Medellin Reports

[SpiderRider]

Anyone here has experience opening a local bank account (Bancolombia) without a Colombian cedula or visa? I'm going to try next week, hopefully by bringing my property purchase agreement / contract and income sources will help since all I got is a passport. Thanks in advance.

I have 10 days left on my current seeédula, I will try BBVA next week because they have ATMs in many parts of US. I'll try to post my results.

[Surfer500]

You can only do that if you received the email or the company has some kind of app that you can get it from. Leaving the US to enter Brazil or Colombia I just show it on my phone. But when you test in another country you are not usually receiving the supposed email until well after you have left the testing center, so you want to have something on hand in case you never receive it electronically..

Actually the testing place I went to wanted to send me the test result besides E mail, but by Whatsapp as well, so there is a universal App that works for this purpose. But regardless of this, the odds of you getting the test results via E mail or Whatsapp are very much at risk of not happening and not worth it, thus better safe than sorry to have the result in hand.

[Osteoknot]

My boots-on-the-ground sent me a couple of videos today of protests in Colombia surrounding Covid, I pulled these fotos off the videos. She said there was some looting going on, too. Don't know exactly where these hotspots were located.

[Mr Enternational]

Why can't you just download the PDF and keep it on your phone?

You can only do that if you received the email or the company has some kind of app that you can get it from. Leaving the US to enter Brazil or Colombia I just show it on my phone. But when you test in another country you are not usually receiving the supposed email until well after you have left the testing center, so you want to have something on hand in case you never receive it electronically.

[GeneHickman]

You are damn right about that. The only place that email system worked properly for me the first time was CVS in the USA. Brazil: never got an email so I had to go back to the pharmacy the next day. They had to adjust something in the computer. Dominican Republic: did not get the email so I went back down to the clinic. Had to complete some kind of verification in the system for the email to be sent. Colombia: Did not get an email but already had the paper copy so I took a picture of it in case I lost it. Did not worry about going back for an email. Overseas, don't leave the testing site without a paper copy and take a picture of it!

Why can't you just download the PDF and keep it on your phone?

[Surfer500]

Quarantine this weekend. People have said the ICU is full so it is likely that the weekend quarantines and curfews during the week will be around for awhile.

All of the stats regarding the ICU capacity is an illusion of sorts. A few weeks back they stated that they would be engaging in "ethical triage" to determine who gets an ICU bed, so of course if there are so many beds available the ICU's will be full at the current rates of infection when it reality they might be between 120 % and a higher percentage full if "ethical triage " weren't being utilzed.

I unfortunately agree with you that the weekend lockdowns might go on for a while and I'm sure they are hoping that a total shutdown can be avoided, I hope things improve for everyone's sake.

[Osteoknot]

Regardless of where people get tested, my advice is wait around and get a physical copy of the test result in your hands. Yes, I have seen everybody showing up at the airport sharing their documentation with authorities, but what happens if your devices don't work for some reason. I'm old school but that's my advice, I always carry paper copies of all necessary travel documents with me, but do understand not everybody has access to a printer.

I posted on this lab before but the service was so good it bears repeating. I used Cendiatra labs for my pre-flight COVID-19 testing. Two locations in Medellin. https://cendiatra.com/. They had a paper copy in my hands within 30 minutes and a copy in my Email by the time I Ubered back to my hotel. Cost was $21 and I charged it on AmEx. They offer 3 kinds of Covid testing, for boarding an international flight you only need the cheap, rapid one they call their Confirmatory Covid Antigen Test-19 collected by nasal swab (no blood).

As far as printing goes, if needed, every hotel I have stayed printed what I sent them by Email. I attach the document to an Email and send it from my phone while I am standing at the registration desk and wait for them to print it, all within a matter of minutes. That is tippable service. Make sure you use the right Email address as usually it is not the one listed on their business cards, etc. If that doesn't work, just walk around until you see one of those mom & pop shops that make copies that are everywhere and do the same routine. Some Spanish required or hopefully you are fucking a chica you can trust and take along with you for such things. Ostee Out.

I haven't posted any random gratuitous photos lately. Secret sent me this foto with a "hurry back" message. I am sure she misses the pink shit I buy for her, my pesos, and my cock (this chica really loves to fuck) in that order, jajajaaja.

[Mr Enternational]

Regardless of where people get tested, my advice is wait around and get a physical copy of the test result in your hands.

You are damn right about that. The only place that email system worked properly for me the first time was CVS in the USA. Brazil: never got an email so I had to go back to the pharmacy the next day. They had to adjust something in the computer. Dominican Republic: did not get the email so I went back down to the clinic. Had to complete some kind of verification in the system for the email to be sent. Colombia: Did not get an email but already had the paper copy so I took a picture of it in case I lost it. Did not worry about going back for an email. Overseas, don't leave the testing site without a paper copy and take a picture of it!

