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Thanks for the tips, I'll check them out. Do you happen to know what prices to expect at those two?
[QUOTE=BlueChange;2901955]Strip clubs in Colombia are an entirely different animal then those of the states.
It's bascially a bordello that has a stage show. But check out.
La Isle which is like upscale, big, lots of room, lots of girls, stage shows, lights, rooms etc.
Other one is fase dos, a bit down tier but just as good.[/QUOTE]
My trip is finally coming up at the end of the week so I thought I'd hit up the group to see if anyone had any advice for me on Sunday? I arrive early Saturday morning and I leave midday on Tuesday. Trying to maximize my time and with one of those days being a Sunday I'd like to do what I can (even though I know it won't be the typical mongering day). Also, if anyone is around and wants to grab a drink or hit up some spots let me know.
[QUOTE=Stl24;2894427]Unfortunately for me I am deadlocked into being in Medellin on Sunday and would still like to monger as much as possible. Does anyone have any recommendations on where to go or how to find some decent quality?[/QUOTE]
Major nightclub was shut down last night in Lleras. Airbnb updates, DCBornRob, Medellin Tourism etc.
[URL]https://www.youtube.com/live/gn9vC3WUc7E?si=YykARMByUfxoYk_3[/URL]
Timestamp: 10:10. Video footage of nightclub and lleras getting shutdown (Credits to Passport Dog)
[QUOTE=ElSexoChino7;2902067]Major nightclub was shut down last night in Lleras. Airbnb updates, DCBornRob, Medellin Tourism etc.
[URL]https://www.youtube.com/live/gn9vC3WUc7E?si=YykARMByUfxoYk_3[/URL]
Timestamp: 10:10. Video footage of nightclub and lleras getting shutdown (Credits to Passport Dog)[/QUOTE]Sounds like a lot of misinformation here. Until there is something official from a credible news source such as Minuto30, El Colombiano, or BluRadio then we can't just jump to conclusions.
I'm not saying the footage isn't real or it's AI like how they were saying in the video, but it may just be shut down for a day or two for some fixable violations they need to fix and then reopen again. To say that it's permanently shut down just based off this video footage is premature.
I don't frequent Poblado or Parque Lleras but I know there's a lot of money involved in those businesses down there and I'd assume they aren't going to just shut it down permanently without a lot of push back from the business owners.
[QUOTE=Plan77;2901877]Thanks both of you for sharing the details of alternative visas. I was hoping to find a simple multi year multi entry tourist visa but obviously it does not exist.
I had some idea about the three other visas mentioned by Gabaho but can't stay in Colombia for 6 months. My Amigas in other countries will miss me. I mean my $$.
Sucks to be a Canadian.[/QUOTE]Unless it has changed, you can get a 6 month student visa by prepaying for 3 months of classes. You can take the classes anytime in the 6 month period.
For example, you can sign up for 3 months of Spanish classes at EAFIT. The intense classes only last 2 weeks, 4 hours per day. You can do 2 weeks, leave, return later, take another 2 weeks, etc. Before the 6 months is up, sign up for 3 more. You can do that for as long as you want.
[QUOTE=Gabacho;2902084]Sounds like a lot of misinformation here.[/QUOTE]Must be a market for people that get their information from a DC Bama on Youtube instead of reading or watching the primary sources of information in Colombia.
[QUOTE=Plan77;2901482]To pay the fee 3 to 4 times in a year is a bit too much. Has anyone found a better solution like having a multi year visitor visa?[/QUOTE]Write to your representative? Ask them to drop the fee they charge colombians to visit Canada. Canada started the fee war first, Colombia is just retaliating to encourage Canada to drop their fee.
[QUOTE=DiscoverFL;2902176]Write to your representative? Ask them to drop the fee they charge colombians to visit Canada. Canada started the fee war first, Colombia is just retaliating to encourage Canada to drop their fee.[/QUOTE]The issue is that Colombians need a visitor visa to Canada. Same as for the US. But Colombia charges Canadians a fee to be somewhat equivalent to what a visitor visa would cost a Colombian. They don't do that for US passport holders because they could not get away with it. And Canada is not in a position to waive the requirement for a visa as we did that for a while for Mexico and the US objected to it.
[QUOTE=Zeos1;2902202]But Colombia charges Canadians a fee to be somewhat equivalent to what a visitor visa would cost a Colombian. They don't do that for US passport holders because they could not get away with it.[/QUOTE]How could they not get away with it when there are already many other countries that do? I recently had to purchase one for Ethiopia, Seychelles, and Kenya, along with a visa for Brazil. Seems other places are getting away with it just fine to me.
