ecco has left 38 comments

ecco comments on BOGOTA - CALI (AIR/BUS)

Ontop of the airfare cost, unless someone is meeting you at Cali airport then you can either take an expensive taxi to the centre or the cheaper more fun colectivo option which is what I did- a 1/10 of the price- can't remember exactly but I think the taxis were telling me 35,000 pesos, whereas the colectivo was 3500 pesos (or maybe less even). If you have time to spare I think buses are a good idea. Didn't do Bogotá - Cali by bus but did Bogotá to Pereria as well (inreverse actually) via Armenia and the scenery was great. However the were holdups on the curvy mountain roads so everything took a good 2-3 hours longer what with hitting traffic entering Bogotá late in the evening.

ecco comments on Bogota Hostel

I stayed there a few months ago and agree with what's been said. A few people had reportedly been mugged just going between the three houses in the week I was there- (which are only about 30 metres apart). Maybe they weren't paying attention- not sure on the details. I always looked both ways before stepping out properly and shutting the door behind me to be on the safe side- like crossing a road I suppose. It is pretty noisy and the rooms are really really basic as was the shower shed out the back. I also stayed there for my last night in the country but had a much better room upstairs in the main house and it was really quiet. Good location for the main sights etc. The owner and the staff are excellent and helpful. Next time I'm back I will check out Hostel Sue next door though, or somewhere completely different.

ecco comments on Brits need Vaccinations?

I had also had a combo shot of a few things, can't remember exactly- I think it was Diptheria/Typhoid/HEP A, plus also a HEP B booster- one in each arm. I also had the Yellow Fever shot. I'd had Tetanus booster already so didn't need that. The nurse also said it might be worthwhile having a Rabies if going into the jungle.

ecco comments on Hi- I had a excellent time- thanks!

There are lots... The few I spoke to were friendly and attractive- those meaning girls working in hostels or the supermarkets. I did go out, mainly in Medellín but wasn't there with the aim to meet anyone and I'm not the type to brag so I'll just say I'm not going to say much- sorry! On the bus/coach journeys though.. I didn't experience any of this flys-to-stick-on-a-shit business- it maybe overated or I was in the wrong place, or with the wrong people or I'm just not an intersting target for them. Over the course of the month there were friendly smiles from random girls passing by for me to notice it though. Salento I liked- very pleasant for a short while. I was there for three or four nights- can't remember. I wouldn't be able to stay there for more than a week I doubt. That quiet and small that I was seeing other tourists every day evey hour and there isn't much to do. I went to the coffee farms, the butterfly park thingy and the Cocora Valley which was my favourite bit of that stage. I did the trek to Acaime where the humming birds were. Hard work as I've never walked like that before on steep slopes and mud but worth it for the easy road back down and through the valley with the palms- overall about six hours.

ecco comments on Bus from Medellin to Cartagena

Thanks robi666. Looking at a map it seems to that place is about 1/4 of the distance-ish to Cartagena. I would like to do a long trip by bus for the experience- but hmmm. Tempted to save that one for another time then as I'll be doing some bus travel anyway just before. Thanks again.

ecco comments on Car or bus travel to Armenia from Cali - how safe?

Do they force you to put luggage in the bus hold if it just 'looks' to big? Or will it also depend on how busy it is? Not sure what the buses there are like and their size, but the coaches I've used before in various countries have the spaces above the seats to put stuff. In my experience it often depends on the driver- some are quite stroppy over what they allow inside. Others don't care so much- especially if the bus is half empty. I'm doing that route also in the near future so am curious.

ecco comments on Bus from Medellin to Cartagena

Is the scenery really good? I guess yes.. I will be going from Cali to Medellín through the Coffee Zone by bus which I read has excellent scenery. If the Medellín to Cartagena route is nothing special scenery-wise I will be tempted to take a plane- as I'll be short on time. If anyone has done the two and wants to comment on scenery aspects- please do.

ecco comments on Late night arrival: safety

Hi- just want to say thanks also to Peter, GIB and the others for this info. I'm arriving in Bogotá next week for the first time. I'm pleased I'm not worried about it though. Having pictures helps too..

