Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;1675826]They don't? Bullshit they don't. I have been in many a "poor" Colombian household and have yet to see anyone starving. In most they eat three times / day. Just because they don't have an air conditioner, a BMW, or any of the other luxuries that you have in your 5 bedroom 4 bath home, does not mean they can't make ends meet or are unable to support a family. Bill Gates and Puff Daddy are probably saying the same things about the majority of us in this group as y'all are saying about the Colombianos.

Jeff knows his shit. You can't miss what you never had. And remember, there are still natives running around the jungles of Colombia and Brazil that have been raising families just fine for hundreds of years. Just because it's not done how you are used to it being done does not mean it can't be and isn't being done or is very difficult to do. Hookers are the same the world around. Lazy biotches. If everybody else can get a regular job, then guess what. Oh I still love them and am glad they are the lazy broads that they are, but that hooker sympathy shit is for suckers.[/QUOTE]Amen brother.

[QUOTE=ShooBree;1675737]Some people get lucky and get a decent paying job[/QUOTE]Yep, getting a decent job is all luck. Education, training, skill sets, intelligence, ambition, and initiative don't have anything to do with it. Most hookers have all of those things in abundance.

Boys we were doing real good for a while now, but on track for another debate where no one will ever get the other side to change their way of thinking.

Myself I have not done a trip in a while, but lets get back to the meat, and potatoes of good intel from serious Mongers.

[QUOTE=CMartinez;1675762]Thanks. Good info.

Sounds like the girls are hotter, but would you say the service is comparable or better than at Fase II?[/QUOTE]I've never been to Fase II, although I've heard from some Colombian men that overall La Isla is better. I love La Isla because its a very large and roomy club, patrons aren't on top of one another. The restroom is very spacious and immaculately clean. My waiter was on top of things the times I was there, and always delivered drinks rapidly. I can't imagine any other club having better service.

[QUOTE=Dickhead;1675869]Yep, getting a decent job is all luck. Education, training, skill sets, intelligence, ambition, and initiative don't have anything to do with it. Most hookers have all of those things in abundance.[/QUOTE]Not exactly what I meant. My point was that among people with the same level of education there are still significant differences in income and in too many cases it is because of nepotism, connections and not things one would put on the resume.

For instance, in my country neither the current prime minister or the secretary of state went to college / university.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;1675826]They don't? Bullshit they don't. I have been in many a "poor" Colombian household and have yet to see anyone starving. In most they eat three times / day. Just because they don't have an air conditioner, a BMW, or any of the other luxuries that you have in your 5 bedroom 4 bath home, does not mean they can't make ends meet or are unable to support a family. Bill Gates and Puff Daddy are probably saying the same things about the majority of us in this group as y'all are saying about the Colombianos.

Jeff knows his shit. You can't miss what you never had. And remember, there are still natives running around the jungles of Colombia and Brazil that have been raising families just fine for hundreds of years. Just because it's not done how you are used to it being done does not mean it can't be and isn't being done or is very difficult to do. Hookers are the same the world around. Lazy biotches. If everybody else can get a regular job, then guess what... Oh I still love them and am glad they are the lazy broads that they are, but that hooker sympathy shit is for suckers.[/QUOTE]I do have a little sympathy, why? Because that's the kind of person I am and more importantly its cheap. In fact its free.

I respect them just like I respect other persons making a honest living. They are not doing anything wrong, illegal or harming anyone else. If I were to put myself above them it would reflect badly on me since I am a customer. Some people might say that they are young girls being corrupted by fat gringos. I haven't worked a day in my life for less then 18 dollars an hour so why would I be surprised that people don't feel like working for 90 cents an hour.

Regarding the people you have met, you really think that you are the first gringo stepping his foot into their house? Maybe you are, I don't know them. Just out of curiosity, how do you know that they are actually poor compared to the Colombian standard / definition?

[URL]http://colombiareports.co/colombias-minimum-wage-set-4-5-increase-2014/[/URL]

"The agreement affects 54% of Colombians who earn the minimum wage or less. However, a total of 3. 4 million workers do not earn even one half of the minimum wage. ".

And the minimum salary is approx. 270 usd a month.

Regarding not being able to get by;.

"Despite its middle-income country status, 23 million Colombians are poor and 6 million live below the extreme poverty line. "

"below the extreme poverty line" = less then 1,25 usd / day.

[URL]http://www.wfp.org/countries/colombia[/URL]

[QUOTE=JohnGault;1675890]Boys we were doing real good for a while now, but on track for another debate where no one will ever get the other side to change their way of thinking.

Myself I have not done a trip in a while, but lets get back to the meat, and potatoes of good intel from serious Mongers.[/QUOTE]Here are 2 serious subjects!

[QUOTE=JohnGault;1675890]Boys we were doing real good for a while now, but on track for another debate where no one will ever get the other side to change their way of thinking.

