Medellin Reports

[CatBert55]

Uber isn't illegal in Colombia, because technically, you are renting a car which comes with a driver. As you click through the acceptance screens when requesting a ride, you'll notice one that mentions this. Also, I recommend, as have others, using something besides the base level of Uber like UberComfort. Less chance of getting cancelled.

[Gabacho]

Girls use the word "cita" (appointment) a lot. No need to mention sex, it's implied.

Cita, servicio, un rato, un ratico, quiero verte, etc.

These newbie questions are unreal.

Migracióand Colombia should make you pass a basic Spanish test before allowing entry to Colombia.

[DiscoverFL]

I'm reading that you should take Uber everywhere (How does that work if it's "illegal."

Uber is illegal, but just a ticket, so it's everywhere. No uncommon for a driver to ask you to sit in front or have really dark rear windows to not attract enforcement. There's no penalty to the passenger, just the driver gets a ticket.

As for girls in public, as a non-Spanish speaker who will rely on Translate, is the goal to notice a girl you like, chat her up and take her back to your room ASAP? So spend maybe 5 to 10 minutes introducing and discussing personal interests, then mention "Sexo?" , and head back to your short term hotel or your main Hotel (Which is saved for later if you want to see her again?

Girls use the word "cita" (appointment) a lot. No need to mention sex, it's implied. You can ask "Cuanto por una cita?" (how much for a date) or offer an amount "te puedo ofrecer 300 mil por una cita?" (can I offer your 300 mil for a date?) If you have preferences you want to discuss in advance, just state them (I want.). If you have no idea if a specific girl is a "prepaga" (pre-paid aka hooker/escort/etc.) then you can ask "sin ofenderte, eres muy linda, tu ofreces citas?" (without offending you, you are very pretty, do you offer dates?) or something to that variety. They love verbal compliments, so throw extra ones at the start and end of every sentence if you can (my dear love, could i interest you in a date? you are so pretty). Whatever comes out of translator will work well.

Trying to figure out a strategy since you don't want to be seen holding a phone out and bringing attention to yourself.

Everyone has their phone out in Medellin like anywhere else. Just hold it tight and close, don't play with one on a street corner too close to the street, I. E. Look like everyone else when they use their phone. You can ask a girl to "ven aca" (come over here) to talk more intimately away from a street or crowd.

Lastly, keep walking on the street or being in a public place to a minimal and only Uber exactly to where you need to go? Club, Red Light Districts, Etc?

I order my Uber from inside wherever I am, place a marker where I want to be picked up. I go out when car is arriving. I have it take me directly to where I am going. I don't usually linger outside.

[DiscoverFL]

If you're using Uber, you have to set aside some time for Uber to find a driver and for the driver to get there. Sometimes it would take more than 10 or 15 minutes before I got picked up. Sometimes a driver would cancel and then you would have to start over. I had a doctor's appointment and I was late due to Uber. Uber is reliable but you just need to give yourself additional time if you need to get somewhere by a certain time.

This is most likely because you are using the lowest cost Uber tier, competing against Didi and other services. When its busy, I spend the extra dollar or two to get a Comfort or Green Uber. Then they come right away as they are getting more money. Never have to wait more than 5 minutes, if that. Again, I really like the pre-estimate, live-tracking, and such. So I mostly stick to Uber.

[Gabacho]

I don't think you understood the point. No puedo esperar means I can't wait.

The app doesn't know that you are using an English idiom. The way to express your excitement is to say "Estoy emocionado conocerte".

The app also interjected para which is wrong. Esperar is the verb "to wait for" The preposition is baked in. Also true for buscar (to search for) so adding para was bad Spanish.

Lastly there are at least three verbs that can be used to say "to meet" conocerse, encontrarse & reuinirse. There are subtle shades but use any of the three and you will be understood.

So in the example I gave, I know for a fact the girl considered his statement to be rude when in fact he meant it to be reassuring. This is the problem using idiomatic phrases with a translator.

I agree. In Spanish if you say I can't wait (no puedo esperar) it actually means like I don't have the time to wait like I cannot wait on you. They will think it means you are in a hurry and do not ha e time to wait. What you mean to say is "estoy emocionado para conocerte" or I am excited to meet you. This conveys the meaning of "I can't wait to meet you" and they will understand it.

[Gabacho]

No girls are hanging out by the pool. A girl you're bringing yourself can still visit you. I have very limited Spanish myself and, I got by pretty well with google translate.

So how is it any different than any other mediocre hotel with a pool?

[Gabacho]

Here's some information on Colombian Cedulas (ID Cards) for people who may find this information useful.

https://youtu.be/3ePPf9EcZew?si=ZF2VkJNCpMabEUkj

[Villainy]

It was translated correctly. Don't know how it could have said anything close to being on time. Something else was going on with that conversation. Perhaps what she saw was "No puedo esperar para encontrarte." That would mean what she thought she read or heard.

But does translation sometimes get it wrong. Yes. And mainly when the same word has 2 completely different meanings and the translate app picks the wrong one. One trick you can use is to reverse translate and then reverse again. If all of the results stay the same chances are it is accurate.

I don't think you understood the point. No puedo esperar means I can't wait.

