Patrick has left 138 comments

Patrick comments on 1.00 USD = 1,915.00 COP whats going on???

A system of capitalism presumes sound money, not fiat money manipulated by a central bank (The Fed). Capitalism cherishes voluntary contracts and interest rates that are determined by savings, not credit creation (running the printing press) by a central bank. Ron Paul

Patrick comments on 1.00 USD = 1,915.00 COP whats going on???

It's called Obamaisim (socialisim) run the printing presses full speed, the Mexican Peso will be stronger than the Dollar if he keeps it up.

Patrick comments on Cartagena heralds arrival of first cruise liners

I am sure that they were talking about the first cruise ship of this season. Not the first to come to Cartagena.

Patrick comments on What a pretty model! Does anyone know her age and her name?

It's a 1955 or 56 Ford Fairlane dressed uo to look like a 56 Crown Victoria. It has a 55 grill and 56 tail lights, so it's hard to tell. The body was the same for these two years.

Patrick comments on Drumroll..... T-Shirt voting

12,12,12!!!

Patrick comments on MODERATORS HELP NEEDED

No my point is he’s a stand up guy, his handle “Cartagena Hooker” is in no way reflective of the man. You say you know a male hooker? I wouldn’t brag about it to much if I were you.

Patrick comments on MODERATORS HELP NEEDED

Cartagena Hooker is a guy, so all your smart A** remarks are way off base. Mods please help him get his account fixed. Thanks, Patrick

Patrick comments on What do you think of Barranquilla as a place to live?

To answer the first part of your question, not. I live in Cartagena, same weather and pretty much the same people, I know ujay won’t agree with that one, but pretty much the same folks. Cartagena has the beaches, restaurants, history and it’s very trying in the summer. I can’t imagine being in B’Quella in the summer unless I absolutely had to. So if you’re going to be working there, then you have no choice, but if you have a choice? IMHO, you got to be nuts.

Patrick comments on Reality Check - 04/25/2009

Hay UC, I don't think RAAAY likes you ver much, BTW, the cab drivers name was Pablo, it's been 5 years! LOL

Patrick comments on Reality Check - 04/25/2009

Jesus, UC what is Colombia coming to? Gone are the days when we used to run around Medellin with Pedro the cab driver looking to get laid or worrying about hurricanes decimating Cartagena.

Patrick comments on

My neighbor is Venezuelan and he hates Chavez but he’s a business man. As was pointed out earlier Chavez garners his support from the poor. I’m hopeful that improved relations between the US and Venezuela will improve relations between Colombia and Venezuela as I think a lot of Chavez’s anti Colombian rhetoric and pandering to the FARC was done to piss-off GW.

Patrick comments on

Darloup, “stop being so selective and, above all, please stop rewriting history” LOL, you’re a trip! You are the one who is insisting that Hitler was elected by the German people, he wasn’t and that’s all I said. Have a great night.

Patrick comments on

Darloup, "Yes, Venezuelans elected (and even appear to want more of) Chavez - so what? It's their choice." "Is it so hard to accept this choice?!" That's what I said!!!! "Chaves was elected by his people several times, you may not like it but that’s to bad, the Venezuelan people like him and that’s what really counts." "Hitler was democratically elected. A such, the then president (a figure head) simply ratified him as chancelor since he had the most weight in the parliament (in accordance with the existing laws). The president had no choice in the matter." Not True! Hitler was never elected by a majority of the German people. From Wikipedia Ernst Röhm, in charge of the SA, put Count Micah von Helldorff, a convicted murderer and vehement anti-Semite, in charge of the Berlin SA. The deaths mounted up, with many more on the Rotfront side, and by the end of 1931 the SA had 47 men killed, and the Rotfront recorded losses of approximately 80. Street fights and beer hall battles resulting in deaths occurred throughout February and April 1932, all against the backdrop of Adolf Hitler’s competition in the presidential election which pitted him against the monumentally popular Hindenburg. In the first round on 13 March, Hitler had polled over 11 million votes but was still behind Hindenburg. The second and final round took place on 10 April: Hitler (36.8% 13,418,547) lost out to Paul von Hindenburg (53.0% 19,359,983) whilst KPD candidate Thälmann gained a meagre percentage of the vote (10.2% 3,706,759) . The Nazi party lost 34 seats in the November 1932 election but remained the Reichstag's largest party. The most shocking move of the early election campaign was to send the SA to support a Rotfront action against the transport agency and in support of a strike. After Chancellor Papen left office, he secretly told Hitler that he still held considerable sway with President Hindenburg and that he would make Hitler chancellor as long as he, Papen, could be the vice chancellor. On 30 January 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of a coalition government of the NSDAP-DNVP-Centre Party. The SA and SS led torchlight parades throughout Berlin. In the coalition government, three members of the cabinet were Nazis: Hitler, Wilhelm Frick (Minister of the Interior) and Hermann Göring (Minister Without Portfolio).

