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tropicalshirt comments on Brazil: Probably the Best Country in the World to Live In

tropicalshirt comments on Brazil: Probably the Best Country in the World to Live In

Who does smooth better than that?

tropicalshirt comments on Brazil: Probably the Best Country in the World to Live In

tropicalshirt comments on Brazil: Probably the Best Country in the World to Live In

forro de nordeste do brasil! e samba, pagode, axe, frevo, bossa nova, coco, maracatu, choro, baiao etc

tropicalshirt comments on Brazil: Probably the Best Country in the World to Live In

tropicalshirt comments on Brazil: Probably the Best Country in the World to Live In

I nearly forgot! The fokkin music!!!

tropicalshirt comments on Brazil: Probably the Best Country in the World to Live In

The best thing in Brazil? That out of 10 people, 10 are easy to get on with. That the food and drink is fantastic: jugo de bojo or lulo is great, but suco de babacu, pitanga etc different class... That the landscapes are incredible. Of course its no paradise, do you research on the place. One of the best things about Brazil is its size. Theres a lot of places to find what you like.

tropicalshirt comments on Santa Marta or Rodadero apartments

True jonny, and it is nicer, but I guess Rodadero will be more easy to let as a foreigner due to its holiday resort status. throwingcopper if you want to rent in Rodadero, as long as its not prime season, you will be in a very good psoition to get a good price due to the length of rent you want. Be sure to use it to get the price down and give them the reason and the price you want. You can find rentals just be wandering Rodadero and meeting people. I would prefer to stay in Santa Marta and if you choose that way I would again find the place after you arrive and if it is not a price that is too high, or just given to you out of the air, bargain it down or leave it. The only way I know to get a good price is on the ground.

tropicalshirt comments on Bam Bam Bilan

The gentle sounds of Buenaventura are not for everyone!

tropicalshirt comments on So many smart people here good to see it.

Sure, I am altruistic, I really am (very often, sometimes...) but I don't travel or live in Colombia or anywhere else for altruistic reasons I do it beacuse I enjoy it.

tropicalshirt comments on Bam Bam Bilan

Is this being played all over Colombia? You gotta love it...Makes me laugh every time.

tropicalshirt comments on What is life in Colombia like?

rt

tropicalshirt comments on So many smart people here good to see it.

"To all the gringos who come and try to make things better for Colombians who can not do so for themselves have a great day! Everyone else.....Adios." Fok me, I think your talking to very few to nobody here. Altruistic reasons to go to Colombia??? Yes, sure for aid/peace workers, who else has gone "to try to make things better for Colombians who can not do so for themselves?" What should you do oneforyourmillion???

tropicalshirt comments on What does this mean for Colombia??

billy Of course your right, but the Cariocas believe their city is the best in the World, no question. They will love to show off, party for a month and do no work. They will want the Olympics.

tropicalshirt comments on What does this mean for Colombia??

I agree span and maybe people are missing another point. Rio (Brazil) beat Chicago (USA), Madrid (Spain) and Tokyo (Japan) (making the point of the countries Brazil beat not that Madrid is in Spain :-)) . They did this by winning more votes. I believe the Olympic voting to be very political. In the modern political world people are talking to Brazil first.

tropicalshirt comments on Cajeros/ATMs

I prefer to use Banco Santander, HSBC etc IMHE never had problems with them.

tropicalshirt comments on What does this mean for Colombia??

Will any cachaco be at home in that heat??? Get ready for lots of samba and good looking garotas... gatinhas gostosas! OPA!

tropicalshirt comments on What does this mean for Colombia??

Or maybe in that heat the only chance for Colombian gold will be costenos!

tropicalshirt comments on What does this mean for Colombia??

Brazil will use the Olympics like China did, i.e. for increasing geopolitical influence and its image across the World as a modern, upcoming country eager and open to do business. This is the first South American country to stage the event. Brazil is one of the largest 10 economies in the World. Brazil is growing at a huge rate. Investment has been flooding into this country for several years on a scale previosly unseen as Brazil found itself at the centre of the commodity boom and now as a place for great returns on investment in the global financial crisis. The currency has strengthened and strengthened, China finds itself speaking to Brazil before the US or any other country. Yet at the heart of the country it has one of the Worlds largest disparaties in wealth, equalled only by a few African states. After living there and after six visits I have always found Brazil poorer than Colombia, yet as a country it is certainly richer. So what does this mean for Colombia? Well, as money flows into Brazil and it gets more powerful and rich it may start to properly invest and educate in its people and this wealth disparity may lessen and a middle class develop. If this can happen in Brazil it is likely to follow in other South American countries as they all benefit and grow economically. Or maybe Brazil will simply increase its position as the superpower of South America and an increasing power globally. Colombia will seek closer ties to Brazil and be in thrall to its importance economically and politically.

tropicalshirt comments on COP: Where will it end?!

