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[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2537666]What are people still doing all this talking on the phone for? My parents know to send me a message on whatsapp. My insurance company emails me. My doctor has a system to write messages back and forth.[/QUOTE]What kind of phone is this for which they are talking about?
[QUOTE=JohnReter335;2537728]What kind of phone is this for which they are talking about?[/QUOTE]I think they were talking about instead of paying US provider to use a phone overseas. It is cheaper to use an unlocked phone and buy local SIM card with data, and use the data from local SIM card to communicate internationally via whatsapp and emails.
[QUOTE=Nounce;2537739]I think they were talking about instead of paying US provider to use a phone overseas. It is cheaper to use an unlocked phone and buy local SIM card with data, and use the data from local SIM card to communicate internationally via whatsapp and emails.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=JohnReter335;2537728]What kind of phone is this for which they are talking about?[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2537429] For probably the last 10 years I have been on the T-mobile plan where I do not pay anything extra for roaming internet and have free calls over wifi. I also have free calls and texts between USA, Mexico, and Canada. My bill is $70 even every month. I let my Colombian SIM go many years ago. It was no longer needed with this plan and whatsapp. I am in Brazil now writing this through my T-mobile internet.[/QUOTE]Mr E was talking about his T-mobile plan, not a local SIM, so many posts since then that it gets convoluted.
[QUOTE=MojoBandit;2537753]Mr E was talking about his T-mobile plan, not a local SIM, so many posts since then that it gets convoluted.[/QUOTE]Which Networks Are CDMA?
Of the five most popular mobile networks in the United States, Sprint, Verizon and Virgin Mobile use CDMA. T-Mobile and AT&T use GSM.
Since GSM and CDMA are incompatible with one another, you can't use a Sprint phone on a T-Mobile network, or a Verizon Wireless phone with AT&T. The same goes for any other mix of device and carrier that you can make out of the CDMA and GSM list from above.
[URL]https://www.lifewire.com/definition-of-cdma-578666[/URL]
Last night was first in Cartagena. I ended up staying at a place by the clock tower so ID frequently walk around in that area. I've never seen such creepiness, straight up ghouls will start walking with you just mumbling to themselves. I actually stopped and asked a guy to leave me alone, that I didn't want or need anything, and I just stood there mumbling and wondering what I might need or where I might be going. Later I gave one 10 yo 'kid' 10000 COP because it was his fourth time approaching and walking with me. Told him it was "too leave me alone for the rest of the night. " he might've taken it wrongly but I doubt it, you cannot give these people your attention in any form. Next thing I knew there was a guy on a bike encroaching upon me, and a taxi with the driver leaning halfway out the window to offer me stuff. It was from a movie. Told the kid "what'd I give you 10000 for?" he goes "10000 is nothing, pizza costs 20000 and I have brothers / sisters. " Another guy then approached me on foot and I looked over and saw a pub bouncer right there so I just stopped and let the goons walk off. I went into the pub.
Helplessly looking like a tourist and travelling alone is NOT a recipe for success here.
Aside from that, went too paraisa del marino last night and holy shit was it popping. 40+ hot girls looking fire.
I had a really sketchy night overall but one dude I met on the street said he'd take care of me and be my guide. Actually followed through on his word. I did end up getting him and a bunch of people idk 3 rounds of beers, which all in ran me $90 which is a bargain for a sense of safety. Thing is, idk if I can really trust the guy.
Anyways, what's up tonight?
Interesting posting by John Wick.
I was at the clock tower tonight because I wanted to see what was going on there. There's a lot of women almost all from Venezuela mostly pretty hardcore. They all are selling sex by the hour.
There's also a lot of men walking around trying to get you to go up the street with them and then ask you for money. The problem is these men don't have a market Niche strategy. Say what you want about Tony he is providing a very valuable service her people who are looking for that service. These guys have nothing to offer and they're not sure who their market is and even what they're selling. So I would just tell them no and follow that with another no and then soften a bit and say no thank you and that usually was sufficient.
