curramberochris has left 356 comments

curramberochris comments on

There is always a big group that comes over to the institute in the summer-quite suprised that some arrive from Thailand and Russia! They seem to enjoy the teaching and the university environment.

curramberochris comments on Offered my first job in Colombia today at a bi-lingual school in Barranquilla.

What school is it? If you can get 3 million a month without teaching certificates or a masters degree then you are doing very well! Unless you are at one of the posh schools that recruit directly from overseas then you might need to change your expectations somewhat. No harm in asking though! Still taking Spanish classes at Uninorte?

curramberochris comments on Any PBH members in Barranquilla?

Big bikes (OVER 250CC) are more expensive here. The market for smaller capacity bikes is very competitive, lots of chinese producers over now. There are quite a few big sports bikes and Harleys around. Not heard anything about his event yet. Will keep my eyes peeled.

curramberochris comments on computer supplies in barranquilla ???

Go to Parque Central, they all sell the same stuff and it is quite well priced. Not sure about Laptop memory, might be a little expensive there as not a common product here.

curramberochris comments on Barranquilla hotels mid range

Hotel Stanford. Owned by same people that run the Hotel Windser on the corner of the 46 and the 84. About 120,000 a night. There is also a hotel round the corner from my house called...........Hotel Caribe I think. Carrera 49c # 79 esquina. Costs about 80,000 a night and it not bad.

curramberochris comments on Peso/Pound Trends

Thanks for all your comments and opinions. I am swaying towards bringing some funds over, purely due to the better rates of return here. I might wait a few more weeks to see what happens. Barranquilla is suprisingly cool today, we have the mother of all storms last night and it has rained for a good 10 hours now.

curramberochris comments on Peso/Pound Trends

Why do you believe that Ronaldo? I have this horrible image of haing left it to late, I bring money to Colombia and the UK economy starts to sort itself out and the currency gets stronger! I don't want my money here forever and I would hate to feel my money is trapped here due to the strength of the pound. I suppose this is the life of a currency trader!!!

curramberochris comments on Peso/Pound Trends

I put it off and put it off and now I just know if I should weather out the storm or take the plunge! The Uk economy doesn't look like it is going to improve in the short-term.

curramberochris comments on Peso/Pound Trends

It can't go any lower can it!!!!!!!

curramberochris comments on Foundations in Barranquilla

I can say that Nutrir Barranquilla is one of the better foundations around. My wife donates monthly to help 10 kids and she knows the Woman in charge. Seems pretty above board compared to most!

curramberochris comments on English marrying in Colombia (not a total newbie question i hope)

I got married here without notarized or apostilled documents. Just the originals

curramberochris comments on Killers, Metallica, Cold Play

U2 won't be coming to Colombia any time soon as they tried to play iin el Campin,but they were refused as they bring their whole show and crew. They don't contract out to the local operators so the Bogotà Major said no. That's is what I heard from a reliable source.

curramberochris comments on Is having a big, nice TV some type of status symbol in Colombia?

I haven't seen any houses in the US so couldn't comment. Just funny that people who earn next to nothing can still manage to afford a great big TV. Still there ain't much else to do.

curramberochris comments on Is having a big, nice TV some type of status symbol in Colombia?

Some houses have brand spanking new televisions but no floor in their house. All about the image and perception in Colombia

curramberochris comments on Makro in Santa Marta

From my experience here in Colombia, I have found that the Makro prices are not really that different to a supermarket. Not worth making the trip unless I am going to buy 100kg of rice or a drum of oil.

curramberochris comments on Which is hotter and more humid: Miami or Cartagena/Barranquilla/Santa Marta?

