General Info

Guys,

If you had to choose, which one would you choose for mongering purposes if you had a modest (not fluent) knowledge of spanish?

Thank you, Tom 33, for all your info. There are many I'd like to thank, I feel like one of the people at the Academy Awards that pulls several full sized sheets of paper out of their pocket, trying to remember everyone that's had a kind word for them.

I think I'll just go by the Consulate anyway, it's no trouble, and at least get a six month tourist visa. I want to try several cities, and spend at least a month in each... or until I reach my boredom limit.

I notice you live in Medellin, after having been in Barranquilla for some time. Did you consider other cities as well, and decide on Medellin as the best option? I've been looking into Manizales, Periera and Armenia, as being smaller than Medellin, but fair sized, and safer. Do you think they would have fairly much the same facilities, as in decent food and groceries, gyms, and TV Cable Net?

Thanks again,

KT

[QUOTE=Sam I Am]Guys,

If you had to choose, which one would you choose for mongering purposes if you had a modest (not fluent) knowledge of spanish?[/QUOTE]Medellin, and stay at the Mansion.

Hi Guys:

Any USA based airline travel to CTG or MDE directly?

Thanks for all you help.

Player2

[QUOTE=Player2]Hi Guys:

Any USA based airline travel to CTG or MDE directly?

Thanks for all you help.

Player2[/QUOTE]American Airlines flies MIA-MDE direct. Spirit Air flies FLL-CTG direct.

I'm not being sarcastic. There's a very simple solution to that problem is just about every travel or airline site can solve. AA.com is one then there is Vayama and literally about 20 others. It's not that difficult.

MIA and FLL fly direct to those cities. Show a little resourcefulness.

[QUOTE=Player2]Hi Guys:

Any USA based airline travel to CTG or MDE directly?

Thanks for all you help.

Player2[/QUOTE]Spirit goes from Ft. Lauderdale to CTG direct.

[QUOTE=Player2]Hi Guys:

Any USA based airline travel to CTG or MDE directly?

Thanks for all you help.

Player2[/QUOTE]Avianca flys to CTG nonstop and to MDE for a little more from MIA. For MDE you might have to plan a little more in advance. Also spirit airlines also offers flights now from fort lauderdale but you pay for everything. In my opinion Avianca is worth the extra $20 you spend.

I know there has been discussion on the boards regarding murder rates. The Economist article this week has some interesting data. Read the article at [url]http://www.economist.com/world/la/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11750858[/url] or see the graph here

[img]http://bayimg.com/iAjolaAbO[/img]

Basically it is saying El Salvador and Venezuela are pretty dangerous. In Venzuela, last year, : more than 13,000 people were killed in a country of 27m, producing a murder rate of 48 per 100,000, the second highest in the world (after El Salvador). In neighboring Colombia, a country plagued by guerrilla war and drug violence, the rate was 40 per 100,000.

Caracas is currently the second most dangerous city in the Americas (after San Salvador). Even by the official figures, the murder rate is 130 per 100,000; but the true figure may be closer to a staggering 166 as only three of every 100 murderers are actually sentenced.

[QUOTE=Looking For Eden]Avianca flys to CTG nonstop and to MDE for a little more from MIA. For MDE you might have to plan a little more in advance. Also spirit airlines also offers flights now from fort lauderdale but you pay for everything. In my opinion Avianca is worth the extra $20 you spend.[/QUOTE]Any airline flies direct into MDE or CTG from west coast or Houston?

[QUOTE=Subaculture]I know there has been discussion on the boards regarding murder rates. The Economist article this week has some interesting data. Read the article at [url]http://www.economist.com/world/la/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11750858[/url] or see the graph here

[img]http://bayimg.com/iAjolaAbO[/img]

Basically it is saying El Salvador and Venezuela are pretty dangerous. In Venzuela, last year, : more than 13,000 people were killed in a country of 27m, producing a murder rate of 48 per 100,000, the second highest in the world (after El Salvador). In neighboring Colombia, a country plagued by guerrilla war and drug violence, the rate was 40 per 100,000.

Caracas is currently the second most dangerous city in the Americas (after San Salvador). Even by the official figures, the murder rate is 130 per 100,000; but the true figure may be closer to a staggering 166 as only three of every 100 murderers are actually sentenced.[/QUOTE]Recife Brazil deserves to be on the list too. Many murders there. I wonder how it compares to Caracas for its size. [url]www.pebodycount.com.br[/url] lists the daily murder count for Recife and it is often shocking.

[QUOTE=Player2]Any airline flies direct into MDE or CTG from west coast or Houston?[/QUOTE]I can't say for sure but I think no. Most either connect in Miami or sometimes you get a connecting flight in Panama city.

Colombia actually is down to 31 per 100k as of 2006 and many other countries are UP, including Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Venezuela. Some of them have passed Colombia.

I am not sure where to put this, so here I go. I am considering going for th first time to Colombia. I am long timer in Brasil, fluent in Portugese, can understand about 80% Spanish but speaking it is a challenge but I can manage myself with a mix of Portunhol. Now, for a first timer to Colombia, where would you suggest?
What about safety? how big of a concern is it down there?
Which city is the safest?

I was wondering if there was a kind of one guide for everything to do with Colombia as we have in the Brasil forum with the Bubba Guide.

I thank in advance any feedback.

[QUOTE=Sprite13]I am not sure where to put this, so here I go. I am considering going for th first time to Colombia. I am long timer in Brasil, fluent in Portugese, can understand about 80% Spanish but speaking it is a challenge but I can manage myself with a mix of Portunhol. Now, for a first timer to Colombia, where would you suggest?

What about safety? how big of a concern is it down there?

Which city is the safest?

I was wondering if there was a kind of one guide for everything to do with Colombia as we have in the Brasil forum with the Bubba Guide.

I thank in advance any feedback.[/QUOTE]The tourist zone in Cartagena is the safest place in Colombia. Safety is no concern there, and you can get by with limited Spanish.