Costa Rica Jones has left 27 comments

Costa Rica Jones comments on AA Flight MIA-MDE last night was Empty First Time I have seen that......

Holy chit! The kids might have to go without cable and Dad might have to sell the boat !!!

Costa Rica Jones comments on

The taxi drivers here are (mostly) idiots. Seriously stupid. I don't know how they can have so many cops and not enforce the traffic laws? And if you say something to the taxi driver (like, "Please slow down!") they like to screw with you and drive more dangerously. After today, I've had it. From now on, if I get in a taxi and they do one reckless move, I'm telling them to pull over and let me out.

Costa Rica Jones comments on Emeralds

Hollywood, Very true. But just like you can buy good rum in Nicaragua for pennies compared to what you could buy it for in the States-- I don't think the origan posters question is really THAT naive. I'm wondering if there aren't retail vendors here that would sell a stone for X, whereas the same stone sold in the U.S. would sell for 3X ? But I don't know enough about emeralds. Maybe it doesn't work that way and every stone is unique?

Costa Rica Jones comments on What's a condo cost?

MiamiMike: That 4 plex, at those prices would be in a "Strata1" San Antonio area. :) I had one of those-- I believe in the same area (I bought houses and small apt. houses in San Antonio-- but lived in Austin. Darn GPS prevented me from truly learning the lay of the land in SA) ... but I bought and fixed up a little house off Kayton. Oh my god... what a terrible part of town. Even the tenants complained because companies didn't want to build restaurants there. ;)

Costa Rica Jones comments on What's a condo cost?

I disagrree. On both counts. For $100k, you might be able to find a tiny shack of an old, run down condo that is nominally in Alamo Heights, San Antonio. But it's going to feel like you're living in a third world country. Even in Austin, downtown condos will run you at least $175k, for the lower eschelon. I'm living in Bogota, in a strata 6 neighborhood-- very, very nice area in a great location. 1000 sq. ft. apartment in a 20 year old building-- apt. has been remodelled. Appraiser came last month (the owner is trying to put a mortgage on it) and he appraised it at $125k. (I've already done the conversion for you). He would have given it a little more, but there is little storage space, and the building next door are offices. Now, in a "strata 6" neighborhood in any capitol city in a 1st world country, you'ld probably pay 5X that. But let's remember-- this is Bogota, not London.

Costa Rica Jones comments on Photos from my recent trip to Santa Marta, Barranquilla and Cartagena II

Very nice! You've got a good eye for shots.

Costa Rica Jones comments on

There's some bullshit about not being able to iron shirts and then clean the floor. They think it will give them facial ticks. I'm not kidding.

Costa Rica Jones comments on "Comeback alive" a review on dangerous Colombia

Sorry. Make that: 7-11. Been reading too much. LOL.

Costa Rica Jones comments on "Comeback alive" a review on dangerous Colombia

It's all part of his schtick. He sells tales of adventure and intrigue to young men dreaming of a life overseas, but stuck working at 9-11.

Costa Rica Jones comments on Motorcylce Dealership/Importer

In Rosales, do you know the Castillo? (The castle). On the south side of the castle, there is a little dealer who just went in, and he has high end BMW and other bikes.

Costa Rica Jones comments on

It may. I'm curious to explore it. I was just commenting on the stuff I've seen on Youtube. Many of them use that song "Medellin... Eterna Primavera." And that song has been stuck in my head for the past week. Maybe the city is calling me?

Costa Rica Jones comments on

Brick. Lots of brick, in Chico. I don't know the streets well enough to tell you exactly where. Get out and walk a little. In Rosales, if you're on the main street, just walk South... Once you see the beer company, you'll start seeing more and more. A few block down, there are whole neighborhoods that look German and Swiss.

Costa Rica Jones comments on

Rosales, for one. Chico to some extent.

Costa Rica Jones comments on

I haven't been there yet, but every video of the city I've seen makes it look like it has no character. The buildings just look like buildings. Nothing unique. No flavor. The planning of the city looks jumbled and congested. Whereas at least Bogota has a lot of brick and European-style architecture that gives it some color and an interesting feel. Is that an accurate take?

Costa Rica Jones comments on

Ummm.... yeah. Whatever. Ask any woman if she'd rather have a Colombian version of Brad Pitt who she can spend the rest of her life living in a strata two neighborhood with. ... Or the real Brad Pitt, who can whisk her off to exotic lands and provide for her and her family's well-being. Which one is she going to choose, if she's smart?

Costa Rica Jones comments on Where's the Acai?

I read somewhere that Acai is actually mora fruit, here. Is that true?

Costa Rica Jones comments on Fiancee to Canada issues...advice urgently requested!

This sounds like internet rumor. How do Colombian Jews get married in Colombia?

Costa Rica Jones comments on

I think "Listen to your wife," is just good advice, in general.

Costa Rica Jones comments on Columbia, would you risk it?

I don't agree with not gathering intelligence on a destination before you go there. Seems kind of like blindly and ignorantly walking into something. I try to gather as much intelligence on a place as I can, consider the sources, weight the pro's vs. the con's... and then make a decision. Frequently, even with the best intelligence you're only getting a slice of the pie. But better than nothing!

Costa Rica Jones comments on Columbia, would you risk it?

Now that's good marketing. Acknowledge the public perception-- then smash it.

Costa Rica Jones comments on deciding to seperate or divorce over the xmas period..how common is it

Relationships are like investments: If you find that you're at a point where you're throwing good money after bad, it's time to cut your losses and get out, fast. That being said: If it's the right investment, you should ride that horse until the legs fall off. LOL.

Costa Rica Jones comments on

In Bogota, I think a wood delivery service (for your chimney) would do well. I see the zorros all over (horse drawn cart with wood) ... but a lot of people are afraid of telling those guys where you live. And many locals think that because they're campesinos, they'll try to stick you with 'wet wood'. I think if you had a branded service you could call up for wood delivery (similar to water delivery)... you could do quite well. I looked in the phone book and didn't see anything.

Costa Rica Jones comments on Xmas in COL?

I don't know how anybody can make a statement like, "Gringos are boring." Which Gringos? Black Gringos? Cajun Gringos? NY Gringos? Surfer Gringos? Hippie Gringos? Redneck Gringos? Yankees? Yuppie Gringos? Chinese Gringos?

Costa Rica Jones comments on Bogota Fashion

I thought Ugg boots dies out, about 2-3 years ago? Another thing to bring: Heavy wool socks and warm "house shoes." Most of the places here don't have central heating-- and it gets really cold in the units, due to the cement block construction.

Costa Rica Jones comments on visa extension can you get longer than just 30 days at a time

I do admit to flirting with Floracita... the 65 year-old woman working the counter. I don't remember exactly-- my fiance paid it, and she's at the grocery store right now. I think it was in the ballpark of $60?

Costa Rica Jones comments on Bogota Fashion

Yeah-- for women, the knee-high, dominatrix boots are in fashion. Pack warm, warm clothes. It's freezing here. Quite literally. It hailed yesterday.

Costa Rica Jones comments on visa extension can you get longer than just 30 days at a time

The information you are posting is inaccurate. I just got back from DAS in Bogota, yesterday morning and my tourist stamp extention is good for 60 days.