"Question is where will it end...?" With Brazil, Colombia etc with all the same prices as England, France etc??? No more cheap anything in those countries which reach the same standard and prices as the West.

tropicalshirt comments on COP: Where will it end?!

Dollar and Pound are the two worst hit by the banking meltdown. Only place with cheap currency is Mexico (linked to Dollar economy). Other developing countries currencies keep getting stronger as money is moved there rather than Dollar. Latin America: Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Boliva etc etc all been strengthening for several years, since about 2004/05 for some of them. Question is where will it end for all of them? Who can see it going any other way? Brazilian Real, from 6 to 1 pound in 2003, to 2.8 today. US/UK/Europe on par with Brazil, India, China etc, with a rich elite and the rest working with chiclets?

tropicalshirt comments on Reverse Gringo Pricing - Popoyan

Adela I will have to get in contact with you in the future about a place. My warmest regards.

tropicalshirt comments on Reverse Gringo Pricing - Popoyan

A girl at Casa Familiar Turistica??? For 14,000 you don't get much more than the wet tongue of the resident dog. The old mama in charge gave me a big smile though when I paid in advance.

tropicalshirt comments on English Muffins, Where can you find them?

English muffins??? You sure there not American? Only muffins in England are muffin tops! In Brazil they got bolo ingles (English cake). Locals would not touch it and it had nothing to do with England either.

tropicalshirt comments on Rodallega scores winning goal as Wigan stuns Chelsea

Rodallega had a good game, but still its one good game out of three or so at the moment. The best player was Nzogbia. Should be playing at a better club.

tropicalshirt comments on

Sincerely, you talk a lot of shit Elmo but you are an amazingly verbose modefoque. How many Colombians killed this year? How many gringos in Colombia killed this year?

tropicalshirt comments on Travelogue detailing 3 months all over Ecuador

Great written description of Guayaquil and the ladies tips on choosing a taxi!

tropicalshirt comments on Medellin: Urban Renewal Miracle No Longer Seems So Clear-Cut

span Your welcome, thanks. Sure, its only a library and computers but like I wrote, its a great piece of infrastructure in the barrio. Most of this social inclusion stuff, which is prevalent from London to New York, is more about big institutes being instructed from above to make policies that fit Government targets and don't make any significant changes and they just involve management having a job writing alone a set of hollow policies. The place was opened by the King and Queen of Spain. You get there by the cablecar at Acevedo metro station, which also houses a small library. The Metrocable, as it is called, is not like a normal cable car but a special passenger service: the cars come by every couple of seconds so there is no waiting. It is very smooth, fast and impressive. During the day it is very busy, though I wonder what it is like at night. It is also currently being extended even higher. Again, its having something so state of the art, useful and modern in the barrio that makes you stop and think. That the money this took got here is amazing. The library was opened with donated books, though they all look new and the collection is being added to. People cannot borrow the books, which is a shame, but I think 18,000 books is low. I got the feeling talking to the staff that they did not think any would be returned!!! Its a very innovate building, designed by Colombian architect Giancarlo Massanti, and very fresh and cool inside. One of the projects going on there is called HiperBarrio, which teaches kids in the barrios how to use blogging and other social media tools as a creative outlet for self-expression. See http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/hiperbarrio/ and www.hiperbarrio.org

tropicalshirt comments on Medellin: Urban Renewal Miracle No Longer Seems So Clear-Cut

I went to the España Park Library and it seemed to me a great deal better example of social inclusion than anything else I have ever seen simply by providing a top of the range, modern facility in the actual barrio. Someting that looks that good changes perceptions of those who visit and live there. Its a multifloor building with 18,000 books, 35 staff, computers and training courses. I hope the training aspect is extended and the benefits go further.

tropicalshirt comments on Love And Kisses From Cali

Staying in hotels in both. Odeon for 25,000 in Medallo. Astral for 40,000 in Cali. Cali Centro at night is much quieter. Homeless people, street cleaners and the odd 8 car motor cavalcade, very out of place!

tropicalshirt comments on Darien Gap - Books??

babygirl This book has interesting stuff on the Darien Gap, especially liked the description of where the Panamericana finnishes and restarts: in football fields! The Panamericana: On the Road Through Mexico and Central America (Trails of the Unexpected) [Illustrated] (Paperback) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panamericana-Through-Central-America-Unexpected/dp/1854582348/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253894865&sr=1-17 Crossing the Darien Gap: A Daring Journey Through a Forbidding and Enchanting and Roadless Jungle That Is the Only Link by Land Between North America and South America http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crossing-Darien-Gap-Forbidding-Enchanting/dp/0964794063/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253895042&sr=1-5 The Darien Gap: Travels in the Rainforest of Panama http://www.amazon.co.uk/Darien-Gap-Travels-Rainforest-Panama/dp/1550174215/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253895042&sr=1-7 Remember, the Scots tried to start an Empire out there! Too hot for most of them, they're all walking around in tshirts with 15 degrees. Caledonia's Last Stand: In Search of the Lost Scots of Darien (Paperback) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Caledonias-Last-Stand-Search-Darien/dp/190522284X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253895042&sr=1-3

tropicalshirt comments on Neiva and Desierto de Tatacoa

Pman, no problem and thanks. The locals I spoke to in Neiva told me it was 30,000 and no more for the tour from Villavieja.

