South Bogota

christobeldawg says on Sep 5, 2007, 22:44:

I have heard it is mostly residential but are there any museums, interesting old churches, good restaurants and bars there? I need to get out of north Bogota next time there.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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Robert Jorge says on Sep 5, 2007, 23:01:

Christo, I would suggest PMing Rubito for info. I spent a little time in the south. To label the whole south side as a stupid, dangerous place for a gringo to go to is stupid in itself. But, there are areas of the south side that are terribly dangerous and foolish to go to. Many of them would be hard to get to, even if you wanted, because most taxis won't drive into the barrio. But, there are cool areas. The primero de Mayo barrio has great clubs and nightlife, with WAY cheaper prices than the north. You ought to take a trip down to Villavo if you are on the southside. 2 hours, whole different atmosphere. (a relatively safe, cowboy city)

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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christobeldawg says on Sep 5, 2007, 23:20:

I am not lookin for trouble but I am, from weighing so many of these Bogota posts, interested in meeting people from the south of Bogota. sounds like that is the more real area of town. thanks Roberto. Rubito, are you awake, or when you are, can you hook me up here? i am just thinkin that north bogota is the least genuine place to go, as far as getting to know true Colombia.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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christobeldawg says on Sep 6, 2007, 00:49:

well this is just what I ran into while in Bogota. I kept saying I want to go to south Bogota, and noone wanted to go there with me. now here I am in PBH, and noone will even talk to me about it,

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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Robert Jorge says on Sep 6, 2007, 00:55:

Give it a little time Christo. The two guys that would probably be the quickest to chat about the southside are busy farther down on this page and page 2. They will find this and respond. Might take another day though.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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Wastelandlive says on Sep 6, 2007, 01:38:

Well... hell ya.

Take yourself to Plaza de Las Americas en barrio Caravahal.

That's South my friend. It's also a hell of a lot more fun than hanging out with the snobs in 93.

I recommend going with a friend... but I'm not trying to scare you. We all know bad things can happen in Colombia. Myself, I never had any problems there... people were friendly as hell. The food, music, and bars were great. My GF got stripped of her cell phone once.

r/

WLL

Wasteland

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 6, 2007, 02:24:

why do you want to go there? the only good thing about is plaza de las america it's a good shopping center, mundo aventura and you have la primera de mayo which is full of bars and motels similar to la zona rosa, although the south is not just Kennedy the south could be ciudad bolivar, altos de cazuca, which i would not recommended to go drinking, ciudad tunal, san mateo ect

if you want to go to Kennedy I have got plenty of friends in there and i can recommend you a little bar which is own by a childhood friend of mine, is in techo

BTW Robert jorge one of your wife cousin lives somewhere in the south, i remember you told me you were there?

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 6, 2007, 02:27:

many will tell you about cuadra picha which is a sector in la primera de mayo, i hate it, when i go to kennedy i alway like the quite places i am not a big fun of all that noise you don't know what music you are listening, plaza have pretty little bars inside


BTW If you fancy going and don't have anyone to go with send me a pm, i will let my friends know, they are nice people, this is the bar they own, my brother and his band played there for its first anniversary, the only thing is, is an 80's bar so you will find lots of music from the 80's including merengue, salsa etc

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 6, 2007, 07:30:

PLAZA is not dangerous lots of police around but stay in the area don't go wondering around kennedy on your own and is best if you go with someone that knows the area, i really would advice you not to go to Ciudad bolivar, altos de cazuca, la aurora soacha bosa is nothing there and is quite dangerous and dead boring ,

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 6, 2007, 07:33:

I can tell you a lot about kennedy because i live most of my life there I know the area very well and have tons of friends there.

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droble77 says on Sep 6, 2007, 08:42:

Here's a few pics of the south from a colombiana I've chatted with a couple times on MSN. She has to go down to these literally dumpy places all the time, it's part of her job. I'm assuming not all the south looks this bad, but her job (dealing with trash disposal issues) doesn't look like a lot of fun to me.

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RUV says on Sep 6, 2007, 08:45:

Kat,

Would you know how it got the name (Kennedy)?

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 6, 2007, 08:53:

drouble, the poorest area of the south of Bogota are like that, example simon bolivar, yomasa etc but kennedy apart from Bosa and few others, marsella, castilla and others they are no like that at all some part are quite pretty.

