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[QUOTE=Npaul1]who can trust their DNA testing anyway? Most Colombian Drs. would alter the results for $100.[/QUOTE]
Colombia has a good and ethical medical profession. Insist on a report by IDEME (sp?) or one of the other top labs and you'll get an honest result.
[QUOTE=Tom 33]I rode a bus from MDE to CLO about a year and a half ago. It was cheap and safe. It did take a few hours to become accustomed to vehicles passing in obvious no passing zones. Apparently everyone drives expecting an oncoming vehicle in their lane.
I would not go to Quito over land. The Ecuador/Colombia border area has been hot with guerilla activity lately.[/QUOTE]
Note sure what the Quito overland route is, but I always check the Travel advice at the UK FCO website. I consider it more reliable than the US one. It's at [url]http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618385774[/url]
And you can call them and they're happy to advise you on the phone too.
They're currently saying:
We strongly advise against all travel to Putumayo, Arauca, Caqueta, Nariño, Guaviare, Norte de Santander departments and rural areas of Choco because of a high risk to personal safety. For the same reason, we advise against travel to the rural areas of Sucre and Bolivar where one or more of the illegal armed groups and drugs cartels are currently active. The risks to British nationals of being kidnapped, caught up in the fighting, or otherwise of getting into serious trouble are high. The effective authority of the Colombian State in many of these areas is limited. The British Embassy’s ability to try to assist British nationals in trouble in these areas could be similarly limited. Two British backpackers were kidnapped in Choco department's border area with Panama in 2000, and a British backpacker was killed near Quibdo, the provincial capital, in 2001.
We also advise against all travel to rural areas of Antioquia, southern Meta, Valle de Cauca, Cauca departments and to rural areas of Huila department (including San Agustin). The illegal armed groups are active in these areas. However, the capitals of these departments may still be visited by air.
The departments of Norte de Santander and Arauca, and Nariño, Caqueta and Putumayo border Venezuela and Ecuador respectively. The FARC regularly carry out raids on government forces and civilians in these border regions. In January 2005, the Governor’s Office in Arauca was bombed and, in the same month, 17 farmers were killed. The southern departments bordering Ecuador, and also southern Meta department, are also areas in which the Colombian authorities are concentrating their efforts in their war against insurgents and drug-traffickers, as part of the Plan Patriota. There are frequent clashes between government forces and illegal armed groups.
We do not currently advise against travel to Leticia, the jungle town on the Amazonian border with Peru and Brazil.
AUC (or former AUC) members, despite the demobilisation process, continue to set up illegal roadblocks in Sucre and Bolivar departments, providing an increased risk of kidnap and extortion. Likewise, the FARC and ELN are setting up similar roadblocks in Valle de Cauca and Cauca departments.
If you travel to major cities in Colombia, we do encourage you to take sensible precautions. In addition to Bogota, important business centres include Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga and Cartagena. Cartagena is a popular tourist destination and venue for major conferences.
If you intend to visit areas not specifically mentioned in this advice, you should check with the British Embassy's Consular Section in Bogota if you are in any doubt about your safety. You should also check with the Embassy before undertaking any trips to remote areas, even if these are to recognised tourist destinations.
The bus from MDE to CLO would take around 11 hours. I broke it into four legs by overnighting in Manizales, Pereira, and Armenia along the way.
Travel by land South of Jamundi (just South of Cali) is NOT adviseable for foreigners. While Cali to Popayan is less than 4 hours by bus, the safe way is to fly back to BOG where you catch the 4o minute flight to Popayan. Southern Colombia is NOT tourist friendly and heavily policed like Cartgena.
How difficult is it to find ama de casa (housewife) to live with you in Colombia or bring back to the states? I personally prefer to live there so I can have a wife and monger on the side.
It is not worth it,when you take a Colombia women back to your country she will change into a western women,and will leave you,becouse she will see alot of nice looking blue eyes blonde hair guys about.
This has not happean to me,but i have heard many a story about it.
So you have to do one of two things,
1. move to Colombia
2.forget about Colombia wife and just be a monger.
Superboy
[QUOTE=Master Yoda]How difficult is it to find ama de casa (housewife) to live with you in Colombia or bring back to the states? I personally prefer to live there so I can have a wife and monger on the side.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Tom 33]The bus from MDE to CLO would take around 11 hours. I broke it into four legs by overnighting in Manizales, Pereira, and Armenia along the way.[/QUOTE]
Tom 33,
Do you know of any mongering places in Manizales, Pereira or Armenia?
