Sabound and all others thinking about jumping in the pool:
Before I found the lady of my life, I would read, re-read and re-re-read the posts yet again. Went through the trip reports to the point I thought I was really there. I also observed all the food fights between the know-it-alls that never have gone anywhere, but still had an "expert" opinion. Then I went to Jamie's site and at one point, probrably knew every word on his site word-for-word.
Everyone here is going to have an opinion. Some found a woman from writing. Some found her through using the tour option. Some even have found her just walking around the streets. Some people love Jamie's agency since he is the reason for their new found happiness (I am one) while others, including some that have never have even used his services, would burn him at the stake.
The guys here can only give opinions. The guys that are thinking about going or writing first in the end really just need to stop wringing your hands and catch a flight and go down to experience this thing for themselves. No one's story is going to mirror anyone else's experience. My story is different than Montrealer's story. Singlefather's is different than Kiltboy's. Sean126 has a different story than Soltero's...
I had to just stop reading all of the stories and book a flight. Those experiences I was reading belonged to those guys that went. Some came back from the war with a medal, while others only came back with scars. But they went and I could never know which I would come back with if I sat and wondered about it every day. I realized that all of these opinions and stories and how much it's going to cost me really don't matter in the end. I wanted love in my life and whatever happened to all of these other guys may or may not happen to me. But I can't live someone else's successes or failures. I had to do this for myself.
Yes, $1500.00 is alot of money. I didn't have it at the time, and sure don't anymore. I ate alot of peanut butter sandwiches to be able to get down there, but my question still stands: What value do you put on your future happiness? You may find your lady while there. You may not. There are no promises made to you. So even if you write first, you still have to go down there and pay for a room somewhere. And pay for a translator if your Spanish isn't passable. And dinners, lunches, taxis, movies not to mention the actual airline ticket itself...It's still going to add up. So Jamie lowering his prices should not be the issue here. You don't even need to use his agency as there are others there as well. It's like a Rolls-Royce or a Ferrari: You know those are the top brands and they have a pedigree and a huge following. Would you ask them to lower their price just so you can get one?
I am for the most part, cheap. Some things I understand cutting costs on, especially now the way things are. But I asked myself is this something I really wanted or am I just going to keep thinking about it and asking a million questions here and reading to death everyone else's experiences and trip reports...
Love is not cheap, but there are so many women down there that are looking for real love and just don't want to deal with the Colombian idiots that are, for the most part their only other option. So if you truly want a woman in your life, get some decent clothes, get a haircut, get your Spanish passable and get down there already. Then you can come back and add to all of the experiences and trip reports you were reading before you went.
Pivery