Ruv here is a bit of the history of ciudad kennedy

El territorio poblado por los indigenas muiscas en el siglo XVI, fue dividido en haciendas durante el período colonial y parte del período republicano hasta la década de 1930, cuando se iniciaron los primeros asentamientos urbanos. En su territorio estaba el Aeropuerto de Techo. En 1948 estableció la planta cervecera de Bavaria. En 1961 se emprendió la urbanización, gracias a los créditos de la Alianza para el Progreso, programa del presidente de los Estados Unidos John F. Kennedy, quien realizó una visita a Bogotá en 1961. Hasta 1963 se llamó Ciudad Techo, nombre cambiado por Ciudad Kennedy en honor al asesinado presidente. En 1971 se creó la Alcaldía Local (la primera de Bogotá) y posteriormente la central mayorista Corporación de Abastos de Bogotá (Corabastos). Veinte años después fue elevada a localidad.


a bit in english


The Muisca people originally settled the area now known as Kennedy in the 16th century. From the colonial period until the early 20th century, it was mostly large ranches. From the 1930s on, it began a period of urbanization. In 1948, Bavaria opened its main brewery in Kennedy.

In 1961, an urbanization project was undertaken, financed in part by the Alianza para el Progreso (Alliance for Progress). The locality was known as Ciudad Techo until 1963, when the name was changed in honor of the assassinated John F. Kennedy, who visited Bogotá in 1961 and supported the Alliance for Progress.





Kennedy es la localidad más poblada de la ciudad de Bogota, habitada por el 14% de los habitantes de la ciudad.

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droble77 says on Sep 6, 2007, 09:21:

I hear you Kat1. I was just a little surprised (maybe I shouldn't be!) that this 23-year old lady barely out of college has to drive down to these areas in her beat-up Twingo and deal with the locals and their garbage problems. Not exactly a glamour gig! :-))

I will check out some parts of the south if I have time. I arrive in Bog this Saturday, will be there about 10 days. . .

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christobeldawg says on Sep 6, 2007, 09:56:

thanks to you all, very helpful start. I don't speak much Spanish and yeah, I look like a gringo. I will pm you when I get there if I need some company Gringoinbogota, thanks. and Kat I will pm you to talk more about making hooking up with your friends there. I would just like to see the area, meet some of the people there, get out of the north, but definitely don't want to be hassled.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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Robert Jorge says on Sep 6, 2007, 10:43:

Hey Kat1, you asked about the cousin in south Bogota. Yep, you remembered correctly. Visiting those cousins was perhaps the most nervous I ever was in Colombia. I can describe where it is at: Take the main street or highway south from centro, like you are on your way to Villavo. After 10 or 15 minutes, go left towards the mountain. You will pass a large prison on the right. The taxi will not take you much further due to poor road conditions and I assume the danger. Then, the houses are on the side of the mountain in a barrio called portal. I actually had to walk what might have been a half mile at 9 or 10pm through that neighborhood, just to get to a road that taxis might be driving by on. Long story short, we made it out ok. But I told Mrs. RJ NEVER to take me there again. I had no idea that we had plans on stopping somewhere on the way to our hotel that night, so I found myself walking around this barrio with $1000 cash in my pocket and a bottle of Ron Medellin in a bag. I might add I was wearing camo, cargo shorts and a T-shirt with white tennis shoes. (I was in Villavo earlier that day)

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 6, 2007, 10:52:

Gezz RJ you have a good guardian angel :)))))

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MaSep says on Sep 6, 2007, 11:30:

Is that a joke ? I would never ever go to the south, the is nothing to see in there, I´ve been in there while driving to villabo and that was scary looking.
I live in Bogota and will never put my self into that place, not far from the city center.

Thanks for the pictures my fiance was wondering how the south looks like and now i have the answer.

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capitan_centella says on Sep 6, 2007, 11:34:

Hum. . . chek out the public libraries. They were design by a really famous architect. Rogelio Salmona. The names are: "el tintal" y "Kennedy". (take transmilenio. The name of the stations, are the name of the libraries. So you cannot missed) Going really deep south, there is a little town. Soacha, if you wanna see colonial architecture, you can get el parque principal. The most important malls (not so diferent from the north ones) are: unisur, san mateo, plaza de las américas. Remenber: CIUDAD BOLIVAR (just right in the middle of the eastern hills) are a really dangerous area. Do not going there alone. They don´t give a f* if you´re american, or bogotanian or even from the moon. Yomasa, bosa, kennedy, tintal, banderas are residencial areas. Kennedy´s hospital are one of the iggest here in bogotá. Restauants: I recomend "el capitolio No. 2". . . good place to eat all kind of meats. (chigüiro, conejo, vaca, ect. . ect. . most of our wild life in colombia) and colombian food (chicharrón, pelanga, jeta, bofe) Its taking calle 13, then take avenida de las americas, in puente aranda as if you go to corabastos market place. pass the huge bridge, and one block away north.

