Gacco has left 14 comments

Gacco comments on

I think you mean EXPOARTESANIAS www.expoartesanias.com Its nice to visit to get an idea of handicrafts in Colombia by region. The last day you can get some bargains since they have to get rid of the goods but might be extremely busy!! Its a well organised show. If you ever come close to Villa de leyva take a visit aswell to Raquira, which is very close. There you can buy yourself some cheap and nice handcrafts. (potery, wood) Have fun.

Gacco comments on Motorbike through Colombia

http://www.prikpagina.nl/read.php?f=961&i=17677&t=17677!

Gacco comments on Small towns near Medellin

Some good information above. Depens on what you like, to buy a casa or to buy a finca or just rent. Llano grande near the airport: pro: beautifull surrounding, nice restaurants, handcrafts all over and really beautifull fincas, good roads and easy access to other villages. Flat land. con: expensive, chilly in the night (hmm cold jaja) St Fe de Antioquia: Since there is a tunnel ist worthy to have a look within range I think Its a warm to hot clmate Pro: temparature, nice fincas Con: highway to the villages in good shape , rest more or less , property might be expensive Area north of medellin Copacabana, Girardota, Barbosa Beauty of the villages and prices wil go down in same order as avbove. Pro: recently new highway which makes entry more easily. climate moderate but rarely cold during nighttime. From Giradota up to Barbosa and further you still can buy some nice fincas for reasonable prices New Stores near Niquia so you wont have to enter Medellin con: a bit far from the airport, difficult to find flat land Take all your time because there is so much to see and take notice buying with respect to "aguas and caminos" "compravente" "free of bankinterest" By the way I bought my property from Juan Valdez, the old one which he used to relax with family. Pro: Its a paradise for me Con: had to get rid of all the coffee pants!!! I will be glad to give some info if you like to and am curious about other info from "soulmates" near Medellin

Gacco comments on For sale: Terreno La Mesa

Hi Jonas, no as I said I made a mistake, did "a copy and paste" but forgot to correct for the right price. Blame me ! Maybe something to be aware, I own a Finca near Medellin, can make a huge "profit" if I want to, but I wont! My profit is not to sell but enjoy the rest of mylife. Prices are relative....(hear me talking ,I dont have to buy)

Gacco comments on For sale: Terreno La Mesa

Yes, made a mistake have to blame myself for that although I am just the anouncer of the "bad" news. Its owned by my girlfriend and I think its not a bad price relative to all the Fincas and Terrains I have seen. I own one myself but before buying have seen a lot...the bargains and the rip off deals. Anyway good luck with your search process, its a beautifull world out there in Colombia.....

Gacco comments on Finca near Medellin

Fincas around Medellin Hello Canuck,
have bought a finca some 8 years ago near Medellin.
The pages mentioned above are some good examples.

Try to get a sunday paper (El Colombiano) This is the day most advertising will take place with respect to propiedad raiz.

Best is to take your time and look around and ask....most opportunities you will find just asking, takes a lots of time but some surprises will pass your way.

Selling prices are substancial lower as asking prices when you will take your time.

Near the airport Rionegro a bit cold and high class prices
LLano grande the most beautifull neighbourhood and upper class prices.
Villages from Copacabana to Barbosa,prices going down to barbosa because of the distance. (half hour ride) climate 25 celcius and up.

St Fe de Antioquia is over the mountains from Medellin and hot climate here you can find some "bargains"

Be aware prices have gone up substancially lately.

Good luck!

Gacco comments on Medellin versus Bogota

Practical differences As allready mentioned before its up to you how you will experience the athmosphere personally.

In my opinion there are some practical diffrences

The international influence in Bogota can be noticed all around. Restaurants with all foreign influence can be found easily
in Bogota aswhere it will be harder to find in Medellin. Another point of attention may be the language. In bogota with a basic
knowledge of Spanish you can feel yourself comfortable.
In Medellin it will be hard sometimes to understand the Paisa Spanish with there tipical meaning. After many years visting
its still a problem for me.
Contruccion (including buying property) may be cheaper in Medellin and specially wood is at a very reasonable price.
Cars however can be bought best in Bogota.
Traffic is a horror in Bogota but in recent years Medellin is getting full of cars aswell. To mention is El Poblado a nice neighbourhood
where a lots of foreigners arae living but a pain....moving around by car.

The surrounding, but here we come to a personal opinion, is with the antioquia villages an eyecatcher and will give you
a holiday feeling passing by in the weekends. There is a very nice surrounding near the airport but don't forget the temperatures
will be closer to Bogatas average caused of its altitude but havent seen this beauty near Bogota.

People mention the people in Antioquia are warmer or more open minded which is a fact but I can not complain of Bogota since
I think to foreigners all Colombians are very open minded including Bogotanos

Another thing is Medellin is changing very fast, only 50 years ago like a big village and last couple of yeras
one proyect to another is completing with new roads contructed meaning easiyer to entrance and maybe a concern
it will be getting real crowded very soon.

My choice 8 years ago was buying property just outside Medellin and sofar did not regret one day.

A lots of succes..

Jaco

Gacco comments on Will I Make My Plane Flight On time

It could be... It could be well possible to get your flight.

First important thing is check out if there is a co partnership avianca and your airline, if so you can check in your luggage into Medellin (have done so a couple of times but be aware of surprises)
Best is to ask and ask for a confirmation.If you can you will defenitely make it!!

Even with the luggage on hand you could make it but you need some luck:

All International flights comimg in in Bogota departe on a different part of the airport where local Airlines do. This means you need a bus from one to another. Do not leave the airport outside since the transport is inside the airport! Ask for it.

