Colombia Club

[HAL 9000 96]

Regarding $ecurity down there...

If you can really tru$t your significant other then use Sure Money (Dinero Seguro) from the USPS. Most tellers, understandibly, are only used to using it to wire money to Mexico, but that's ok, and remind them that Colombia is on the list of receiving countries. It costs 10 bucks and what I'd do in the past is wire my girl a set amount up to $700 before traveling there and just withdrawing cash from ATMs down there from her account without the ridiculous international foreign currency transaction fee plus foreign ATM fees from here in the USA. THAT's what I refer to as protecting my wallet while in Colombia!!!

Oh gosh folks... its 1:26 am... I can't sleep and Mària will be here in Chicago with me in less than 7 days now!

GOT to clean up!!!

WASSUP!!!!!!!!!! LOL...Hope everybody's doing good!!!!!!!!!! I got so caught up with reading , calling IRS for tax transcripts, taking notes, thinking of baby names ....etc..so much stuff!!!!!!!!..that i forgot that this Colombia club is like New York...Never sleeps or takes a day off!!!!!!!!!!! Just want to send a big hello to everybody!!!! I'm trying to be as prepared as possible for what lies ahead for me!!!!!!!!!!! my e mail is bh2074@yahoo......dont hesitate to drop hellos or to tell me if they have the magic shortcut to cut this process!!!!LOL.....take care everybody!!!!!!!!!! and dre you seem so happy, im so happy for you girl...Lucho..Siga la rumba!!!!!!!!!!!! Drink a bottle of antioqueno for me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually now I know what will get me to sleep... got some Azul in the fridge...

maybe a Canelazo for a night cap?

[buck501 0]

Thanks for the tips folks. I am pretty familar with safety practices. I have been all over SE Asia and in other 3rd world countrys. They are all about the same. It is good to know about where the not so good places to visit are.

Paola goes to the embassy today to get Pkt 4. She could not find warm clothes in Buenaventura, so she will be a tad bit cold. She is going to stop in Cali when she returns tonight, go shopping for nice clothes, (and warm ones) for the interview before returning to her city. Lord only knows what that will cost me. LOL>LOL. That women can shop!!!! Going to the mall with her is a dreadful experience. I will post after she gets Pkt 4.

[parkpapa 0]

Andrea, yep, I know how to reply without the quotes. Generally, I include the original quote because there can often be several posts after the one I'm trying to respond to. If someone else reads my post, then they don't have to hunt around trying to figure out what I'm responding to or talking about. Assuming, of course, my post makes sense even in context!!

Ditto on the comments from Bill about the taxies and bus system. The taxi rides in Bogota are the same as they are in Buenos Aires and in Mexico. Apparently you take a special driving test to be a taxi driver south of Texas. If you fail, you're hired!!!!!!!! Lorena tells me that you are much better off riding a regular bus (with a Colombian citizen as guide) than riding on the Transmillenio. She says that all the pickpockets and thugs ride the Transmillenio because they know that's where the money is.

[OjosAzules 0]

Andrea, yep, I know how to reply without the quotes. Generally, I include the original quote because there can often be several posts after the one I'm trying to respond to. If someone else reads my post, then they don't have to hunt around trying to figure out what I'm responding to or talking about. Assuming, of course, my post makes sense even in context!!

Ditto on the comments from Bill about the taxies and bus system. The taxi rides in Bogota are the same as they are in Buenos Aires and in Mexico. Apparently you take a special driving test to be a taxi driver south of Texas. If you fail, you're hired!!!!!!!! Lorena tells me that you are much better off riding a regular bus (with a Colombian citizen as guide) than riding on the Transmillenio. She says that all the pickpockets and thugs ride the Transmillenio because they know that's where the money is.

I've never seen a Transmilenio station that didn't have Police posted there, but yes, watch out for pickpockets when it's crowded. Rolos are very proud of the transmilenio, and it is a pretty great system. you won't die on it. Taxi drivers in Bogota make New York taxi drivers look like Ms. daisy. (not even morgan freeman!) but they're courteous and pretty cheap.

