Medellin Reports

[Surfer500]

A webcam girl I've known for a few years just hit the gringo jackpot. She about to marry a 60 something West Coast guy whose pockets are loaded. They've known each other for less than 1 year. She has an American credit card, about to go through the visa process, and goes on spending sprees with him. I know this firsthand since I used to mess with her back then and we kept in touch.

I went to visit her barrio and her place is all decked out. A total 180 from a year ago when I was last there. It went from a small bare bones no furniture house to a full fledge penthouse haha no joke. I guess no such thing as building permits in Medellin. Shes smart, she keeps the outside modest, but inside its a like a high end Poblado spot. I see pictures of them in seemingly monthly vacations. I'm happy for her, but damn. My fellow gringo, if you are on this board (I highly doubt he is), DON'T DO IT! But do what makes you happy. Just knowing who she is, not sure how long this engagement / marriage will last. Funny thing, I know and talk to her family when I visit and I said your daughter / niece is the luckiest girl in the barrio and they all agreed hehe..

This webcam girl hasn't even cashed out yet.

I know a gringo dentist in his sixties who has a Paisa girlfriend half his age who has a daughter that he has known for like 4 years. About three years ago he bought a Penthouse apartment in Poblado which they have lived in together for over three years.

I believe under Colombian law that after two years of a couple living together, they are considered married, and if and when she want's to split, she is entitled to half of everything in Colombia if she decides to pursue this.

I brought this up to him, and he seemed resigned to it possibly happening.

He's loaded as well, and perhaps for some of the most wealthy, it's just chump change to them, and worth the happiness.

Like many of us, we use our small heads when we get enamored with some of these women.

[JamesPearle]

What's funny is that people will talk about how terrible prostitution is because it's soul-crushing, dirty, whatever and then walk past 3 female janitors who spend 8 - 12 hours per day for less than minimum wage literally cleaning up other people's sh*t and not give them a second thought. So is the concern really, truly about everyone in the world having a high paying, clean, sophisticated job?

Then I guess you would agree w Sureman. But I don't agree with this view at all. There is nothing so special about selling your body that should make the price high. Sell your knowledge, sell your education, sell your time, sell a car, sell a cellphone, sell your body. I don't see a significant difference. Only to people that are brought up in a culture where the act of sex is elevated to some esteemed level of significane and importance. But this is not the case in many, many countries, incl Colombia. And the prices and volumes of sex workers bears this out. For every girl that hits the wall after 3 years, there are countless others that don't. For every soul crushed, there are countless others that have a great time and living a better life than they could have achieved otherwise. Girls get fat or out of shape from their lifestyle choices for a 100 different factors.

That's why I said girls get paid "peanuts" for sex - bcos they are selling peanuts. It may as well be. There is no material difference. In fact, the coffee and candy girls in El Centro are living proof!.

[RiceRocket99]

A webcam girl I've known for a few years just hit the gringo jackpot. She about to marry a 60 something West Coast guy whose pockets are loaded. They've known each other for less than 1 year. She has an American credit card, about to go through the visa process, and goes on spending sprees with him. I know this firsthand since I used to mess with her back then and we kept in touch.

I went to visit her barrio and her place is all decked out. A total 180 from a year ago when I was last there. It went from a small bare bones no furniture house to a full fledge penthouse haha no joke. I guess no such thing as building permits in Medellin. She’s smart, she keeps the outside modest, but inside it’s a like a high end Poblado spot. I see pictures of them in seemingly monthly vacations. I'm happy for her, but damn. My fellow gringo, if you are on this board (I highly doubt he is), DON'T DO IT! But do what makes you happy. Just knowing who she is, not sure how long this engagement / marriage will last. Funny thing, I know and talk to her family when I visit and I said your daughter / niece is the luckiest girl in the barrio and they all agreed hehe.

Today, I saw a fellow American or Canadian Chino in his 30's roaming around alone in my neck of the woods. Not sure if he's on this forum, but sorry bro, I already called dibs on the northern suburbs hehe. I kindly ask you to go back down south for your safety, and please leave your cargo shorts at home. But if we cross paths again, I'll buy you a beer hehe.

[Gabacho]

Then I guess you would agree w Sureman. But I don't agree with this view at all. There is nothing so special about selling your body that should make the price high. Sell your knowledge, sell your education, sell your time, sell a car, sell a cellphone, sell your body. I don't see a significant difference. Only to people that are brought up in a culture where the act of sex is elevated to some esteemed level of significane and importance. But this is not the case in many, many countries, incl Colombia. And the prices and volumes of sex workers bears this out. For every girl that hits the wall after 3 years, there are countless others that don't. For every soul crushed, there are countless others that have a great time and living a better life than they could have achieved otherwise. Girls get fat or out of shape from their lifestyle choices for a 100 different factors.

