Cali Reports

[LittleDickPride]

Hola amigos!

I spent a couple of days in Cali in early August. Truth be told, I did not like it, at least as far as the hobby goes.

It is a small provincial town (1.5 M people). Its downtown is very noisy and dusty. What is called the new town (or North) is actually a 400-yard strip (Avenida Sexta). On the plus side, Cali is safe for gringos, unlike what is hyped by Western media, provided you keep a low profile, i.e., you respect people and don't show off.

The casas are very dodgy and amateurishly run. I was unimpressed by the look of the working girls. I would actually be ashamed of myself if I had tried any.

On the other hand, normal Caleñas are overall good-looking. The spectrum of ethnic background is broad (think of Brazil or Venezuela). A much better option is getting dates with those non-pros. Still, you will need Spanish skills and some patience, as you cannot expect to get laid at the first date.

Cartagena is a much better bet than Cali for the hobby and for relaxing. On the other hand, it may be more tourist-oriented, so less genuine; unless you have those language skills that will enable you to go off the beaten track.

Best,
LDP

[HotTraveler]

Hello KW Kids!

Sometimes finding the best city for your own pleasure can to be difficult,but if you don´t want to choose between Cali and La Habana,then you must to visit Rio de Janeiro. In my opinion,Rio is the best option, but I recommend to go between the month of November to April. (The best weather there in Brazil).

Greetings

[LittleDickPride]

Spanish classes in Cali:

Hola, amigos:

I would like to take some Spanish classes in Cali to professionalize my Spanish, while relaxing. Can you recommend a small (unassuming) place or someone which can indulge? Thank you.

Take it easy,
LDP

[Saint]

Happy C and others,

Please, let's take this to PM's or the Argentina section so we don't bother the Cali board.

There are a few good schools that I checked out. The University of Buenos Aires has a good program. I enrolled in another program that had a solid reputation. It's called Lenguas Vivas. Registration can be done personally at Carlos Pellegrini 1515 or by phone 54-11-4322-3992/3996/3998 extention 103/151. Their fax # is ext 119/113 or email is iesvivas@capital.cf.rffdc.edu.ar

They have regular courses which are two times a week/ two hours per day; 6 levels or you can take the intenstive course which is Monday - Thursday 2 PM to 6 PM. They also have six levels. Each level last 4 weeks except the last Post Advanced course is 2 months. The fee for the intensive classes is only 400 pesos a month. The regular courses are only 50 pesos a month.

You can go there and take a test to see which level you place into. The test is damn hard. I only took one month's worth of classes in the USA but I think I'm just going to start from the beginning to learn some things native to Argentina.

I'm getting a student visa but I'd advise against it unless you have a lot of time and patience. It's easy to stay in Argentina indefinitely by crossing into Uruguay every 90 days. The school doesn't care.

Sorry again Cali board. No more non Colombia talk.

Good luck.

Saint

[Happy C]

Saint,

How long is the course and where can one register for this course?

Thanks in advance

Happy C

[Saint]

El Colorado,

I think you read it wrong what I posted. I enrolled in an intensive Spanish course in Buenos Aires. It didn't start yet. It starts on August 30th. I'm moving to Buenos Aires to live for the next few years and taking Spanish courses there. 4 hours a day/4 days per week. Hope it goes well. I hope to be fluent in one year.

Antifreeze,

Nice to see you're doing well. I also hope to hook up with you sometime in the near future. Take care.

[El Colorado]

Saint - Can you give us the details of your intensive two week Spanish course.

Thanks,

El colorado

[Antifreeze]

Great report Saint! I've been to Cuba 3 times and I agree with your conclusions.

Good luck on your move. I hope to see you in Cali soon.

Take care.

Freeze

[Saint]

Hi Rendorseg,

I forgot to mention that the food is horrible in Cuba. There are a few exceptions but for the most part most of the restaurants had bad food. I didn't find Cuba "cheap" as you mentioned. Most items are priced in US$ and really I can't figure out how they can afford to live there. Sure you can get cheap food on the street but overall I found Havana expensive. The people of both countries are amazing and wonderful. Music permeates their lives especially in Cuba but also in Cali. I posted a pretty detailed report on both cities. I was in Cali in March 2004 and in Cuba December 2003/January 2004.


I've never felt guilty hobbying or seeing girls but I did in Cuba because of what MIGHT happen to a girl if she got caught. Bush spun Castro's comment of "we have the most educated hookers in the world" and tried to make it sound like Castro was advocating prostitution. That is the furthest thing from the truth there. They are locking up girls and giving them hard time if they get caught. To give you an idea, most girls I was taking home in my car or in a taxi were ducking down in the car so a police didn't see them. Some even asked to follow me in a seperate taxi! Even normal non-pro girls were worried!