Still, passing soacha, thera are lakes and places where to camp.

Good luck on your trip.

"When you open your eyes, you turn around with the world, But it can change, if you only close it, and see a dream to yourself." Me.

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elmodefoque says on Sep 6, 2007, 11:35:

malambo, la chinita, rebolo, barrio abajo and el santuario all in south barranquilla look like Park Avenue NYC compared to south bogota.
Gee wiz, that chit looks worst than india or the philippines

any colombianita willing to date me, IS UP TO NO GOOD

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elmodefoque says on Sep 6, 2007, 11:37:

hell, i'm gonna call my cousin and tell her to get the fok outta there, what a hell hole!

any colombianita willing to date me, IS UP TO NO GOOD

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elmodefoque says on Sep 6, 2007, 11:44:

hey arthur, where are those pics from cali, the ones you posted a while back, similiar to the ones above?

any colombianita willing to date me, IS UP TO NO GOOD

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capitan_centella says on Sep 6, 2007, 11:45:

Take always big avenues, and people most of the time are caring and nice. But, be carefull, if you´re not familiar with that places, it´s really easy to get lost or get rob or even worse. REMENBER, south it´s like the 60% percent of bogotá. (I think even more). . . but that doesn´t mean that it´s a safe place. People usually solve their own things in their own style, and yeap, most of the things that gringo in bogotá has written are truth. People on the north, have a TARGET FACE ON IT. and estrato 5 people don´t go there. I know becouse most of my university friends lives in there. . . (I study in a public place, la universidad nacional).

"When you open your eyes, you turn around with the world, But it can change, if you only close it, and see a dream to yourself." Me.

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elmodefoque says on Sep 6, 2007, 11:49:

that's 60% of bogota? holy crap!!!

any colombianita willing to date me, IS UP TO NO GOOD

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elmodefoque says on Sep 6, 2007, 11:53:

Guys, what we need to do is call in a massive round the clock B-52 air strike to level the entire chit and start all over ala SHOCK AND AWE

any colombianita willing to date me, IS UP TO NO GOOD

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Mr. Hollywood says on Sep 6, 2007, 12:03:

Wait until you have someone to actually go visit in the South. Or if you're just curious how it looks, rent a taxi and have them drive you there and back. But, really, with the exception of the REALLY bad neighborhoods it's just another big mixed residential and industrial zone. Some parts are quite nice and others not. To be honest, there are also neighborhoods in the N. and Centro that are just as dangerous.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 6, 2007, 13:04:

As I said unless you want to visit la primera de mayo, where is all the bars, plaza de las americas and mundo aventura, THE LIBRARY the rest are just residential areas, as Mr hollywood said some good some bad...

now the areas on the road to go out to villavo I would not recommend to go there, there is nothing to see, and they are pretty dangerous

And remember the south is just not Kennedy.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 6, 2007, 13:05:

and you can go to timiza park where is a lake, better to go there on a sunday when is full.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 6, 2007, 13:11:

PARQUE TIMIZA




TINTAL LIBRARY

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capitan_centella says on Sep 6, 2007, 13:20:

Yes indeed. . . thanks kats for that amazing photos.

"When you open your eyes, you turn around with the world, But it can change, if you only close it, and see a dream to yourself." Me.

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billyb says on Sep 6, 2007, 13:23:

Kat, notice how clean that park is? Nice.

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RUV says on Sep 6, 2007, 13:36:

Thanks Kat.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 6, 2007, 13:42:

YOU ARE WELCOME, btw you can take a boat ride, on sunday all the attractions are open and is packed, my mum used to take me and my brothers every sunday, there was a time when it went really bad until they decided to bring it back to its full glory again :)))

as billy said it is very clean and many locals go there


this is Plaza de las Americas mall

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capitan_centella says on Sep 6, 2007, 14:04:

http://observatorio.dama.gov.co/index.php?n1=3&map=localidades.php

este link, muestra muchos datos interesantes de bogotá.

