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Lowell has written 106 posts
need a new name
Ok, I know that I'm going to be slimed big time on this. However, I'll take the hits in hopes of finding a good new name. I've been in Colombia now for nearly 3 years. I've no plans on leaving. It's time to retire the name of 'panamalowell" and look for someting more Colombia related. Ok, I'm ready for any and all suggestions. Let me have it! Lowell ...
Wow Peso up a bit
1765 when I checked. Good for an opening price. Hope it continues!
5 liter water heater just fine.
I had our 5 liter Bosh water heater installed. It's more than enough. With the temp knob set at less than half, there's very hot water in our shower. The tank is above our lavadero/sink in the patio. So, I had them install a faucet in the hot water line that goes into the bathroom. That way we have hot water there and when I want to wash cloths with hot water, I can run a hose to the washing machine. It was a nightmare trying explain what I wanted done. I finally had to draw a digram fo ...
Grow my own
With the price of things going up, I've deceided to begin growing as much as I can at home. I'm slowly converting all of my roof area into white tiled patio and when finished, I be able to sell probably at least half or more of what I grow. Also by eliminating the black mold covered roof tiles, I'm reducing the radiant heat that jacks up the temp of our house. Win Win for me. ...
New motorcycle laws now in my town
Depending on the license plate number, ALL moto's must now pass a polution and equipment inspection. All equipment must be origional. No more of those little lites, signals, mirrors and loud exausts. The inspection isn't cheap at 55 mil pesos. Slowly but surley Colombia is making changes. VIVA COLOMBIA ...
Understanding the weather.
Are there any internet sites that have images of Colombia?
And it's said that Colombia is dangerous for Gringo's?
This is the last part of an article on VEP about a recent home invasion robbery. You Are Being Targeted: No matter where you live in Panama you are being targeted simply because you are a foreigner. And all you gringos have a lot of money, right? The solution is to make yourself the hardest nut to crack. Don't keep any cash or valuables in the house. Build layers of physical and electronic security. Put in loud and obnoxious bells and sirens to scream for help if you have a chance to hit the ...
Visa needed to buy property in Colombia?
I wasn't aware that was necessary. ????????? All I showed was my passport. Please read the following below and respond so I can advise this person. Thank you. Thanks, Lowell. I am getting ready to send a $100 money gram to the lawyer XXXXXXXXXX in Medellin to begin the process for getting my visa. He says the total cost will not exceed $1,250, and that to keep it in effect I can't stay away from C. for more than 180 days. That sounds like I could visit C. a couple of times a year and be o ...
When I die.
I've read that when a USA citizen dies in Colombia, the Embassy takes control/possession of that persons body. I've no imediate family in the States, friends that would want to receive my body and really just want to be burried here. Is there antthing that I can do to put on record with the very good people at the embassy concerning my desires. In August I'll be applying for permanent residency. I don't know if that would make a difference or not. Help! ...
Not a good way to die
As has been mentioned before, people who have the habit of causing problems are taken care of. One of my neighbors who has been that type of person for too long was taken care of. He was picked up, bound and then had tape placed over his mouth and nose and suffocated. Then, they put him in a large bag and dumped him in the counrtyside. After that they called the authorities to advise them where the body was. It's my understanding that there is a list out now of 100 more such people who will ...
MY continuing Embassy nightmare, need to vent
I made the origional app for my daughter to be issued a Social Security Card in August of 2006. She has her number. However she has never received her card. WTF? ------------------------------------------------------- ME Ronald Packowitz Consul American Citizen Services U.S. Embassy Bogotá, Colombia ACSBogota at state.gov Dear sir, My daughter is now in her 15 month of waiting to receive her Social Security Card. I was told by one of your staff many months ago, that by the ...
How do you say in Spanish?
I give up. As in I'm not trying anymore. There's several people that I'd like to be able to tell that too. Thanks.
?
So why did my post about a person living in COLOMBIA, celebrating his sobriety get deleted? What happened to the tp thread? Moderators a bit grumpy? And the post about public behavior in COLOMBIA?
