Bogota Reports

[QUOTE=GMoney582;2585030]10 days after my test I felt better. My symptoms were gone. You don't have to get a negative test to travel. You need to keep your positive test wait 15 days and get a note from a doctor. I found a doctor who does telemedicineconference online. At that point all symptoms had subsided and I was feeling normal again. It cost me 80,000 pesos for the consultation and travel certificate. I had to send my trusted taxi buddy to Davidienda to deposit the money, but you might be able to do it online. Here's his link. Not sure if he speaks English.

[URL]https://telemedicinadoctorflorian.com.co/[/URL]

Anyway, he told me that I was good to go. I no longer needed to be in quarantine because my first symptoms were over two weeks prior and I had done 10 days in quarantine( it was actually more than that). So the Rona part of the trip ended.

PS: the Venezuelan hottie that spent the first days with me never got sick.[/QUOTE]And glad you beat that thing.

[QUOTE=GMoney582;2585030]...Went for the test and came back positive. Damn. Not good. And I felt like crap on top...[/QUOTE]Did you feel anything for all the people you infected?

[QUOTE=GMoney582;2585030]So. I started getting sick.... I am not a doctor and this isn't medical advice. I was doing 16,000 MG of Vitamin C daily ...[/QUOTE]16,000 MG = 16 grams. Do you ever have heartburn? Diarrhea? Stomach pain? Flatulence? Dude, you're taking too much.

"...I am not a doctor..." SMH (in disbelief).

[QUOTE=JohnClayton;2585097]16,000 MG = 16 grams. Do you ever have heartburn? Diarrhea? Stomach pain? Flatulence? Dude, you're taking too much.

"...I am not a doctor..." SMH (in disbelief).[/QUOTE]I believe that Linus Pauling recommended 18 grams a day and I actually fell a bit short of that. They have found with cancer patients using high doses of Vitamin see as a therapy up to 100 g a day can be tolerated with no ill effect. I was using a pharmaceutical grade and had no ill effect. The general recommendation is to take until bowel intolerance ie it makes you go to the bathroom, but I had the Rona so the runs is part of that. I experienced no ill effects at all. I have an exgirlfriend who suffers from heartburn and I give her high dose (not that high) and it doesn't aggravate her heartburn. But of course everyone should consult his her physician and I would be careful if you have some type of high acid or high pitta as they say in Ayurveda condition. I obviously can't say how it helped me but I recovered pretty quickly, never developed a serious cough, despite a history of always getting bad coughs and my smell and taste returning within days, which most people I know who had it had to wait months even up to a year. Here is the science if you are interested:

[URL]https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-C[/URL]#common-cold-treatment.

[QUOTE=JohnClayton;2585094]Did you feel anything for all the people you infected?[/QUOTE]Perhaps you didn't read the post and its hard to understand your comment. After developing symptoms, I did not come into contact with many people. The only one who was with me was the girl who I believe gave it to me who never developed any symptoms and the Tinder girl who also never developed any symptoms. In fact she came back after I was cleared and spent several nights with me and never got sick. I pretty much quarantined after the fatigue hit me and that is pretty clear in my post. So no I didn't feel guilty and had no reason to. In my time down there, I met many people, especially working girls, who were clearly sick but who didnt believe they had the Rona. Maybe they did, maybe they didn't. This idea that we are guilty of murder because someone caught a cold from us is a dark road to go down, much worse than any illness.

[QUOTE=GMoney582;2585233]I believe that Linus Pauling recommended 18 grams a day and I actually fell a bit short of that...Here is the science if you are interested:

[URL]https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-C[/URL]#common-cold-treatment.[/QUOTE]Linus Pauling -- I'd forgot about him. He as great, great scientist. Simply fucking brilliant. However, he is something of a cautionary tale to other scientists, it being 'don't make the mistake of believing everything you think'. As I understand it, the current evidence based, medical consensus is that Vitamin see it does shorten the duration of a cold, at least in children, but has no effect on a cold duration if it is taken after the cold symptoms occur. Pauling was enthusiastic about Vitamin see as a cancer treatment as well and, I believe, suggested that up to 18 g could be taken without toxicity; however, I don't think he ever recommended dosages that high. Anyway, the effect on cold duration seems small and the effect on cancer seems nil. He did have the insight that vitamins might have important biochemical effects unrelated to their prevention of associated deficiency diseases, which could be true; although that has not yet been shown to be so. Vitamin see is critical to our immune systems, formation of collagen, absorbtion of iron, etc; however, the amount that can be used is unknown. I was reacting to the fact that you were taking a potentially toxic amount based on little or no evidence.

Speaking of statistical evidence, clearly, you had not previously been vaccinated against Covid 19 -- was this by choice? I am fascinated by the reasoning of people who willingly will consume handfuls of vitamins with no evidence that it benefits them (or even a coherent theory about how they may work), while rejecting a mind blowingly effective vaccine.

[QUOTE=JohnClayton;2585315]Linus Pauling -- I'd forgot about him. He as great, great scientist. Simply fucking brilliant. However, he is something of a cautionary tale to other scientists, it being 'don't make the mistake of believing everything you think'. As I understand it, the current evidence based, medical consensus is that Vitamin see it does shorten the duration of a cold, at least in children, but has no effect on a cold duration if it is taken after the cold symptoms occur. Pauling was enthusiastic about Vitamin see as a cancer treatment as well and, I believe, suggested that up to 18 g could be taken without toxicity; however, I don't think he ever recommended dosages that high. Anyway, the effect on cold duration seems small and the effect on cancer seems nil. He did have the insight that vitamins might have important biochemical effects unrelated to their prevention of associated deficiency diseases, which could be true; although that has not yet been shown to be so. Vitamin see is critical to our immune systems, formation of collagen, absorbtion of iron, etc; however, the amount that can be used is unknown. I was reacting to the fact that you were taking a potentially toxic amount based on little or no evidence.

