, 18:28:

mujarra, farmed on the restaurants property......

Who are the three blind men?

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gringoloid says on Jun 1, 2008, 18:32:

plenty of parking spaces on a Saturday afternoon................less than 50 registered cars for a population of 17,000. Of course no two hour commutes..............no office cubicles.........

Who are the three blind men?

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adrimm says on Jun 1, 2008, 18:32:

Aww the dog is adorable, he looks *so* good natured. Looks like a charming & comfy home.

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gringoloid says on Jun 1, 2008, 18:36:

The stores are never closed here............the owners live above, so if you need a part, it's always open............

Who are the three blind men?

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gringoloid says on Jun 1, 2008, 18:40:

Bill volunteers english lessons to the local children...........

Who are the three blind men?

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gringoloid says on Jun 1, 2008, 18:45:

LilaM, Bill, Gloria, myself under the gazebo.............you would never guess how much this place cost to build or the amount of money to maintain. The altitude here is about 5500 feet, so not too hot and not too cold. If you're looking for life in the country...........this is the place to do it......................Bill welcomes guests to his home, so if you don't have a car, there is a flota from Bogota that services the area.

Who are the three blind men?

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Portena says on Jun 1, 2008, 19:08:

Lovely photos!

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LilaM says on Jun 1, 2008, 21:09:

Yes nice pics, thanks GL, they are sweet people and you two too...

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

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slguy says on Jun 1, 2008, 21:32:

Bill, looks like a sweet life you've built for yourself! Congrats!

and thanks GL for the fotos and verbage!

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

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houstongal says on Jun 1, 2008, 23:27:

Wow! Terrific commentar and photos GL!

Bill, looks like a good life for you!

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

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goin_south says on Jun 1, 2008, 23:30:

I am greeeeeeeen... with envy!
Thanks to three pbh'ers I have had the pleasure to meet and spend a little time with...
I miss you guys!

This makes me think 'we' are going the wrong direction, here... know what I mean???

Well... who knows... maybe in a few years.

Where do we go from here?

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goin_south says on Jun 1, 2008, 23:32:

Hola Bill Turley & Co. !

Where do we go from here?

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gringoloid says on Jun 2, 2008, 07:01:

GS.................the only hope for you is to come to Colombia...................I know you would be much happier here. With your skills you would have a good life here.

Who are the three blind men?

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 2, 2008, 07:40:

great pics! great report!

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

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webmanco says on Jun 2, 2008, 15:44:

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

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ColombianoGringo says on Jun 2, 2008, 15:50:

Very nice "Papa Noel". It looks like you've got a nice setup there. The North Pole never looked better ;)

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webmanco says on Jun 2, 2008, 15:58:

As you can see Webmanco also paid us a visit

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

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webmanco says on Jun 2, 2008, 21:53:

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

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jun 3, 2008, 05:11:

what a beautiful place

the young girl on the pink top, remind me a bit of Natalie Portman

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Bill Turley says on Jun 3, 2008, 06:00:

Thanks Kat
That young lady is Miss Somondoco, a high school senior and one of my students. I give a free class every Sat morning for serious senior students ONLY. I have 8 kids that come early on Sat. With a mile walk, frequently rainy, if they come I will teach.
Remember you do have an invitation whenever you come back to paradise.
Incidently my little baby Wrinkles weighs about 93kg (185 lbs). He can be very sweet but with any agressive act he instantly can change into an effective bodyguard.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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morphus says on Jun 3, 2008, 06:15:

Miss Somondoco? High school senior? She looks 14 years old.

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webmanco says on Jun 3, 2008, 06:23:

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

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slguy says on Jun 3, 2008, 07:11:

"Miss Somondoco? High school senior? She looks 14 years old."

morph, morph....;)

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

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Bill Turley says on Jun 3, 2008, 16:29:

I think she is probably 16 / 17 that is the normal age for graduating HS for good students here. In person she looks even older she is about 5ft 9 or 10 and full figured.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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kalder says on Jun 4, 2008, 00:16:

I was surprised too slguy.

It's a different world over there. I've a sister-in-law who was married at 14.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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webmanco says on Jun 4, 2008, 04:14:

I am glad I went to Somondoco, and to meet Bill his wife and Wrinkle soon to be on the GQ magazine, the dog enjoys pictures just like little kids, I took pictures to many people on the towns where I stopped on my way to Somondoco, Macheta, and Manta.




I was very pleased on how I was treated by everyone in each town and to enjoy the beauty of my country, its people.



This kid could not be at the park or in the other places I was taking pictures so I had to take this one at his workplace.

Somondoco seems a very nice town to raise kids.




This one I took it at Macheta, the kid in the middle is not only playing with the soap bubles, he also sales it, at his waist is the money carrier. Al fondo la plaza de mercado.

The pictures were taken on the weekend so maybe they do go to school on weekdays but help the family on weekends.

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

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morphus says on Jun 4, 2008, 04:22:

He looks kind of young to be working.

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morphus says on Jun 4, 2008, 07:12:

Medical facilities? Don't people move to the country to avoid those places?

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webmanco says on Jun 4, 2008, 07:38:

Next visit DocWillinam coffee farm :-)

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

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Bill Turley says on Jun 4, 2008, 09:21:

There is a Medical Center which services the community. Because most (90%) of the residents are strata 1 or 2 they are covered by Sysbien for free medical care. I have to pay $20,000COP for a visit but BP monitoring is free. However we are in between doctors at this time. Hopefully there will be a new one soon. There are more extensive hospitals in both Guateque (30 min) and Garagoa (50 min). Serious conditions justify trips to either Tunja (3.5 hr) or Bogota (3 hr)

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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Bill Turley says on Jun 4, 2008, 09:22:

The little boy at the gas pump. His family built the gas station about 18 months ago and he works there quite a bit. His father and mother of course also cover the station.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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Papi de Alejo says on Jun 4, 2008, 09:54:

Hi Bill, what's the size of your gazebo? It looks about the right size for a large variety of things. It looks not too small and not too large.

