Medellin Reports

[IslandMonger]

Thank you gents for all the comments and suggestions. Today I found out a group of friends are heading to Jaco for a bachelor party so I'm taking the opportunity to go with them, which means I have to put my Medellin plans on hold. I've mongered in CR twice but never Jaco, and I can tell my wife about this trip instead of having to sneak away with a BS excuse, so it's too good a chance to pass up. Hopefully I can still get away later this year and head to Medellin.

[Sun08]

Speaking of the cell phone, a man was killed yesterday in El Centro during a cell phone robbery.

http://www.elcolombiano.com/antioqui...ular-LC3433148

[Charm City Dave]

Just be careful because you are talking about buying antiquated technology. It is like pens and pencils came out but you want to buy a mallet and chisel whose operating system may no longer support the present version of the application called paper. You couldn't cheap out and put caveman era stone slabs that you got at a discount because they were outdated into the modern fax machine you had in your office. You needed a more modern application called paper that was compatible with it. Your device may physically last forever, but each day they make the applications more advanced, which soon outdate your phone rendering it obsolete and useless.

Good point. I upgraded from the S3 to the S6 cause my aviation apps were slowing down. That said the S3 was more than sufficient for my needs in MDE. Also good point someone made on not flashing even an S3 on the streets of MDE. My last lay who was there while I started packing asked if she could have it, even a 3 year old Samsung would have been an upgrade for her. On the few occasions I had to consult it while out and about I ducked into a store and did so as inconspicuously as I could.

[Reemo]

If you want a new, inexpensive phone, look at the BLU brand. They are all unlocked from the manufacturer. I have bought a few for chicas, and they work well. You can find used Samsung's on Ebay for $100 or less if you buy them on auction. I like a smaller phone to carry in my pocket, so the Samsung mini's work for me.

I bought a BLU last year on Amazon: "BLU Studio see 5+5 Smartphone with Lollipop OS- Global GSM Unlocked. Black". Aprox $90.

I used it in Medi and bought a sim card there. Worked great. Very fast. I also got a 32 GB memory card to use with it.

[Fun Luvr]

I need an inexpensive phone that I can put google translate on, and use mapping, etc. Guessing that the unlocked galaxy G3 (see them for $119 up) mentioned would fit the bill?

If you want a new, inexpensive phone, look at the BLU brand. They are all unlocked from the manufacturer. I have bought a few for chicas, and they work well. You can find used Samsung's on Ebay for $100 or less if you buy them on auction. I like a smaller phone to carry in my pocket, so the Samsung mini's work for me.

[Hasideas Tao]

Think of me as a humble, respectful friend who you know in Medellin!

I am grateful for the many new friends I have already made this way. Some of whom have even chosen to stay with me on their return visits.

If it is only for an afternoon, I am an efficient communicator in English as well as Spanish and I can give you an intelligent lay of the land and help you form a feasible game plan!

I will save you a lot of time with up to date info about girls and activities going on in the city, what is old news, point out places for a good local style meal, the best days and nights for particular clubs, casas and bars as well as knowledge of safe barrios where the regular girls still think foreigners are exotic. (If you are serious about finding a true diamond in the rough you have to dig a little.).

I understand the excitement and satisfaction of venturing out alone. Yet I also know from years of experience, the time spent with someone who knows the city is priceless simply by making efficient use of time, getting pointed in the right direction and avoiding common mistakes. PM me if interested. I also have a direct line to the US and many other kinds of useful contacts and information I am happy to share.

Greetings gents,

Thanks to many who contribute to this great forum. After mongering several other locations around the Caribbean and Central America, I am obsessed with making Medellin my next destination. I've RTFF, but curious about one aspect I have not seen mentioned.

Even though I'm planning my first trip, I wanted to bypass the Mansion / Colombia Jake route and rent an apartment, visit the Casa's and strip clubs and find that diamond in the rough by hitting some street action. My concern is that even with addresses and maps of Casa's provided on the forum, they are not "obvious" with signs or advertisements, so even with an address, how does the first time visitor locate it? I certainly don't want to be wondering the streets of Medellin with a map of smart phone in hand, unsure of where I'm going, perhaps standing right in front of my destination like a dumb ass and not know it. I've read many posts by first timers going solo their first trip without incident, but I'm a little worried about the navigation. Should I bite the bullet and stay a day or two at the Mansion just to partake in the Casa tours, or do you think I will be fine without it?

FYI, I usually travel with a wingman but will likely make this trip solo. I'm street smart enough to not act like an idiot but in reality, I am an obvious gringo at 6'1" 250 with brown hair and green eyes, so "blending in" is unlikely. I have basic Spanish skills and can hold light conversation, but too detailed or fast speaking and they loose me. Am I setting myself up to be a target by going solo?

[Black Page]

Swithout being something I would hesitate to give up if being robbed.

The point is that, in some contexts, what is not attractive for us could be very attractive for others who do not have our income.

My feeling is that you could bring your S6 in the same places where you are safe to bring an S3, e.g., LLeras or most places on the higher end, because an S3 is already a stellar device for desperate ones. I had no problems in bringing my S5 (MY main precious phone) to Luna Lunera, for example. But no way I would display it at night in any bar of Centro, or even at day time I would never go around the streets using Google Maps on a smartphone.

I am trying to say that, in my perspective, rather than reducing the damage IF I am robbed, more broadly I aim at simply reducing the risk to be robbed (which is a nuisance in any case).

