Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=DJ FourMoney; 1559148]1) How are they going to know you went to Cuba?

You're nobody, a small fry, they don't care.

2) They don't or don't let them stamp your passport!

Otherwise there's no risk unless something stupid happen and you needed the Gov to bail you out. At worst you'll have your passport suspended, other than that how would it risk your job unless you work for the Government?[/QUOTE]I went about 10 years ago. Fly from Tijuana to Havana by MX charter airline. At that time, Cuba did not stamp the passport. Returned the same way and crossed the border back to USA, no hassle as no body knew except they do know what time the flight comes back from Havana and hence cross a bit later. Do not wear a 'I love Cuba' tee-shirt while crossing the border!

[QUOTE=LifeIsABeach;1559524]I went about 10 years ago. Fly from Tijuana to Havana by MX charter airline. At that time, Cuba did not stamp the passport. Returned the same way and crossed the border back to USA, no hassle as no body knew except they do know what time the flight comes back from Havana and hence cross a bit later. Do not wear a 'I love Cuba' tee-shirt while crossing the border![/QUOTE]The one thing that I don't recommend is to lie to an officer of the United States. Unless you have a global entry status, you will be required to disclose each country you visited during the trip outside the United States. It's a felony to make a false statement. Interesting article from the New York Times.

[url]http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/travel/cuba-doing-it-your-way.html?_r=0[/url]

These are the legal reasons for Americans to travel to Cuba: visiting close relatives, official USA government business, journalistic, educational or religious activities, research, and / or commercial marketing of telecommunications, agricultural, or medical devices or medicine.

Returning from Cuba to Canada the customs in Canada can keep track on what Americans were on the flight just by checking Americans who get off the plane. Many make the mistake of taking a connecting flight back to the States, at which time the Canadian Customs Officer will catch them, take their name down, and report them to the USA authorities (this is the case even with Cubana Air, manifest or no manifest. Canadians do have a right to know who gets off that plane otherwise how would they know who is allowed in their country and who is not)! The close relationship between the United States and Canada makes Canada (and the Bahamas) a bad choice as a jump off point to enter Cuba, no matter what airline one takes. This does not mean that if you leave from these countries that you will get caught. I am sure that the majority do not but your risk increases.

Leave from a Latin country, make the trip to Cuba from a non American, non Canadian, or non Bahamian airline, and upon returning do not immediately get a connecting flight back into the States (don't make it too obvious). While in Cuba do not make obvious mistakes like having your passport stamped or using your credit card.

About 500, 000 Americans travel to Cuba yearly, with 50, 000 doing so illegally. Under the Bush Administration crackdowns increased fourfold (even then there were very few getting caught!). Under Obama there has been a relaxation of the embargo.

Out of the tens of thousands that go every year only a small number are fined. Most of the time it is through carelessness that they are caught. When they are fined one can challenge it by requesting a hearing. Most of the times the traveler will win since hearings are quite rare for the Office of Foreign Assets (they seem to be understaffed.).

If you are going to Cuba illegally expect to lie to USA immigration. It is unrealistic to think otherwise. (in fact, if you are on this board and go to many of these countries you are already most likely lying to immigration. What are you going to do tell immigration the truth: 'no, it is not a business trip. I go to another country to screw babes! ' Expect to be harassed by immigration!)

Returning to Cuba, If you have taken the necessary precautions you will never get caught otherwise use one of the legal reasons (stated above) for entering the country. As for the felony thing, only if one gets caught. Most do not get caught and I have never heard of someone being punished for lying to an immigration officer about going to Cuba. I guess someone out there has gotten caught lying but it is rare. Most people get caught because there is concrete evidence of a trip to the island, not because a person simply admitted to such a trip. If lying is a serious moral concern simply do not go to the country. Personally, I do not go since there are so many other places in the world to travel that is legal.

When dealing with any government employee one needs to use discretion. Tell them as little as possible, do not argue with them, and keep it moving. Outside of real serious threats most immigration officers want a simple day and Americans going to Cuba are the least of their concerns. Terrorists, people carrying weapons, bombs, violence are a little bit higher on the pecking order of concerns than some guy going to Cuba for sex. It is quite apparent that immigration is not too concerned about this since about 50, 000 Americans illegally go there every year! When I read the newspapers I focus more on what is happening in the Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Iraq than I am about people visiting some Caribbean island (I am sure that most people feel this way). Travel to Cuba is simply not that big of an issue to Americans, especially under Obama. When you look at this embargo thing, at the end of the day, it is just a formality, a relic of the cold war. Obama is not too worried about this (except when he has to deal with a guy named Jay Z! [who entered the island legally, by the way. Leave it to the Americans to complain about some American citizen entering a country legally! ]).

[QUOTE=Boriman;1559608]These are the legal reasons for Americans to travel to Cuba: visiting close relatives, official USA government business, journalistic, educational or religious activities, research, and / or commercial marketing of telecommunications, agricultural, or medical devices or medicine.[/QUOTE]Traveling to Cuba is NOT illegal for a U.S. citizen, it is the spending of U.S. dollars in the country of Cuba by a U.S. citizen that is illegal.