That's why I said girls get paid "peanuts" for sex - bcos they are selling peanuts. It may as well be. There is no material difference. In fact, the coffee and candy girls in El Centro are living proof!

IMO.

And what's more, if I felt like you do, I doubt that I would monger.

This is 100% true. Maybe some girls get burnt out after a while but it is because of their religious views not because of their inability to be service providers. My homegirl Violeta (also in Tijuana) has been working since like 2003 and she is still out there in callejon Coahuila working everyday. These girls make way more money working this industry than they would working in a fucking Éxito or D1 or what have you, and many of them are happy with the desicions they have made and the money that they make.

[JustTK]

They should make more money than a hotel worker. They are selling their body. It's a soul crushing job for a girl even if you're kind and they are attractive to you. They can only do it for a short time. I've seen girls hit the wall in 3 years in this business. I was with a hooker in Tijuana and her body was a 10.3 years later I lost interest because she gained so much weight. She turned into a 5 at best.

Then I guess you would agree w Sureman. But I don't agree with this view at all. There is nothing so special about selling your body that should make the price high. Sell your knowledge, sell your education, sell your time, sell a car, sell a cellphone, sell your body. I don't see a significant difference. Only to people that are brought up in a culture where the act of sex is elevated to some esteemed level of significane and importance. But this is not the case in many, many countries, incl Colombia. And the prices and volumes of sex workers bears this out. For every girl that hits the wall after 3 years, there are countless others that don't. For every soul crushed, there are countless others that have a great time and living a better life than they could have achieved otherwise. Girls get fat or out of shape from their lifestyle choices for a 100 different factors.

That's why I said girls get paid "peanuts" for sex - bcos they are selling peanuts. It may as well be. There is no material difference. In fact, the coffee and candy girls in El Centro are living proof!

IMO.

And what's more, if I felt like you do, I doubt that I would monger.

[Knowledge]

Yes, you are correct on all points.

That's because those phones were both CDMA and GSM so it had a sim card slot for the GSM function of the phone. If a phone was only CDMA it didn't have a sim card.

[JjBee62]

Keep in mind that the street chick or self-employed handyman have the freedom to do whatever they want on their time between customers. The hourly workers are expected to be constantly doing some task during those hours. There are pros and cons to everything. Pick your own poison.

Keep in mind that some self-employed handymen charge less than the franchise service company and some charge more. If I want to remodel my kitchen, the highest quote might be 3 times higher than the lowest. Will I get identical results no matter how much I pay? Maybe, but probably not. I could also get 3 identical quotes and get 3 different results.

Consider the work you do. Is everyone who does the same work paid the same price? If you earn above average, should you be paid less? If you work on something for 4 hours, should you receive the same amount as someone who put in 45 minutes? If your work is always to the highest standards, should you only be paid as much as the guy who needs constant supervision?

If you're responsible for hiring workers, do you only consider the people who will accept the lowest pay? If you did, would you expect the same production as the people who expect more?

In my experience, when I provide a better work environment and pay better, the results outweigh the costs. When I was hiring workers almost every day, I provided water and Gatorade and I paid more with incentives for a job well done. If needed I would buy lunch. Usually jobs were finished quicker with less problems. The next time I needed someone in that town, one phone call would get me the best people and my overall costs were the same or better than if I paid the lowest rate. Another bonus, I didn't have to work as hard.

I use the same philosophy with girls. I stay in nice places, at a reasonable price. I pay more for girls to come to me, on my schedule. I could pay much less in El Centro, but the environment is not as good as, the time is not as long, the typical girl is not as attractive and the average level of service is less. Plus, I'm limited to who is available at that moment.

I'm not saying everyone should do what I do, stay where I stay and pay what I pay. Instead everyone should do what works best for them and recognize that other people want different things and will be paying different prices.

[JjBee62]

That housekeeper is getting paid for every hour she is at her work site. The street walker is only getting paid when she is with a customer. She may have only one 30 minute session in six hours, and maybe none. Your example is like comparing the hourly wage of a self-employed handy man to an hourly paid full time maintenance man at a factory, hotel, etc. Some days the self employed person may have lots of customers, and some days very few or none.

