General Info

Likewise, I have only ever been to Bogota and the surrounding area, never been past Melgar, but from what I've seen first-hand.

There are sizeable communities in Bogota of Brazilians and Cubans, plus LOTS of people from Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina, etc. And there are whole areas of town inhabited by almost nothing but Paisas, other areas inhabited by almost nothing but Costeños, others almost entirely by Vallunos, others by Boyacos etc. Not to mention out of the 3 million people that have been displaced in Colombia over the past 50 years at LEAST 50% of them have wound up in Bogota.

And BTW Facebook is MASSIVE in Colombia, just like Orkut is in Brazil. And as far as I'm concerned the average Rolo is more progressive minded in many ways than the average New Yorker or Angelino even.

Interesting discussion on Bogota. I think there is middle ground between the two of you. I have been to Bogota many times and have friends there. Many of the folks who live in Bogota are, in fact, from Bogota. Families have lived there for many generations. However, there are also quite a few folks from other cities as well. While it is true that Colombians are not migratory by nature, many of them DO, in fact, head to Bogota out of necessity. Either because they could not find work where they lived (economic reasons) or because they were forced out of their homes by the FARC or others. So, while I doubt that Bogota is 80% outsiders, I believe there are a significant number. And we'll never know the true number. But can only guess. Bogota is like no other city in Colombia. For a lot of reasons. So many folks flock to Bogota, but the opportunities are not really there either. Perhaps more so than in small towns, but not anything substantial from what I've seen. When you have doctors and lawyers driving cabs, that tells you something.

CL

[QUOTE=Client 9] Matchmaking services of any kind (marriage agencies, dating sites, etc.) are contrary to Colombian culture[/QUOTE]May I chime in ? ... obrigado :)

Bango Cheito is right of course. Internet dating/matchmaking is even more popular in South America than in our western countries.

On yahoo encontros.br, the largest brasilian dating site, a single search on [Brasil -> todos estatos -> women -> aged 18 - 30 - > with photos -> looking for men] give something like 637 000 answers. I'm pretty sure that 98% are "normal" women, and not piranhas or putas (or prepagos or whatever).

I'm not a specialist of colombian sites but what is true for Brasil is also surely for Colombia.

A (Colombiana) friend of mine in Bogota broke her leg in the other day. I would like to send her enough money to cover the medical expenses but I do not have a ton of $$ right now AND she will absolutely not reveal to me how much this has set her back (but I know if I wire some funds into her account, she'll be grateful).

Any idea how much the medical visits and cast / crutches would set a local back??

Thanks for any info or thoughts...
Aa

[QUOTE=Angryant]A (Colombiana) friend of mine in Bogota broke her leg in the other day. I would like to send her enough money to cover the medical expenses but I do not have a ton of $$ right now AND she will absolutely not reveal to me how much this has set her back (but I know if I wire some funds into her account, she'll be grateful).

Any idea how much the medical visits and cast / crutches would set a local back??

Thanks for any info or thoughts.

Aa[/QUOTE]Could be almost nothing is she's in CISBEN (sp?). If she's formally employed (even as a domestic) her employer is obliged to provide her with medical insurance in which case there will be a co-pay but it could be as little as a few k.

Dude;

Live and learn even if it takes four years.

I hope you do not send the next chica any money.

[QUOTE=Dude55]I heard something similar by a girlfriend. The store she work in was broken into and things were stolen. She lost her job. Can I send money?

Answer. Yes, I sent her $175. And an email saying good luck, I am looking for another girlfriend (mooch).

This was after 4 years of her sucking money from me.

I was her ATM.[/QUOTE]My personal circumstances are opening my eyes to the fact that the distance between survival and disaster for many poor Colombian families is razor thin. If you're living hand-to-mouth, supporting your elderly parents, have no savings, and limited access to medical care until its often too late it takes almost nothing to tip you over time after time.

Sure she may be sponging off you. Or it may be that her need for survival is greater than her her need for your cock.

