Medellin Reports

[Mr Enternational]

How is knowledge of Spanish more of a concern for you than knowledge of Asian languages? Is English more widely spoken in places you frequent in Asia than it is in Colombia?

English is definitely more widely spoken in Asia than in Colombia. You would have to go well off the beaten tourist path in Asia to be desperate to know what someone was saying.

Funny thing that happens to me a lot. When I am somewhere that I speak the local language I guess people look at me and assume I do not. Because when I start talking to them in Spanish or Thai or Portuguese or French, the first thing they say is I don't speak English. I will say but I am speaking in Spanish, etc. They are not listening for me to speak their language, they are just waiting for their turn to say they do not speak what they assume to be mine.

[BlackThought]

I'm thinking back to the guys who stocked up on pesos last year when the rate went from 3000 to 3500. About 10 days later it was 4400.

I'm not the ISG investment guru, but it seems like a bad investment to me. Sure you might get a better rate today than you can get next year, but even if you do, you've lost the use of that capital until you manage to spend enough time in Colombia to go through a ridiculous amount of pesos. $5,000-$10,000 worth? I just spent 23 days, rented a car for 12 days, spent 11 extra days in an expensive airport hotel, and splurged when hanging out with my friends, plus encountered about $700 of other unexpected costs and still spent less than $3500.

Then there's the risk. Personally I'm uncomfortable carrying around enough cash for a Colombian to buy 2 houses.

If I was tight with my money, never overpaying, and all that, I could easily stretch $5,000 to last 2 months, probably 3.

Great advice as always. It may seem cheap now, but it can get cheaper; seems to be the pattern in Latin America: Venezuela - Argentina - Colombia (next)? The government would likely have to print more money which will devalue the currency further. I read somewhere that only 1.6 m Colombians pay income taxes out of a population of 50 m.

[Silver Turtle]

How about the security condition there? I saw several videos showing that 4-10 punk kids chalking and attacking pedestrians, including olds and women, to steal $2-10. Other people, 20-50 people, did nothing and they were just watching the robberies. I don't know if one victim got killed or not. My friends who live at the Botero area witnessed the robberies in the videos and told me that there are many robberies days and nights now.

Since I've been diagnosed on this board with Dunning Krueger syndrome, along with others, I'm having difficulty comprehending what I have been observing over the last four days being at ground zero most days from about 10 AM until 7 PM. Before the arrival of the Venezuelans, there were few if any girls out working in the mornings, now there's quite a few out at 10 AM, and primarily Venezuelans.

On Tuesday I went with one of my new spinners, a Colombiana, who has only been working for three months in El Centro. Compared to all the other girls working the streets I would peg her at in the lower bracket of the upper third of Chicas beauty wise working the streets, when I took her, she was happy, but very sad telling me how hard it was to get clients, and how the Venezuelans where driving the prices down. She also said that she has noticed a large increase in the amount of girls working over the last three months which has also been noticed by others as evidenced by the herds and groupies of girls, primarily the Venezuelans..

[MarquisdeSade1]

No one can predict the future, but in all likelihood, the Col Peso will continue to weaken in the near future. The country is in desperate condition. I'd be more worried about things devolving back to the violence pre-2000 than about the currency strengthening.

Between trips, I wouldn't hold more than 100 mil or so Pesos.

But I have more than 100 mil in my wallet and I'm in Chicago jajaja.

I have lots of foreign cash in my desk, Russian, Euros, Thb PHP MEX COP.

I think its cheaper to save it for a next visit then to pay to cash it back after you just paid to switch it.

Best to wait until one thinks the COP has hit bottom then buy a bunch.

If I lived there I would get 50-100 kusd when that happens jajajaja.

And just redeposit it like Surf suggests.

[MarquisdeSade1]

The office of the mayor of Medellin sponsored a day long cultural event in Plaza Botero. While crawling along my usual paths yesterday I was struck by the high quantity of civilians and the higher than normal quantity of providers. Many of the regulars were forced behind and alongside the church because more than half the plaza was blocked by stages and lighting platforms. A small orchestra and several other bands performed. An artist created a large chalk drawing in the open area between the museum and the Palacio de la Cultura. The weather was pleasant. I can confirm Surfer's observations about the sheer number of girls out, including some new faces. I expect it will be even more noticeable when the stage and performance equipment are gone.

https://feastio.com/best-restaurants-medellin/

How about the Mercado Del Rio?

[Combo]

The price of cop is dropping nicely.

