Gator has left 4025 comments

Gator comments on A tribute to the Colombian National Police for their great services!

I'll raise a glass or two of aguardente to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be fair, I will also toast Manuel Marulanda -if he doesn't mind if I pass it through my kidneys first.

Gator comments on don't mean to be soggy toast, but dear ingrid is starting to put a bad taste in my mouth.........

On RCN last night she made the statement, on landing and standing on the runway in Paris, "France is my home and you (the French people) are my family." Such statements will not and do not support her politically in Colombia. She also thanked the French people/government for saving her life. Gee, I though it was members of the Colombian military. She can NEVER give enough thanks to the Colombian military. After all, it was not 100 French solders armed with day-old baguettes or pain Parisian who freed her. Oh well, what do I know. Married? No, divorce about /910 years ago-husband is French and they met while she was in college or shortly after she was graduated in France. A la larga se sabrá la verdad, pero no puedo ver mas nada a obscuras.

Gator comments on Uribe's Popularity at a Record High- 91.42%

Personally, I really did not need a poll to figure this out

Gator comments on Buying a car with a tourist-visa, is this possible ?

Yes, but I Imagine it wold have to be a cash deal since you, in all probability, could not get financing. Insurance-you are required to have SOAT by law. Buying this as a foreigner, I have no idea. SOAT is mandatory but only covers injury, etc. to the other person-you would have no collision, theft etc under SOAT. Then obtain a registration/license plate. If your Spanish is not up to it-lots of luck. http://www.colombia.com/noticias/codigotransito/ will take you a site by the Ministerio de Transporte that may help-all in Spanish of course. Last but not least use cabs, they are cheap.

Gator comments on dual citizenships with colombia and usa

If you have everything and depending on the consulate probably the same day including the passport. You would get a temporary cédula (Contraseña) and the permanent one (the Cédula de Ciudadanía) will take much longer.

Gator comments on looking for budget hotels in santa marta

It IS high season, June 25 to July 25. Example (not always true but typical) low season 60.000 cop daily, high 165.000 COP daily. El Rodadero will be packed-if you get in a bind call Luz Polanco, 095 422-8597 or cell 315 734-9454, she can usually find something but expect big pesos. For a nice place a copuple of short block from the beach try the Sorrento on Cr 3a. If you go to Rodadero try the Panaderia Bread on Calle 6, between 1 and 2nd-open early baked there, price is right and very good.

Gator comments on Hostages NOT Rescued, Exchanged For $20 Million U.S. Dollars

Radio Switzerland Romanda (RSR) The United States was the " origin of transactions" Now there is a source everyone listens to daily and has a world-wide reputation for investigative reporting (and everyone knows the USA is the origin and source of all evil in the world.) I am surprised they did not report the pilot said, "Ven pronto, porque si no, me ire sin ti."

Gator comments on

We would NOT visit Medellin-I remember going to see the wife's sister there and the restaurants had anti-bomb screens on the windows. One of my brother-in-law's grandmother was killed in 1989 when a bomb exploded on an Avianca flight bound for the city of Cali from Bogota and killed all 107 people on board. Escobar was the main suspect. In Cali you avoided Mafioso hangouts like the plague. You could be killed if you spoke to the wrong chica-life was cheap.

Gator comments on

where?

Gator comments on Uribe Poised to Crush Colombian Rebels as Hostages Are Freed

all but six, who will be needed as Pallbearers

Gator comments on Uribe savours his greatest victory

¡Viva Colombia!

Gator comments on Where are all the Uribe haters now?

If you have a hair on your a_ _, support your statement.

Gator comments on Were the FARC tricked or did Ceaser et al give them up?

About what? What's your point?

Gator comments on Betancourt running for PRESIDENT

If he can and does run again what a ticket this would be: Uribe, President; Betancourt , Vice-president. Then she runs for president. Talk about a landslide both times.

Gator comments on The hostage story is not the whole truth

On some threads people write the the work "bump" so it will jump the post to the first entry-does not work here. dwmte7 says on Jul 3, 2008, 07:49: flag gator??? does not don't like? hmmmm dwmte Gator says hmmmmmm? Which careful readers will note is two "mm's" longer then dtmte's hmmmm.