That's an excellent point. TJBrazil made some good points too. Let me add to them.

That housekeeper is not only getting a regular paycheck, she's working a regular schedule and she's getting the transportation subsidy. With a regular schedule, she can work something out with a friend, or relative to watch her kids each day. She can take buses and the Metro and save a lot on transportation. She's probably also getting one free meal per day at work.

The street girls and casa girls might be able to work out the same deal and use public transportation, but they don't have the steady income.

The Facebook girls never know when they will work. If they need a babysitter, it's not as easy. They probably can't use public transportation because it takes too long, or isn't available for really late citas. They often need to get showered and ready with almost no notice. Plus they are on their own. A street girl or casa girl is in an environment with some protection. A Facebook girl is going to meet a complete stranger in an unknown place, with more risks involved. One common risk is that they'll arrive and the customer isn't there, sticking them with 2 expensive taxi rides and no money to pay.

It would be much simpler if we could just treat all the girls like a gumball machine. You put in a coin, twist the knob and you get a gumball. It might be a different color, with a different flavor, but everything else will be the same.

There's so much more to it.

The easiest way is to take a look in the mirror. Most of us spent many years earning a living. Some are still working, while the rest are enjoying retirement. Most of us weren't the lowest paid in our chosen profession. Where would each of us be if our earning potential had remained the same as the lowest paid workers? We probably wouldn't be arguing about the price of pussy in other countries, because travel wouldn't be in our budget.

I'm guessing each of us can justify why we deserve (or deserved) to be paid more than entry level. Better performance, more reliable, better at thinking outside the box, or working for a more profitable business are all good reasons. I doubt if many here can look back to their first paycheck and laugh at how much we are overpaid now.

Apply that elsewhere. Grocery prices are cheaper in the poorest parts of the city, property values too. A Mercedes costs more than a Kia.

Why should a girl who services you in a grubby room for 30 minutes be paid the same as a girl who comes to your apartment and stays for 3 hours? Why should a girl who looks like she just stepped off the runway in Milan be paid the same as a woman who looks like she's applying to be Danny DeVito's stunt double? Why would you pay the same for a girl who gives you the fast food restaurant level of service and for a girl with 2 Michelin stars?

Why would the women who get paid more for providing more, be laughing? Anyone here make a habit of laughing at how foolish your boss was each time you got a raise, promotion or bonus? I admit to feeling a bit giddy when I got my most recent raise, but I'm not laughing at my boss.

I don't understand why a girl I paid 200 k (or more) would be seeing another gringo for 30-70 k. Then she's going to laugh with him about me paying her so much more? While she likely is offering a lower price for Colombians, she's probably not telling them she's got a bunch of money in her pocket. Not unless she wants to get fucked and robbed.

Everyone should be figuring out the price that works for them, then find the girls who will accept that price. If you can't find acceptable girls at that price, you can keep looking. After all, there's supposedly no difference between the girls getting $500 a session and the girls getting 30 k.

[Mr Enternational]

That housekeeper is getting paid for every hour she is at her work site. The street walker is only getting paid when she is with a customer. She may have only one 30 minute session in six hours, and maybe none. Your example is like comparing the hourly wage of a self-employed handy man to an hourly paid full time maintenance man at a factory, hotel, etc. Some days the self employed person may have lots of customers, and some days very few or none.

Keep in mind that the street chick or self-employed handyman have the freedom to do whatever they want on their time between customers. The hourly workers are expected to be constantly doing some task during those hours. There are pros and cons to everything. Pick your own poison.

[Elvis 2008]

Looks like you have it backwards. With you paying $100 for something that costs $30, the one that the locals is laughing at is you!

Don't worry though. The locals are getting the same thing from laughing at you as you are getting for paying three times more; nothing.

Yeah, I cannot tell you how many times I have gotten into a cab with my gal, and we have a cab driver looking to fleece us. I see what they see, an older man with a younger hot gal, and the cabbies think they can fleece me with the ride. If I object to the fare, it looks like I have no money and look like a fool in front of the woman.

So I cannot tell you how many times a cabbie will say a ride is 20 mil and my gal will chime in and say, "No, that is a 10 mil ride" and scold the cabbie in her motherly "I am so ashamed of you" voice. Those cabbies sink down in their seats after being busted, and after that happens, I assure you the cabbie is not laughing but I am.