tropicalshirt comments on £1 = $3,077 pesos

When you go the cashpoint now in the UK and get out some money its all brand new with consequtive serial numbers. Printing all that new money, and of course all the huge debts, has caught up with the pound this week. That said, the Euro is overvalued but financial commentators say the Pound is stuck here for a while and below 3000 COP is probably next week.

tropicalshirt comments on Love And Kisses From Cali

Thanks PCL. But from whom and why? And what is the difference that is less in Medellin? More poverty in Cali? More gang history? Location???

tropicalshirt comments on Love And Kisses From Cali

So its much more dangerous than Centro Medellin???

tropicalshirt comments on Dollar is down, due to PBH unstability

Chile! You seen the strengthing of the Real for the past years??? Thats where the moneys gone.

tropicalshirt comments on Love And Kisses From Cali

I do not doubt Cali is a very violent city, but any more than Medellin? Also, in Medellin Centro I see 10 year old glue sniffers day and night, a truly saddening sight. In Cali Centro I dont see this, is it down by the river more or just elsewhere, or some other reason? Cali Centro at night is much quieter (numbers of people on the street) than Medellin Centro.

tropicalshirt comments on Neiva and Desierto de Tatacoa

sorry kat, no pictures! I need to but a digital camera not the one I got with the stand and black cloak you throw over yourself when you take a shot! I wish I had.

tropicalshirt comments on Neiva and Desierto de Tatacoa

70 fokkin K! I was told by all I spoke to in Neiva that do not pay over 30,000 for the tour. To those that come next, please pay the going rate.

tropicalshirt comments on Neiva and Desierto de Tatacoa

(By the way, the OP states that there is just one hotel in Villavieja wich is not true) Sorry, I said there was no one else there (in the hotel). De nada.

tropicalshirt comments on website that has local listings for apartment rentals?

http://www.mundoanuncio.com/zona/bucaramanga_63878.html http://www.vanguardia.com/clasificados/clasificados_fincaraiz.php?pagina=1&categoria=1&archivo=clasificados_fincaraiz.php

tropicalshirt comments on Tolu Travel Tip

Outside of peak holiday days, its a very friendly place. You could find cheap accomodation for a couple of months no problem. Food is cheap, but limited. There isn't much money in this town, one way or the other.

tropicalshirt comments on

Rodizio em portugues ou churrascaria. Missing that coração and linguiça right now. I saw someone write about a rodizio in Cucuta but not heard of one in Med. Anyone know Rodizio Rio de Enero Ave. 9AN # 16-49 in Granada, Cali?

tropicalshirt comments on Bariloche & Mendoza

Only city I liked in Argentina was Salta! http://hotels.lonelyplanet.com/hotel/Mendoza-Palace-Hotel-P1000072637.html Seem to remember Palace Hotel in Mendoza was good and cheap, Avenida Las Heras 70 Lots of hotels on this street.

tropicalshirt comments on tropicalshirt

Dave Its......... mobile phones...

tropicalshirt comments on random colombian beauty

Great pictures! A lot of that random Colombian beauty was your wife! Congratulations!

tropicalshirt comments on Colombia Reports - Scaring Sex Tourists in Colombia

Machin: "I don't get it about why everyone is paranoid and talking about sex tourism." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Because they got lots of high horses. Fokkin hell!!! SOME OF YOU NUTTERS EVEN START TALKING ABOUT PEDOS LIKE YOU ARE THREATENED OR YOU ARE BEING OVERUN BY THEM! WHY THE FOK ARE YOU SO PARANOID? BECAUSE YOU WANT TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE UNTOUCHABLE HIGH MORAL POSITION, "OH YES THOSE PEDOS ARE DISGUSTING, THEY NEED TO BE KILLED..." I PREFER A THREAD ON ENGLISH TEACHING IN COLOMBIA! DOES ANYONE KNOW OF ANY CURRENT POSITIONS TEFL IN COLOMBIA FOR ME. I WILL CONSIDER ANYWHERE BUT ..... BOGOTA. I HAVE A CELTA AND EXPERIENCE IN BRAZIL. I AM NOT A PEDO! I AM SERIOUS. YOU CAN PM ME OR PLEASE WRITE. THANK YOU!

tropicalshirt comments on Who likes Medellin?

Medellin population 3.2 million gringos, if they can can live there so can you!!!

tropicalshirt comments on Who likes Medellin?

Who like Medellin? Everyone! This whole forum is focused on Medellin. Bogota, Cali, Barranquilla all come distant seconds. There may be someone even living in Cartagena. Madre mia!

tropicalshirt comments on Medellin products

what about the honey!