ecco comments on Tips for first time Traveler to Bogota

sorry- I meant to say they *may* have some jobs advertised there that are relevant to you (as I've never looked for your type of job) I have a few times seen ones which relate to what I do which is quite specific.

ecco comments on Tips for first time Traveler to Bogota

orestesdd, All I can suggest which I'm going to do myself, is research and contact companies there before you go. I will be writing a letter to a couple of companies in a different city that do what I do (only city as far I know that have such companies that interest me), saying I will be there in XXX around the dates of XXX, and if they're interested in meeting me, please do not hesitate to get in contact... etc etc. I'm not aiming or hoping to get a job there exactly as I've never even been there and might not like it, and also as I have a job here where I live already- but just out of interest to see if I get a response. And I may end up loving it there and want to stay -who knows. Sorry I don't know anything about your field in any country let alone one which I've never been to yet. Hope you find something of interest though. Don't forget to keep an eye on classifieds pages or however you call them. They often have some jobs advertised there that are relevant to you. eg: http://www.mundoanuncio.com/zona/colombia_12.html I think there are more but I can't remember them. www.quehubo.com may have job ads- not sure. Also JCrhisusa, the living with Colombian people is a good idea in my opinion. I'm not sure of your age but being with people of a similar age is good. I did a course in Spain when I was learning the language and stayed in the flat of a local guy, who spoke little English. A couple of people were in families and they mentioned the kids of the family were always trying to speak to them in English as well.

ecco comments on Buenaventura

I had originally planned to go to Gorgona through Buenaventura, but am not going that way anymore. People have said it's now a very bad time, including a contact I have in Colombia. He doesn't live there but he might know people who do. I'm taking their advice though- prefer to spend an extra £100 for a return flight via Guapi than be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Shame really as I was looking forward to a few hours speedboat ride to the island. I will be in the Platypus before I head that way, so I will ask and listen for the latest before I go just in case the situation changes. If it turns safe and sound in the near future then that would be great.

ecco comments on Tips for first time Traveler to Bogota

Hi JChrisusa- I can't comment about Colombia specifically, but I can tell from my experience something. I got a job in a Spanish speaking country in my field of work when my Spanish still wasn't that good, speaking wise anyway. I could write a lot better though so my CV which I applied with painted a slightly misleading picture- but more than that was my work which interested them. It also is a technical/ (and can also be artistic) field which is computer related- but not IT. I also have a degree, thought not in this area. I was also interesting to them as being a native English speaker I could help them at times with translation and online help as all the manuals for the programmes we use are only in English, which might be the case for your field too. The company was (and is) still very small so that might make a difference. Anyway, I guess my point is, I think one can get a job in their field of work if they're experienced/ promising and all that which you are- and in a foreign country when you don't speak as well as you think you should be able to. Hope this gives you some kind of motivation/hope/...! :)

ecco comments on Cheap(er) flights from Madrid

I agree their prices seem reasonable. However, I decided to book with Avianca at the last minute (€100 more) as I found a load of terrible reviews about AirComet. They may have been referring to European travel only, but I didn't want to take the chance- if something went wrong then it would be a good way to muck up the beginning of a holiday.

ecco comments on Have You Ever WALKED on the Path Upward to Monserrate, in Bogota?

Thanks- I will be sensible. Would be very unwise and silly of me to put my holiday fun at risk by something bad happening on my first day which I could have avoided.