The app doesn't know that you are using an English idiom. The way to express your excitement is to say "Estoy emocionado conocerte".

The app also interjected para which is wrong. Esperar is the verb "to wait for" The preposition is baked in. Also true for buscar (to search for) so adding para was bad Spanish.

Lastly there are at least three verbs that can be used to say "to meet" conocerse, encontrarse & reuinirse. There are subtle shades but use any of the three and you will be understood.

So in the example I gave, I know for a fact the girl considered his statement to be rude when in fact he meant it to be reassuring. This is the problem using idiomatic phrases with a translator.

[Shoman]

I am a veteran of numerous trips to the Philippines and Kenya, and have decided to go to Medellin next month, which will be my first trip there. I don't speak Spanish at all, but have made several contacts there using Badoo and communicating via the Google Translator app. It's a bit cumbersome, but seems manageable. I have RTFF, but wondering if any of you folks going to Medellin have done so successfully without learning any Spanish. The Google Translator app has a voice translation function that will only work in person. I've never tried this in practice, but that seems to be the plan. Any pointers?.

I have some Spanish now and get by without the translator app in most instances. Still have a long way to go to be fluent. When I started I was 100% translator app. It works but after 1 or 2 blowups with chickas over translator language issues I started telling them early on that they should remember we have a language barrier and it will be extra work to understand each other. When something subsequently blew up I reminded them of the barrier which always seemed to calm things down.

[FlagRunner77]

. One trick you can use is to reverse translate and then reverse again. If all of the results stay the same chances are it is accurate.

That is a very good tip! Thanks for sharing. I hadn't thought to do that.

[Robotron]

Perhaps someone can create a new thread that solely discusses Safety Practices and Advice for Medellin and Colombia and you all experienced can post your tips in on place? Scrolling through the 100's of pages here can take forever if you don't know where to go.

I'm reading that you should take Uber everywhere (How does that work if it's "illegal."

Regarding high end Hotels such as Hilton, any huge safety difference between staying there (which is around 120 per night), compared to cheaper ones around 50 per night, and any issues bringing girls over?

As for girls in public, as a non-Spanish speaker who will rely on Translate, is the goal to notice a girl you like, chat her up and take her back to your room ASAP? So spend maybe 5 to 10 minutes introducing and discussing personal interests, then mention "Sexo?" , and head back to your short term hotel or your main Hotel (Which is saved for later if you want to see her again?

Trying to figure out a strategy since you don't want to be seen holding a phone out and bringing attention to yourself.

Lastly, keep walking on the street or being in a public place to a minimal and only Uber exactly to where you need to go? Club, Red Light Districts, Etc?

Maybe some girls on properly vetted Tinder would Uber directly to your hotel to minimize scams.

By answering these essential questions, you are saving lives. Thank you for your service.

[FlagRunner77]

No girls are hanging out by the pool. A girl you're bringing yourself can still visit you. I have very limited Spanish myself and, I got by pretty well with google translate.

Thanks. Have you experienced this recently? So there is already a restriction with girls hanging out by the pool?

[Shemp]

The staff on email still claims that changes in ownership are still just rumours. However I'm thinking for my trip, if the only change is no girls there during the daytime, I might still be okay as I was planning to visit casas during the daytime and pull girls from the M pool at night. As long as there are girls there for the evening hours, those of us who plan to be out during the daytime might be okay even with this change.

At night the chicas are not at the pool, they are hanging in a bar next door. At no time of the day are available chicas at the pool.

[LoveItHere69]

Inflation worldwide has really made mongering more dangerous than 5 to 20 years ago. If you take a bus you are advertising yourself to a lot of people that could take a liking to you and call a kidnapping friend. Quit trying to save a few bucks and take Uber always.

Inflation is making things more dangerous but another large problem is all the idiots now travelling that do no research and assume the country being visited is the same as their own. So the idiots are becoming a target. Overpaying tells the locals you have money and have no idea what the local situation is.

If you take a bus it kinda gives the impression that you have little money and that you are not really a first timer tourist.

[Zeos1]

Your best course is to speak Spanish at least at a conversational level. But, that isn't going to be possible for you this trip. Just remember something about Google Translate. Don't try to be clever or witty. Many English sayings just won't translate beyond a literal level and that will spark real confusion. Keep your sentences short and to the point. If you do that you should be fine.

Let me give you an example. A friend of mine was communicating with his date. His comment at the end of the communication was "I can't wait to see you". Well, he should have said "I am excited to meet you. ".

Google translated it into Spanish "No puedo esperar para conocerte. " Which implies that I can't wait for you if you aren't on time. The date was pissed. Being on-time isn't so much a requirement here. They managed to untangle things.

But just keep your conversation very direct with short sentences.

It was translated correctly. Don't know how it could have said anything close to being on time. Something else was going on with that conversation. Perhaps what she saw was "No puedo esperar para encontrarte." That would mean what she thought she read or heard.

But does translation sometimes get it wrong. Yes. And mainly when the same word has 2 completely different meanings and the translate app picks the wrong one. One trick you can use is to reverse translate and then reverse again. If all of the results stay the same chances are it is accurate.