In all the bad there is good in the year 2006
For the last 10 years I've been a daily drinker. With getting slightly drunk a couple of times a week. Smashed 3-4 times a year. I said early this year that I wanted to stop, as I wanted to pay more attention to my little girl. No one believed me. Maybe even I didn't believe me. Finally my prayers have been answered. For the last 3 months, I've lost the strong desire to drink. When I've had a couple of beers, they don't sit well anymore in my stomach. Now things even taste better. And ...
Public behavior.
Ok, so I can understand not getting into an adults face in public. The other day my stepson from hell was being his typical asshole self and I got pissed. He was on the steps of our place. I raised my voice with him and asked him why he didn't complete a simple task that I just asked him to do. Oh no! wrong thing to do. The whole family was pissed at me. But it's ok for him to be a liar, trouble maker, backtalker, cause numerour issues at the dining table, and in general a total shithead. ...
Dinner out
Ok, so I wanted a good dinner at a good resturant. We go to the best hotel in town and eat there. I had filet mignon and wifie had the baby beef, I also drank two glasses of fresh juice and wifie had one. You didn't need a knife to cut my beef. Wifies would have been better had she not order it well done. Good side dishes and excellent service too. Total bill 39 mil pesos. With 10% tip = total 44 mil or about 22 bucks. Wow! Couldn't do that easily Stateside. I've spent nearly that at F ...
What's the name?
What's the name of the little critter that looks like a cross between a lizard and a salimandor? They inhabit many areas of my house and I'm sure that they help keep the bug problems down. I also think that it's these critters that make a chirping like sound. I've seen them in many different colors. ??????????? ...
They get what they pay for
Employers here are famous for not paying well. These fools don't realize the downside effects it has to their intake. Last night we tried to order take out to be delivered. We had the recent menu in hand. Our wanted order was "#59" on the menu. My wife even told him what food it was. No luck, he insited that it was an order for a single serving. Not! A few weeks earlier we order the same thing and it was enough for 3 people to eat twice. When we made the order a few weeks earlier, we al ...
School?
Last Friday and today my stepson had half day classes. Tomorrow no classes. This is the norm for just about every week. Add to that the way too many holidays. Normal class is just 6 hours total. What a way to educate kids and teach them consistencey. No wonder so many of the kids are lost. This carries on into adulthood. It's not their fault! ...
Colombia vs. Panama
This is the responce that I got from my friend in Panama about my concern for him and his wife. These are the people who were victims of a home invasion a couple weeks ago. At least in Colombia the Police show up and take a report. "thanks we dont talk about it much i gave %%%% a interveiw on the fone he is trying to get panama city police involved they have not even taken my statement and it has been two weeks today .. " wifes finger ok so far trying to save it wont have much use but w ...
Frustrating
I buy a 600 mil Lexmark printer and when I need a new cartridge, They don't have it. But promised many times when I bought the printer that they always would have my parts. The origional cartridge never worked right. No help. Warantee? No not for cartridge, even if it was no good to begin with. WTF Wife bought an elictric shaver at Carefour for me last Christmas. Same thing, no replacement blades. WTF Go to motorcycle shop where I bought my moto to buy a special screw for the brake ...
Post deleted
nevermind
Colombia more safe than Panama?
I got this mail from my friend who lives in Panama. His wife is Panamanian. BROKE INTO ... KILLED MY DOGS ...... SHOT WIFE ... MIDDLE FINGER LEFT HAND SHE GRABBED THE GUN WHEN HE TRIED TO SHOOT ME ... 5 GUYS ALL WITH GUNS . LATER Panama seems to be changing fast. The other week a car parked in a carport was firebombed in Boquete, Panama. Shortly before leaving I was assualted by a bus driver and he wasn't even charged with the assualt. Real glad I left when I did. ...
Weather
With all the rain we've been getting my body is a atrhritic wreck. When we get rain here, is it a "low pressure system that is passing over, like when it rains in the States? Is there a site that has current radar for Colombia? It's kind of like a double edged sword. I love the rain, but, my body pays the price. ...
Job reqirement to work at the USA Embassy in Bogota.