ecco comments on Getting frustrated with my spanish

I agree with watching films with dubbed Spanish if you can. Msaucey has said it spot on- just one of my preffered methods that I had. Films you actually enjoy watching especially- being bored with something isn't fun and won't help. Films you like and have seen a few times over are useful as you may well know the lines or at least what any conversation/scene is about already. Then you could start to hear how the Spanish equivalent is, and you also pick up phrases and such. As rocinante says also- having the subtitles in Spanish also is good but he's right- a lot of times they completely butcher the text right down which is a shame. When I was learning, I went to the video shop to look for only films that only had Spanish as an extra language and if it sounded at least okay I would watch it. I've only just begun to read in Spanish again after a long time of not doing so, and it's a good thing too as I'm realising there is a lot to learn from them, words and phrases you might here on the radio/movie suddenly appear and for me it is quite helpful to see it as well as hear it. Simple books, eg I'm reading the Harry Potter series. I was hesitant at first and felt a little childish, but I'm halfway through the series and I'm actually quite in to them now. There are still lots of bits I don't understand. A few times you can work it out from the context, other times I ignore the word, unless it starts appearing again and again and then I look it up in a big fat dictionary and so you're voaculary increases. Just agreeing also with the point made by rocinante regarding learning the grammar first. I can't vouch for other ways, but this I can also recommend. I like to know why I'm saying something too, rather than just saying it. If you have been doing a lot of reading/studying, and then one day out in the street or bar or wherever, you hear that sentence/phrase being said- well I remember that as being quite satisfying. Kind of felt as if one of the many post-it notes floating around in my head with an expression or phrase on it- had just pinned itself to the board- 'I go here'. then it stuck, and I was sure to make sure from time to time that I use that same expression in one of my own full sentences/conversation. For about a year I also kept a kind of diary thing- which in the end was always written in Spanish. Finally also, having a partner that only speaks their language is very helpful. I've had a 'special friend here in Seville for over a year- and her accent is very typical of the south of Spain. You

ecco comments on Have You Ever WALKED on the Path Upward to Monserrate, in Bogota?

Yes I'm coming from a sea-level city. With my breathing I'm referring to asthma- although as far as I know it's only certain cat-fur, sudden change to cold dry weather and possibly certain types of vegetation. But this stuff only happens when I go back to the UK in winter where there are strange trees, cats and other things lying around. I'll be staying in the Playtpus so maybe (hopefully) I'll meet some others who would like to walk or go in the cable car, which unless I feel amazing I will do to stay on the safe side. Thanks for the comments & advice- I am taking note. I'm trying to get myself in shape anyway in case I do that Lost City trek- I hear there are lots of steps at the end. To this end every day after work I climb the steps to the top of the building where I work which is 14 floors. The idea is when I can do it without losing breath or tiring I'll take the elevator down and start climibg up again. Not very exciting, and not so appealing now when I then have to go out into the heat to walk home. I'm hoping it will pay off and that I'm not wasting my time :)

ecco comments on Have You Ever WALKED on the Path Upward to Monserrate, in Bogota?

Hi- I'm planning on going up Monserrate for my first day there as it will be a Sunday and could be the only weekend I'm in the capital. I like the idea of walking it but may end up taking the ride as I've a read a few times about taking it easy when you first arrive. I don't know how much the pollution of the city will affect my breathing either, but I'll be looking forward to it either way. Are there groups that you can join in if you're on your own? I'm sure I read somewhere on this site about such a thing for some place in Bogotá.

ecco comments on feeding the bugs HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with the RAID thing as mentioned by gringoinbogota. Not a nice smell, but if you leave windows and that open for ventilation which it recommends anyway then it helps.

ecco comments on Why don't gringos learn Spanish?

Languages when I was in school over ten years ago were my least favourite and worst subjects. Now I do like them (and some other things I disliked the most in school) and would like to learn more.

I started learning Spanish at home using the internet a few years ago, and did an evening course where I lived. I also had a couple of private tutors for a year or two. I made every effort I could and liked to buy newspapers and in Spanish and watch films with the Spanish audio option. Dubbed american films etc in my opinion I've always found a lot easier to understand than listening to autentic spanish language ones and radio.

My level didn't really progress much until I did a month long intensive course in Spain, living with in the flat of a local couple. That one month helped so much. Then eventually I moved to Spain a little over two years ago. It improved only slightly as I was living with other English speakers. Only once I got a full time job in a Spanish speaking only company and living with local people again did it really start to improve. I've been at the same company now for nearly two years and so speak a lot all day long. And it's with those people I spend all my time speaking with that I speak the best- I'm confident and used to talking with them. Yet with new people or those I've seen around for ages yet don't speak with much (eg people from the gym) I jump right back and almost struggle to talk and make myself understood. Setting also makes a difference. Being in a bar with a drink has always helped :) Still reading is a good way to help I think. Even if it's relatively simple stuff, you see sentences and phrases that you hear day to day which helps things stick in.