Speaking of statistical evidence, clearly, you had not previously been vaccinated against Covid 19 -- was this by choice? I am fascinated by the reasoning of people who willingly will consume handfuls of vitamins with no evidence that it benefits them (or even a coherent theory about how they may work), while rejecting a mind blowingly effective vaccine.[/QUOTE]No evidence that that amount is potentially toxic. Seriously though, it seems like you are here to be adversarial and hostile. Why don't you take a chill pill and stick to talking about Colombian hotties? You want to play medical sage head over to webmd. Self reflection is useful. Go back through your prior posts. They don't portray an amicable personality. This really isn't the place for a cranky old dodger.

[QUOTE=GMoney582;2585325]...a cranky old dodger.[/QUOTE]Maybe 'codger'? Anyhow, you're right about me. I'm simply trying to counter disinformation on this forum.

[QUOTE=JohnClayton;2585315]I am fascinated by the reasoning of people who willingly will consume handfuls of vitamins with no evidence that it benefits them (or even a coherent theory about how they may work), while rejecting a mind blowingly effective vaccine.[/QUOTE]The road to hell is paved with fascination as such. I mean who would reject the prosperity gospel while throwing their money at the stock market? After all, it is working out great for the preachers. ...as I sit at the beach not vaccinated around a ton of maskless mfs.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2585380]The road to hell is paved with fascination as such. I mean who would reject the prosperity gospel while throwing their money at the stock market? After all, it is working out great for the preachers. ...as I sit at the beach not vaccinated around a ton of maskless mfs.[/QUOTE]Mr. Enternational let me just say this publicly: you are my hero. Love your posts. You're living the life most of us can only dream of.

[QUOTE=JjBee62;2580238]I shouldn't laugh, but this is some funny stuff.

The trail to the top of Monserrat is considered a pilgrimage. It's for the devout to prove their faith and purify themselves. For the godless heathens there's the funicular or the team, although the tram wasn't running when I visited. I think it cost 12 k, but that was 6 years ago.

Having just driven Bogota to Medellin and back I can sympathize with anyone who takes the bus. Yes the road is steep and winding and there's a lot of passing on blind corners.

I mostly enjoyed the drive, but I'd hate to take the trip as a passenger.[/QUOTE]Yeah. Atheist that I am, I took the funicular when I went up to the top. You would think most of the chicas in Bogotá would have made this trip before, surprisingly many haven't. Always a good thing to take a chica to when you're looking for something to do and show off your higher foreign value.

[QUOTE=Osiris69;2584458]If you're both in Bogota, perhaps Melgar or Girardot? It's been ages, but did something similar with an ex-GF and friends years ago. Think it was about a 2 hour bus ride from BOG. We just rented a house that we had to ourselves that had a pool. No reception or anything like that. If I'm not mistaken, Melgar is called the swimming pool capital of Colombia they're so common.[/QUOTE]When I visited Bogotá before, I went out to a similar setup in Anapoima. It's in the valley past Melgar but not quite to Giradot. Was quite a bit hotter there and very relaxed. Good four days I spent there with my friend and his family. I was thinking this is the kind of place a gringo with on-point Spanish and social skills could score easily.

[QUOTE=Yossarian;2586060]Yeah. Atheist that I am, I took the funicular when I went up to the top. You would think most of the chicas in Bogot would have made this trip before, surprisingly many haven't. Always a good thing to take a chica to when you're looking for something to do and show off your higher foreign value.[/QUOTE]I confirm that and you can also have a meal once arrived there, there is nice restaurant with a room corridor offering a fantastic view over the city. I had once a diner with my chica there, was pretty early and we've seen the sunset from this terrace while dining and drinking a good wine. It was pretty romantic and she loved it. Restaurant is good but be aware is also a tourist trap regarding the prices but still OK for a gringo budget. I would do that visit again with no hesitation.

[QUOTE=Osiris69;2584458]If you're both in Bogota, perhaps Melgar or Girardot? It's been ages, but did something similar with an ex-GF and friends years ago. Think it was about a 2 hour bus ride from BOG. We just rented a house that we had to ourselves that had a pool. No reception or anything like that. If I'm not mistaken, Melgar is called the swimming pool capital of Colombia they're so common.[/QUOTE]Went to the water park in Melgar with my nurse chick the year before last. Had a good ass time. We only stayed 2 days. Took the bus and found a hotel. Dropped the luggage and changed clothes and took the bus to the water park. When that closed, went back to the hotel to changed and walked around town for dinner. Next day hung out in the hotel pool and took the bus back to Bogota the next morning.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2585380]The road to hell is paved with fascination as such. I mean who would reject the prosperity gospel while throwing their money at the stock market? After all, it is working out great for the preachers. ...as I sit at the beach not vaccinated around a ton of maskless mfs.[/QUOTE]Yeah, you and I are the same with this Mr. E. Since Corona hit, I have been travelling twice a month.

Truth is the worst thing you can do is to have meals with people indoors and talk up close with multiple people for a long period of time. Hanging out with a chick who appears healthy is IMO not a risky thing to do as is going to the beach. If you are going to talk with someone, that is probably the best place to do it.

It is funny how the best ways to communicate were the ones so condemned by those proposing how important and healthy face to face was. It turns out texting, whatsapp, videochats, and email were the healthiest ways to communicate.

Yeah, stay away from the beach they said. Do not go the gym. How much shit advice have they given us? Did you notice that the number of cases in Colombia plummeted when people were not forced to stay inside?

I know we bumped heads in the beginning but kudos to you for listening, weighing what was bad and good advice, and tuning out the bullshit.