Living and retirement in Medellin

[MNPeter]

After considering it more. Realized trying to save a little on rent is silly. Only for a few months I can afford it. So as 1000 to 1750 range is doable.

That puts the best areas in play I would guess. But if a woman lives in this area too. Doubt she would have much interest in a gringo.

[MNPeter]

Do you speak spanish?

As I said in my original post. I'm really working on it. At an advanced beginner level now. Plan is to finish fluen up to level 5 by the time I arrive. A great program if you haven't checked it out. The missing letter is z.

[Manizales911]

My plans are to spend late October to March sometime in Medellin starting this Fall. I'm in my late 40s.

Never been there before but have been to Brazil before.

As a newbie what are the suggestions to doing this?

Spend 4 days at the Mansion or with Colombia Jake and don't start looking for an apartment until I get there? Or try to have a good idea before I arrive and move into an apartment right away.

I would like to keep rent around the $1000 a month area. Quality internet connection would be required.

Sharing an apartment with someone would be kind of nice too. As long as they agree to have someone clean it often as well. LOL.

I am really struggling with where to live. I am really working on my Spanish. Really want to find a novia in her 30s. That is the age I date here in the states. So with that in mind.

I welcome private messages with any pointers.

Thanks much

Do you speak spanish?

[MNPeter]

My plans are to spend late October to March sometime in Medellin starting this Fall. I'm in my late 40s.

Never been there before but have been to Brazil before.

As a newbie what are the suggestions to doing this?

Spend 4 days at the Mansion or with Colombia Jake and don't start looking for an apartment until I get there? Or try to have a good idea before I arrive and move into an apartment right away.

I would like to keep rent around the $1000 a month area. Quality internet connection would be required.

Sharing an apartment with someone would be kind of nice too. As long as they agree to have someone clean it often as well. LOL.

I am really struggling with where to live. I am really working on my Spanish. Really want to find a novia in her 30s. That is the age I date here in the states. So with that in mind.

I welcome private messages with any pointers.

Thanks much

[Chesscat]

Interesting article. I didn't know anyone was paying attention.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-0...es-credit.html

[Hioctane]

On a hunch I brought my Roku from USA to Colombia with me for use in my Medellin apartment. For those of you who don't know, Roku is an alternative to a cable box, which brings television content through a cable connection. Roku brings television content through an internet connection.

When I connected the Roku today, at first it would not connect with NetFlix. After an hour, however, the big red screen came on and everything was working. Which is an awesome way to get English-language television shows and movies in Colombia.

The Roku cost $100 in USA. A one-time purchase. And I pay something like $8 / month for Netflix.

Unfortunately, Pandora (music) doesn't work. It says,"not licenses for use outside USA." Does anyone know of other music channels available through Roku that work internationally, or at least in Colombia?

Your best bet is to get a VPN service that will make all these services think you are in the US or wherever.

[Archimedes]

On a hunch I brought my Roku from USA to Colombia with me for use in my Medellin apartment. For those of you who don't know, Roku is an alternative to a cable box, which brings television content through a cable connection. Roku brings television content through an internet connection.

When I connected the Roku today, at first it would not connect with NetFlix. After an hour, however, the big red screen came on and everything was working. Which is an awesome way to get English-language television shows and movies in Colombia.

The Roku cost $100 in USA. A one-time purchase. And I pay something like $8 / month for Netflix.

Unfortunately, Pandora (music) doesn't work. It says,"not licenses for use outside USA." Does anyone know of other music channels available through Roku that work internationally, or at least in Colombia?

[Questner]

This stupid one liner is why its not worth posting info on here, Buy the way I just logged on to my account online that I opened with a pass port and it was BanColombia, not bank of Colombia. Sorry for the wrong info.

Life is fun. Sanuk as they say in Thai. Anyway, just post a list of documents you have presented when you opened your checking account in COP (http://www.grupobancolombia.com/home...to/cliente.asp). Other travelers can benefit from your post. Based on my experience maintaining a regular account in LA country without any permanent connection is not always easy process. A foreign passport at the branch is not enough.

[CaptainDorado]

It was a sperm bank.

[Deleted by Admin] Buy the way I just logged on to my account online that I opened with a pass port and it was BanColombia, not bank of Colombia. Sorry for the wrong info.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This report was redacted or deleted to remove sections of the report that were largely argumentative. Please read the Forum FAQ and the Forum's Posting Guidelines for more information. Thank You!

[Razor77]

It was a sperm bank.

If the sperm bank was 19 with long black hair and a caramel skinned body then I will be there before others so I can be first in line to make the deposit. Wonder what type of interest rates I would get on the deposit?

[Questner]

Do you mind sharing what bank allowed you to open an account with just a passport? Most require a Colombian Cedula. It would be nice to know which bank you used.

It was a sperm bank.

[CaptainDorado]

Do you mind sharing what bank allowed you to open an account with just a passport? Most require a Colombian Cedula. It would be nice to know which bank you used.

Bank Of Colombia in the Exito Larelles.

[Razor77]

I just walked into a bank with a passport and opened an account!

Do you mind sharing what bank allowed you to open an account with just a passport? Most require a Colombian Cedula. It would be nice to know which bank you used.

[CaptainDorado]

There are two basic types of cedula.

C. C. (cedula colombiana or more accurately I think Cedula Ciudano. Citizen). You need to be a colombian to get this. Could take you quite a while, even if you marry a Colombian girl! Jajaja.

C. E. (cedula extrenejera, which is for a foreigner. This is what you are looking for)

To get the C. E. You first need a Visa. Go to any colombian embassy web site and start reading. There are a bunch of different visas, for job, education, business (this is relatively easy if you already own a business in USA or other country that can request it for you) , living with a girl permanently, etc. You apply to the consulate or embassy that covers the area where you legally live. You may have trouble paying the visa fee, since they don't accept checks or credit cards. I used a wire transfer.

Once you have the visa you go to the DAS office in Bogota (Cll 100) and apply for the Cedula. Another 6 weeks or so to get the temporary contrasena, with which you can open a bank account.

Hope that helps.

-zing

I just walked into a bank with a passport and opened an account!

[Hioctane]

There are many expat programmers in Colombia. Who in their right mind would work for a Colombian company? They all work remotely for an American company at American salaries. Good luck, this is an ideal job for living in Colombia.