UK Colombian & Latino community - where are you?

mrsfajardo says on Sep 24, 2004, 03:20:

La Mazorca restaurant London hi, my husbands father was Colombian and we took a trip there together in April. We are also interested in finding a Colombian community. There is a restaurant in London called La Mazorca and the tel: 02072741919. We haven't been to try it out yet but it had some good reviews. We live over and hour away from Swindon, so If you find anything up there the post it and let us know.

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SiV says on Sep 24, 2004, 13:18:

Swindon . . .mmm Oh you poor thing. In Swindon, there´s no community, period, (or as we say in the UK, full stop.) Latin or otherwise.
In London, there´s a big Latino community in Elephant and Castle.
SiV

Stultórum númere infinitum est.

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British Paisa says on Sep 24, 2004, 23:47:

Swindon is a sh*t hole!...... as SiV said, there is nothing in Swindon but if you go to a large city like London you will find a massive Colombian community.

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shirly1981 says on Feb 24, 2005, 15:53:

Sorry baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sorry baby, i think we have been doing the same. No colombian people living in Swindon. Do you think it is a hole? i dont think so............... as soon as we arrive there it is not gonna be a hole anymore.ok good luck!!!!!!!!

Sophia

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nanis says on Feb 25, 2005, 10:46:

If you wanna see Latinos in the UK then go to London otherwise forget it!!! I don't know which part of Colombia you come from but I take it that you are from Barranquilla, well I have been here for almost 12 years and have only met 1 costeño he is a real laugh and one of my best mates and loves hanging out with people from Cali but I dearly recommend you not to hang out with him unless you’re into something dodgy, jeje. The Colombian population in London consists of people from the east side of Colombia say El Valle del Cauca, many people from Cali and a lot of paisas too.

If you go to east London you will meet a lot of paisas there, they have their markets and cafeterias there and if you go south of the river say Elephant & Castle, Brixton, Kennington, Camberwell, Peckham etc chances are that most Colombians you will meet are from Cali or Palmira.

If you need any info on restaurants, bars and clubs here in London let me know and I’ll keep you up to date!
Good luck

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kerry says on Feb 25, 2005, 16:16:

there may be colombians in swindon There is a massive colombian communtity in London. I think you may actually find some Colombians any where oyu go in the UK. Swindon is small but the population is not. If there are language schools in swindon then that is a good place to find them. The colombian consultae in London may possibly be able to help you. Just because most colombians are in London it does not mena they are all there and what people are teling you could be very misleading. It would not surprise me that you found 20 Colombians in Swindon, but you will ahve to look for them or put notes on the language school note boards

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kernow62 says on Feb 25, 2005, 17:11:

Mrs. Gomez don't you think it odd that most Colombians in London are from Cali? I would have thought it would suit those from Bogotá better. I only met two Colombians in London, but as I was only there a week it surprised me, they were both from Bogotá, living near Victoria Station.

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ARMacleod says on Feb 26, 2005, 00:23:

Swindon is not small, I know Swindon very well, have friends from Goa there and sometimes have to work there. It is a rapidly growing town due to the proximity of the M4 and the ease of travel to London and also the west country.

It is a dump at the moment, but improving all the time, the only thing worse than the east side of Swindon other than the east side of London, is the west side.

On the good side, Kerry/etc/etc/etc/ does not live there, so it cannot be all that bad.

Any newcomer (except Kerry) who moves there will not have any problems because of their race or just that they are newcomers, everyone there are newcomers themselves.

Being of unsound mind and dubious disposition, I cannot be held legally liable for any indiscretions."¡El diablo me hizo hacerlo!" But don't worry, be happy.

The brain is like a parachute, it only functions correctly when it is open. Pax vobiscum.

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Cockney Colombian says on Feb 26, 2005, 03:24:

From Cali Yes I've also found it odd, that all the Colombians I've met here in the UK, they are predominatly from Cali. I've only met one from Bogota and one from Medellin.

Old Kent Road from the Elephant and Castle all the way down to New Cross is like mini Latin America, Colombians, Ecuadorians, Peruvians and Bolivians.

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Hunter says on Feb 26, 2005, 03:39:

kernow62 In the few years before I left for Colombia, I met about 100 Colombians through my work in London, about half of them did seem to come from the Cali area, the other half the remainder of the Country.

Mrs.Gomez, which part of East London do the Colombians live in, I only met one Colombian living in East London, in Bethnal Green and she was from Cali.

Hunter

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kernow62 says on Feb 26, 2005, 06:14:

So why so many from Cali?

Is Cali that bad that folks can't wait to leave? Is it so hot that they must move to a cool, damp climate? Is it because they are so sick of salsa and dancing that they move to a country where nobody dances? Are these all mail order brides and grooms?

Enquiring minds want to know?

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Hunter says on Feb 27, 2005, 09:14:

kernow62 I don't know why they ended up in London, the only reason they all seemed to give was it was for the money and plenty of work available in London. Some were students as well.

Hunter

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Barranquilla4life says on Mar 8, 2005, 07:21:

Help Yes what ever information you can supply me with bars, resturants, stores, i would appriciate it i will be going out in the next few weeks to find these places so i will have a good idea.
If you have the names and phone numbers i would appriciate it.

