Bogota Reports

[The Tall Man]

To get rid of the persistent pests after tips, I have learned to stock up on cheap candy after Halloween or Valentine's day when it is on sale and keep a couple of pieces in your pocket when walking around. Blowpop suckers, tootsie rolls in bags etc for 99 cents etc as cheap as possible. Then when you are hassled for tips by the undeserving, hand them a piece of candy and walk away! Works like a charm and costs almost nothing for peace of mind.

I am going to see for myself in the next two weeks as I have a visit to SF area planned BUT with a colombian friend of mine who grew up dirt poor in medellin, I am sure he will handle it, jajajaja.

I will report back my experiences on the hassling.

TTM.

[Joe100]

Telling them no also works like a charm and truly costs nothing! (Not sure what kind of peace of mind you get from giving someone candy.).

Maybe the candy is laced with scopolomine and you can instruct them all to make their way to the set of The Walking Dead?

No usually works for everyone else. However, they are the exception. You can ignore them but one of them will 'attach' itself to you and stick to you like crap on a blanket. At the end of the day, you're going to walk into one of the bars and they'll then get their token from the barman....then try and highjack your drinks order. When I do ignore them (and I always do), one of them will put their greasy hand on your back. Drives me demented.

[Mr Enternational]

Then when you are hassled for tips by the undeserving, hand them a piece of candy and walk away! Works like a charm and costs almost nothing for peace of mind.

Telling them no also works like a charm and truly costs nothing! (Not sure what kind of peace of mind you get from giving someone candy.).

[Woodman09]

With the new Venezuelan influx, I wonder if it will be a little different in terms of girls available during this time. Essentially, a lot of the girls are in country as refugees with no family in country and no willingness to go back to Venezuela.

I was wondering the same- I think there will be a few of these pretty girls working the street.

[Travv]

To get rid of the persistent pests after tips, I have learned to stock up on cheap candy after Halloween or Valentine's day when it is on sale and keep a couple of pieces in your pocket when walking around. Blowpop suckers, tootsie rolls in bags etc for 99 cents etc as cheap as possible. Then when you are hassled for tips by the undeserving, hand them a piece of candy and walk away! Works like a charm and costs almost nothing for peace of mind.

We have a different modus operandi which is understandable as different people react differently even to the same situation. My experience has taught me to always resist giving money to people who have rendered no service to me especially if they are able bodied. If these same guys see you on another occasion they will hound you down more than they would have if you never gave them money. If no one pays them any attention they will find another mode of 'employment'.

[Routard]

I agree completely. . It's a shame that the bar owners can't put their heads together and figure out that this most frustrating circus only serves to destroy business down there rather than increase it.

I agree 200%. Trouble is that these club owners have very low level in tems of marketing skills. Needless to try to argue with the employees, they are just paid for it. I discussed once with an owner trying to explain that he is paying somebody for a counterproductive work, but he just couldn't get it. I always avoid as a plague any restaurant with someone with a flag in front to try to get you in as most are indeed ripp offs. Same for the clubs, I just avoid the ones with hassling employees. It's that not that is a lack of offer anyway for us that we just have to accept to be hassled.

[Joe100]

If these same guys see you on another occasion they will hound you down more than they would have if you never gave them money. If no one pays them any attention they will find another mode of 'employment'.

I agree completely. However, the bars are the ones paying them from what I can see. It's a shame that the bar owners can't put their heads together and figure out that this most frustrating circus only serves to destroy business down there rather than increase it.

None of those guys have led me anywhere but they're like flies on s**t. It's not just the hassling on the street. When I check out a bar, I want to get a sense of the place, whether I want to stay in it, etc. There's nothing worse than these guys pressuring you. I really can't stand it. They don't get 'paid' until you order a drink. I order all my drinks at the bar. Yet we still have the ludicrous scenario where one of these guys stands beside me at the bar and tries to order it for me (and sometimes succeeds) - so the transaction goes between 3 parties rather than 2.

I know these guys must be pretty desperate to work a 'job' like that but it's cringeworthy that their 'job' is so utterly pointless.

[Turgid]

.....Sometimes I will give them 1 mil just to get them to leave me alone....