How long of a ride (in hours) would it be by car to Armenia then on to Peieira then Manizales?
Thanks,
Cubanut
[QUOTE=Superboy1]It is not worth it,when you take a Colombia women back to your country she will change into a western women,and will leave you,becouse she will see alot of nice looking blue eyes blonde hair guys about.
This has not happean to me,but i have heard many a story about it.
So you have to do one of two things,
1. move to Colombia
2.forget about Colombia wife and just be a monger.
Superboy[/QUOTE]Thanks superboy. Well I was thinking pf moving, maybe next year but I just wanted to know how easy it is to meet a middle class working girl and turn her into a housewife. I hear that alot of women down there are turning into Aw's.
[QUOTE=Superboy1]It is not worth it,when you take a Colombia women back to your country she will change into a western women,and will leave you,becouse she will see alot of nice looking blue eyes blonde hair guys about.[/QUOTE]Yes Superboy this is a very hard message to us all, but unfortunately it is true what you are saying . . .
Cubanut: Antifreeze now lives in Perriera and would be happy to show you around I am sure. Mongering scene is OK from what I am told, LOTS of university girls. PM me for his email. 3 hours by taxi from Cali, less than 5 hours from Medellin. Very safe road by all accounts (unlike SOUTH of Cali).
[QUOTE=Cubanut]
How long of a ride (in hours) would it be by car to Armenia then on to Peieira then Manizales? [/QUOTE]
Cali to Armenia would be about 2 hours. It's another hour or so to Pereira. Then add maybe 2 hours more to Manizales.
I took my trip with a novia. So I never had a chance to go sniffing. There was some nice stuff strutting around.
All three metro areas are 500 - 700,000 people. Manizales is more of a university town. Pereira is the largest and most cosmopolitan. All three seemed pretty safe.
Hi guys,
I´m thinking if going to Latin America later this year - I still have vacation time left over from last year… I´m looking at late October / early November. Anyway, it´ll be my first time there and the trip will be about 2 weeks.
Now my question. Where should I go - Cuba, DR, Colombia or Venezuela? I have read most of the forum reports on these four countries (well, “only” the ones from 2005 & 2006 actually), and I think I have a good idea what to expect in the different places. Btw, I would I´d like to thank all you guys who post such great reports!
Before someone tells me “Brasil”: I´ll probably go there in 2007 – a Brazilian friend of mine is getting married next year and has invited me to come visit. So I am not going now.
I should mention that I speak Spanish fluently – I´ve been to Spain quite often in the past two years, mostly on business, but some fun also. See my posts in the Spain section (February 2006). I´m 35 y.o.
After reviewing the info, these are my impressions – please correct me if I´m wrong in your opinion, feel free to give your advice or point of view!
(1) Cuba: the scene seems to be much slower than a few years ago. Stories of hassles, crackdowns etc. Also I don't like police-states, communist or other, so I guess I´ll pass on Cuba – even though cubanas (the ones I know in Spain) are very fine.
(2) Venezuela: many people seem to complain it´s gotten too expensive & that p4p-action is too “professional” (in the negative sense), no gfe etc. Is that accurate?
(3) DR: some areas over-touristed, but others less so. Many positive reports. Crime less a problem than in Venezuela or Colombia.
(4) Colombia: many good reports. Cartagena vs. Medellin or Cali? Safety could be an issue (?), but I´m not a scared person normally. I guess as long as you do as the locals do & keep your wits about it should be ok.
Right now, I´m leaning to either DR or Colombia. I´d love to do both, but in 12-14 days it´s probably not practical. Anyway, thanks for all the info, hope this post was not too long or too boring.
Felipe2006
Gents,
As of 09-03-06 What is the departure tax from CTG via BOG to USA , $28.00 or $30.00.
Thanks,
Nowrath
[QUOTE=Nowrath]Gents,
As of 09-03-06 What is the departure tax from CTG via BOG to USA , $28.00 or $30.00.
Thanks,
Nowrath[/QUOTE]
$31USD, or $51USD if you don't get the tax exemption for tourists.
Hi Guys.
Sorry about the question here but I don't have much time. I was wondering if anyone knew if Cialis or Vigara was available in bogota w/o a prescription ? I'm travel there later this month and will report back on the street action.