PdA

PdA

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Bill Turley says on Jun 4, 2008, 10:40:

It is about 4X5 meters, it has electric too

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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Bill Turley says on Jun 4, 2008, 10:41:

We use it a lot. There is always a good breeze even on the hottest day. There are two tables with about 20 chairs

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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goin_south says on Jun 4, 2008, 12:07:

Hey Bill.. it's nice to know: you even got the internet up there!

Where do we go from here?

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Bill Turley says on Jun 4, 2008, 15:01:

Yep internet, DirectTV but no land line telephone. My internet is really quite fast too, via microwave. 24/7

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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LilaM says on Jun 4, 2008, 15:13:

Hello Bill this is what I found about Somondoco D.C.

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

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jorgegdiaz says on Jun 4, 2008, 16:54:

Nice place, and even nicer living style. I´m glad you can do it.

I´ve been to Guateque´s hot springs... drinking Scotch while in the pool and the starts as your ceiling .. ;)

LilaM, how many of those Internet explorer widnows (or MSN) are PBH while at work? ... hahaha

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 4, 2008, 17:07:

how far is it from medellin? by bus?

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

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webmanco says on Jun 4, 2008, 17:13:

I had been in most of those towns, including El Cocuy

Here is one of the hotspring

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

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gringoloid says on Jun 4, 2008, 17:19:

TJ, you would be looking at a long, hard trip by bus from Medellin.

Web....that looks like Los Volcanes.

Who are the three blind men?

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webmanco says on Jun 4, 2008, 17:20:

Yes that is the place, hot water included :-)

There were more traffic than usual because from there you can go to Villavicencio as well.

I forgot to ask Bill if there is a hotel at Somondoco and wether the school marchal band make it to Bogota for a contest, they were suppose to be here today.

I heard Garagoa is nice, I still need to go to Nemocom and to see a mountain emerald cut, but for that I need to as any owner for permision. El Chivor, La Pita, Muzo etc.

I believe at Sutamerchan on the same weekend they did La Tomatina, throwing tomatos everywhere at everyone. The weekend before was Miss Turmeque, or Miss Tejo, next year it will be held at Bucaramanga.

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

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Bill Turley says on Jun 4, 2008, 18:58:

Not really a hotel but three place that you can stay the night in the village. The marching band was involved here this week for some major interscolastic sports events. The normally empty streets were filled with visiting school busses. The quality of the band has dropped the past couple of years. There was a great program, really good groups. A marching Band,una Tuna, and orchestra. But the band director died and so did the excellence of the program. No Tuna these days. Before the school had one and so did the village.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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Bill Turley says on Jun 4, 2008, 18:59:

By the way I have a cancha de tejo.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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jorgegdiaz says on Jun 4, 2008, 19:22:

Bill,
Now you are a real Boyaco !

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 4, 2008, 19:51:

sounds very cool. how far from bogota, by bus?

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

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gringoloid says on Jun 4, 2008, 20:20:

i just checked the map.............but by bus i'm not sure how many stops you would make.

by car, this trip would at least be 12 hours. if you had a fast car meaning at least a 6 cylinder and automatic transmission it may go quicker.

i just drove back and forth from medellin.................this was the most difficult trip i think i've ever done. i've been stuck in snowstorms in the upper midwest of the states..........but this bog-mde trip was nightmarish. Going through those mountains with all those trucks in front of you in a 4 cylinder, stick shift car is a lot of work.

if you were going stop overnight in a hotel it may be better, making a two day trip.

Who are the three blind men?

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Papi de Alejo says on Jun 4, 2008, 20:51:

Bill, how are you getting your internet via microwave? What company? What kind of set-up? How much does it cost?

PdA

PdA

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 4, 2008, 20:54:

you back in mde, gringo? i hear your new pad is nice. congrats!

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

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gringoloid says on Jun 5, 2008, 04:42:

the mover is coming today to check things out................as soon as i get my visa renewed..............it's back in mde.

Who are the three blind men?

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Bill Turley says on Jun 5, 2008, 05:59:

Hi Again
If you are asking how long to Somondoco it is 3 hours whether by flota or car.
Re my internet. I had a system where I contacted the Internet Cafe in Guateque who installed a receiver that connected a microwave antenna to hisSKYNET system. Then he canceled SKYNET and I was without Internet for 3 months. ThenTelecom developed internet in Garagoa and finally my signal connects with that through the Internet Cafe. My cost is 90,000 COP for unlimited 24/7. It is fairly faast much better than dialup. I paid 400,000COP for the antenna and instalation
About the Cancha de Tejo, I had a HS boy that was our first gardener. He built stone paths and many other projects. I asked him if he knew anything about tejo he acted surprised and said it would cost 150,000 if I was interested so I told he to go ahead. I did not know his father was almost a pro in Tejo. He and his father built a metal framed, professional cancha.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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jorgegdiaz says on Jun 5, 2008, 06:11:

As you probably already know, Tejo is as popular as Ice Hockey is in Canada or Table Tennis in China. That`s probably why the boy was surprised about you asking you if he knew about Tejo.

Do you make "bocin" often ?

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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Bill Turley says on Jun 5, 2008, 09:34:

I think it was because he assumed I didn't. Sooo if any PBHers are interested in playing Tejo bring your tejos and miches

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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Bill Turley says on Jun 5, 2008, 09:35:

Very rarely

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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LilaM says on Jun 5, 2008, 12:55:

jajjajaja Jorge just one the other were for work, but shhhhhhhh don´t tell my boss!!

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

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