I leased an apartment in Recoleta for a year but I'm planning on buying an apartment to lease out as a business. I'll list it through my old apartment site: www.apartmentsba.com and also through my travel agency www.argentinago.com

If you come to BA, email me and I'll show you around. Best of luck and safe travels.

Saint

[Rendorseg]

Saint - I whole heartedly concur with your comparison of the two cities... the charm of Cali is the music which is everywhere in the air and in people's hearts and the ladies are heart stoppingly hot. Cuba, while frigging cheap, is depressingly sad...
Are you buying a place in BA...or?
Rendorseg

[Saint]

Comparing Havana with Cali

People are always emailing me asking me to compare various cities I've been to. Often times it's difficult to compare cities because it's like night and day in some areas.

I spent 15 nights in Cuba (most of them in Havana). I spent 10 nights in Cali. They are like night and day. Cuba is such a beautiful country. Havana has sort of a mystical feel to us. Like going back in a time machine. The people are very friendly there and it's completely safe for Americans. I don't find the everyday Cuban girl on the street attractive. Sure there are hot girls but I found it was few and far between. The opposite is true in Cali. Cali is full of gorgeous girls walking around at places like ChipiChope Mall. The city of Cali isn't a beautiful city though. In fact, I'd argue that it's an ugly city. The people of Cali are some of the friendliest in the world though.

IMHO, the hobbying is HORRIBLE in Cuba when comparing it to other destinations around the world. The glory days are long over there. I found the scene there really depressing. All this cat and mouse stuff worrying about the police and if the girls will get in trouble. It just was horrible. I will go back to Cuba again some day but I doubt I'll ever hobby there again. If you're solely into picking up street girls than you might like Havana. I just found most of the girls weren't attractive. Havana does have nightlife but honestly I think it's overrated when it comes to the hobby. Many of the A+ girls have already left the island.

My friends and I were with non-pro or semi-pro type girls too in Havana and they were scared of being seen with Americans. Police were constantly hassling tourists. I think the scene is getting progressively worse too.

In Cali, the hobby scene isn't the best there is but there IS some good action to be found there. Some girls are really hot too. Cali is better for non-pro action. It's easy to get girls phone numbers there. Girls are friendly and being American doesn't really seem to matter there. Everyone was friendly to me (including the police). Sure, Cali is more dangerous than Cuba but honestly I think if you're not being a dumb ass you'll be fine.

I'd actually be interested in hitting more cities in Colombia. I'm moving to Buenos Aires in 2 weeks so maybe I'll get a chance to travel more in South America. I'm going to take intensive Spanish classes for a few months and maybe I'll reward myself with a trip back to Colombia when I'm done. I'd love to hit some smaller towns.

Have fun!

[KW Kids]

Hello HotTraveler,

Thanks for the suggestions. I was hoping that Cali might be somewhere in between Habana and Bogota. If only I could find a city with the aggresive girls and nightlife of Habana and the girlfriend-material girls of Bogota I would be in heaven.

I found Sosua somewhat dissapointing. There were hardly no good girls or semi-pros, all super-pros who were just there to make a few bucks. More mongerers than girls sometimes. I am thinking about trying Iquitos, Peru next for something totally diffrent. I have never had a jungle girl before. LOL.

KW Kids

[Antifreeze]

If you plan to come to Colombia for an extended stay, make sure that you ask at the border for your 3 month visa. My brother got caught with that. He's here in Colombia and wants to stay here, and the border agent only stamped a 1 month visa in his passport. By law, he had the right to 3 months, but did not ask for it. That resulted in him having to go at the DAS in order to ask for an extension (about 2 days and 100$ lost).

[HotTraveler]

Hello KW Kids!

I've readed your article and I can to see, that you need to choose between Cali or La Habana.

I know those 2 cities and for me,the best option is La Habana if you want to find only women to have sex, but if you want to find a possible bride, then visit Cali.In this city there are some marriage agencies.The nightlife is concentrated in the Avenida Sexta (Av. 6ª). I was in this place but I was dissapointed.

La Habana has more nightlife!

But if you want that the women approach you, then you have to go to Dominican Republic (Sosua, Boca Chica, Santo Domingo). In this country really they sleep with you at the first night.

Greetings

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[Blahzay]

I'm from New York city looking for a travel partner.

Anyone that would like to plan a trip to Colombia please pm me.

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