We have a different modus operandi which is understandable as different people react differently even to the same situation. My experience has taught me to always resist giving money to people who have rendered no service to me especially if they are able bodied. If these same guys see you on another occasion they will hound you down more than they would have if you never gave them money. If no one pays them any attention they will find another mode of 'employment'.

[JjWalker03]

Santa Fe is definitely dangerous. Not trying to seem preachy but look at this map of murders in Bogota. Santa Fe, especially the area with the strip clubs is lit up. It's safe around the clubs, just be careful.

Also, be careful with your drinks, Colombian women are notorious for drugging people and stealing everything they can. They'll take you to the bank and try to empty out as much as possible.

Sorry, don't mean to be a Debbie downer, but I think you guys should know. I'm an expat (well not really, came to the US super young).

[Rodeo9112]

If you don't already have a novia in Bogota you will be most likely be shit out of luck. I avoid the entire the Semana Santa in all Latin Countries. Especially Easter Sunday! I have been to a few countries during Easter week but it was always with a girlfriend and her family or we would go to a beach resort for the week. You might get lucky at one of the beach towns but I highly doubt it and Bogota. Forget it. Maybe Santa Fe, check with Woodman about that. You can expect most businesses and even restaurants to be closed too.

With the new Venezuelan influx, I wonder if it will be a little different in terms of girls available during this time. Essentially, a lot of the girls are in country as refugees with no family in country and no willingness to go back to Venezuela.

[Eszpresszo]

If I was searching for uncharted waters, I'd start chatting up the girls in all the out of the way places. It probably means more traveling and Spanish skills will be important, but that's where the gems are. You can even start with Bogota.

That sounds like a call to action. And time to get serious about learning Spanish. Off the beaten path. But, first I need to get SE Asia out of the way next month.

[JHappyDog]

No, Santa Fe or the Centro is definitvely inot the place to stay at a hotel for a first timer. I recommend to stay close to Zona T or Parque 93 for your first vist in Bogota.

I took Routard's advice and stayed by Parque 93. Nice safe area and within walking distance or short taxi ride to many choices.

Thanks again are.

[Woodman09]

Glad to hear other Gringos are having fun in SF!! I was there Friday 2-23 showing a someone around. As usual Super Cute girls on the street -Streety Sweeties- all around. Went into all the clubs accept Picina-- There is a new club called Ibiza, next to Castillo. I think they are probably expensive compared to others in Santa Fe—Looks Nice though.

Spent a lot of time in California—That is another club with lotsa Venezolanas. We partied with a few girls was – If you are fun they are fun! If you can be smooth it's so fucking great you can check their boobs and grab-ass / pussy with impunity! Girls will be doing lap dances for 2-4+ guys at once they look like they are being gang-banged-- 3-4 girls doing lapdances around you is like a West World orgy.

I sessioned there for 40 milThere are 2 new clubs on 16 a, Eiffel and Eclipse, all new—Went into Eclipse they had girls all wearing the same dress—I was tempted to session with one but I was guiding.

There are so many clubs and not enough guys so the touts are just obnoxious—I'm say, Ya Regresso or Despues or No Puedo—They can be relentless.

Sometimes I will give them 1 mil just to get them to leave me alone.

With the wacky Metoo world we live in I wonder how long a place like SF can exist—What about all the writings here—how long before we are condemned?

[The Tall Man]

The vast majority of casas worldwide present the girls one by one. However, I much prefer when all the girls are in front of me; its much easier to make a decision. In places like Energy in Medellin where there can be over 20 girls in the lineup I invariably have to ask the mamasan to ask some of the previous girls to show themselves again and I must walk with pen and paper to note the names of the girls so I can make the best choice possible.

Funny I do the same with "pen and paper" to jot down either their name or number (sometimes displayed on their bikinis) otherwise my brain gets literally lost with meeting 20 plus chicas.

TTM.

[Turgid]

.... I have to say I find it awkward when they present the girls and they all stand there waiting for your choice! Not a problem if you have a choice to make but when you don't?. Other places, at least they do the line up and the girls shuffle away again....

The vast majority of casas worldwide present the girls one by one. However, I much prefer when all the girls are in front of me; its much easier to make a decision. In places like Energy in Medellin where there can be over 20 girls in the lineup I invariably have to ask the mamasan to ask some of the previous girls to show themselves again and I must walk with pen and paper to note the names of the girls so I can make the best choice possible.