Phil Sparrow has left 9 comments

Phil Sparrow comments on Colombian Beer

Beer The best beer in Colombia is to be found in the Bogota Beer Company....Bogota. You dont have to suffer. Remember also you Americans call lager a beer. To me beer is ale....English Phil

Phil Sparrow comments on Will platinos ever catch on in the west?

platanos Many thanks for your reply...I did try sancocho and forgive my ignorance I thought every sopa was sopa de plantano!!! I'm serious, I love cooking and if you have any recipes or know a Colombian recipe web site (in English) it would be much appreciated.

Phil Sparrow comments on Will platinos ever catch on in the west?

Platanos Could the spelling have affected the flavour?...No offence taken...recipes?

Phil Sparrow comments on Travel to Armenia

Visiting Armenia Dont worry! I come from the Scottish borders (on the English side!) and visited Armenia last year. I loved it. It didnt stop me going out. Incidentally, I also drove from Bogota to Cali...and back!! I have blue eyes, fair hair and am 6 foot. Just dont act like an arsehole...be humble and demonstrate kindness and humility....enjoy!

Phil Sparrow comments on Buying a house in Colombia

chia We have plans of having built a cosy rustic country retreat in Lagos de Yerbabuena,any good architects out there?

Phil Sparrow comments on Moving to Colombia

Moving to Colombia Dear James....many thanks for your reply...it did make me laugh. Try telling the lads in the Coquet valley they were once Scots! Anyway didnt Bonnie Prince Charlie once invade as far as Oxford? Or was it Watford Gap! No, dont worry I wont hold you liable! How did you end up in Colombia 2 years ago?

PS...Back in 600AD Edinburgh was the capital of Northumbria which was a separate kingdom before the Scots pinched it. Anyway as you are probably a lecturer in ancient history i'll shut up!My local is called the rose and thistle....you have probably worked out why...when the border changed, as it did frequently the landlord changed the name accordingly!!!!

Phil Sparrow comments on Moving to Colombia

Moving to Colombia Many thanks Martin...hadnt quite viewed it that way! I already live in a beautiful place....I'm pretty adventurous but at 48 one tends to consolodate and to take this type of step makes one a little apprehensive. Think I'm just looking for reassurance!!!! Cheers..Phil

Phil Sparrow comments on Good salary to live well in Bogota?

Moving to Colombia? I would be very grateful for opinions regarding such a venture. As I have illustrated in a category on this web site I find myself part owner (with my wife) of a large building plot in a very beautiful area north of Bogota. My wife is English but married a Colombian and lived in Bogota for 20 years. She has two children one of whom lives in Colombia. We have two homes in the UK and are planning to sell one and have a house built on the plot. When in Colombia I drove from Bogota to Cali, over the linear, and to many other places. I,m 6feet tall with blonde hair and blue eyes and at no time did I ever feel threatened or in danger. I loved the country and the people. I'm 48, live in Northumberland on the border between England and Scotland.......would be grateful of any comments!!! Phil

Phil Sparrow comments on Living in Colombia

Dilema.... Perhaps dilema is to strong a word and I'm sure for many people reading this, it may be the kind of dilema they might like to have. My wife (this is our second marriage) was married to a Colombian and lived for 20years in the northern suberbs of Bogota. She returned, after 20years, back to her home town of Northampton where we met and subsequently married. I'm from Northumberland and live in the hills bordering England and Scotland. Last year (2004) having heard so much about Colombia we visited. During the holiday I drove from Bogota across the linear to Cali (an amazing drive) and back as well as visiting many other places throughout Colombia including San Andreas and Providencia.
I now find myself part owner of a beautiful plot of land (about 5 acres) in a very up and coming area just north of Bogota and with permission to build a house. Through marriage we now have two homes in the UK one of which is rented out. The intention would be to sell one of the UK properties and move to Colombia for a year whilst the house is being built. Thereafter, split our time between the Colombia and the UK. My wife insists that once there I will want to spend a higher proportion of our time in Colombia!
Clearly there are many obstacles to overcome. Infact reading the comments of people on this site only highlights some of the problems we need to overcome. I am very open minded infact being a bit of an adventurer I feel very excited at the prospect. I have to say that despite being 6 feet tall, fair haired and blue eyed I still felt relatively safe nomatter where....yes even in downtown Bogota!!!
I would be very grateful of anyones thoughts or views on this situation....Phil