"When you open your eyes, you turn around with the world, But it can change, if you only close it, and see a dream to yourself." Me.

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christobeldawg says on Sep 6, 2007, 16:32:

very nice photos Kat, and Captain that map is great. thanks

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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Robert Jorge says on Sep 6, 2007, 20:22:

MaSep - that was no joke. I was unaware what I was getting into at the time. And the Mrs. has family there, so that was the reason for the side trip. Actually, the road conditions in those pictures at the top of the thread look pretty good compared to portal. My aunt's and cousin's houses have no sidewalk in front, and there is a 2 foot drop to the street from the front door. Except it isn't a street. It is rubble. It is literally like somebody dumped random, broken up chunks of concrete, building brick, and stones and that is the road. I wouldn't try to drive on it with a 4x4 truck. Maybe a half track or a quad. But, it is virtually impassible. It was an experience, and one that I have no wish to do over again. I was very upset with Mrs. RJ, but tried to hide it, and just let it go. After surviving, why make the short time left in Bogota miserable by whining and arguing?

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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christobeldawg says on Sep 6, 2007, 20:31:

I think I will just get a taxi driver I know to drive me all around there, and I will take some photos, and then maybe hook up with Kat's friends in Kennedy, and maybe check out some of the better areas mentioned, and maybe hook up with Miamimike, if he's cool with that. That should be enough to satisfy the frustrated photojournalist in me.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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christobeldawg says on Sep 6, 2007, 21:04:

do you live in the south part of town Rubito? Don't they have soldiers walking around with guns just like in the north? I have been in alot of rough places and can't imagine I would have any trouble. I will not act like an idiot, and I am respectful of all people anyway

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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christobeldawg says on Sep 6, 2007, 21:14:

yeah I haven't been around here for long but seen ya around late night. cool, I'll check out Cuadra Picha.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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Robert Jorge says on Sep 6, 2007, 21:30:

Rubito, I have no idea what the estrato number is for the neighborhood. I assume 1 or 2. But, you are correct of course; there are plenty of decent, better kept and safer 1s and 2s than portal. I napped in a lawn chair on the sidewalk in front of Mrs. RJs mother's house in Villavo almost every evening - and that was a 2 barrio. Totally different barrios - apples and oranges.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 6, 2007, 23:38:

TINTAL it's part of kennedy and that is south west but it is south, now if you want south south like ciudad bolivar, juan rey, etc i would not recommeded it to go there there is nothing to see or do just ask RJ unless you want to do charity work, Corabastos again part of kennedy call south west..

cuadra picha is just part of an area of la primera de mayo i will said one block, but in the same area away from that cuadra there are other bars, they call it cuadra picha because of the amount of motel and the drugs that is around unfortunately. My old school teacher used to live there, she sold the house and moved, the place became from a quite neighborhood to a busy noisy area.

if you want to go to the south i rather go to Kennedy specially near Plaza, my friend's bar is in Techo not far from Plaza.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 6, 2007, 23:50:

kennedy

Se encuentra en el suroccidente

Límites [editar]

Norte: el Río Fucha, con la localidad de Fontibón
Sur: Autopista Sur y río Tunjuelito, con las localidades de Ciudad Bolívar y Tunjuelito
Este: la Avenida 68, con la localidad de Puente Aranda
Oeste: el Río Bogotá, con el municipio de Mosquera

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goin_south says on Sep 7, 2007, 02:14:

I vote for kat1 for mayor of South Bogota.

Ciao! Gustav.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 7, 2007, 03:41:

no thanks GS i don't like politics btw when the comisarias existed kind of police station, now i think there are only comisarias de famila, y dad was the comisario or sherif (jaja it sound funny but it's true) of Kennedy and one time he also was the comisario of Restrepo.

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gringolondinense says on Sep 7, 2007, 04:01:

bloody good looking mayor lol! :)

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 7, 2007, 04:29:

jeje GL I am blushing now :))

One thing about Kennedy is that it has good and bad area, pretty and ugly ones, many people from the north or center are scare of going to Kennedy some never been there, they think is it really dangerous, but because Kennedy is so big and if you don't know the area yes you can end up in the bad part of the area, Plaza or la primera de mayo i will considered safe, apart from the pickpocketers just like in la zona R.

many TV programs are coming and filming there, specially in the shopping center and mundo aventura which is considered one of the best attraction parks in Bogota.