I just worte about this in another post! I have only been to Miami once and found it very humid, although not really hot- but that was just one trip. BQ can be pretty toasty due to all the concrete and traffic and Santa Marta is the most pleasant due to the microclimate created by the Sierra Nevada. Cartagena for me is the worst in terms of humidity and heat, I could never live there. A long weekend is the most I can manage these days!

curramberochris comments on House price trends

Thanks guys I can't believe how much some developers are asking. There seems to the mentality in BQ that if it is expensive then it must be worth it! Mortgage rates here kill off any ideas of investing in proerty, you have to buy outright! I can see no indication of a slow down here!!!!

curramberochris comments on Barranquilla weather

I can feel a distinct difference in the temperatures and humidity of Cartagena and BQ. I go to Cartagena and the climate just makes me want to turn back round and leave again. BQ weather easier to survive. Santa marta has the best climate out of all of them, due to the Sierra Nevada. Some microclimate effect I think.

curramberochris comments on House price trends

People suddenly have more money for 30% deposits and 15% interest mortgages!

curramberochris comments on Recipes for Ají

excellent stuff, I will try out your suggestions and let you know how I get on.

curramberochris comments on Recipes for Ají

bring on the spicy goodness

curramberochris comments on Super beach near(ish) Barranquilla: Santa Veronica

Well each to their own. There is not really a great choice of beaches around Barranquilla, so I suppose you have to enjoy what is available! The cabaña you showed looks a lot nicer than the beach.

curramberochris comments on Is it OK to drive from Barranquilla to Bucaramanga?

Plenty of traffic on that road day and night- it takes 10 hours by bus so in car it sould take you about 8. Enjoy!

curramberochris comments on Super beach near(ish) Barranquilla: Santa Veronica

To be honest the beach at Santa Veronica is like a small version of the Puerto Colombia beach, lots of waste and huge logs that get washed up there. Not really any good beaches near BQ I am afraid to say............best heading towards santa marta and Bello Horizonte.

curramberochris comments on BAQ

The address you state would be in Miramar, a relatively new area of the city where they are throwing up apartment blocks like there's no tomorrow. Most people who move there are looking for a place in the north of the city but without paying the estrato 5/6 prices. For that part of town, $750 dollars a month in rent is quite a lot. You can find better deals than that. How much time are you looking to stay for?

curramberochris comments on Payless shoes opening in Santa Marta

I went and had a look here in BQ but nothing really caught my eye.P erhaps they are cheap for the locations they are based in but I wasn't really impressed with the choice or price. Better options in el centro to be honest! Still, nice to see new chains arriving to these shores.

curramberochris comments on English teacher salaries?

Unless you get brought over to work by one of the big billingual school then you won't be making over 5 million a month. Universities pay about 4 million with masters, but that depends on your city and palanca. I have a friend who just started at that Colombus school and they get about 6 million plus lots of benefits like housing, private medical etc.

curramberochris comments on Now playing in Barranquilla...

This guy plays most weekends in Barranquilla and the surrounding departments!

curramberochris comments on Pradomar Hotel (in Puerto Colombia)

Not really much beach round there, more tables and chairs. Decent, close place to get out of the city I suppose

curramberochris comments on Ideas please- 4 days in Bucaramanga

thanks for the ideas. I had considered those mentioned above. It's been ages since I have been to the city.Lunch in Mercagan is a must........is there regular transport to the chicamocha park? Do you have to take a return journey¿?

curramberochris comments on Watch LIVE Colombian television from ANYWHERE in the World!

Yeah, only things worth watching are the silly farandula women on RCN.

curramberochris comments on Ideas please- 4 days in Bucaramanga

Thanks, trip is different this time as I have the baby and a wife who is not really todo terreno. There are plenty of Carrefour and Crepes in BQ. San Gil not realistic with young child- what else can one do in this lovely city! What else have I missed?

curramberochris comments on Ideas please- 4 days in Bucaramanga

Everyone seems to do this bump thing.........best do it too.

curramberochris comments on Installation of new Telmex - Cable TV & Internet.