Patrick comments on

Hitler was never elected by a majority of the German people; he received 37% of the vote. He was appointed Chancellor by President Hindenburg who promptly died. The Nazi’s pushed the Enabling Act through the Reichstag (very similar to the Patriot Act) and Hitler, using the Reichstag fire which was probably set by his own people, grabbed power and the rest, as they say, is history. I don’t see where there is any similarity between Hitler and Chavez except maybe their inflammatory speech making? Chaves was elected by his people several times, you may not like it but that’s to bad, the Venezuelan people like him and that’s what really counts. We North Americans need to learn to mind our own business. When we do the world will be a much nicer place and where it’s not let the people who live there take care of it.

Patrick comments on How on earth did Colombia got her name?!

Just curious, is the O / U in Colombia / Columbia strictly a Spanish / English thing or is there more to it than that?

Patrick comments on How on earth did Colombia got her name?!

Sloop, Thanks for the link, I enjoyed the read.

Patrick comments on New member saying hello.

Welcome, seems like you've experienced some of the same frustrations that we have all gone through. Welcome... Patrick

Patrick comments on Credit card fraud after ordering flowers to Colombia online - anyone else?

I will not use either site again! I was in a rush and as they say when you hurry you make mistakes. Normally I would buy the flowers in Cartagena and have them delivered to my wife in Cartagena. However I was out of the country and knew I would not get back home in time to buy her the flowers, so I was dumb and I ordered them on line, won't happen again. Have a great night!

Patrick comments on Credit card fraud after ordering flowers to Colombia online - anyone else?

Here’s the problem, my wife gets a beautiful bouquet of roses from a local florist, with a nice card all in Spanish from the local florist. I asked her to go to the florist and find out which one of the two companies they do business with, now look at the names of the two companies, what do you think? Same guys maybe? So I contested both charges and I e-mailed both of them telling them what a bastard the other guy was and asking them for a copy of the receipt my wife signed. Haven’t heard back from either one. Are you surprised? I’m not! BTW, both charges appear on my CC statement as flowers to Colombia.

Patrick comments on Credit card fraud after ordering flowers to Colombia online - anyone else?

No Shit! If I knew don't you think I would have told you.

Patrick comments on Credit card fraud after ordering flowers to Colombia online - anyone else?

The SOB's got me too! It is one of these two companies. http://www.floresparacolombia.com/ http://www.flowerstocolombia.com/ One of them sent a beautiful arrangement to my wife, while the other sent nothing, they both charged my card and about a week later I was not able to do a small charge. Called my bank and they had shut down my card for suspected fraud. I had the card replaced but the list of attempted charges was staggering. I have contested both charges for flowers and e-mailed both companies, whoever comes up with a signed receipt will get paid the other company will get blasted by my bank. You should all try to do the same thing, working with your bank, they would really like to stop this crap.

Patrick comments on Small gifts for family in Cartagena

LOL, CG, I get out once in a while so educate me. Where would I find some especially good quality cheeses, made in Colombia? Something like a good aged Gouda from Holland or a nice hardy Cheddar from England or even a nice Monterey Jack. Never mind a good French Brie or Gruyere from Switzerland. So educate me my friend.

Patrick comments on Small gifts for family in Cartagena

To Colombia not from Colombia, why would you want to take cheese from Colombia to the US. US and European cheeses are far superior to any cheese that I've ever had in Colombia, and I never had a moments trouble with customs at the Cartagena Airport or Bquilla or Bogota for that matter, never.

Patrick comments on Small gifts for family in Cartagena

Colombians love cheese, at least my wife’s family and our neighbors do. We always take several wheels of cheese back to Cartagena when we return from traveling. We buy the whole wheels maybe 5 lbs. each and then cut into wedges and give them out as gifts. Everyone seems to love this. There is not a big choice of cheeses in Colombia.