When I travel to countries where there could be problems, I bring my S5, to be used in all normal contexts, and a poor plain old GSM phone which should not be attractive for almost anyone. This phone below was with me in many dingy places in Bangladesh, India, Ghana, Uganda, Indonesia, Malesia... (for USA and South America I must use another one, similar to this, working on the other GSM band)

P.S. : this kind of phones is often called "flecha" in Colombia. Guess why? Because they say that it is the phone used by indios in the jungle.

[Member #4394]

Thank you. The term applies to casas, clubs, and escorts as well.

'

''El que con nimo de lucrarse o para satisfacer los deseos de otro, constria a cualquier persona al comercio carnal o a la prostitucion"

Article 214.

http://perso.unifr.ch/derechopenal/a...0130808_01.pdf

.

[Mr Enternational]

Seems the S3's I saw were the minis, but have found several s4's under $200. Also found a comparo on youtube between s3,4 5. Since I'm starting from scratch, think the s4 will be a better choice, and hopefully modern enough, without being something I would hesitate to give up if being robbed.

See I had the original S which I had no problems with it working but over time became very slow and would no longer support some apps. I was finally forced to buy the new S5 in April 2014 because of that. I kept my S to use as an mp3 player and overaeas phone but it could only support up to a 32 gb SD card (newer phones can support 128gb cards).

A few months ago I bought a J1 for my mp3 player and overseas phone and gave the S to my 7 year old nephew as a starter phone. That reminds me that you should search other models of Samsung besides the S. I paid $100 for a new J1 in Thailand and came back to the States and saw the same phone for $149 at Microcenter computer store. (Looks like you can get them for as cheap as $89 now.) So you could actually buy a brand new J or A model for less than buying a used S3 or S4 model.

[Mr Adventure]

Just be careful because you are talking about buying antiquated technology. It is like pens and pencils came out but you want to buy a mallet and chisel whose operating system may no longer support the present version of the application called paper. You couldn't cheap out and put caveman era stone slabs that you had laying around into the fax machine you had in your office. You needed a more modern application called paper that was compatible with it..

Seems the S3's I saw were the minis, but have found several s4's under $200. Also found a comparo on youtube between s3,4 5. Since I'm starting from scratch, think the s4 will be a better choice, and hopefully modern enough, without being something I would hesitate to give up if being robbed.

[Mr Enternational]

I need an inexpensive phone that I can put google translate on, and use mapping, etc. Guessing that the unlocked galaxy G3 (see them for $119 up) mentioned would fit the bill?

I just figure the easiest way to get what I need is to copy what works for someone else. Unless there is a better choice, opinions?

Just be careful because you are talking about buying antiquated technology. It is like pens and pencils came out but you want to buy a mallet and chisel whose operating system may no longer support the present version of the application called paper. You couldn't cheap out and put caveman era stone slabs that you got at a discount because they were outdated into the modern fax machine you had in your office. You needed a more modern application called paper that was compatible with it. Your device may physically last forever, but each day they make the applications more advanced, which soon outdate your phone rendering it obsolete and useless.

[Questner]

Whereas pimping is illegal in Colombia, I have been wondering what the technical / legal definition of pimping is in Colombia. As other member said, casas and clubs take cut, and it appears to be no problem. I wonder if anybody know, not guess, about it.

'

''El que con nimo de lucrarse o para satisfacer los deseos de otro, constria a cualquier persona al comercio carnal o a la prostitucion"

Article 214.

http://perso.unifr.ch/derechopenal/a...0130808_01.pdf

[Member #4394]

Whereas pimping is illegal in Colombia, I have been wondering what the technical / legal definition of pimping is in Colombia. As other member said, casas and clubs take cut, and it appears to be no problem. I wonder if anybody know, not guess, about it.

[Charm City Dave]

In my office I had 3 telephones, a fax, a cellphone, a Motorola, and usually was "on call", ALL of which I was glad to get away from upon retiring. I am ignorant with regard to smart phones and have been using a $20 flip up disposable for years. I need an inexpensive phone that I can put google translate on, and use mapping, etc. Guessing that the unlocked galaxy G3 (see them for $119 up) mentioned would fit the bill?

I just figure the easiest way to get what I need is to copy what works for someone else. Unless there is a better choice, opinions?

Yes, if the battery does not hold a charge well, you can get a generic one on Amazon for like $10.

[Mr Adventure]

Got a sim card for my unlocked old AT&T Samsung galaxy S3 in the Verano shop on the 2nd floor of the airport across from the ATMs. Was 41 K for 40 minutes of talk and 600 GB of data. I didn't run out of either on the trip. Was glad I had the phone loaded as the Taxi driver had a hard time finding Jakes place and having the phone helped quite a bit. I learned that the Medellin address system leaves much to be desired and having a phone with GPS is IMOP indispensable..

In my office I had 3 telephones, a fax, a cellphone, a Motorola, and usually was "on call", ALL of which I was glad to get away from upon retiring. I am ignorant with regard to smart phones and have been using a $20 flip up disposable for years. I need an inexpensive phone that I can put google translate on, and use mapping, etc. Guessing that the unlocked galaxy G3 (see them for $119 up) mentioned would fit the bill?

I just figure the easiest way to get what I need is to copy what works for someone else. Unless there is a better choice, opinions?