[Fun Luvr]

I'm just expounding more on what MR E said: Go to the ads and see that for example most housekeepers in Colombia earn about 13 dollars for about 6 hours work, that is about $2. 50 and hour so a street walker girl (average in looks) who can make 15 dollars in 30 minutes is making like 12 times what an unskilled laborer is making.

That housekeeper is getting paid for every hour she is at her work site. The street walker is only getting paid when she is with a customer. She may have only one 30 minute session in six hours, and maybe none. Your example is like comparing the hourly wage of a self-employed handy man to an hourly paid full time maintenance man at a factory, hotel, etc. Some days the self employed person may have lots of customers, and some days very few or none.

[Husker Dude]

Let me reply to the search.

As I was about to check in a guy all suited up ask a few questions about if left the city of Medellin. I said no and asked what I did.

I said I stayed in Laurels but went to El Poblado for dinner.

It was not the police.

Probably working for American Airlines.

He spoke perfect English.

I checked in did the security check.

Went to the boarding area.

About 2 hours they started to call some names.

I heard mine but no AA repwas by the boarding gate.

So 15 minutes later names were called again. I saw the female rep that checked me in.

I went up to her she collected my boarding pass.

As boarding was started at the side saw the the that spoke to me doing the searches.

My and another Indian guy from Suriname and others was Spanish people.

2 older ladies were searched.

They used a paper swabbed my hands.

Under my shirt and my hand luggage.

Put it in a machine it made some sounds.

Then I was allowed to board he said it was a random selection no one was targeted.

So that's it.

I've been called once out of about 20 trips to MDE too. Same deal.

[Mr Enternational]

You worry what other people pay to enjoy themselves. I think people earn to make life better. So don't make the locals laugh at you.

Looks like you have it backwards. With you paying $100 for something that costs $30, the one that the locals is laughing at is you!

No idea how it makes your life better to walk into McDonald's and pay $10 for a Big Mac that says $3 on the menu, but as I said it will give you are warm and fuzzy feeling, but you will get the same 2 beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese as everyone else that stood in line and paid $3.

Don't worry though. The locals are getting the same thing from laughing at you as you are getting for paying three times more; nothing.

[Gabacho]

Let me reply to the search.

As I was about to check in a guy all suited up ask a few questions about if left the city of Medellin. I said no and asked what I did.

I said I stayed in Laurels but went to El Poblado for dinner.

It was not the police.

Probably working for American Airlines.

He spoke perfect English.

I checked in did the security check.

Went to the boarding area.

About 2 hours they started to call some names.

I heard mine but no AA repwas by the boarding gate.

So 15 minutes later names were called again. I saw the female rep that checked me in.

I went up to her she collected my boarding pass.

As boarding was started at the side saw the the that spoke to me doing the searches.

My and another Indian guy from Suriname and others was Spanish people.

2 older ladies were searched.

They used a paper swabbed my hands.

Under my shirt and my hand luggage.

Put it in a machine it made some sounds.

Then I was allowed to board he said it was a random selection no one was targeted.

So that's it.

There was some more info posted on this back in October I think. I found an article on it online a while back too. Basically the US TSA is responsible for these searches. On international flights that are bound to the US the TSA is monitoring all people who book those flights from any countries, not just Colombia, and they "randomly" select people for an SSSS search and communicate with the airlines and have them conduct the searches. I believe you will have somewhat of a heads up as you won't be able to check in online like normal, and when you get checked in at the airport the paper boarding pass will have the letters SSSS on them. Agn this is only on flights bound to the US.

[JjBee62]

Can you be a little more specific about the secondary search?

When you enter into the International gate at the airport, after they confirm you have a boarding pass, there are typically two Colombian police whom are looking at Passports and decide whom may be sent for a more thorough search by the Police, besides airport security. I have seen the Colombian police going thru peoples things, paperwork, etc.

You said it was a secondary search, yet I have never seen a secondary search of anyone after going thru the main checkpoint.

I have flown on Avianca, Copa, and American and have yet to see this during the last seven years.

Was it conducted just prior to boarding the plane, and if so by whom?

Just curious, that's all.

I've seen this in the US and I think I've seen it in either Bogota or Medellin (not certain because I wasn't one who was pulled).

When it happened to me in the US some of us were pulled aside just before boarding. Carry on baggage was checked and we were either frisked or scanned with the metal detector wand. In my case I believe I was selected because I changed my flight at the last minute.

I'm a bit paranoid about missing my flight because of something beyond my control, so I usually arrive about 2 hours early. That time, once I arrived I realized there was an earlier flight available and was able to switch at no cost.