[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2902215]How could they not get away with it when there are already many other countries that do? I recently had to purchase one for Ethiopia, Seychelles, and Kenya, along with a visa for Brazil. Seems other places are getting away with it just fine to me.[/QUOTE]If I'm not mistaken Colombia receives millions if not billions of dollars from the US government every year in the form of defense funding, weapons, munitions, and even military training to help combat the guerilla fighters such as the FARC disidents and EZN as well as to eradicate coca farms.
Perhaps the US threatened to stop the funding if they were to impose reciprocity fees on us.
This was reported today on the news and is very disheartening.
Makes you wonder how many incidents of violence and robberies of foreigners are actually happening in Medellin.
Probably in the hundreds thus far in Medellin this year not including unreported incidents as well.
I hope this doesn't become a new stigma for the City if it continues unchecked.
Maybe it already has.
[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2902215]How could they not get away with it when there are already many other countries that do? I recently had to purchase one for Ethiopia, Seychelles, and Kenya, along with a visa for Brazil. Seems other places are getting away with it just fine to me.[/QUOTE]This is from nearly 20 years ago so I'm sure the numbers are much larger now but look at the amount of money Colombia receives (Andean Region) versus the amount of money Brazil receives from the US government.
This most likely plays a role in why Brazil would be more willing to charge US citizens a reciprocity fee and Colombia wouldn't want to. Colombia has a lot more to lose if they piss off the US.
I fact I think Colombia is the largest recipient of US foreign aid in all of Latin America. Behind only a few other countries such as Isreal and some others in the middle east.
[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2902215]How could they not get away with it when there are already many other countries that do? I recently had to purchase one for Ethiopia, Seychelles, and Kenya, along with a visa for Brazil. Seems other places are getting away with it just fine to me.[/QUOTE]All I am saying is that the country Colombia does not charge Americans a reciprocity fee on entry even though the process a Colombian needs to use to get a US visitor visa is no easier or cheaper than that for entering Canada. So they have chosen to not treat Americans in the same way. I only speculate on why. And perhaps it is because the cost to their economy or to their tourism industry might be too high if they did. So that is all I am saying. I don't have any inside information on it. Just an opinion or a guess on that part.
[QUOTE=Gabacho;2902251]This is from nearly 20 years ago so I'm sure the numbers are much larger now but look at the amount of money Colombia receives (Andean Region) versus the amount of money Brazil receives from the US government.
This most likely plays a role in why Brazil would be more willing to charge US citizens a reciprocity fee and Colombia wouldn't want to. Colombia has a lot more to lose if they piss off the US.
I fact I think Colombia is the largest recipient of US foreign aid in all of Latin America. Behind only a few other countries such as Isreal and some others in the middle east.[/QUOTE]I found the up to date numbers specifically for Colombia. So for Fiscal year 2024 the Biden administration is giving Colombia $444 Million USD however this is less than they have given Colombia in previous years, due to the Petro government's decision to shift away from coca farm eradication.
I highly doubt Canada is sending Colombia $444 million USD per year. That's probably like Canada's whole GDP LOL.
So anyways this is most likely a determining factor in why the Colombian government would treat Canadians and Americans differently and why a country like Brazil wouldn't care since they don't receive much money anyways.
An unrelated question in all of this would be why is the US sending all this money to foreign governments while at the same time running a $34 trillion USD national debt that keeps growing each year?
[QUOTE=Gabacho;2902391]An unrelated question in all of this would be why is the US sending all this money to foreign governments while at the same time running a $34 trillion USD national debt that keeps growing each year?[/QUOTE]Foreign aid is a drop in the bucket of the federal budget and arguably provides the best bang for the buck. Aid does many things; Direct projection of power and influence, improves national security, fosters diplomatic relationships, promotes economic interest (e. G. Money comes back to us in trade deals), and other things. America's global hegemony is bolstered and secured by minuscule (to the American budget) investments in other countries that reaps benefits in terms of trade deals and influence.
For more information, see China's Belt and Road initiative for a much more explicit example of how foreign investment is used to prop up one's own interests. Also, see China's foreign investment to understand why America's aid in integral to ensuring America's hegemony and status as global leader and why America would choose to do it. But, I guess some would debate would why America should be the global hegemon as opposed to regimes in China or Russia.