You have to be able to be a complete jerk to inocent people whose only fault is needing assistance. Don't resound to pleas for help via e-mail. Don't return phone messages. Forget about answereing the phone. When responding via e-mail, be as cold and non-imformative as possible. I'm now 14 months into waiting to receivie a Social Security Card for my baby girl. I've been treated very poorly, even though I've always been as polite and proper as possible. The app even had to be submitted ...
It's hard to flip
Living in a predominate Spanish speaking society, I had to learn to speak and think in Spanish. I write a lot in English, but rarley get to talk. Now on the rare occasion that I have to talk in English, I'm all screwed up. ...
Shooters
In all my years I've never done shooters of rum. It's always been tequilla or wiskey. I can't do shoters of aguadiente/listerine. Now I do shooters of rum and I actually think i like it better than tekilla. Comments? ...
pic experiment
insurance
I recently renewed our motorcycle insurances. We have 2 motorcycles. A 200cc and a 110cc. I noticed that the price was the same for both. Upon further investigation, I realized that the insurance is just liability insurance. My agent doesn't seem to know about theft insurance and it supposedly isn't offerd in Cartago. I'd need to travel to Pireira to get it. If I can even get it there. Does anyone know what a typical theft policy for a motorcycle of about 5 million pesos would cost? ...
Child care
i would imagine that 15 mil pesos is enough for the day? Si or no? at the most 6 hours.
Forgiving?
It seems that many Colombians may be better off by being more forgiving than Gringo's. At least in my case that is the norm. In my 4 years of being with my Latin family and 2 yrs of living here, I've seen people pull and do some really rotten things to others. Even family member to family member. Depending on the severity of the voilation, it's just a matter of time when all is forgotten and put asside. I do admit that I have a big chip on my shoulder from too many prior bad experiences. ...
Baloto
Just wondering if it's legal for all (including non-national personsas) to play Baloto and collect winnings. IE: a person living here on a "Spousal Visa". It'd really fry me if I was ever lucky enough to win and then have turn over the winning ticket to my wife to collect MY winnings. I looked at the back of a ticket and from what I understand, there's no restrictions of/on adults of other nationalities playing. ???????????????? ...
Had a close one/ Casi Muerto
Wifiey, baby Ana and I were leaving our neighborhood today, to go to town. About half way down our hill out of the corner of my right eye, I see a horse drawn cart with the horse running (in panic) down a side street, without a rider in the drivers seat. The taxi driver hasn't a clue. No time to warn him. I throw myself infront of my wife and Ana and wait for the impact. Two of the posts that connect the horse to the cart penetrated infront of us and missed the taxi driver, God willing or wha ...
Passport
When I get my permanent residence Cedula, can I geta Colombian passport?
unbelievable
i joined a motorcycle club in my town. went for 1st ride today. thought poss 30 40 riders. not. try over 200 mc's now know record is 1000, traveled to water prk in other town. had escort of ambulance, 2 trucks and 2 cars, shut down streets, signals, small towns as passed by. all mc horns a blazn! leader had air tank with trill truck air horns. write more manana, to tired. VIVA COLOMBIA! Try and pull that in the states without various permits and mucho BS ...
Is it just Cartago?
The jerk factor in Cartago seems to be high. Many people are very rude, disrespectful and their actions at times could be construed as aggressive. I'd like to know if this is the way it is in all of Colombia is it worse here. Just today when my wife (born and raised in Cartago), baby (in her arms) and I were walking back from our baby receiving a vacunation, some woman came from behind us and then as she was barely past us, cut directly infront of us to enter a store. We both had to stop d ...
Mail forwarding
I may need to pick a new mail forwarding service. My current one lets me use an apt number instead of a P.O. Box number. I need that feature. Open to all responces. Thanks.
UGG one more excuse to eat.
I've heard it said that it's not easy to eat good in Colombia. Every day arepas for breakfast, lunch and dinner nearly the same. Not. When you learn where you live you find the "hole in the wall" spots that make specality foods. The other day I discovered a place that smokes fish every Friday. A month ago I found a fish place. For those who like egg salad sanwhiches, I made some the other day with bacon flavored mayo (mayoqueso is good too) on real wheat bread. and wasked it down with Hu ...
