megustamuchisimo has left 39 comments

megustamuchisimo comments on interested in traveling colombia for first time, advice needed

This was in Bogota, in a section of the city that is fairly wealthy and Avenida 19 has upscale bars and restaurants. So, it wasn't a bad neighborhood. The girl who did it was well-dressed and very sophisticated and charming, according to my amigo.

megustamuchisimo comments on interested in traveling colombia for first time, advice needed

This was somewhere in the north, maybe on Avenida 19 area? Not a very dangerous neighborhood at all. I hear those kinds of stories maybe once a year or so, so it's still something to look out for.

megustamuchisimo comments on Why Colombia remains a third world country

Get this:

My friend's son goes to school in the US, and missed a connection in NYC (flying to Bogota) because of snow delays. So, Avianca sent him to Panama City. He had to buy his own hotel room. Next day, sent to Ecuador, where he was not permitted to leave the airport, because he lacked the police clearance Ecuador requires of Colombians, since he DIDN'T FUCKING PLAN ON GOING TO ECUADOR!!!!! So, he spent the night in the airport. Next day, finally, got to Bogota. Three days of Christmas vacation lost. Thanks, Avianca!

megustamuchisimo comments on interested in traveling colombia for first time, advice needed

You will be able to get along without Spanish. It might take some work, but almost everywhere you would be going you will be able to find someone who speaks enough English that you two can communicate. The thing to look out for is scams, though...don't go anywhere with any strangers, drink drinks others buy for you, etc. A friend of mine two nights ago (Colombian guy) met a beautiful girl in a bar and, without memory of exactly what happened, ended up in the hospital, stabbed in the back, and with no wallet, cell phone, etc. Not that this happens all the time, but without Spanish you are more vulnerable to such things.

megustamuchisimo comments on interested in traveling colombia for first time, advice needed

A good place to stay in a nice neighborhood is La Casona Del Patio Amarillo, at Carrera 8 #69-24 (tel 212 8805). It's in a nice and pretty safe neighborhood, not too costoso, near Zona G and also near Chapinero. It's a hostel that thinks it's a hotel. Also check out www.bogotablogger.com for some restaurants and things to do.

megustamuchisimo comments on Need English Teachers in Bogotá!

Go to gyms, such as AP (Athletic People) and Body Tech. Also, Carullas and other shops in upscale neighborhoods. Or, try El Tiempo. Place your ad in English if you want to get students who already have a moderate level...

megustamuchisimo comments on She's definitely coming to Canada now...?

Yes, the Canadian government is totally hypocritical regarding the issue of visas for Colombians, and you go to all the trouble to get the paperwork together and PAY THE FEES only to get denied, when your case is totally legitimate. The US tells Canada what to do here, regarding NO COLOMBIANS ALLOWED unless they're the RICH ones!

megustamuchisimo comments on best bank en colombia ?

There ARE no good banks in Colombia. Name a bank, and plenty of people will tell you their horror stories. Best bet--use your US bank and just get money from ATM´s.

megustamuchisimo comments on Looking for a dance (salsa) personal teacher in Bogota

My friend takes private salsa lessons every Saturday morning. Email me at scottkbailey at gmail.com and I will put you in touch, si tu quieres.

megustamuchisimo comments on how much dinero

hairsylists get 40% of the cost of the haircut, and then have to pay for all the products out of their share. the rest goes to the salon. almost nobody tips.

megustamuchisimo comments on moving to bogota in september from the uk can anyone help with info on a work visa?

look up esljobs.com

megustamuchisimo comments on Latin America(Colombia Included) Could Draw Many More Tourists-A. Oppenheimer Column

Competetive Airllines Needed Airline prices in Colombia are ridiculous. Once here, you will pay about $200-$400 to get to another Colombian destination, maybe 1-2 hours by air from where you are. Compare that to being able to fly 4-6 hours in the US for under $200 if you look a little bit for good fares. Avianca has a virtual monopoly, so doesn't need to offer decent prices or service. If other airlines could come compete, they would blow avianca out of the water.