Myself I have not done a trip in a while, but lets get back to the meat, and potatoes of good intel from serious Mongers.[/QUOTE]We are all waiting for you to post a trip report, so until then we will entertain ourselves with good discussions like we have been having. If this is a problem with you your trip report will be a great start!

[QUOTE=CMartinez;1675762]Thanks. Good info.

Sounds like the girls are hotter, but would you say the service is comparable or better than at Fase II?[/QUOTE]They are very different places. La Isla looks and feels very much like a high-end strip club in the US (but with even more silicone). The staff are well-dressed and the restrooms are nicely done and you can spend a load of money buying bottles. Fase 2 looks and feels like a Old West Saloon with Hookers.

[QUOTE=Combo;1676029]They are very different places. La Isla looks and feels very much like a high-end strip club in the US (but with even more silicone). The staff are well-dressed and the restrooms are nicely done and you can spend a load of money buying bottles. Fase 2 looks and feels like a Old West Saloon with Hookers.[/QUOTE]To clarify, I've been to both, it's just been awhile.

I preferred Fase II because while La Isla was much nicer inside, it also had way more of a hustle vibe to it. Drinks were expensive, girls didn't seem as friendly, etc.

Plus, I didn't really see a difference in quality of the girls.

Now it sounds like La Isla is significantly better for quality of girls, and I'm just wondering if the attitude of the girls and servers has gotten better as well.

To be honest I'd prefer to just go back to Fase II, but it's hard to pass up la isla if the chicks are really that much better right now.

[QUOTE=NinoBravo;1675936]I've never been to Fase II, although I've heard from some Colombian men that overall La Isla is better. I love La Isla because its a very large and roomy club, patrons aren't on top of one another. The restroom is very spacious and immaculately clean. My waiter was on top of things the times I was there, and always delivered drinks rapidly. I can't imagine any other club having better service.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Combo;1676029]They are very different places. La Isla looks and feels very much like a high-end strip club in the US (but with even more silicone). The staff are well-dressed and the restrooms are nicely done and you can spend a load of money buying bottles. Fase 2 looks and feels like a Old West Saloon with Hookers.[/QUOTE][QUOTE=CMartinez;1676036]To clarify, I've been to both, it's just been awhile.

I preferred Fase II because while La Isla was much nicer inside, it also had way more of a hustle vibe to it. Drinks were expensive, girls didn't seem as friendly, etc.

Plus, I didn't really see a difference in quality of the girls.

Now it sounds like La Isla is significantly better for quality of girls, and I'm just wondering if the attitude of the girls and servers has gotten better as well.

To be honest I'd prefer to just go back to Fase II, but it's hard to pass up la isla if the chicks are really that much better right now.[/QUOTE]Guys,

Nice descriptions. I can definitely identify with what each of you wrote.

I don't go to any of these places, currently, but have done all of these outlets at least a few times in the past. I have frequented Fase II more but it has been over a year since I was there last. I agree with the saloon feel and less hustle at Fase II.

Can anyone recommend an escort agency that is reliable.

Hey guys,

Heading down for a month today. Anyone want to kick it. 30 yo blue eyed east coast gringo. I'm sort of against all the typical touristy BS but always down to hang with someone who has a good vibe and enjoys good company. See you guys later! Expect lots of details later!

Within minutes of each other I exchanged dollars at a cambio in Mall Oviedo (which in the past has always delivered one of the better exchange rates I have see around town) and then pulled significant cash out of a nearby bank ATM using my USA bank debit card (mastercharge endorsed).

It always takes a few days for all the fees / charges to fully appear on my bank statement. (mastercard currency conv. Fee + mastercard cross border fee).

When all is said and done (with all fees included) I received the following exchange rate on this date:

Oviedo Mall Cambio: 2,190 cop / usd.

ATM withdrawl (debit card) 2,344 cop / usd.

Keep in mind this is a debit card and not a credit card.

I have done this little experiment in the past and I believe when all ATM fees were included the rates were much more equal or maybe even a little better at the cambios, but things have obviously changed leaning to better rates at the ATM. ----If one exchanges $1,000 usd this will amount to a difference of roughly 150,000 cop. A guy can have a lot of fun in Medellin with 150,000 cop. :-)

I will be traveling to Thailand next month and would be curious is the same will be found there?

ASIDE- on a recent past trip I noted that my debit card (which has no chip) would not work in many ATMs around Medellin. Almost all required a "chip". The ATMs on the wall as you enter west end of Mall Oviedo (nearest the cambios) do process cards without chip. Also the ATM at RIO casino in San Diego does as well. In centro I had real difficulty getting cash without a chip.

[QUOTE=BlueChange;1676618]Hey guys,

Heading down for a month today. Anyone want to kick it. 30 yo blue eyed east coast gringo. I'm sort of against all the typical touristy BS but always down to hang with someone who has a good vibe and enjoys good company. See you guys later! Expect lots of details later![/QUOTE]Ohhh I love blue eyed gringos!! Lol, why would anyone of us care bout dat? Have fun!