Gator comments on Retiring from gringolandia

gringoloid said"...and a long hard walk up the hill." Amen, hermoso! Do you take a deep breath and close your eyes when you cross the Circunvalar. At my age I just take a cab up when we use the TM

Gator comments on How much to live "moderately comfortably" in Colombia?

Quite frankly much depends on how much you are will to put a "gringo" life style to one side and do as Colombians do. Look at it this way $2.000.000 is about 4.5 times the Colombian minimum wage. In the USA, effective the end of this month, the USA minimum wage goes to $13, 624 yearly. So, to do a probably meaningless comparison, 4.5 times $13,624, extrapolates to earning $61,308 a year in the USA.

Gator comments on Where are all the Uribe haters now?

Lcacique says on Jul 2, 2008, 19:37: flag Gator, you make it sound as though people are dancing in the streets because of Uribe. I do not doubt that this is partially true (deservedly), but maybe some people are simply happy about the actual event that took place: freedom for these particular hostages.". Strange since I never mention or referred to him by name in my post. "Gator says on Jul 2, 2008, 18:45: flag There was/is dancing in the streets. My end of town exploded. Mrs. Gator called her sisters in Cali and the same way there. (Of course our liberal friends will say the upsurge in his popularity will have been "manufactured.") That looks like, in some corners, to be coming true.

Gator comments on The hostage story is not the whole truth

Jonas said, "The point is that I am SICK and TIRED that the media/politics never tell us the truth." The world won't save itself, after all – not without the fount of all that is good and wise and smart and cute, which is to say, Jonas. Never forget that an answer to a question Jonas has asked should always be regarded as a personal attack if the answer is something he does not don't like.

Gator comments on QUESTION???? BANK CHARGES... DEBIT CARD....

Depends on the bank and it varies from what you paid to nothing. Decide what bank card you want to use and call first to determine the charge. If you intend to use the card ONLY for the ATM and NOT to make purchases usually a debit card is cheapest.

Gator comments on dual citizenships with colombia and usa

If you have the paper work, do the search, it is a "snap." Head for the consulate.

Gator comments on Hmmm what a coincidence

Oh God! Another conspiracy theory. Personally I feel there was a second tree involved in Sonny Bono's death.

Gator comments on Where are all the Uribe haters now?

There was/is dancing in the streets. My end of town exploded. Mrs. Gator called her sisters in Cali and the same way there. (Of course our liberal friends will say the upsurge in his popularity will have been "manufactured."

Gator comments on Need information on Passports

Your PBH Profile: Lives in: United States New Jersey Sex: unspecified Born in: Afghanistan The above is from your profile. What's the problem. If you were not born in Colombia use your USA Passport. Gee, if you are a dual citizen, Colombian/USA then Colombian law requires you to have a Colombian passport. Just pray you do NOT draw the wrong DAS agent.

Gator comments on Retiring from gringolandia

The drop to a estrato3/4 will not be extravagant living but make SURE you give it a GOOD look-btw, is Medellin really THAT much cheaper than Bogotá?

Gator comments on how to become a legal guardian in colombia

i am afraid the father will be involved-like it or not. the killer comment is, "He sees the child once a month and pays on occasion-" My suggestion is retain an attorney because one will be needed. If he is not willing to voluntarily consent to the guardianship and or an adoption then you are in for a court fight. In any event the place you start is the Colombian family court. Did your wife list the child on the application for the visa? If not then a claim of abandonment would be a valid plea.

Gator comments on Retiring from gringolandia

I would use the 100.000 USD for housing and live on the 3.000 USD. forgot to say-forget the car the traffic is now impossible and gasoline is going up fast. I wa not thing of 150 sq mters-there are a lot of apartamentos for sale up in our area. Rent temporally and pound the pavement and you WILL find good housing at a reasonable price. Hell, if you want an American life style why even move?

Gator comments on Need information on Passports

RoloenNJ-Never heard of that. The passport is a LOT cheaper in Colombia than at a Consulate and even if your Colombian passports expired it is still proof and citizenship and you will be admitted and told to renew ASAP. BTW, at least 20% of information you get from the consulates will usually be inaccurate.

Gator comments on Retiring from gringolandia

With that many USD(pesos) I would chose the north end of Bogotá in an Estrato 5/6. Say Rosales, where we live, or north from there. You would live well. Second choice would be Medellin I would echo Esanch36, on San Andres, after say a month, you would either die of boredom commit suicide.