megustamuchisimo comments on

Good point pow wow, the people doing the abusing and those benefitting from the process, even in the form of just getting low prices in colombian businesses, don't have any interest in seeing things change. As long as they get theirs, who gives a crap about the toy the poor kid doesn't get...

megustamuchisimo comments on Tourist Visa Help From Colombia to US

Being attractive is the kiss of death. They will assume her mission is to get a US citizen interested enough in her to ask her to marry him. Basically, the embassy staff says NO NO NO to pretty girls.

megustamuchisimo comments on

At one of the largest and most expensive chains of hair salons in Bogota, the hairdressers have to sign documents saying that the employer pays all the taxes, etc. that it is obligated to pay, but which IT DOES NOT PAY. They are actually independent contractors and have to pay for all of their own benefits. They get 40% of the cost of the haircut, have to pay for all the products and equipment they use, which can be about 15% of the cost of the haircut, so they are usually making only 25%. Then they pay health insurance, pay for their own training required by the government and the salon.

megustamuchisimo comments on American Lawyer in Bogota

just download it you can find any sort of power of attorney you want online, modify it if you like, have it signed and witnessed by a notary, and you are done. if you like, you can have it filed at a courthouse, but that's not necessary.

megustamuchisimo comments on English lessons

with a native speaker, if he knows what he is doing, you will pay more like 50K per hour

megustamuchisimo comments on How about tipping?

the problem with rubito and dongringo, galecito... is that just because they have a lot of experience in Colombia, they can't overcome their basic hostility and lack of compassion towards humanity, and neither one wants to part with a peso or two to help out someone who needs it. Live and let live!!!!!!!

megustamuchisimo comments on Why Colombia remains a third world country

Well, MC, you still have to look up "hyperbole" then take that chill pill...

megustamuchisimo comments on Why Colombia remains a third world country

Pea Brain?!?!?!!! Pea Brain!!!?!???!??!??? You don't want to start that pissing match with YO!!!! Look up hyperbole, then get back to me.

megustamuchisimo comments on looking for calling cards ??

what about from Colombia? Does anybody know of cards that are good for calling the US from Colombia???

megustamuchisimo comments on How much do Colombians normally tip at restaurants?

Pay a little for service to someone who needs it Part of the Colombian culture is for the priveleged few to abuse the rest. If you can relieve someone's situation a little, then why not??

megustamuchisimo comments on

So Chavez is stealing from the theives who have been robbing Venezuela's wealth for years. Los ricos are finally finding out what it feels like to be stolen from. Boo hoo. Transfer your money to the US and leave your ill gotten property behind, and then find out how it feels to scrub your own floors.

megustamuchisimo comments on homeless

Steve and Don...you are right on I never donate to Minuto de Dios or any other charity in Colombia after learning that all the donations and government funding that go to supposedly help kidnap victims are actually going into the pockets of the directors. The wealthy classes here are shameless in their thievery and have the politicians in their pockets to keep the laws favorable. Most businesses are private because the families making millions don't want the rest of the world to know about it. What those ignorant thieves don't realize is that if a middle class were allowed to develop, they would all be better off, less likely to get robbed, kidnapped, have something reasonably resembling good public services, etc.

megustamuchisimo comments on Documets Required for Colombia Work Visa

police record not needed This is no longer a requirement for work visas in Colombia. The problem is that not all Colombian consulates KNOW the requirements ofthe country they represent, so if the consulate says to get one, do it--easier than arguing.

megustamuchisimo comments on Bogota - Mexico Flights and visa requirements for Colombians.