So as others have said, you really need to make it your life I think. I'm sure others hve managed to attain a good level from books though.

Here in the south of Spain they speak with an accent and shorten words and miss out letters and pronounce some differently. Older people I find a lot harder to understand in general than the younger generation and I think it might be the same vice versa. I also find that with some people, as soon as they realise you're not a native speaker they then don't listen the same way and understand less of what I'm saying, even though I know what I'm saying and that I'm positive I'm saying it right.

Within a few months I'll be in Colombia so I'll be interested in finding out what it's like talking to them.

ecco comments on thief picks wrong victim

Rubito after writing all those comments about sticking up for yourself and fighting off the attacker (which by the way I think would be ideal- however, I also value life more than that), how can you then say you would immediatedly committ suicide if kidnapped? That sounds contradicting to me. I would have expected you to say something else. Like in fact, why don't you try and take out the kidnappers- one by one? Then you might not only be a hero but a super hero, for not only saving yourself but also any other kidnap victims at the same time. I would at least think trying to escape would be something for you to really consider. You might get shot but at least you would have made the attempt.

I also think that saying "I'd rather my own kids be killed than have them grow up as fucking pirobos." is just plain crazy. I don't have words to answer to that yet.

I think you'd be better suited living in the age/world of Conan the Barbarian or something :)

ecco comments on Overland Travel: Cali - Medellin - Buenaventura

What about just passing through Buenaventura? To get to Gorgona Island is the only reason I would be there- Would be straight from the bus station to the waterfront. Even that would be a very bad idea? I've read the article mentioned above. I would fall into the gringo looking category, but I'm not blonde.
thanks

ecco comments on Avoiding prepagos and meeting only "real" colombianas

Hi! Hi
Felizafortunado thanks for mentioning that site above. When I visit I'm going to be mainly in National Parks and so on, and not much in the cities. I'm not looking for a girlfriend or anything actually.But I would like to have met people beforehand if possible for when I am in a town/city, as that will be the best and I will be more comfortable and relaxed etc. I would only be in the cities perhaps a few days at the most so I would mention this. Perhaps that site is good for such a thing.

ecco comments on I took the plunge....

about forty dollars ;)
Or in other words, the ticket today is about 4% more than it was when I bought it two weeks ago. It's a lot but it's an expensive time of year to fly. I'd be very content if I paid what you did :)

ecco comments on I took the plunge....

Hi CaptainHowdy! I also bought a ticket recently for what will be my first trip to Colombia later this year- travelling from Europe. I will be a couple of months behind you though.

The ticket I bought nearly two weeks ago and since then the price has risen £20 or so ($40 ish).

Hope you have a great time!

ecco comments on Desperately seeking colombianas. Part II

You need to download and register and all that stuff- then start the program to get to the people section.

Plus there's the added bonus of having a little bear-head icon in your system tray thing. He looks happy too

ecco comments on Bogotá impressions by a Canadian Teacher

Thanks for the link webmanco!
I enjoyed that, and as usual with these things, it makes me want to consider spending more time there than I had initially planned.

ecco comments on in search of internet colombianas

Regarding Data Entry In a local job ad I once saw a data entry position referred to as 'Digital Mapping'. The title got my attention so their creative thinking worked.

Metal Fusion Engineer- genius :)

ecco comments on Spaniards and Colombians

I will be travelling to Colombia from Madrid (and back again) in August/ September. I don't imagine there will be many other nationalities in the same flight other than Colombian or Spanish (but really I don't have a clue). Kind of expecting I could be the only British person on the flight. Anyway, I will be interested in seeing if I notice any of this in the airport, any rudeness/ hostility towards Colombians.

ecco comments on Nuevo video, Colombia

Don't be put off by the preview picture- It's definitely worth watching in my opinion. This video I think is the best I have come across and have watched it many times, and will do many more before I visit in the summer. Thankyou very much for the link.

ecco comments on Dates for Festivo Las Flores in Medellin?

Oh - I apologise for that :S
Unfortunately some hostals have the wrong dates then- and I'm definitely going to miss it. :(

ecco comments on Dates for Festivo Las Flores in Medellin?