Anotherthing which might help...if you are comming in and its real crowded at immigrations go to the left !! The ultimate row is for political passes , disabled etc. If they are done the row next goes with double speed using 2 immigration check points (It really worked for me several times)

Then you have to wait for your (luck)age and here comes another tricky thing..... you have to make it green!! Custums will control your luggage depending the button you have to push turns on a light red or a green. (the red one is not to bad but will cost you another ten minutes)


If you made it to the plane a good chance they will wait for the international luggage is arrived on your local flight. If not don't worry it might arrive one flight later on they will bring it to your local address.

Good luck!

Gacco comments on Opening Bank Account in Colombia

No business visa or cedula no account!!

If you were succesfull without... you are one of the very lucky fews.

Jaco.

Gacco comments on Felt a tremour in Medellin

did you know... Its a strange feeling first time if you have never experienced one before.
I am not in Colombia right now so i don't know but I remember pretty good my first ride on the earth ....in 1994/1995 in Bogota I became pale as snow and everybody was asking what was happening to me. I really didn't know at that moment but now I am aware I have something very sensitive like the catlle , if you can watch them during daytime acting really strange in a earthquake surrounding you should expect something.When the ride began in Bogota finally after some minutes everyone in panic ran outside but I stayed just because my sickness disapeared seeing the walls moving and my brains had an explanation. Believe me with the knowledge I have now I will run aswell!!

Did you know the classical way of building in Colombia is a form of tapia which means very thick walls with kind off board on the outsides filled with all kind off materials. To make it strong and flexibel tied with wooden frames inside. This wil defenitely resist
an earthquake while modern structures will fal apart.

Look at the classical casa on the Fincas they are there for over decades or even longer.

Jaco.

Gacco comments on Barbosa

Barbosa Antioquia I am a Dutch guy visiting Colombia for over a decade and especially Barbosa Antioquia.
A main issue for someone first visiting Colombia is most of the time safety. There is so many information
to find about this topic in general that I only will refer to my experiences to Barbosa and Medellin which are
positive all over these years I have been around.

Barbosa is a small village where I find myself comfortable. First visit in the early 90ths and with my red head
pale skin "outfit" no place to hide presuming being a Colombian ! No problem at all , people are friendly willing to help
where ever they can making you feel at home.
Recently I can move around because I am "a known stranger" without the staring faces.

The Road to Medellin is really nice with nice views and a lots of country merchandise on its way.
Selling a lots of fruits delicious strawberry's, crepes ,restaurants (open air) etc.
In the close surrounding of Barbosa are plenty of beautiful Finca's which is mainly the reason of my vistit to
this little village. For me its a paradise being there and breething nature.

In weekends however especially on Sundays ,Barbosa changes in a very crowded place
entering all the farmers selling fruits vegatables and merchandise brought into town by horses and chiva's
makes it a sightseeing you won't forget and won't be aware in the western world.
Entering people from the finca's aswell to hang around with the live music makes it crowded
on the main square downtown and on dias festivas its really full of life.


Climate is perfect at a hight approx 1500 m not to hot during daytime and cool late in the evening
and at night. What I would suggest is if you don't speak any Spanish at least trying is a must.
People really appreciate even your level is far below basic. But here comes in my opinion the real "danger"....
Just the moment after all these clases you think you manage your way around speaking Spanish...the paisas think
aswell. They notice your improving skills aswell and change into PAISA !! Though really nice to hear you feel completely lost
and clases starting all over. To me it seems they have a paisa word for all spanish words.

Just an impression of some medellin fotos and some of the Barbosa Finca.
(the house is rebuilt and left it in origanal state)

http://www.fincacolombia.com/
http://www.fincacolombia.web1000.com/finca/index.htm

If you have any question it will be my pleasure to try to help you or give some further information.
I wil be there aswell from half November so your welcome...

Jaco

Gacco comments on Barbosa

Barbosa Antioquia Lets see my post will make it this time....have written a real long story of Barbosa Antioqia.....save and.....you dont have access!!! Gone with the wind all the fun.

If it works i will try later on.

Jaco.

Gacco comments on How much money does one REALLY need to live decently?

Is your airco ok? I am not joking or whatever.

I have lived in Curazao and used those aircos making the elctricity consuming double. Once it became triple checked an airco and there was a troublemaker got it fixed and lowered extremely the bill.

Why am i telling this....i have a Finca in Medellin moderate climate.
My bill went never higher as lets say 150.000 estrato 4. but normally its lower.
Using a fridge a lots of electrical cleaning equipment and the finca is full of light evenings.
Everybody says men take care of your consuming behavor!

Maybe and I have to admit I don't know the price is far more higher in Barranquilla. The most I wonder is your water price but as a matter of fact could be far more higher in a hot climate.

A bit of noncense reply but haven't been aware of prices that high all those years visiting Colombia.

Take care Jaco.

Gacco comments on Medellin Airport Transportation

Don't worry i have been using the taxi services from the airport for years and even in late evening hours. They can recognize me for over a mile being a foreigner. (no big black mustache or whatever)

They will jump on you selling you a ride but pass them and you can negociate in peace. Th official taxi ride is a fixed fair which was I think late december something like 35.000 pesos.

So they will ask you as a goog merchant 40.000 to 50.000. If you go further to one off the villages it will come closer to the 60.000 or 70.000 but this is not the case in your ride.

Remember they have to pay toll on the way down to Medellin depending where the cab is coming from.

I should not worry a thing you will be amazed how they will help you instead and trying to give you extra information.

The only problem might occur you will be sick coming down in Poblado by speeding the driver the curvy way down to Medellin.
Hope you have some experiences with a different point of view how men use the road with his vehicle otherwise you will have overhere!!!

Good Luck Jaco. (you will have a good time!!!)