Patrick comments on

He certainly could and it’s a very scary thought. I understand that law is still on the books. Will he though, as Gold is considered a commodity and not money, as it was in FDR’s time? He’s a scary kid, very little experience and he has surrounded himself with some pretty unsavory characters. I purchased my apartment in Cartagena in 2004, as I remember the exchange rate was about 2650. I don’t know where you’re looking to settle in Colombia but I believe Real Estate prices will stay fairly level, unless of course there’s a major collapse, because there is no mortgage crisis here and with the relative strength of the Dollar it might be a good time to buy, I’m sure there are some really good buys out there. Anyway good luck.

Patrick comments on

Gringoloid, excellent even with inflation and taxes you are still ahead of the game.

Patrick comments on

I wish I had a crystal ball but as with any government controlled fiat currency the Peso will do well or not depending on the decisions made by the bureaucrats and the faith that Colombians place in it. I would not use Gold as an investment to try and make money, unless you’re trading in Options Futures. I would hold a % of my assets in Gold as a hedge against inflation and I’m talking over the next several years. If the economy’s of the industrialized nations collapse then Gold and Silver won’t do you very much good you’ll need barter goods. Scotch is good. You could probably feed you family for a month on a case of Scotch. Stock up!

Patrick comments on

Not against other currencies, against real goods and services. There aren’t any other currencies, there all in the same boat. Except maybe the Swiss Franc, I believe we’re in for a round of very heavy inflation.

Patrick comments on

The dollar has to tank big time, tell me how it can’t. A government that’s 9 trillion in debt is trying to bail out major banks and companies that are trillions in debt themselves. With what? Printing press money. Wait until the commercial real estate mortgages start to default. It’s been predicted that over 200,000 retail stores, in the U.S. will close in the coming year. Giant shopping centers, multi, multi million dollar mortgages, where’s the bail out money coming for that? The printing press. Dollar has to devalue by at least 50% from where it is now. You guys don’t remember the 70’s with Carters inflation, I do, when a new Chevy went from $7,000.00 to $15,000.00 in a little over a year. Today that new Chevy Impala costs 35,000.00 next year, $70,000.00 if there still making them. Put a portion of your money in Gold and Silver, try to hedge as best you can and good luck.

Patrick comments on FYI-New Consulate Cartagena

Great news Gator, thanks!

Patrick comments on US Taxes, housing loss while living in Colombia

Ain't it the truth TC, ain't it the truth. Larry take Gator's advice and seek the advice of a CPA.

Patrick comments on OdE To La CuiDaD De La EteRnA PRiMaVerA MeDeLLÍN!

bonita niños

Patrick comments on Leather Repair in Cartagena?

I don't think there is one but try this: http://www.nuleather.com/index.html Good Luck, Patrick

Patrick comments on Backgrounder: China's Key Facts About Colombia

"Colombia is rich in natural resources, and its main mineral resources include coal, petroleum, emerald, natural gas, bauxite, gold, silver, nickel, platinum, iron and cocaine." I didn't know cocaine was a natural resource, give me a break.

Patrick comments on Help needed: Learning about air-conditioning units

WOW!! coolcoil is the man! BTW, they are starting to use Central Air in some of the highend condos (new construction) I guess they figure if you can afford $500,000 USD for an apartment you can pay for the electricity.

Patrick comments on Help needed: Learning about air-conditioning units

"BTW: Thanks for your definition of BTU, but what does it actually mean from a practical point of view?" It means that if you live in B'quilla or Cartagena you need a s**t pot full of them to cool your bedroom! Just for reference 12,000 BTU's is about the same as 1 Ton of A/C. BTW, Panasonic makes excellent split units a little pricier than say LG, which isn't bad either, but really top of the line.

Patrick comments on Help needed: Learning about air-conditioning units

A BTU, short for British Thermal Unit, is a basic measure of thermal (heat) energy. One BTU is the amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit, measured at its heaviest point. In other words, if you placed 16 ounces of water at 59°F into a stovetop pan and turned on the gas burner, it would take one BTU to raise the temperature of the water to 60°F. As more BTUs continue to flow from the gas flame, the water will eventually reach the boiling point of 212°F. A BTU is also the equivalent of 252 heat calories, not to be confused with the kilo-calories of food, and of approximately a third of a watt-hour. When speaking of cooling power, the BTU also works in reverse. The air-cooling power of an air conditioning system refers to the amount of thermal energy removed from an area. Hence a 65,000 BTU heater and a 65,000 BTU air conditioner are of roughly the same capacity and size. The higher the BTU output, the more powerful the heating or cooling system. I live in Cartagena, we have a 21,000 BTU Split unit in our bedroom and a 18,000 BTU split unit in our son's room. Both seem to work fine. Our bedroom is wrap around glass with drapes so it takes a lot to cool the room. I would say 12 to 18,000 BTU should be fine for most single room applications. Good Luck, Patrick