Hi,
31st July to 11th August Hi,
31st July to 11th August I've read.

ecco comments on Romanticizing Colombia. The painful truth.

"How are the European women, do they really not shave or wax their under arms??."

I've not seen under the arms of many women here (Sevilla) but from what I have seen mostly from beach trips, most are ok. The first time I did see hairy armpits on a woman coming in the other direction I distinctly remember some kind of chill in my spine as I hadn't seen it before and was not expecting it. I have seen that a lot more do have kind of hairy fore-arms. Not bad but enough to make me not want to notice again. It isn't so appealing to me.
Apart from that I like the women here as there are lots of brunettes with long straight hair which is exactly what I really do like.

ecco comments on Air Comet

Hi,

I was about to buy a ticket with Air Comet and decided to do a quick search on Google for them. I found a page of airline reviews and after reading it all- it's made me think twice!

http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/airpluscomet.htm


I could live with no food and drink by taking my own, but a couple of people mentioned they thought the pilot was going to crash on landing , dodgy sounding customer service, delays with no announcements and lost luggage, and many other things- well I'm going to look somewhere else for a bit first.
Probably there are plenty of ok and even good experiences as well, but these things are bothering me a little. But they are very cheap.

So although this topic is a couple of years old I'm also wondering- has anyone here recently flown with them?

ecco comments on Flying to Colombia from Europe in August- seems very expensive

Hi- kalder, sandramoreno80 & Ctg Bound,

Thanks very much for the replies. Yes, it appears the school/university holidays is what I had been overlooking.

Unfortunately my holiday times are kind of unmoveable as where I work always shuts down in August (I've only been there for a little over a year) as there's little work, but then at the beginning of September it gets mad again so they're not keen on me being away at that time. Tomorrow they said they will speak with me about it- hopefully I can try and push it back a couple of weeks- or one at a minimum I'm hoping for. My searching suggests the prices drop about 400E only within a couple of weeks for my current dates.

I am based in Seville in Spain so will probably be going via Madrid. Thanks for the tip though- I will look out for such travel agencies as you say and might be able to get to Madrid beforehand, perhaps in Easter week to enquire. ALthough I'll probably just have to set myself a figure asap and if I see a price I can live with to just go for it before it's too late.

Thanks again
:)

ecco comments on beware with the ATMs

Hello again!

Yes, I remember hearing about this last year in the UK, even where I lived in the south in a not particularly big town. As miamimike says above it's a fit on device that goes over the real slot. I've never seen one myself but a friend did in the high-street. Luckily it was before he put his card in but he did say it just looked a bit out of place, and as he was also aware of the scam he actually managed to pry it off before handing it in. So at least you could always try the same if in doubt.

I hope you get recompensated.

ecco comments on Hello! New member saying Hi

and for me too it appears.. Nice- thanks for that, although I only read it properly on the second time.:)

I'm 1/4 Welsh, 1/4 Polish & (supposedly) some minute fraction Italian.


Anyway...
I have a question. As I mentioned above I've been reading back through all the pages and picking out the topics that interest me, and so far I've got back to page 50. I've found a few topics that I feel I could or would like to contribute to too, even though they're a couple of dozen or more weeks old. Is it alright to add to these topics or should I just let them be?

Hey Kat1 if you or anyone else come by Sevilla I'd love to hear from you and talk about Colombia and what it's like. I also like to go to Madrid a few times a year so if anybody's going to be there please let me know- thanks!
Kernow 62 I've only just finished reading about your travels. There was a lot more there than I initially thought, which is a good thing and the pictures are excellent too. Thankyou for sharing!

ecco comments on Hello! New member saying Hi

Thanks kernow62. I actually started reading about your trip yesterday when roaming around and found the link before I joined today. I've only read the first two pages so far but I'll continue with it later this evening.

Must rush now..

ecco comments on Hello! New member saying Hi

Hello again- thanks for saying hi too :)

I'll keep my eyes open for those other names that were mentioned.

Hope you have a great time there MacGringo (I like the username). I'd be keen here how it goes, though I'm sure you'll share it all on these boards when you can.