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nanis says on Mar 8, 2005, 10:17:

COLOMBIAN POPULATION IN LONDON Saying that most Colombians in London are from Cali is an understatement, There are lots of paisas here too but they are divided I have no idea why but paisas tend not to mix with people from Cali.. who knows why? anyway you can find paisas in east London, their markets are all in the Seven sisters and Dalston areas

El Pueblito Paisa is a shopping centre with restaurants, shops, hairdressing salons etc... It is located right outside the Seven Sisters (northbound Victoria Line) tube station. There is also the Dalston shopping centre too which is behind Dalston kingsland market. Paisas love going to the church and there is a beautiful church in Stanford Hill near Seven Sisters for the Colombian population if you go there on a Sunday it will be packed and 95% of the people there would be paisas.

Sound Machine nightclub is very popular with the paisas it is located near Seven Sisters on Black Boy Lane

That’s all I know about Paisas in London

If you wanna hang out with people from Cali you need to go to South London Old Kent road, Camberwell, Brixton, Peckham, Kennington, Stockwell and Clapham, Oval and Elephant & Castle are mini Colombia right there.

There are lots of nightclubs, shopping centres, restaurants, cafeterias, travel agencies and a church in Stockwell.

The best nightclub is Chaney right in front of the Elephant & Castle shopping centre the atmosphere is unbelievable it’s just like being in Cali, if you want to buy clothes have your hair cut or have a drink before going clubbing then go to the shopping centres in Elephant & Castle (La Vida Loca, San Andresito, Shampoo)

The Best Colombian restaurant has to be La Mazorca, the food there is out of this world! Inside the restaurant feels like you are in a Finca, they have decorated the place just like a Finca it’s absolutely beautiful and they also play live Colombian music, the waiting stuff are all dressed in traditional Colombian costumes and there are dancers there too dancing San Juanero, La Cumbia and El Joropo, after having a meal why not go to La Mazorca Nigthclub next door?

There are various events during the summer, El Carnaval Del Pueblo is one of them it is run by the local council of Southwark and is the biggest Colombian even in London, but if you came during the summer you will enjoy yourself especially if you are from a hot area, there are lots of things to do in the summer lots of Colombian parties and not forgetting Los Silleteros!!

p.s I have no idea why there is so many people from Cali here. All I know is that the Colombian population keeps on growing and growing by the minute.

If you need more help let me know

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CLALORENA says on Mar 8, 2005, 10:50:

Colombian community Hello Hunter, most of the Colombian comunity are based in between Elephant and Castle, Brixton and Camberwel also you find latinos in Islington and North London. There Colombian Clubs in Seven Sisters, Market and Restaurants. In the Shopping Center in Elephant and Castle you find every thing from Colombia, well almost. Hairdressers, dresmakers, shops, restaurants, the chance (raffles tickets with the lotery of Colombia). Medicine and some more. If you want to go to proper Colombian club, go to Chaney where the rumba is from 10pm until 6am every Saturdays is in Elephant and Castle, below Ministry of Salsa.

Lorenita

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CLALORENA says on Mar 8, 2005, 10:56:

Pereira Well most of the Colombian people in London are from England but i also now so many paisas, specially from Pereira i am one of them. Arriva Pereira. Is there any one from Pereira here?????

Lorenita

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Lauthra says on Mar 8, 2005, 11:32:

Reading I met a small colombian community in Reading (of all places...), no one was from Cali though!
Nato ;)

Nato (='.'=)

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El Duro says on Mar 10, 2005, 10:51:

North west its not only south and east where tha colombians are at we are scattered throughout london i live in North West london there are a few of us here Holla bk

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Niracomix says on Mar 28, 2005, 12:05:

You guys are great! On my first trip to London, I didn't find this discussion. So now, for my second trip, I'll be all set. Thanks so much!

If anyone wants to play tour guide for an April afternoon for drinks, please email me! I'm a gringa de familia Barranquillera.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Marilyn

*~*~*~*~*~*~* Marilyn

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we_love_colombia says on Apr 27, 2005, 02:47:

i am from da glamourous croydon.....big up da latinos in croydon,you no who you are.....if u want colombians, come dis way, dis is da place to be, innit though....or elephant and castle, its overrun wiv latinos (you can see that be the state of it)stay tru blood

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lat_juan says on Apr 27, 2005, 08:13:

Cali to London I think its something to do with the economics of Colombia. Consider that people from other parts of Colombia went to the US first. This probably saturated the US. People from Cali probably slowy took advantage of the flexible immigration laws of the UK and started emmigrating. Once you have family in one country its much easier to go there and live. Hence a community of Calenos began.

I must point out that a lot of people used to say they were from Cali just to sound cool. truth be told a lot of people are from country but say they are from cali coz its easier and more fashionable.

in my opinion of course!

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lovekat1 says on May 4, 2005, 05:20:

help a poor non-colombian 'Ola amigos,

I wonder if you can help me? I am going to be in London between 6th - 11th May to write a feature for an inflight magazine about London's Latin Commuinity and Latin American culture in London. Can anyone help me with places to visit? I am planning on covering Latin "areas" - what people will find there, what people are like, definitely salsa dancing / latin nightclubs / latin american restaurants / musuems. Also are there any specific latin American events in London? I know there was the Latin Splash Carnival, but that is finished now... There is the latin American Film Festival - are there any more?

If anyone can help me, I would be most grateful! You can email me at lovekat at ftml.net.

Gracias,

Kat.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on May 4, 2005, 06:36:

Although I live in the UK I can't help you I lived 3 and half hours from London and here where I live the only Colombian thing is my daughters flag in her room.

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