Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=BlackPage;2051995]Jeez....

Because EAFIT is a top private university. Because the students of EAFIT have a very high esteem of themselves, are rich, belong to the upper class, are used to stay with their very handsome boyfriends or simple friends, attend parties of the high society in Medellin, mostly have a family behind who pays their studies, study with the aim at becoming a top manager tomorrow, would be disgusted to know that a guy who says "Hello," to them while working out came to their beautiful city not to work or to visit Colombia, but mainly to patronize brothels, which he can afford in Colombia but not in his home country.
All such factors make the odds to pick up a girl there small, although P=0 does not exist in nature.

Have I been sharp enough?[/QUOTE]I have lived in MDE and attended both EAFIT and UPB. EAFIT is like Harvard and UPB is like your State University. Pulling it off is quite difficult and you must run in same circles. If you look like a gringo geezer and act like a gringo geezer than they will pick that up immediately and be quite turned off. Also, EAFIT is a big anti-prepago community, it is posted in a lot of buildings. Unless you are Brad Pitt then I would try to keep it low key as possible.

I have been to EAFIT a few times to visit colleagues (hence I cannot risk "fishing" there). It is easier when you are in that world. And, why es, EATIF is big on "anti-prepago," although there are many EAFIT students are prepagos (at least part-time). While the school is for the rich and elite, not everyone their is rich or elite. When you go to the food court, you will see many chicas who bring candies and food to sell. The rich do not behave like that. That said, I'm not saying it's going to be overly easy to pick these girls up unless you are young and good-looking or you look professional. An alternative is to study Spanish there. They have have a very large language institute and lots of chicas can be found there. Best of luck.

[QUOTE=SBeach25;2052102]I have lived in MDE and attended both EAFIT and UPB. EAFIT is like Harvard and UPB is like your State University. Pulling it off is quite difficult and you must run in same circles. If you look like a gringo geezer and act like a gringo geezer than they will pick that up immediately and be quite turned off. Also, EAFIT is a big anti-prepago community, it is posted in a lot of buildings. Unless you are Brad Pitt then I would try to keep it low key as possible.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=ElMechanico;2050730]I think you all have it figured out. Stay away from the Mansion on July 4th. That way you save a whopping $56. Go somewhere else & pay $4-5 per drink & $15 for food & that way you don't have to suffer thru the cover charge to watch a bunch of hotties try to out-dirty dance the previous hottie. Better yet, just stay home, drink tap water & don't eat, then on Monday morning you can high 5 yourself for not being $56 lighter. That leaves more hotties to the guys that do fork over the 170 k COP.

I guess if some of why'all weren't bitching, you wouldn't be posting!!

El Mechanico.[/QUOTE]People like you are the reason why that place is doing well. You don't mind being fleeced.

You are correct Colombia lover. I happen to know quite a few EAFIT students who could never afford to attend on their own dime are there as part of their employers' tuition reimbursement programs. So it is not just the rich who are there. I also happen to know at least a few there who are in the game. The bottom line is it is not a point and click sort of venue.

[QUOTE=ColombiaLover;2052114]I have been to EAFIT a few times to visit colleagues (hence I cannot risk "fishing" there). It is easier when you are in that world. And, why es, EATIF is big on "anti-prepago," although there are many EAFIT students are prepagos (at least part-time). While the school is for the rich and elite, not everyone their is rich or elite. When you go to the food court, you will see many chicas who bring candies and food to sell. The rich do not behave like that. That said, I'm not saying it's going to be overly easy to pick these girls up unless you are young and good-looking or you look professional. An alternative is to study Spanish there. They have have a very large language institute and lots of chicas can be found there. Best of luck.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=ColombiaLover;2052114]I have been to EAFIT a few times to visit colleagues (hence I cannot risk "fishing" there). It is easier when you are in that world. And, why es, EATIF is big on "anti-prepago," although there are many EAFIT students are prepagos (at least part-time). While the school is for the rich and elite, not everyone their is rich or elite. When you go to the food court, you will see many chicas who bring candies and food to sell. The rich do not behave like that. That said, I'm not saying it's going to be overly easy to pick these girls up unless you are young and good-looking or you look professional. An alternative is to study Spanish there. They have have a very large language institute and lots of chicas can be found there. Best of luck.[/QUOTE]Your observation is correct on the candy girls. I've seen them both at both schools while attending both for spanish classes. I went to EAFIT for 3 months for spanish. UPB about a month. While in the administrative office, you can see the stickers on their desks and windows at the door "No to Sex Tourism". I noticed this back when I was there in 2014 at EAFIT and even more so in 2015. While visiting other friends buildings in Pablado, you can see these stickers on elevators. I've posted back in 2015, not sure on this thread but another about how the locals in Parque LLares are becoming more weary of gringos an prepagos. Now, I'm seeing and hearing of police harassing these interactions. LLeras was where the elite hung out until recently where there has been a lot of gringos engaging these activities and they are not liking this at all. But back to the anti-pregago, yes, it is known but very under the radar. Hell, I remember while in orientation in EAFIT, the assistant dean talking about and saying we don't want the school and MDE to have that reputation in front of 30 new spanish learning students (me being one of the students). They want MDE to be a cultural learning experience. Now the reality, YES, I have pulled a couple of these girls but I did it very descretely. As for the gym, Yes, I too have gone there in EAFIT. Surprisingly nice and while I was there for those months studying spanish, I went before or after class. Yes, there is eye candy and some of them are really nice and friendly. Go to work out and enjoy.