[Surfer500]

My flight was scheduled to leave at 2:20 pm and I got to the MDE airport at 10:40 am. I still needed a covid test to board my departing flight. There's a set of tents outside the airport on the lowest floor, the one with the new arrivals, on the far end--they'll be on your left-hand side as you're driving away. If you don't know the procedure, as I didn't, you enter the middle tent and wait in line until you fill out 2 forms with a nurse. The form they hand you is in English but the form the nurse fills out isn't, and none of them there spoke any, so I hope your Spanish is at least adequate. If you're an American you only need an antigen test to re-enter and the cost is 80,000 pesos.

When I arrived there were 8 people ahead of me and the lined moved SLOWWWW. Like 10 minutes per person slow. Finally another nurse started to take down information as well and the line sped up. I filled out the forms, gave them my email, showed them my passport, paid the fee, and once that was done you get sent to the tent to your right as you exit. Got a swab shoved up my nose, which sucked, and then I had to wait around for the results. They say they'll email you the results but I never got them. After around 40 minutes a nurse called my name and gave me a piece of paper with the results (negative). This was around a quarter past noon. Total time: about 1 hour and 25 minutes since arriving. So if you're like me and want to wait until the last minute you might want to arrive 3. 5 to 4 hours before your flight to account for possible crowds and slow lines.

God forbid if you tested positive at the airport. When I departed a few weeks ago I went to a private lab about three blocks from EAFIT and the Aquatala Metro Station and got tested. I showed up at 6:15 AM and had a next day flight and walked out with the test result in my hands 30 minutes later, albeit they initially wanted to E mail it to me which I refused to do. I had gone by this lab a few days before because I live nearby around 11 AM and the place was packed and I was told it would be at least a couple of hours to get tested when I arrived. Fortunately early in the morning it was pretty much empty. I personally wouldn't wait until the last minute to get tested, but that is just me. And speaking Spanish does help as they don't want to deal with physically printing up the results but after explaining to them I didn't have a printer and needed a paper copy in my hand they agreed, and I clarified this at the front desk before paying, but when I told the technician that I needed a paper copy, she had to go to the front desk to get approval to print it out for me. Test costed 80 K.

Regardless of where people get tested, my advice is wait around and get a physical copy of the test result in your hands. Yes, I have seen everybody showing up at the airport sharing their documentation with authorities, but what happens if your devices don't work for some reason. I'm old school but that's my advice, I always carry paper copies of all necessary travel documents with me, but do understand not everybody has access to a printer.

[ColombiaLover]

My experience was similar. Reminder: You DO NOT have to enter the airport to get the COVID test. I made that mistake and stood in line, only to have to go downstairs and out the door again for the test. And go through the line again after (although there really was no line the second time). Also, I paid 95 mil for the antigen test. Price posted on the side of the tent. This was Monday. It appears the price has gone up, because I had also heard it was 80 mil.

Observation: Gringos with no Spanish really slowed the testing process.

My flight was scheduled to leave at 2:20 pm and I got to the MDE airport at 10:40 am. I still needed a covid test to board my departing flight. There's a set of tents outside the airport on the lowest floor, the one with the new arrivals, on the far end--they'll be on your left-hand side as you're driving away. If you don't know the procedure, as I didn't, you enter the middle tent and wait in line until you fill out 2 forms with a nurse. The form they hand you is in English but the form the nurse fills out isn't, and none of them there spoke any, so I hope your Spanish is at least adequate. If you're an American you only need an antigen test to re-enter and the cost is 80,000 pesos.

When I arrived there were 8 people ahead of me and the lined moved SLOWWWW. Like 10 minutes per person slow. Finally another nurse started to take down information as well and the line sped up. I filled out the forms, gave them my email, showed them my passport, paid the fee, and once that was done you get sent to the tent to your right as you exit. Got a swab shoved up my nose, which sucked, and then I had to wait around for the results. They say they'll email you the results but I never got them. After around 40 minutes a nurse called my name and gave me a piece of paper with the results (negative). This was around a quarter past noon. Total time: about 1 hour and 25 minutes since arriving. So if you're like me and want to wait until the last minute you might want to arrive 3. 5 to 4 hours before your flight to account for possible crowds and slow lines.

[Talon]

My flight was scheduled to leave at 2:20 pm and I got to the MDE airport at 10:40 am. I still needed a covid test to board my departing flight. There's a set of tents outside the airport on the lowest floor, the one with the new arrivals, on the far end--they'll be on your left-hand side as you're driving away. If you don't know the procedure, as I didn't, you enter the middle tent and wait in line until you fill out 2 forms with a nurse. The form they hand you is in English but the form the nurse fills out isn't, and none of them there spoke any, so I hope your Spanish is at least adequate. If you're an American you only need an antigen test to re-enter and the cost is 80,000 pesos.