Can't remember
Last night a newbie came on talking about her user boyfriend. It's gone now. Someone made a post of a couple of sayings that although were/are sad but true. One was Kindness = Weakness and I don't remember the other. ????????????? ...
Service and price
In my 2 years of being in Colombia receiving good service isn't an often happening experience. Today I got a break. I needed some help with software issues and had a Tec visit my house. 20K total. 10 for the service call, 10 for installing 2 virus programs, fix my problem, intall my software and some maintenance and some instruction. That's a great deal to me for 20K. ...
Ya Think?
Another news of a breakup/divorce. Missery for the patricipants. However, what does one expect? Be it good or bad, any person who makes a move to another counrty will be influenced by that country. If it involves a spouse, one must be ready for that person to change. I married a Japanese woman and life was bliss until she became Americanized (also picked the wrong friends for peers) and picked up many traits that were a killer to our marriage. I've been away from the States now for 4 yea ...
Friends
OK want to do the add friends thing. Go to my acount and can't read how to do it. Help.
FBU Bogota
I've had it with them 11 months of dealing with them and my daughter doesn't have her SSN or her rightfully due benefits! My health isn't the greatest. One problem is my heart. I can croak at any minute. I need to get things finished. Maybe I'll live for another 100 years. I don't know. Can these people be sued or punished in some way? This WAY NOT RIGHT! ...
At least no one was killed.
Last Sunday we had motorcycle races in my town. Racers came from many other cities. Some real good high speed riders. I used to race dirt bikes. However, I never had the guts to charge into the corners on the street like those guys. I'm amazed that no one was killed. The spectators had no respect for the racers and were constantly in their way. A lot of booze was being consumed by nearly all. By the time the big bikes were racing at very high speeds people were quite drunk. One girl go ...
Rest in Peace
Last night a neighbor died. Great guy of 88 yrs. I spent a lot of time talking and walking with him. RIP Bernardo Ortiz! In less than 2 hours after his death he was drained of fluids and lying in state at a funeral parlor. Burrial is set for tomorrow. Wow, that's quick! Gotta fo to town now to visit him and buy some flowers. ...
Hit list
My time here on this site is sporatic. It's seems as if quite a few people have been axed in the recent days. Is GIB one of them? Would it be possible to post and ongoing list of ex PBH'rs? Man last night it got a bit hot for a bit. I wanted to keep watching. However, a neighbor died and had to attend to that. ...
Vallenato
Hey Elmo, do you like any of these people? Kaleth Morales, Jorge Celedon, Miguel Morales, Carlos Vives, Silvestre Dangon, Log inquietos del Vallenato, Los Diablitos, El Binomio de Oro. For a while now my favorite music has been Vallenato. I don't even listen to Stateside stuff. I think I've become/becoming Colombianized. Also, I am not called Gringo much anymore. Pinche pendejo (sp?), loco, hombre, hombre pelegroso, amigo, my name...... ...
feeding the bugs update.
I've been taking "Tiamina" (200mg of B1) now 2x a day for a couple of weeks now. My bug problem has been greatly reduced. The little black buggers that hide out in shaded ares still munch on me, but less. Next to no problems with mosquitos. In fact my smell must be chasing them away as there seems to be less in the house. What a relief. I used to get bit at least 10 times a day. Many thanks to the poster who provided the info. ...
keep it simple
I've noticed that many food products don't have a list of ingredfients posted on them. Cool. Even Coke bottles down here don't have it. The butter I buy is butter. I don't need to know more. Too bad that attitude couldn't/isn't incorporated into other things and systems. ...
Safe? Depends
OK, so last night the wife and son want to be jerks, so I go for a walk. I make a call to Panama and then I go to my favorite local Panaderia (sp?). I get my favorite table that lets me have my back to a wall and begin to enjoy a fresh strawberry and custard treat. The place is a trap for me. It has all the bakery goodies I like and more, the good deep fried food, tamales, cold beer and decent looking help. The place is at an intersection that has a signal. Well, the signal must have tu ...
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