[QUOTE=SBeach25;2052142]"No to Sex Tourism". I noticed this back when I was there in 2014 at EAFIT [/QUOTE]I think its from this campaign:

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QizXSCtK0lI[/URL]

Unfortunately for them I've seen the same stickers or similar in clubs in parque lleras (in the elevator of one club at least) and the club is full of prepagos on weekdays. They have a point though. I'm not very comfortable picking up a chica in Parque Lleras out in the open. I don't mind it done discreetly in clubs but when they approach your patio seat it makes everything awkward. They should take a page out of Cartagena. The hookers don't come out until late at night in the clock tower plaza and the only people out that late want to party anyway.

I find the "not to sex tourism" campaign almost laughable because it is so over the top. To me, it screams "I'm embarrassed about this so I'm going to take a holier than thou position". I remember seeing different versions of it in Colombia going back to the mid 90's. Of course no country wants to have a Thailand type reputation. I don't think it's positive for anyone to have obnoxious honky tonk behavior going on in view of people who don't want to see it (including me at times when I'm out with business colleagues). I have a problem with the posters and window stickers with high heels and defiant slogans because it just throws it into people's faces unnecessarily. It's as if the people behind the campaign think those stickers are going to work like garlic keeping vampires away. It's just as easy to post a discrete sign saying the business has a right to refuse service to anyone, then quietly turn away the cargo shorts & Harley Davidson tee shirt crowd with provocatively dressed dates with an explanation that all tables are reserved.

Now that Colombia is coming out of FARC era of having a reputation for kidnappings and violence danger (60 Minutes feature in the US and various BBC reports on the subject among others), the government wants its share of tourism dollars from wealthy countries. Like any other tourism, sex tourism generates revenue. And it is a constant as long as there isn't a massive shift in the national economy (see below). Colombia launched several professional international tourism promotion campaigns in the past couple of years. It is trying to grow the industry and prevent sex tourism interfering with that growth.

I think the Colombian government knows it would have to greatly increase social programs to rein in sex tourism. Wealthy sectors have no interest in doing that because it would mean higher taxes and paying their employees higher wages. What the wealthy sectors want is what matters. As long as it doesn't interfere with their peaceful enjoyment of the country, wealthy Colombians are happy to reap the benefits of sex tourism and pretend it doesn't exist.

[QUOTE=SBeach25;2052142]Your observation is correct on the candy girls. I've seen them both at both schools while attending both for spanish classes. I went to EAFIT for 3 months for spanish. UPB about a month. While in the administrative office, you can see the stickers on their desks and windows at the door "No to Sex Tourism". I noticed this back when I was there in 2014 at EAFIT and even more so in 2015. While visiting other friends buildings in Pablado, you can see these stickers on elevators. I've posted back in 2015, not sure on this thread but another about how the locals in Parque LLares are becoming more weary of gringos an prepagos. Now, I'm seeing and hearing of police harassing these interactions. LLeras was where the elite hung out until recently where there has been a lot of gringos engaging these activities and they are not liking this at all. But back to the anti-pregago, yes, it is known but very under the radar. Hell, I remember while in orientation in EAFIT, the assistant dean talking about and saying we don't want the school and MDE to have that reputation in front of 30 new spanish learning students (me being one of the students). They want MDE to be a cultural learning experience. Now the reality, YES, I have pulled a couple of these girls but I did it very descretely. As for the gym, Yes, I too have gone there in EAFIT. Surprisingly nice and while I was there for those months studying spanish, I went before or after class. Yes, there is eye candy and some of them are really nice and friendly. Go to work out and enjoy.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Queens35;2052123]People like you are the reason why that place is doing well. You don't mind being fleeced.[/QUOTE]Ha, sounds like you are jealous they are doing well? Well, there are obviously a lot of "us"! Have fun staying home next Sunday counting the pesos you saved!

