General Info

[Biffy]

All my luggage was thoroughly searched going into and out of both CTG and BAQ.

BAQ was worse with a moving line searched no fewer than 4 times, by different people, "those are the airport security, next its the customs, then army etc etc". All were polite and I have nothing to worry about (except maybe bad taste in clothing...).

It does add considerably to the time you have to spend in the airport before returning whereever you are going.

Worth it for the pussy though.

[Surfer]

Colombia is unusual in that it is the only country I know where foreign tourists are just as subject to search as locals (most countries they search the locals looking for electronics and jewelry and valuables not declared). I hear Cuban customs can also be like that but they are looking more for gifts or subversive materials etc. Money laundering is clearly one of the primary concerns in Colombia (the DIAN folks at the airport are the money police).

What is really odd is that it is only at Cartagena and Medellin that it seems to happen. Never had an issue at Cali or Bogota, the primary entry points I used (though I have flown AA from MIA into Rio Negro/MED 3 or 4 times) .

[MJG Dogs]

I think it was the fact they made a public display of all my toys which irked me. Oh well, I'll just smear a load on the vibrator before I pack this time, maybe that will scare them away. At least it will make me feel better!!

What are they looking for coming IN to Colombia anyway . . . large sums of cash??

Zidaho- you are correct about incoming. Large amounts of cash be a red flag.
You do need to follow the advice of Lawyer Surfer regarding fucking
with customs.

Surfer-Relax, I knew I would get your goat. I knew I would draw you out.
where have you been? How is life in Bahgdad by the bay? Don't fret.
I really could care less about Tuesday. They are all the same. Now 2008
is a different story.....

[MJG Dogs]

medellin- stay at VIP
or
Cartagena- rent an apartment from Mery or Juan ventura

Bogota and cali- Nope, not for first timers.....

[El Cubanito]

Need help to see which city is best for me to go to Colombia for a week. I have read Cali, Catargena, Medellin and Bogota site. But all of these cities seem to be pretty good for the P4P scene.

I have read thought that some Colombiana would not want to hang with you fif they knew you were only staying for 7 days. So I just stay at Aussie Greg or VIP since this is my first time to Colombia?

Please guys give me recomendations.

El Cubanito

PS Yo hablo Espanol muy bien amigos.

[Zidaho]

I think it was the fact they made a public display of all my toys which irked me. Oh well, I'll just smear a load on the vibrator before I pack this time, maybe that will scare them away. At least it will make me feel better!!

What are they looking for coming IN to Colombia anyway . . . large sums of cash??

[Surfer]

Dogs: Take the rightwing political rhetoric elsewhere please. It is a violation of forum rules and will only get the thread off topic when the 60% of Americans who do not approve of the job your side is doing respond. Express your views in the voting booth next Tuesday why don't you (polls indicate your side needs every vote it can get LOL!).

Z: NEVER fuck with customs IN ANY COUNTRY. They have all the power, you have none. Not all smugglers look like "tree hugers"; many look like rednecks or ex military (some are CURRENT military attached to Plan Colombia-does anybody read the news?).

They have always been polite to me (though I have never taken international flight through Cartagena). I have brought coffee back (for friends as I have never touched the stuff in my life) several times without incident. Once leaving from BOG I had several packages in my carry on and they guy slit one of the packages with a box cutter, sniffed it, then carefully taped over the slit and repacked it. Being courteous works wonders with customs and police the World over; giving them attitude will get it back in spades. Just smile and be polite.

[Tom 33]

Dodger Bulldog & Tom 33,

Thanks for the info regarding the coffee, but as for personal safety in CTG how safe is it to go out to restaurants, shopping, clubs and mongering. Anything that we should be aware of or try to avoid would be helpful to know aswell. We're just going down there to have a good time without getting into bad situations or having problems.

Thanks again!

If you stay in the tourist zone, you can freely walk alone 24/7. However, don't get drunk, wear fancy jewelry, or flash cash.

Dogs, for some reason you are always more thoroughly searched when you leave the country. Count on it.

[Zidaho]

It still ticks me off!

[Pana Nyc]

How are the ladies going to feel about a darker skinned guy in BAQ and Cali? I am dark like denzel washington. Obviously all women have "preferences" but how will that affect my trip?

Dont worry about anything, as long as pockets are filled with GREEN US DOLLARS you should have no problem in Colombia. Im a Moreno Panamenian and I have slayed many hoes in Panama from Colombia around the BAQ, CALI, MED area and had no problems they where feeling me and my dollars bigtime. I plan on making a trip to Colombia 2007 it will be interesting to see how Colombians will react to me once Im on their turf now, since they are treated like shit in Panama but not by me but my fellow countrymen, but I have money so who gives a fuck what they think about me!!!!

[MJG Dogs]

real smart zidaho. Cartagena is not Berkeley or san francisco. You get smug with the Colombian Military and they will drag you outside and beat your ass. If I were you I would just keep my mouth shut. There is no branch of the ACLU or American Trial Lawyers Associations for you to complain to.

Dodger Bulldog has the right idea- show a receipt explain why, be polite. No problem.

[Zidaho]

I have a dirty white boy suprise for the next Cartegena baggage inspector who plays like he is sniffing my shit.

And yes you are right about splitting bags open, I am going to bring lots of extra zip lock bags because they sliced through at least a dozen of my highly organized bags and releasing the contents on common tables in plain view of taxi drivers, passengers, families, etc. In all candor I was in a state of shock at the time!! Several of the bags were just ripped open.

The way they pretended to snif my shit, what BS . . . but if they want to play dirty I can too . . . I am going to plant several choice frothy loads in various discretely placed spots and hopefully I can get some pictures of them passing my sex toys around amongst themselves, holding them up, pointing at them and amusing themselves in front of me and the public. Those Cartegena inspectors really know how to [CodeWord140] a dirty white boy off. Ha, ha.

[Ray X]

Dodger Bulldog & Tom 33,

Thanks for the info regarding the coffee, but as for personal safety in CTG how safe is it to go out to restaurants, shopping, clubs and mongering. Anything that we should be aware of or try to avoid would be helpful to know aswell. We're just going down there to have a good time without getting into bad situations or having problems.

Thanks again!

[Dodger Bulldog]

Any information about CTG would be greatly appreciated, and can I bring back to the states large amounts of coffee with me on the plane.

Twice I have brought back 20 pounds of coffee from Colombia without any problem.

You don't want to put it in your checked luggage, as I was told they might just slit the bag and let the beans spill out to check for drugs. They aren't going to bother to put it back, so you would be out.

Just put it in your carry on and show them the receipt to prove that it was a legitimate purchase.

The security guy asked why I bought so much. When I told him the price in the U.S., he just nodded and smiled.

DB

[MJG Dogs]

Actually Tom, in late August when I left CTG, my bags were searched inside and out and x-rayed. I look like an ex-military, not a treehugger, but they checked everything. A few general questions. I alos noticed that the gear of the military at the airport had US stamped on it. When I asked one of the guys , he said it was gear that was given to the colombain government as part of "Plan Colombia". It looked exactly like Army-Navy surplus store gear.

It made me wonder what type of gear our boys have in Iraq and Afghanistan, and jesus after 11/7, it could get much worse. The thought of the cake and croissant party running all three branches makes me wake up in a cold sweat.

Politics aside, I worry about those kids over there, we certainly do a shitty job supporting them, especially the politicians of both parties, led by Lurch of Mass.