They are all as bad as each other with regards to service. I have phone and internet with telefonica and tv with direct TV. Working well so far.

curramberochris comments on

Everything will be more expensive and your standard of living will be lower. BQ is the cheapest biggest city

curramberochris comments on Sabor Barranquilla: Pix

I can't believe you drank the generic, multi-national chilean stuff and didn't support a local PBH connected company. The people next door have the best Spanish wine in Colombia and it passed right under your nose! Go back and try Tradición Iberica!! Our stand has the best wine in the feria :)

curramberochris comments on

The language institute in UniNorte has spanish classes and if they don't suit him I am sure a teacher here can give him the classes he needs.

curramberochris comments on SABOR BARRANQUILLA 2009

You just turn up, pay the entrance fee (about 5,000 pesos) and then you buy vouchers which are redeemed at the food and drink stands. It get very busy on Sat and Sun- look out for Tradición Iberica and try a glass of great Spanish wine! It is in the Country Club in front of Carrefour

curramberochris comments on SABOR BARRANQUILLA 2009

Last year was a really good event, worth going for a visit- all the top restaurants sell food at really good prices. You need to buy vouchers to get the food and drink.....saturday evening can get really busy.

curramberochris comments on SABOR BARRANQUILLA 2009

See you there, my wife has a stand so pass by and try some wine!

curramberochris comments on

Make sure you have reliable lawyers,builders, architects, plumbers and painters etc as a project like that demands near constant supervision if you want it done correctly and without problems. I know of a few similar projects and you really have to be suspicious of everybody, especially when they see the cash flying around- things suddenly become more expensive! Good luck and let us know how it works out

curramberochris comments on Barranquilla nightlife?

Not enough tourists passing through the city for it to be worth having lots of places open all week. Weekends there is plenty to do but Monday- Wednesday just will have the restaurants, liquor joints and soem bars. Tuesdays can be better as it is VISA martes with discounts in the restaurants. Wait until thursday for people to be out and about.

curramberochris comments on 3-4 months apartment in Barranquilla, help?

As I Said above, there are not many places available furnished. hence the high rent rates. I quoted this price based on an apartment in an upper estrato. You look in the paper, that is a normal figure for a furnished apartment. Obviously there are other options, all depends on what it is you are looking for. There are plenty of people willing to pay that amount of money, there are a fair few places here that rent for over 5,000,000 a month. Awesome places but my point is there are people who pay up!

curramberochris comments on 3-4 months apartment in Barranquilla, help?

mmmm, generally furbished apartments are not that common so what you will find will cost you. A rough estimate for a furbished place in a decent part of town with bills included....I would say between 1,500,000 and 2,000,000 a month. For 3-4 months you are best looking in the heraldo newspaper. There are a few in the estate agents here but most require a guarantor with assets in Colombia. No harm asking in the estate agents though as you could strike a deal with owners if they see you ain't going to mess them about. hope that is some sort of help!

curramberochris comments on Barranquilla to Parque de Tayrona - Far??

Very easy to get between the two places. For the airport get a taxi to the "Simon Bolivar", there ae loads of little bus companies on this road. Here you jump on a bus called the Wayuu which goes up to la guajira, it passes right by the front of the park and no need to change buses in Santa Marta. The aiport in SM is still a fair way from the park entrance.

curramberochris comments on Costa Rica to Barranquilla

I am afraid you really have to fly through Panama. There are a couple of airlines that fly direct to Barranquilla; aires, aero republica and the local panama airline (what's the name!!) Prices can be a bit steep for such a short journey but you have options.

curramberochris comments on Erm, how to dress during your wedding day? (men's fashion)

you are in BQ so the chances are it will be guayabera, jacket and linen trousers. The groom usually has a slightly different colour to everybody. It is usually stated on the wedding invitations, people liek to know exactly what it is they have to wear and they is the most common style in coastal weddings

curramberochris comments on Looking for an Apartment in Barranquilla

If you are in the citythen get a copy of the paper and start ringing. There are quite a few good deals in there, but you have to find them. A few colleagues of mine left left semester so perhaps their old places are still available. I will see what I can find out and let you all know.

curramberochris comments on Who is paying today or on Tuesday prima for the

I got my prima today! Do other countries have this system of payments?

curramberochris comments on Barranquilla Neighbourhoods

If you want to livel ike you live back in the states then Barranquilla is not actually that much cheaper. It feels liek it but most things are not that cheap. If you eat rice and beans everyday and take mototaxis then yeah you'll save a tonne of money but in reality the city ain't that cheap if your lookingfor the nicer elements.