Patrick comments on BEST BET TO BUY A CAR IN COLOMBIA NEW OR USED. YOU TELL ME

We purchased a new Renault Megane in Cartagena in 2004 and the car has been trouble free so far. We did a great deal of shopping around prior to making the decision to buy the Renault. One of the things that sold me was the fact that the car is assembled in Colombia in a plant that assembles both Renault and Toyota and I was told that Toyota controls the assembly line and trains the workers. The finished product seems to reflect that statement. I was very impressed with the initial quality of the car and the car has preformed very well over the past four and a half years. As I remember we paid 48,000,000 pesos about 18,000 dollars at the time. Another plus is the service department; they seem to know their stuff even if they are a bit pricey but the nice thing about Colombia, you can even dicker with the Service Manager. As to the question of owning a car in Colombia, it certainly isn’t necessary if you live one of the major cities but it’s still nice if you can afford it.

Patrick comments on an open letter for DWMTE

Very nice post, there are some real people here.

Patrick comments on Visa to Curacao

Your friend must have a visa to visit Curacao. Have her contact the the Embassy or Consulate nearest to her. Good Luck, Patrick Netherlands Embassy , Colombia Carrera 13, No. 93-40, Piso 2 en 5 PO Box 4385, Bogotá Bogotá Colombia Phone: 57-1-6384200 Fax: 57-1-6233020 Email: bog at minbuza.nl, nlgovbog at etb.net.co Website URL: www.embajadadeholanda.org.co Netherlands Consulate , Colombia Avenida 2A Norte No. 9N-09 PO Box 9105-1606, Cali Cali Colombia Phone: 57-92-8817269 57-92-8851486 Fax: 57-92-8898797 57-92-8839333 Email: info at sernich.com Netherlands Consulate , Colombia Calle 77-No 65-37 Off. 208 PO Box 52298, Barranquilla Barranquilla Colombia Phone: 57-95-531278 Fax: 57-95-531278 Email: pslagter at metrotel.net.co Netherlands Consulate , Colombia Carrera 52, No. 51 A-23, Kantoor 401-402, Medellín PO Box 2664, Medellín Medellín Colombia Phone: 57-4-2510324 Fax: 57-4-2510314 Email: pmweil at supernet.com.co

Patrick comments on Nice diaporama about Cartagena (de las Indias)

Very Nice! Thank you--

Patrick comments on Miss Tanga, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9lw0iDSFSQ

Patrick comments on Beach Apartment for sale in Santa Marta

Tony, Sent you an e-mail, keep an eye open for it. Patrick

Patrick comments on Colombia to have six palm biodiesel plants by 2009

Don’t have to worry about “Nucalar” waste in the US any more just start another war. Depleted Uranium makes great ammunition, it’s all over “Irack” but what the heck they’re just rag-heads.

Patrick comments on Obtain Colombian citizenship after two years of residence

Your problem is not Colombian Citizenship / US Citizenship. Your real problem is taxation. Both the US and Colombia tax world wide income, you may be letting yourself in for dual taxation as well as dual citizenship. You should get professional advice before taking the plunge.

Patrick comments on Obtain Colombian citizenship after two years of residence

US allows dula citizenship http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/dual_citizenship.html

Patrick comments on

Elmo, Colombia es Passion!!

Patrick comments on

DW, he,he,he me too, 7 years and still very happy?? Lisa, write your book, you never know it might be a best seller! Desi, I thought you’d hit this post much harder, pleasantly supprised!

Patrick comments on Warning about Escalona DVD’s

DVD's and CD are recorded with a Zone Code to unlock your DVD or CD player go to this site and follow the directions. Then your player will become an All-Zone player. http://www.alldvdcodes.com/ Hope this helps you. Patrick

Patrick comments on Travel Agency in Bogota with no mañana's

Another quick note, better get rolling on this Christmas Holidays on Curacao and Aruba, both islands are overflowing with tourists.