She aint gettin no Mexican visa... unless she already has one for the US or Europe. The reason is that since the US doesn't want any poor or young Colombians visiting out country, we force Mexico to have the same standards, so no low-life Colombians can sneak across the border. If they want into the good ole US, they damn well better swim there!

megustamuchisimo comments on BANKING, Transfer to Colombia

it's 0.4%, NOT 4% tax on movement of money

megustamuchisimo comments on

US Embassy in Colombia just sucks They extort like the Mafia. Useless, powerhungy, trying to show their superiority over dirty Colombianos...

megustamuchisimo comments on Interesting Article: More Colombians Leave Despite Increased Economic Growth

You got it exactly, bufalo The economic growth is almost 100% the rich getting richer. Colombia is not set up to give opportunites of any kind to anyone except those who are already priveleged. Unlike in the US and Europe and Asia, education doesn't do it...connections, and only conncections, can land you a decent salary. Many smart and hardworking Colombians have no chance for a decent future, and if they don't already have VISAs for entereing the US, they're not likely to get those either, since we only want rich Colombians coming to hang out on our gold-paved streets.

At the same time, many children (probably, most children) of the Colombian upper classes escape as soon as possible to the US, Canada, Europe, ostensibly for higher education, but then they get offered jobs, visas, and eventually never return. The sad thing is that these elite don't ever realize that it is this very refusal to let a middle class develop that creates the situation Colombia finds itself in, where anyone who can find a way, rich or poor, will to try to escape.

megustamuchisimo comments on Banking in Colombia

don't even try If you value your time at approximately $0.50 per hour, you will make out better paying any ATM fees you encounter from your US bank as opposed to sitting endless hours in Davivienda or some other Colombian bank, only to be rejected for an account or, if accepted, subject to fees of almost $2 per withdrawal anyway.

megustamuchisimo comments on Need English Teachers in Bogotá!

or, as an alternative if you are a native English speaker, you could place an ad and get your own students, but be paid more like 40,000 per hour

megustamuchisimo comments on Chavez Continues to Try to Help Bush

The problem is that when Americans get lied to by their government, the refuse to believe it is happening...so the lies WORK! Evidence--see above...

megustamuchisimo comments on Carulla employees

Juan, you are a Colombian conclusion-jumper!!! I am not sure how wanting a large and mega-profitable company to treat its employees a little better equates to saying everything Colombian is bad or evil. But I am sure you will let us know. By the way, can you spell P A R A N O I A?

megustamuchisimo comments on Food/Candy that Colombia does NOT have...

REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS!!!! I served some at a party, and the people who had had them before were stuffing them into their coat pockets...the ones who were tasting them for the first time went nuts also.

megustamuchisimo comments on Colombian salaries...

My maid makes 20,000 per day. My hairdresser gets about $800,000 a month.

megustamuchisimo comments on Requests

Tinto What do you mean by "the page below?"

megustamuchisimo comments on Requests

How about a way to see the most recent comments posted, and not just the most recently created posts. That is, when someone adds to a post, it could be noted somewhere on page 1 that that particular post has more comments.

megustamuchisimo comments on ANOTHER question!

Prepaid plans are good if you don't plan on using your phone so much.

Comcel is the most popular but you have about a 99 in 100 chance of having your call cut off before you are finished. Movistar is a little better in that regard, but their accounting practices and business policies are about as good as those of ETB, which is to say THEY SUCK!!!! With my post-pay plan, after four months of paying my bills regularly and on time, I got cut off because, according to Movistar, they finally got around to calling one of my references, and didn't get an answer. So they cut me off! YEAH, that makes sense! Be prepared for disappointment and hassles, no matter who you go with.

megustamuchisimo comments on Carulla employees

Yes, I am sure... I have talked to three different "workers," (or should I say "slaves"?) in two different Carulla's. I don't shop at Olympica or Cafam or any other grocery, but I imagine it is the same there. Someone should ask in those places and report back. I now tip 2,000 to 5,000 when my groceries are bagged, and the baggers are very grateful. I had previously wondered why the cashiers consider it beneath them to bag groceries if no one else is around, so now I know it is just part of the caste system.