It's pretty pathetic to feel sorry for Colombians' access to health care when it is BETTER than the access to it here in America. If you really feel you want to use your money to help someone, find someone in your OWN NEIGHBORHOOD who needs it. Colombia may be poorer than the US but it's not THAT bad down there.

[QUOTE=Bango Cheito]It's pretty pathetic to feel sorry for Colombians' access to health care when it is BETTER than the access to it here in America. If you really feel you want to use your money to help someone, find someone in your OWN NEIGHBORHOOD who needs it. Colombia may be poorer than the US but it's not THAT bad down there.[/QUOTE]The US? Hardly an aspiration goal for Colombia.

I can assure you that.- in practice, though not in law.- access to health care at the bottom of the social scale in Colombia is very limited, not free, and interventions late, thereby increasing their cost with knock on effects on the system.

Even if we focus our attention on principal cities and ignore the total lack of care in rural communities, we see seriously I'll people starting to queue very early in the morning (4am) in order to be sufficiently early to get an appointment: if you're too late you're just cut off and have to return the following day.

Owing to that pressure on the system.- and cost.- patients often turn up with progressed illnesses that require costly and urgent treatments. But the patient themselves will be required to pay for certain things, for example certain drugs or a drain tube, likely to beyond their means.

Add to that an economic and sanitary climate such as exists in many parts of Colombia and even the hardest-working poor family is only one misstep from disaster.

There's a couple on one of the other Colombia groups that regularly works with the poor and disadvantaged of Bogota. They've got a site with photos somewhere; I'll see if I can find it.

Jun 25, 11pm ET, and 3 more re-runs over the next 7 days.

[QUOTE=Client 9]Well, Bango, I'm going to return the favor by calling BS on you.

First, I don't go to Bogota. I go to Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena and Medellin. Maybe Bogota is very different from the other major cities of Colombia. Maybe 80% of people in Bogota are from other cities as you claim, but I doubt it. It seems like hyperbole.

While I am uncertain about Bogota, I am certain about the other major cities of Colombia. At least 80% of the people that I have met in the other major cities of Colombia were born, raised and have lived their entire lives in the same city. And that's not hyperbole. It's an accurate statement.

Colombia is not a mobile society. In fact, Colombia is a rigid society in every way. Colombia is one of the most isolated countries in the world. Very few people emigrate to Colombia. There is very little tourism in Colombia. Most Colombians have never been to a foreign country. Most Colombians do not speak a foreign language. Colombian exposure to foreigners and foreign cultures is minimal.

Colombian adults do not use matchmaking services to meet other Colombian adults. Colombian universities do not have fraternities and sororities. Matchmaking services are not part of Colombian culture because Colombia is not a mobile society. The social networks of Colombians are rarely disrupted. The social networks of many Americans are constantly disrupted, and that explains the cultural acceptance of matchmaking services in the U. S.

Colombian culture and American culture are different.[/QUOTE]I would have to agree 100% on that Client9.

fact is in Colombia you do NOT need any matchmaking services...becuase Colombian women do NOT make SEX a big deal! It's a normal thing for them.

Need I say more?

Johan

No argument that sex is freer there. I'm arguing that they're not as unsophisticated and provincial as people are making them out to be. Otherwise I would NEVER consider moving there.

Hi Guys:

Please help in deciding which city to go in Colombia.

I dont speak spanish and I have never been to Colombia before.

I do have experience in int'l travel.

Thanks for all your help in advance.

Player2

Hi Guys,

For different reasons it can be handy to take a chica to a short time motel instead of your hotel / apartment.

Do you guys have some personal favorite short time hotel to reccomend in:

1. Bogota

2. Cartagena

3. Medellin

4. Cali

5. Barranquilla

If you have some personal favorite in any of this cities, please help me out.

Best regards / Ken Apples

Really great kick-off deals for airfare to a couple of destinations in Colombia. They start flying on July 24 and have fares starting @ $69 RT from Ft Lauderdale. For those of you who always wanted to go and are flexible on dates.