travelling solo

el flaco says on Jun 23, 2006, 04:32:

Why Colombia? Quito in Ecuador has lots of Spanish classes one on one, lots of homestays and a gringo infrastructure. I don't think anyone should go to Colombia alone with no Spanish. Cartagena doen't have homestays, few Spanish schools and is so so hot you won't be able to concentrate. Are you playing at learning Spanish or are you serious?

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webmanco says on Jun 23, 2006, 11:23:

Why not?




Click on the picture for the hostal's website, here for more recomendations

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

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Mikey1 says on Jun 23, 2006, 16:37:

Por que no ? There are 3 back packers hostels all next to each other on Calle de la Media Luna No-10-47 , everything from rooms “con banos” to dorms are under $10 .They are full of young travellers and couples coming from Panama and Venezuela . The best food in Colombia can be had in the Italian Pizza place. OK the Media Luna is a bit dangerous at night , but so is most of Latin America as the sun goes down. Colombia is the only place to learn Spanish. Be prepared for full on heat and watch the mosquitoes .If you want to know any more just let be know

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billyb says on Jun 23, 2006, 20:23:

I agree... with Mikey. If you want to learn proper spanish (castellano) why would you go anywhere but Colombia? By the way, Cartagena is wonderfull, especially the old walled city.BillyB

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tomtom33 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 24, 2006, 06:17:

Lauthra says on Jun 24, 2006, 09:04:

I don't think the fact that you'll get there on your own be much of a problem, you'll met someone that speaks English and Spanish in no time.
I do agree with TomTom in the costeño accent. Granted your teacher (if you're planning on taking a course) won't have a thick accent, but it will be hard to practice with the locals, sometimes it's even hard for me, a Colombiana, to understand what they're going on about... Have you considered doing it in Bogotá or Cali?

Nato

(='.'=)

Nato (='.'=)

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Crazy4Cali says on Jun 24, 2006, 11:38:

Por que Colombia? If you're single, have never been to Colombia, and don't speak any spanish, why do you want to go to Colombia to learn? Unless there's some attraction (e.g. novio or familia) why not go to Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, or Peru? Costa Rica and Peru are cheaper to get to from the U.S. than Colombia and Costa Rican spanish is almost as "pure" (i.e. neutral) as Colombian spanish.

Not that Colombia is necessarily bad, but as others have posted, there is more of a "gringo" infrastructure in other Latin American countries and from a tourist's standpoint, doesn't have much more to offer either.

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utopiacowboy says on Jun 24, 2006, 11:42:

Of course you are correct, Crazy4Cali. I have to laugh when I think of someone learning Spanish from a Costeno. You'd end up sounding like Elmo.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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platano says on Jun 24, 2006, 12:04:

My suggestion would not be Cartagena... My suggestions:
Bogota, Colombia
Cuernavaca, Mexico
San Jose, Costa Rica
plátano

plátano

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platano says on Jun 24, 2006, 12:31:

LOL! Dominican Republic! "If you learn Spanish from them..."

Big "if" there! They'd have to slow down quite a bit! At least to a salsa pace from the DR merengue pace.plátano

plátano

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jun 24, 2006, 12:36:

Huh! How you all know Colombia eh! the well spoken costeño doesn't speak nothing like Elmo, you UC should've know that, having a wife that her family live in Monteria, they speak very slow and very different to the ordinary costeño, actually the costeño like in Venezuela are the purest "spanish" or better it's call castellano. the Costeño of Elmo is from the lower strata of Barranquilla and God!! if they talk 1.000 words a milisecond. It's like I told Desi I didn't like the Caleño accent and she told me the well spoken Caleño does not talk that Mira ve!

If you go to Andalucia or cadiz there is a bit of Costeño accent in there


It's true Tomtom, we don't speak Proper Spanish we Speak Castellano

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platano says on Jun 24, 2006, 12:42:

Eh? I went to a school in Cuernavaca that was run by Colombians. Colombian broadcast journalists have told me the best Spanish is spoken in Bogota. Of course, learning Spanish from "well spoken" Colombians in any part of Colombia would be great! Even in Cartagena... and for sure in Monteria. :)plátano

plátano

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jun 24, 2006, 12:49:

Exactly Platano, if you go to Colombia and want to learn to speak Spanish a well spoken pewrson no mater the region will teach you, and you will find them in the whole of Colombia, Bogota can be the best Spanish but go and learn from a not well spoken Bogotano and you will ended up talking like a gamin.jijij

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lost says on Jun 24, 2006, 13:21:

wahahhahaha wahahaha "all alone," have you got a picture to go with your post?