[QUOTE=Legal Tender; 1559553]The one thing that I don't recommend is to lie to an officer of the United States. Unless you have a global entry status, you will be required to disclose each country you visited during the trip outside the United States.[/QUOTE]Crossed the Tijuana border crossing hundred of times in the last 15 years. The US immigration only asks about the visit to Tijuana, if they at all. It is a business crossing, not your traditional international crossing. As your passport does not show any visits elsewhere, you are OK. In fact, the Plane from TJ to Havana was full of Americans. US folks have been travelling there for a long time through MX or Canada.

This should not be in Columbia forum.

Why is Columbia in the Colombia forum? Just kidding I'm sure you meant Paradise city.

[QUOTE=LifeIsABeach;1559844]This should not be in Columbia forum.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=LifeIsABeach;1559844]This should not be in Columbia forum.[/QUOTE]This should not be in the Colombia forum, either.

[QUOTE=Vegas Jeff; 1558912]I like your reference to not being able to discern the difference between upper class girls and poor barrio girls in Parque Lleras. Many girls in poor barrios wear their best outfits and most tourists can't see the difference. I also like your mirror reference with regards to how you treat people is what you receive in return.

As you said there are different places for different people and there are no paradises. Every place has it's positives and negatives and how these align can be different for different people.[/QUOTE]I don't like sophisticated, girls, I like simple, fresh and natural beauties and to get some girl firend experiences with some girls.

Do you know some unknown "barrios", places and bars where I can go to get those girls?

I always travel alone and I am an expert traveller, I speak fluent spanish and I don't have any problem with their language.

[QUOTE=FoxesHunter; 1560172]I don't like sophisticated, girls, I like simple, fresh and natural beauties and to get some girl firend experiences with some girls.

Do you know some unknown "barrios", places and bars where I can go to get those girls?

I always travel alone and I am an expert traveller, I speak fluent spanish and I don't have any problem with their language.[/QUOTE]Most come to Medellin and never leave Poblado or el Centro and wonder why they only meet hookers and prepagos. Best place to meet regular girls is going to be la 70 (nightlife district between UPB and Estacion Estadio). Avenida 33 is ok as well but doesn't have nearly the bar density or the people.

These girls are going to be out with their friends though so you are actually going to have to try to talk to them rather than just flash a little money. Helps to be able to dance a little.

Men keep your eyes open and your attitude positive, Everyday is a new day, here in the paradise city, I dunno about Cuba.

Hahahah

[QUOTE=FoxesHunter; 1560172]. I like simple, fresh and natural beauties and to get some girl firend experiences with some girls.

Do you know some unknown "barrios", places and bars where I can go to get those girls?

I always travel alone and I am an expert traveller, I speak fluent spanish and I don't have any problem with their language.[/QUOTE]Amen to that!

Try EVERYWHERE where tourists are not expected. Avoid parque lleras! I personally prefer el centro and I love walking and hunting ALL over el centro. Why? Cause I find EVERYTHING I need there: Food, fresh fruit shakes, clothes, groceries and of course countless young pretty things wondering aimlessly and window shopping.

But be very smart! Just because they aren't "pros" doesn't mean they are naive! Sometimes they expect their first gringo to be that 120k cop payout they "heard" about.

As far as barrios, I don't recommend going there unless with local friends from that barrio. I'm brown but when I was up on that mountain partying in santo Domingo with locals, everyone was looking at me because "I didn't belong to the barrio"

There is one bar I will recommend exept I don't recall the name. It's in the centro, and it's where locals go to drink and sing along with the romantic lamenting type of songs. I think it's something like "70s or eighties" in the name. I know it's on a corner and dimly lit. Mostly girls go there after work.

[QUOTE=FoxesHunter;1560172]Do you know some unknown "barrios", places and bars where I can go to get those girls?[/QUOTE]Not that I would post on the internet; they wouldn't be "unknown" anymore.

[QUOTE=El Bacano; 1560306]Men keep your eyes open and your attitude positive, Everyday is a new day, here in the paradise city, I dunno about Cuba.

Hahahah[/QUOTE]This is the attitude to have. If you are a gentleman and confident good things will happen to you in Medellin. Using your brain helps also. Relax and speak slowly.

For you guys with short trips hit the ground hard the first few days and repeat your favorites. For guys with time there is everything from steady repeats to regular girlfriends. Guys with time or are on repeat trips will have some girls to call which they have established something with and this is definitely an advantage. They are also more in touch with the lay of the land and the p4p options.

There are no new unknown barrios in Medellin. Some guys, I hear, are going up to Bello to meet fresher girls. I am constantly amazed at how guys are looking for the newest, untapped environments instead of stepping up their game to get respect from the girls who have a slight inclination towards them in the ordinary areas.

Although Medellin is not a new stomping ground for Gringos I find genuine experiences are to be had anywhere with girls. This is especially true if you get outside the upper class neighborhoods. My advice is to stick to the p4p until you get your Spanish up to a workable level. Too many guys are trying too hard and not making good connections with the culture.

I would encourage you guys to visit your favorite girls in their barrios. You don't need to go dancing at night but a simple visit to their house or a nearby restaurant would be enough. How do you expect to get respect from these girls if you can't relate to them and are constantly throwing money at them for everything that you want. Paisa working girls and regular girls alike will only hang with you for as long as you keep them entertained. Also guys get the word hour out of your vocabulary. If you put short restrictions on things these girls will never relax.

Also, Foxeshunter, there are no simple girls in Medellin. The best you can hope for is humble and sweet, and even then, they need a man who can assert themselves to gain their respect.

Good luck.