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

WASSUP!!!!!!!!!! LOL...Hope everybody's doing good!!!!!!!!!! I got so caught up with reading , calling IRS for tax transcripts, taking notes, thinking of baby names ....etc..so much stuff!!!!!!!!..that i forgot that this Colombia club is like New York...Never sleeps or takes a day off!!!!!!!!!!! Just want to send a big hello to everybody!!!! I'm trying to be as prepared as possible for what lies ahead for me!!!!!!!!!!! my e mail is bh2074@yahoo......dont hesitate to drop hellos or to tell me if they have the magic shortcut to cut this process!!!!LOL.....take care everybody!!!!!!!!!! and dre you seem so happy, im so happy for you girl...Lucho..Siga la rumba!!!!!!!!!!!! Drink a bottle of antioqueno for me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW....I have not seen the Colombia Club this quiet??

[buck501 0]

OK Byron, you asked for it YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.......................WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

I just got off the phone with Paola, she has Pkt 4 in her hand. Now we know for sure we can attend the interview on the 17th. That takes alot of anxiety away from me. Whew. I have not quite arrived to the "Lucho" state of mind yet, getting closer though, no, wait...................I forgot, Lucho is a heavy drinker and is dilusional. LOL>LOL.

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

LOL...This waiting process is going to make a heavy drinker really soon!!!!!

[TonyS 0]

Quiet huh...well I will chime in for a second. No horror stories this time. We are all international travelers so we have develped ways to be smart when we travel in another country. Lucho, I'm down with the chiva bus too. I have to try it out when I'm in Barranquilla for the next carnival . Keep up the good work Byron. I can tell you will be ready when the time comes. Buck, I could recommend a taxi driver in Bogota if you like. He was referred to us by my wife's good friend and we used his services for a week. I also referred him to another "Colombia Club" member during their interview time. He is a good guy and doesn't drive like Juan Pablo Montoya.

[ColombianoGringo 0]

Colombian cab drivers can be pretty scary. The most troubling thing for me is that they often hide or remove the seat belts from the back seats. It really pisses me off when the cabbie is wearing his seatbelt, while he has removed the ones in the back. That ought to be illegal.

Not too long ago, we caught a cab at the Unicentro stand. The guy drove us to the bus terminal for a trip to Fusa. It struck me as very odd that he obeyed all the traffic laws and generally drove conservatively. It wasn't until later that we found out why. It was only his second day driving a cab.

Peace,

CG

[paisita411 0]

Buck - glad to hear Paola got pk4! That is one less stress for the two of you.

I just wanted to chime in on the traveling tips...

I never carry cash in the US and found it pretty easy to pay with my debit card in Bogota. I used it many times. This seemed to me safer than carrying a bunch of cash.

By the way...here is Medellin's version of the Transmilenio:

LOL

Dre

[buck501 0]

As long as we are on the subject..............It is a good idea to call your bank and your credit card company to notify them you will be using card out of the country. It would be a bummer and ahassel to have to call back to the states to get your card reactivated.

I do not carry money, I carry a foto copy of my passport. I let Paola carry money, I figure that way I will not be the one to get knocked in the head or shot.

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

From my visits to Bogota ranging back to Feb. , I have always paid with my debit card and never had a problem...the one thing you should always get right is when they ask you how many installments do you want to pay, just say one....

[buck501 0]

I talked to Paola about the embassy tonight. She said while she was waiting outside many people came out that had interviews. She talked to many of them. She is sharp as a tack. She figured out the women that came out crying, were denied. The couples that came out, arms wrapped around each other laughing and kissing were approved. Every couple she saw was approved. Many single women were denied. Many of those were applying for a tourist visa. She tried to talk to many of them. End result...............I am feeling pretty good. There is an outside chance I will get a good nights sleep.

I really have been under pressure since the post about the VJ's being 17 and 0 for the year. I do not want to be the one to break the trend.

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Dont worry i think your going to be fine!!!!!!!! Just be prepared and most important .... BE THERE FOR THE INTERVIEW!!!!!! From what i have seen it is very important...Im going to be there as long as God forbid there is some bad situation at work!!

[lucho562 0]

Dont worry Buck. You'll be good to go by interview time. And if there is any doubt in your mind, any question, just go to an internet cafe in Bogota and your support group (us) will be there for you.