When I arrived there were 8 people ahead of me and the lined moved SLOWWWW. Like 10 minutes per person slow. Finally another nurse started to take down information as well and the line sped up. I filled out the forms, gave them my email, showed them my passport, paid the fee, and once that was done you get sent to the tent to your right as you exit. Got a swab shoved up my nose, which sucked, and then I had to wait around for the results. They say they'll email you the results but I never got them. After around 40 minutes a nurse called my name and gave me a piece of paper with the results (negative). This was around a quarter past noon. Total time: about 1 hour and 25 minutes since arriving. So if you're like me and want to wait until the last minute you might want to arrive 3. 5 to 4 hours before your flight to account for possible crowds and slow lines.

[Talon]

I left Medellin the first week of April after the curfews started. While it sucked shopping for food, and there wasn't anyplace you could go to at night, I still was able to have chicas visit my apartment at night when most of the streets were deserted. One left after 10 pm but was still able to find someone on indriver and take her home safely. These were regulars I've had many times before though--you might have trouble convincing a stranger to make the same trip.

If you're a party animal or someone really into clubbing I'd probably avoid Colombia for the foreseeable future.

[JjBee62]

I have a few "rules" that I think would be helpful to a lot of visitors. We all know that "rules" may work for most but there are always people for whom they don't work. I. e. We are all different. So to quote a famous pirate. "They are more like guidelines."

1. You don't go out with a woman with a bigger ass than yours. It just won't work out.

Even if I get down to my 18 year old weight, that still leaves me with a 32 inch waist and probably 40 inches around the ass. Unless you've got a 29 inch waist, or you like really big butts, this is a pretty solid rule. If you don't believe it, try to put on the girl's panties.

2. 1 You don't fall in love with your hooker.

2. 2 You don't marry your hooker.

2. 3 You damn sure don't impregnate your hooker.

These 3 are really the same idea. Hookers are a temporary convenience. If you forget or ignore these rules you'll find out that hookers are better and cheaper than wives.

3. 1 You never send money to a girl you don't know.

3. 2 You never send money to a girl you DO know.

Send money if you want. However, accept that the money buys you nothing except for a request for more money.

4. If you are on vacation, you don't see 1 girl 10 times, you see 10 girls 1 time.

5. When a prepago tells you she wants to be your "novia" (girlfriend), remind her that novios (boyfriends) don't pay their novias and watch how fast she backs away from that idea.

6. Never arrange an overnight (toda la noche) or a trio with a girl you haven't seen before. It won't happen the way you picture it. If, after having seen her once (preferably twice). You'll be far better positioned to know if it will be as much fun as you would like.

7. If you want to find your friends on FaceBook for God sakes create a new account and don't use your real name, location, phone number or birthdate.

8. Never share information about a lady friend on the forum. Someone will tell her about it, and you will get burned. (Personal experience).

I don't have much to add to the rest. Number 7 is a good rule, I just don't follow it, as you know.

The last one I'd go further and say be very picky about who you share contact info with.

[GeneHickman]

Option 1) Go to EAFIT and pose as a student there as the Bancolombia branch there is where I opened my account, but I was a student there and don't recall if they asked for my student ID, but you could say your enrolled in the following week's classes and haven't been issued your ID yet, but if you speak Spanish you might have to fake it and speak in English.

Option 2) Try another bank besides BanColombia.

Option 3) Grease the skids, go to another branch of Bancolombia and / or another bank. Offer the person your dealing with an incentive to help you out.

Good luck!

Yeah it's actually more our own Federal Gubbermwnt at fault here. Most Latin American and Caribbean county banks are under the pump due to something called FATCA. It has onerous reporting requirements for any account owned by an American and its frankly something not worth it to them. So if you are a US citizen they hate having to open an account for you.
I think you said you were a Panamanian citizen. If so highly suggest using that ID if anything, and preferably some other non US form of identification if you are eligible. Our gov't is so concerned about their tax dollars that they use their control of the global financial system, manhandling everyone, using the swift transfer system, access to international banking etc to coerce smaller countries and banks.

[Surfer500]

I tried and failed, but not giving up. I went to Bancolombia in Puerta del Norte, waited about an HR, they give you a ticket and there's a waiting area inside. At least they have air conditioning, I was surprised! Lady said I needed a seedula de extranjero, tried to talk my way out. She asked her supervisor / manager, still a No. Oh well, I'll ask my real estate lawyer if he knows anyone in bank to help out. Just like anywhere in the world, connection is key.

On side note, lots of hot bank employees. Even with masks, I couldn't help but stare at their bodies!

Option 1) Go to EAFIT and pose as a student there as the Bancolombia branch there is where I opened my account, but I was a student there and don't recall if they asked for my student ID, but you could say your enrolled in the following week's classes and haven't been issued your ID yet, but if you speak Spanish you might have to fake it and speak in English.

Option 2) Try another bank besides BanColombia.

Option 3) Grease the skids, go to another branch of Bancolombia and / or another bank. Offer the person your dealing with an incentive to help you out.

Good luck!