El Mechanico.

[QUOTE=Queens35;2052123]People like you are the reason why that place is doing well. You don't mind being fleeced.[/QUOTE]My only regret is that there isn't another Mansion in town to fleece me. I'd love to have more than one option of places that "fleece" me. Other than that, I consider ourselves fortunate that we have this venue here and that it still is able to continue operating despite the many government and community pressures otherwise.

[QUOTE=ElMechanico;2052402]Ha, sounds like you are jealous they are doing well?? Well, there are obviously a lot of "us"!! Have fun staying home next Sunday counting the pesos you saved!!

El Mechanico.[/QUOTE]I'm part of the " us", staying at the mansion later this week & will be at the party.

[QUOTE=BlackPage;2051995]Jeez....
came to their beautiful city not to work or to visit Colombia, but mainly to patronize brothels, which he can afford in Colombia but not in his home country.[/QUOTE]I think for some of us, we can afford it but it is illegal in our home countries.

Go to Loutron, they will fleece you very well. Albeit a little differently than Mansion.

[QUOTE=UltraHappy;2052420]My only regret is that there isn't another Mansion in town to fleece me. I'd love to have more than one option of places that "fleece" me. Other than that, I consider ourselves fortunate that we have this venue here and that it still is able to continue operating despite the many government and community pressures otherwise.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Knowledge;2052362]I find the "not to sex tourism" campaign almost laughable because it is so over the top. To me, it screams "I'm embarrassed about this so I'm going to take a holier than thou position". I remember seeing different versions of it in Colombia going back to the mid 90's. Of course no country wants to have a Thailand type reputation. I don't think it's positive for anyone to have obnoxious honky tonk behavior going on in view of people who don't want to see it (including me at times when I'm out with business colleagues). I have a problem with the posters and window stickers with high heels and defiant slogans because it just throws it into people's faces unnecessarily. It's as if the people behind the campaign think those stickers are going to work like garlic keeping vampires away. It's just as easy to post a discrete sign saying the business has a right to refuse service to anyone, then quietly turn away the cargo shorts & Harley Davidson tee shirt crowd with provocatively dressed dates with an explanation that all tables are reserved.

Now that Colombia is coming out of FARC era of having a reputation for kidnappings and violence danger (60 Minutes feature in the US and various BBC reports on the subject among others), the government wants its share of tourism dollars from wealthy countries. Like any other tourism, sex tourism generates revenue. And it is a constant as long as there isn't a massive shift in the national economy (see below). Colombia launched several professional international tourism promotion campaigns in the past couple of years. It is trying to grow the industry and prevent sex tourism interfering with that growth.

I think the Colombian government knows it would have to greatly increase social programs to rein in sex tourism. Wealthy sectors have no interest in doing that because it would mean higher taxes and paying their employees higher wages. What the wealthy sectors want is what matters. As long as it doesn't interfere with their peaceful enjoyment of the country, wealthy Colombians are happy to reap the benefits of sex tourism and pretend it doesn't exist.[/QUOTE]Perhaps it needs to be "over the top. " The people it's aimed at don't understand subtle. If they did, nobody would notice the sex tourism.

You've probably seen them around. They're the guys feeling up last night's TLN at the breakfast table or loudly discussing their activities with buddies. They're the ones who think any hot girl, whether she's at the gym, the pool, at a club or just shopping is available for a price. They think being a gringo who can afford to visit Medellin makes them special.

I have no problem with partaking in what is readily available. I do so when I want. But I also keep a low profile. None of the locals that I deal with see any reason to complain about my behavior.

I deal with the problem tourists at least a few times a week. They are the guys who assume the women I work with are all available for a price. If any of them have a price, nobody has come close to it yet.

[URL]http://www.elcolombiano.com/antioquia/emergencia-en-guatape-por-naufrago-de-barco-CJ6784567[/URL]

Sadly a tourist boat capsized today in Guatape. I took a similar boat on my latest trip.

[QUOTE=Questner;2052522][URL]http://www.elcolombiano.com/antioquia/emergencia-en-guatape-por-naufrago-de-barco-CJ6784567[/URL]

Sadly a tourist boat capsized today in Guatape. I took a similar boat on my latest trip.[/QUOTE]Ouch, 100 people on the boat, all headed to the top decks for the best view. I could see how she would be top-heavy.