Don't ever actually engage them in any discussion and certainly never give them any money. It will only encourage them to be more aggressive and if they can come close to you they can pick pocket you or even mug you. Of course The logical question is what is the relationship between these men wandering around with nothing to sell and the women wandering around with something very obvious that they're selling. Are they boyfriends and girlfriends or are they even all from the same country? I don't have any idea. I spoke with several of the women but none of them really appealed to me at all. At about 10:00 they moved from the square in small groups toward la dolce vida. Most of them seem to go into that club where some of the others in the same area.
Of the women I took their phone numbers, pretty much all of them texted me later that evening so it doesn't seem like any of them found a guy. Actually they're not looking to find a guy they're looking to get money. I don't mind helping women out but when it's only about money it's not really very enticing.
But getting back to John Wick, of course you should get rid of that tour guide immediately and probably move out of the old city which is just loaded with scammers and hustlers of every type. Just to see what was going on I stopped a fruit seller, to ask how much a 2000 peso papaya was going for. 10,000 he proudly told me.
[QUOTE=WorldTravel69;2537657]It you would have bought an unlocked phone you could saved lots of money. For about $15 you could receive about two weeks or more time on the phone.
Whatsapp is free and works anywhere in the world.
I have a Unlocked Motorola G8. I paid $200 online.[/QUOTE]I have a few unlocked quad band Phones, that I have used all over Latin America. I bought chips in Claro in CR and the best deal was in Bogota at the TransMilenio station for 20,000 cop. For me I find using my phone, with all my contacts and previous texts to follow up on and calls to and from the states is much more convenient for me. I will say bringing a cheap world phone is a good idea because of the wide spread cell phone theft in Bogota. To each his own.
[QUOTE=NeilGeorge;2537758]Which Networks Are CDMA?
Of the five most popular mobile networks in the United States, Sprint, Verizon and Virgin Mobile use CDMA. T-Mobile and AT&T use GSM.
Since GSM and CDMA are incompatible with one another, you can't use a Sprint phone on a T-Mobile network, or a Verizon Wireless phone with AT&T. The same goes for any other mix of device and carrier that you can make out of the CDMA and GSM list from above.
[URL]https://www.lifewire.com/definition-of-cdma-578666[/URL][/QUOTE]Verizon has phased out the CDMA network!
[QUOTE=CubaTourist;2537883]
Of the women I took their phone numbers, pretty much all of them texted me later that evening so it doesn't seem like any of them found a guy. Actually they're not looking to find a guy they're looking to get money. I don't mind helping women out but when it's only about money it's not really very enticing.
[/QUOTE]Most of the women working there are lucky if they get one customer a week. This is what a chica said to me when I asked how often those women find work: if they are very good looking once a day during normal times, and more than one a day if Cartagena has a lot of tourists. Then she said if the woman was average she would get one or two a week during normal times, and one a day if its busy. If the woman wasn't very good looking she would get one or two a month during normal times, and maybe once a week if Cartagena is busy.
You don't need any guides or to talk to anyone at the square or anywhere else. Something I learned early on is they are unnecessary middle men. You can talk to the chicas directly. You can book your own place. There are plenty of tourist stores that sell tickets to all kinds of attractions. You can ignore all the touts trying to get a cut by reselling you what is already there.
[QUOTE=NeilGeorge;2537758]Which Networks Are CDMA?
Of the five most popular mobile networks in the United States, Sprint, Verizon and Virgin Mobile use CDMA. T-Mobile and AT&T use GSM.
Since GSM and CDMA are incompatible with one another, you can't use a Sprint phone on a T-Mobile network, or a Verizon Wireless phone with AT&T. The same goes for any other mix of device and carrier that you can make out of the CDMA and GSM list from above.
[URL]https://www.lifewire.com/definition-of-cdma-578666[/URL][/QUOTE]Your individual phone is what determines whether your phone is going to work in Colombia or not. Technically Verizon uses both technologies, it is way more complicated than that lifewire article makes it out to be. Starting in 2010 Verizon started using LTE (GSM) for data and only relying on the old CDMA network for voice. Since that time though Verizon has been phasing out their CDMA network: there is way too much info for me to post so here are two articles you can read, the Verizon article is of course specific to CDMA as it pertains to Verizon.
