Hola everyone,
I need to apologize to everyone. I have used the board for infomation for over a year. Its been a few months since my first trip to Barranquilla and now I am almost finished with my second trip. I feel guilty to not have posted a report for the guys that have never made the trip ,so here it goes.
I was very reluctant to make the first trip out of the country. So after over analyzing everything for too many months and speaking with a couple of board members. I had the opportunity to travel with everything in place , I did have a very good translator and took care of all my credit cards with my bank , I told them my travel dates and the country I was traveling in. I really had zero problems from my card and was able to use the ATM, or charge at any store. I was really worried about customs , that was a joke I breezed through like nothing ,,I speak very little Spanish , but the English they spoke was good enough to understand ,so no problems.
I had my translator pick me up at the airport, I highly reccomend this for anyone traveling for the first time. its a little intimidating for a new guy to step out of the terminal and see all the taxis and people. and guess what,, you will look like a tourist ,, no matter what you do LOL. Well I really look like a tourist, with me being very white and 6' tall 240lbs LOL.
Its been a running joke with the translator about this subject when we go anywhere,,
I had a 30 minute ride to the hotel and was able to experience the driving ,, these guys could run in the nascar circuit very well. I brought about $700.00 American dollars, so we stopped at a place the translator new would give the best exchange rates and changed some money, not all, with no problems. The hotel was better than I expected with very good staff, American breakfast, clean rooms, great location for anything needed. Hotel Caribe 79,
http://hotelcaribe79.com/ its very close to the Barranquilla plaza. I would reccomend this place to my mother if that tells you anything .
I had a date set up the first night for a diner with a girl I had never meet. I took a few hours to chill and get my mind straight before meeting anyone. The translator says we can just walk to a restaurant, this is where my mind hits a different speed thinking though all the posts I have read. Its dark and I am walking in Colombia with 2 girls ummmm, LOL. I was worried for no reason we walked maybe 3 blocks turned the corner and Wow a place called Buffalo Grill (just like a Texas roadhouse) American country music playing , everyone is wearing cowboy hats , and the Dukes of Hazard movie posters on the wall , now every opinion I had of Colombia had to be changed from that point on. Great food very inexpensive 3 people was $35.00
I soon realized Most Americans are well liked and I had a very good location chosen by my translator , Almost any type of restaurant was within a few blocks and a few grocery stores, dry cleaners, ETC... I really did not want to use and agency for any group meetings and really wanted to stay in a hotel for the amenities they offer, no offense to any agency. I have used the services they offer, like purchasing addresses to set up some meetings for the girls. Which has another story later, I mainly used the Cupid sites ,, Latin cupid and Colombian cupid it worked very well for me.
I set up 1 hour meetings with girls for the next few days and was overwhelmed at the respose , almost every girl was on time and really liked the one on one meeting with the three of us in the hotel, this way I was not spending money on a diner date , the hotel provided drinks and it was very professional .
I have to say after a few days I was getting cabin fever and wanted to go see the country,, or more of the city, I had found some good prospects and invited them to a lunch , the mall or something , this worked well for me , it allowed me to get to know the girl in a normal setting for both of us. I personally enjoy the exposure I had to the different culture and the many things we were able to do with this approach.
Now my only problem on the whole trip was when I purchased addresses from the agencies. I would send emails with my intentions and the numbers I could be reached at. The agency stated sending emails to girls to not have any contact with anyone that was not with the agency. It took several no shows and excuses from the agency girls for me to finally ask what the problem was, because up to this point I had a very good response from all the women. Then a major decline in response from the agency girls. I was told by numerous girls from the agency what was happening. I used this method to meet everyone and had no problems until this came up. The cupid sites no problem good response especially when they realized I was coming or was already here, they were very happy. I don't have to tell you how unhappy I was after paying for the addresses only to be cut off in the middle of my trip. I know in the states I would be knocking on the door for some one on one explanations, but in Colombia ummm , lets just say I was not a happy camper with this method of business,,
I will move on...sorry
I found many good girls, very professional , good looks , and personality, so I chose one to start seeing and went to Categena , Santa Marta for a day each. Was able to do lots of fun things and for some reason she really never opened up to me like I thought she should , I played it off to the difference in culture. A mistake I know on my part, My translator was a little reluctant to fully agree she was the right girl also. so I decided to let it play out , <she was a very pretty girl> LOL.
I really have learned a lot since then , she quickly became a dud after I returned home, with money issues, I really went for the looks more than anything . I realize my mistake now. I meet a few other girls who were better by far in personality and working professional women around 30 years old. They had the body most AW would be jealous of but I let my eyes do the picking and not my heart LOL it was fun ... I could never put a value on the experience I gained from this first trip. I had no problems with coming home and came through customs easy. I need to say this, do not underestimate the time you need to be at the airport for the flight home. Make sure you arrive at least 2.5 hrs before your flight IMOP. It was very busy and a long wait for everyone.
My second trip is a little like my first , I am in the same hotel I have talked to many girls on Cupid prior to coming , very good response. They will easily give you their MSN address and then their telephone number for when you arrive. this seems to work very well for me . I never bothered with any agency this trip. I felt like it was a waste of my money if they were going to undermine my purpose.
Here's where I need to say, all the photo's with the best website or agency will not fully let you see and understand the girl like a personal meeting ,,
I used to really use the stats like height , weight and trying to know their personality based on the way they wrote their profile, trust me , it a good starting point. Thats all it is. I like to know the height but the weight on paper really is not a good indicator for the girls body. I have personally meet girls that should be a 9 or 10 in a photo and LOL wouldn't make a good 3 . On the other hand have been pleasantly surprised by girls who had curves in all the right places and looked bad on paper , so don't be too judging with the stats , a personal meeting will tell you everything.
My second trip for me was more of a vacation , I was not too concerned with finding anyone to marry ,,
Don't laugh I really wanted to do some fishing LOL for fish in the ocean,,,
I had scheduled a few girls to meet and went about the whole trip with this laid back attitude of ,so what I will have fun with no pressure's. Well I got lucky, one of the girls I tried to meet in November was working in Bogota and could not meet me , she was from an agency, I guess she forgot the email from the last trip. to not meet anyone without the agency. We hit it off on the first meeting and have had fun being with each other since ,, she is working during the days , I am fishing and we spend time in the evening. I cancelled the other meetings because I have had such a good time with her. She has a better personality for me than I had hoped for. She is very professional, extroverted and full of questions ,, I have not tried to impress her, with anything, especially things I have at home or fancy restaurants , clubs Etc...she is just as happy to sit on the balcony with me and chill or if we go to the beach. I have a few days left. I will finish later,,
thanks Guys