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utopiacowboy says on Jun 25, 2006, 10:06:

Estaba bromeando, Senora.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Miguel_Clavo says on Jun 25, 2006, 10:44:

Simple enough: Want to learn Spanish? Go to Spain..duhhh! Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo...faltan 6 F-ing días...Colombia es pasión!

"F.A.R.C..S.U.C.K.S"

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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tigredelnorte says on Jun 25, 2006, 11:28:

Oaxaca, Mexico has some schools and the climate there is very agreeable. It's my favorite city in Mexico. There are some youth hostles there. You should be able to find cheap accomidations. I met an America there once who traded services with a local. The local taught the American Spanish, and visa versa. Costa Rica is very nice, but it's getting a bit expensive. Too many gringos. Nice beaches though. "Colombian Spanish is the purest form in Latin America" , or so I've heard.

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Colombian_in_Arabia says on Jun 25, 2006, 11:33:

IS A VERY SMART CHOICE How come I have read some posts made by Colombians giving advice to go to another country? Besides, I think all alone wants to know if it is safe and good, not if it is better Ecuador or Peru or somewhere else. She has chosen Cartagena, Colombia and the ANSWER is YES: It is safe and a very nice city. One of the bests of South America. And what is all that crap about the gringo infrastructure... I mean, if she would have been looking for gringo infrastructure she would have gone to Miami, wouldn't she?
I think it's a good plan. Cartagena is beautiful and I'm sure you are gonna enjoy it. And of course you are going to learn good Spanish, the accent is not an important issue when you are learning. I mean it's not like if you have Spanish lessons in Cartagena you are going to speak with Costeño accent. I went to Malta to learn English and I have 2 things to say: I don't have Maltese accent, and I learned more English interacting with people in the beach and in parties than in the lessons I paid for, and I cannot think of a better place to find people to chat and party than the coastal zone of Colombia, they are indeed very nice and happy. And I didn't even mention the unique architecture you can find in Cartagena and its historical background.

Please let me know if you enjoyed it!!

Betto the Man

Betto the Man

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jun 25, 2006, 13:36:

I totally agree with you Colombian-in-Arabia

AT LAST SOMEBODY WITH SENSE

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elmodefoque says on Jun 26, 2006, 14:37:

and WTF is wrong with my spanish? i've been told i sound just like Diomenes Diaz, king of all corronchos. It took a hard kick in the balls by a burra and brick in the head to learn this perfect spanish.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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pedro (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 27, 2006, 05:14:

kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jun 27, 2006, 05:23:

nothing is wrong with your Spanish Elmo but if you have the accent of the Costeño the barriada them that is the ordinary costeno that is the one they try to portray in soup operas, now you are Costeño and I don't know about you but I can difference the Costeño accent from the people of Barranquilla, Monteria and Cartagena and let me tell you! you Barranquilleros talk really fast

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elmodefoque says on Jun 27, 2006, 06:02:

mi reina kat, i don't talk fast at all, as a matter of fact i talk real slow, i do everything slow if ya know what i mean, but if you like it fast, i'll give it to you fast. I gotta admit my spanish is very street, i use words only found in the lowest of the low of curramba and is one of the main reason i'm never invited to family gathering in North Barranquilla. is also very difficult to get me away from low lives in the south.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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all alone says on Jun 28, 2006, 22:54:

Thanks Betto-- i already bought the ticket so it's not like i was backing out of the deal... i was going no matter what.

i'm glad to know that i'm going somewhere safe. i've been in places such as the philippines, korea, bangkok, prague, dubai... and in some of those tourist/urban cities i wouldnt go even with a native. so thanks for y'all's help! i'll let you know how it goes!!!

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genove1 says on Jun 29, 2006, 07:38:

Go to Bogota or Buenoes Aires, Argentina Cartagena is nice to visit but it is a bad place to get an education in Spanish, unless this is not your main objective. Do go to Cartagena if you want to experience the Caribbean lifestyle, beaches, partying, heat, etc. The Caribbean Spanish accent is not a very neutral Spanish accent that can be easily understood.

Bogota is the best place for Spanish as a Second Language in Colombia. The best universities in the country are there with good programs. Plus the city offers bigger city things to do. Think of Miami vs. New York.

The best overall place to learn Spanish is Buenos Aires. It is cheaper; Buenos Aires is probably one of the best cities in the world. In this case think Chicago vs. New York.

Bogota is a more up and coming place, more off the beaten path. Just depends what environment you are looking for.

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