[URL]https://www.verizon.com/articles/what-are-phone-bands-and-why-do-they-matter/[/URL]
[URL]https://www.pcmag.com/news/cdma-vs-gsm-whats-the-difference[/URL]
This is Verizon addressing the phase out of CDMA.
[URL]https://www.verizon.com/support/knowledge-base-218813/[/URL]
T-Mobile is going to shut down the old Sprint CDMA at some point.
[URL]https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/12/28/t-mobile-warns-sprint-customers-of-upcoming-legacy-cellular-network-shutdown/[/URL]
[QUOTE=NeilGeorge;2537758]Which Networks Are CDMA?
Of the five most popular mobile networks in the United States, Sprint, Verizon and Virgin Mobile use CDMA. T-Mobile and AT&T use GSM.
Since GSM and CDMA are incompatible with one another, you can't use a Sprint phone on a T-Mobile network, or a Verizon Wireless phone with AT&T. The same goes for any other mix of device and carrier that you can make out of the CDMA and GSM list from above.
[URL]https://www.lifewire.com/definition-of-cdma-578666[/URL][/QUOTE]I think many phones these days have chips that work on both types of networks. Although Verizon uses CDMA, many of its phones have SIM cards for global roaming. CDMA is primarily used in the US and South Korea.
[QUOTE=CubaTourist;2537883]Interesting posting by John Wick.
10,000 he proudly told me.[/QUOTE]Ha. In my case it was a she, today. 10000 COP for some mangos. I asked her if it was a special price for me.
Good advice my friend. I appreciate it. Actually very wise to say "no, no no thank you," but maybe after having tried ignoring them. It really is some kind of rule out here.
Don't say I didn't warn you because I did.
[QUOTE=JohnWick2622;2537768]Last night was first in Cartagena. I ended up staying at a place by the clock tower so ID frequently walk around in that area. I've never seen such creepiness, straight up ghouls will start walking with you just mumbling to themselves. I actually stopped and asked a guy to leave me alone, that I didn't want or need anything, and I just stood there mumbling and wondering what I might need or where I might be going. Later I gave one 10 yo 'kid' 10000 COP because it was his fourth time approaching and walking with me. Told him it was "too leave me alone for the rest of the night. " he might've taken it wrongly but I doubt it, you cannot give these people your attention in any form. Next thing I knew there was a guy on a bike encroaching upon me, and a taxi with the driver leaning halfway out the window to offer me stuff. It was from a movie. Told the kid "what'd I give you 10000 for?" he goes "10000 is nothing, pizza costs 20000 and I have brothers / sisters. " Another guy then approached me on foot and I looked over and saw a pub bouncer right there so I just stopped and let the goons walk off. I went into the pub.
Helplessly looking like a tourist and travelling alone is NOT a recipe for success here.
Aside from that, went too paraisa del marino last night and holy shit was it popping. 40+ hot girls looking fire.
I had a really sketchy night overall but one dude I met on the street said he'd take care of me and be my guide. Actually followed through on his word. I did end up getting him and a bunch of people idk 3 rounds of beers, which all in ran me $90 which is a bargain for a sense of safety. Thing is, idk if I can really trust the guy.
Anyways, what's up tonight?[/QUOTE]
I put this in my blog but just to be thorough I posting in each city report thread.
Here is a chart that shows city by city testing locations, type of test and test costs. As well as turnaround times.
[URL]https://co.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/103/COVID-Testing-Locations-in-Colombia.pdf[/URL]
In Cartegena on Cra 6 in Bocagrande the Urgent Clinic will give you antigen test results in a couple of hours if you go back as well as a printout which comes in handy. My understanding is that they are open 7 days a week 24/7 much you might want to double check that with them. Please note different airlines may require different tests although an antigen test is all it is required by the US. You need the covid test results and the imig form filled out online to get back out of the country
[QUOTE=MojoBandit;2538131]I put this in my blog but just to be thorough I posting in each city report thread.
Here is a chart that shows city by city testing locations, type of test and test costs. As well as turnaround times.
[URL]https://co.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/103/COVID-Testing-Locations-in-Colombia.pdf[/URL][/QUOTE]