Does anyone know of a cost effective way to buy cop online and have it delivered FedEx to your casa in USA?

I looked at Chase Citi and BofA and some BS online currency services but the rates are all shitty.

I would like to get 5000-10000 usd its getting close to 4000.

No one can predict the future, but in all likelihood, the Col Peso will continue to weaken in the near future. The country is in desperate condition. I'd be more worried about things devolving back to the violence pre-2000 than about the currency strengthening.

Between trips, I wouldn't hold more than 100 mil or so Pesos.

[Surfer500]

Is English more widely spoken in places you frequent in Asia than it is in Colombia?

In Thailand the majority of the working women speak English. I have never ever had an issue there related to not being able to communicate with people, versus here in Medellin and struggling at times trying to understand.

[Surfer500]

No 100 dollars = 380,000 at the current rate and that should be enough to get the taxi ride and a few necessities, even if you arrive late and don't want to visit an ATM in the dark hours.

Actually 380,000 COP will get you ten fucks including the room in El Centro, but after deducting 80,000 COP for the taxi ride your down to nine fucks, or perhaps I should say the "necessities".

[Combo]

A little more perspective for the guys with sugar babies (not that it will make any difference). Quote from an article on the Colombians responsible for killing the PM of Haiti.

"A former officer in Colombia's army, who asked not to be identified, said that a mercenary who traveled abroad could easily be paid about $2,700 a month, compared with a military salary of about $300 a month even for soldiers with years of combat experience."

And that $300/ month is easily more than the typical Colombian makes.

[MarquisdeSade1]

And as far Asians in Asia not liking non-Asians, very true indeed..

Yes I was in Col for 6 weeks and they are very very nice people, I felt genuinely liked by them and I genuinely liked them in return.

Even if I didn't like the p4 p I'm sure I would still return to visit.

I really need to see the rest of SA (Lima Santiago Argentina Brasil Montevideo Caracas) Punta Del Este anyone??

It depresses me to think about Nana on a Friday or Sat night, I sure hope it survives the Chinese / CCP virus.

Post-script.

Business class to BKK= very smart monger!

[Knowledge]

The office of the mayor of Medellin sponsored a day long cultural event in Plaza Botero. While crawling along my usual paths yesterday I was struck by the high quantity of civilians and the higher than normal quantity of providers. Many of the regulars were forced behind and alongside the church because more than half the plaza was blocked by stages and lighting platforms. A small orchestra and several other bands performed. An artist created a large chalk drawing in the open area between the museum and the Palacio de la Cultura. The weather was pleasant. I can confirm Surfer's observations about the sheer number of girls out, including some new faces. I expect it will be even more noticeable when the stage and performance equipment are gone.

[Just Incognito]

If stairs don't bother you, the place I just stayed at might be worth considering. The big downside is that it's on the 5th floor with no elevator. Nice sized balcony, jacuzzi just off the balcony, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths. It's in a quiet, safe area at the south end of Envigado. I think it cost me about $60 per night.

The other downside, at least for you, is the lack of security. There is a locked door at the entrance to the building and you can buzz in any guests (which beats going down and back up the stairs). For me, I preferred that because at one point I had 4 girls come over to hangout and eat pizza. Would have sucked to have a security guard tell me I could only have 1 or 2 at a time.

It's listed as La Esencia apartment on Booking.

I will look into it.

Found another good option on Air bnb.

Torn on how important security is in the building for me.

[MiamiSammy]

A little more perspective for the guys with sugar babies (not that it will make any difference). Quote from an article on the Colombians responsible for killing the PM of Haiti.

"A former officer in Colombia's army, who asked not to be identified, said that a mercenary who traveled abroad could easily be paid about $2,700 a month, compared with a military salary of about $300 a month even for soldiers with years of combat experience."

You do not want to get on the bad side of Colombians. They play hardball, as do Mexicans.

[Villainy]

The current taxi fare is 80,000 pesos to Poblado, I think you meant to say 100,000 Pesos.

No 100 dollars = 380,000 at the current rate and that should be enough to get the taxi ride and a few necessities, even if you arrive late and don't want to visit an ATM in the dark hours.

[Mr Enternational]

A little more perspective for the guys with sugar babies (not that it will make any difference). Quote from an article on the Colombians responsible for killing the PM of Haiti.

"A former officer in Colombia's army, who asked not to be identified, said that a mercenary who traveled abroad could easily be paid about $2,700 a month, compared with a military salary of about $300 a month even for soldiers with years of combat experience."