Gator comments on loophole for 180 day visa limit?

180 days in a year and that's it. You can apply for a different type of visa if appropriate.

Gator comments on Need information on Passports

Mrs. Gator had to enter sever times with just her US Passport (she usually has her Colombian). Like Adrimm's mother, she was allowed in but was given a stern talking to when entering the county, and told to use her Colombian passport.

Gator comments on

Any DAS office can take care of you,

Gator comments on Rebels desert as Colombia army advances

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the U.S. Navy's decision to re-establish its Fourth Fleet is "a threat" to Latin America. Hell, two companies of militia from Iowa armed with corn stalks would be a threat.

Gator comments on flying through panama - cheap tickets

Sloopskipper, we would echo your observation-however, you show your ass it might be a be a different matter. Only one problem, unless things have changed recently, there is only one little cafe type restaurant. Codeshare-we have cut it closer than that and had no problems.

Gator comments on How To FAX to Colombia?

That's all my daughters do to send me one. They have also faxed several hotels in Cartagena with no problems. You might check your instruction book-the one we have, a Brother, has a setting for "international" calls but we have never had to use that setting.

Gator comments on flying through panama - cheap tickets

We fly COPA through PTY 95% of the time. No problems with luggage transfers. They code share with Aero República so you would likely fly Aero República to Bucaramanga. I would suggest you call COPA and ghe their pricing and go from there.

Gator comments on How many hours from armenia to bogota???

Armenia/Bogotá is say 296km so about 8 hours. That is assuming you mean by bus.

Gator comments on HappyMike

obvious troll

Gator comments on

Put a rubber band around your head and snap out of it.

Gator comments on La Línea

Tia Desi: I was sent a bill from the bus company several years ago which they alleged was the cost of removing my finger nails and finger indentations from the seat. Mrs. Gator's comment, in Spanish of course, was: "¡Por Dios! ¿Ja puedo abrir los ojos? (My God! Can I open my eyes?)

Gator comments on Looking for a Home

AIR CONDITINING????????SWIMINING POOL?????????BOGOT�??????????? Average temperature monthly: Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. F 61 61 61 64 64 63 60 58 58 58 60 60 The average temperature is around 14.4° C (58° F) all year round dropping to about 9° C at night What area do you have in mind? We know several agents in the north end-Rosales out towards Usaquén/Suba

Gator comments on Spirit Airlines

Wonder what they pay their mechanics?

Gator comments on quick visit to Bogota between flights?

When he re-enters through DAS immigatration departure he will be asked. If he does NOT exit the international waiting area he will pay no tax. One that passport gets stamped, and he can't exit the airport with out this step,. he has officially entered Colombia.

Gator comments on Money Transfer from Colombia to the US

Never tried that amount but several years ago did a transfer of $10.000 (say $20.000.000 COP)to cover tuition cost for our younger daughter-no problem. It basically went to our Citibank Gold account NYC then an internal (US) transfer to her account.

Gator comments on Help Please

Make nice and smile and you will, in all probability, get a two day extension gratis. Be prepared to answer, plausibly, why you were late.

Gator comments on quick visit to Bogota between flights?

if he leaves he will not longer be considered "in-transit"and will pay the tax. Ramaining in "transit" he pays no tax He can not exit with out passing through immigration (DAS) and will have to return the same way. Downtown and La Candelaria areas are an easy ride from the airport-say 20 minutes- safe during daylight interesting and lots of good restaurants. Try a visit to Monseratte over looking Bogotá is also a good bet. and is also downtown A cable car takes you up to the top & you get the most fantastic view of Bogotá city.

Gator comments on Import Duty Lists

Certain goods are exempt but are classified as native handicraft-cottage industry type stuff.

Gator comments on Colombian Grirlfriend, travel restrictions Help Please!

Each has its own individual rule. What applies to Delta does not necessarily apply to other airlines. There is no law or regulation involved; it is an individual airline policy. The reason? If you are denied entry the airline must return you to your departure destination at no charge-Delta is only CYA.

Gator comments on Money Transfer from Colombia to the US

Citibank will transfer funds from Colombia to our Citybank Gold International account in NYC for free-if not a Gold account there is a charge of between $15/25 USD (haven't used this method in a while so there might be changes.).

Gator comments on La Línea

weather can be a big problem-clouds, fog, rain.