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MaSep says on Sep 7, 2007, 08:45:

I´ve been in normandia once is an ok place, Rubito is mundo A like salitre in calle 68? is it safe to go?

Kat the libraries there I´ve heard they´r pretty but not sure if to vistit I rather see them on pics, I feel a little guilty to live in this city for many years and have never gone far from the city center and the north.

A lady that works for me invited me to her niece´s birthay in a barrio called La estrella, is that close to Kennedy?

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 7, 2007, 10:48:

Kenedy is south west ask anybody that lives in Bogota and they call it south but TECHNICALLY is SOUTH WEST, and Simon Bolivar SOUTHEAST! on the map above kennedy seem pretty south to me unless my eyes are deceiving me....

Mundo aventure is better than Salitre, is considered one of the best park and it's safe to go.


Mapsep I don't blame you many people are scare to go to the south of Bogota, because of the reputation, but not all areas are bad, Marsella, El portal de las americas, rincon de los angeles, castilla they are all very pretty areas, of course if you go to some parts of Roma, Bosa, el socorro , britalia they are pretty dangerous and not very pretty.

The only barrio La Estrella that I know of or heard of is in Ciudad Bolivar now that is south east i don't know it but being part of Ciudad Bolivar uhmm i would not go at night. but if you have relatives there i am sure they know it will be fine for you to go, i went to a "BBQ" in sierra morena part of Ciudad Bolivar with my British husband and kids, a friend of my dad who bought a house there God knows why, he is always buying houses in funny places and in this one got a jacuzzi!!!! can you believe it!!! we went in the daytime, which it was ok, but we left before it got dark, never went back it was soooooooooo boring and that place so dusty. my husband went back with my dad to made some homekit beer which turn out horrible :)))


I will put Normandia south west also more west than south, the same with modelia and Ciudad Salitre

to go very south then we're talking Tunjuelito, ciudad Bolivar, bosa, this last one becoming part of kennedy really

the thing is kennedy is so big that part is south west and part south

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Mr. Hollywood says on Sep 7, 2007, 10:57:

Oh, please Kat1, we know EXACTLY why he has those houses.

You never told us before that one had a jacuzzi, though.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 7, 2007, 10:58:

he made it recently, can you believe it a house in Ciudad Bolivar with a jacuzzi!!!

he bought another one in el Barrio las reliquia in Villavo an area which is not very nice again similar to Ciudad Bolivar, but this time lots of poor people invade the field an started to built their own little bad made houses so he didn't like it, but because no one gave him a peso for that house he gave it to the icbf now is a comedor for poor kids.

he owns two more house in Villavo and one in Casablanca Kennedy but those one are fine.

he is my dad'd best friend, a real character, for my wedding he got me Nacor Baron for those who like porro you know who is he,and he was the one that introduce us to Alejo Duran this summer, he was at his house in Villavo

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 7, 2007, 11:17:

I tell you what area is pretty an is the south and the park is also pretty, El Tunal, they also have a nice shopping center.

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gato-bandido says on Sep 7, 2007, 11:22:

From that map Centella linked to it is clear that the real south of Bogotá is Ciudad Bolívar, Usme and Sumapaz. The latter two are not mentioned at all in this entire thread. Makes you wonder why...

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 7, 2007, 11:34:

I agree gato bandido the real south are simon bolivar, el tunal, usme and sumapaz this last two i don't know if i consider them areas of bogota o municipalidades.... the ones mention above on the south west or south east not properly south, but as i said kennedy is not just la primera de mayo, kennedy is Roma, Manuel mejia, nueva Roma and those are nearly touching Bosa which is south.. is because kennedy is big some part are nearly south

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greg says on Sep 7, 2007, 13:38:

When i am in Bogota i stay in San Carlos. I am a little over a mile from the mall in Tunal.
Not much to do there but seems fairly safe.

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christobeldawg says on Sep 7, 2007, 16:05:

From all of the comments within this thread, I am getting a much better feel for the south of Bogota. Muchas gracias

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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feldz0084 says on Nov 11, 2007, 17:47:

You can have one hell of a time near Cuadra Picha, but if you are Gringo do not freaking go there alone!! Great party, but I have literally not seen a foreigner or american looking person there except maybe once, I have lived here for a while, have fairly good language skills, and do not look the least bit American..and always head there in a group with Colombian friends. Although I do agree with the other comments that there is a false sense of security in the snob ZR and 93... fratty foreigners get all fooking cocky and loud and get jacked.

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