big city / smaller city

[dbmcguinness]

Hi everyone,
I am working on my Spanish by chatting with Colombians on the internet and trying to get an idea of where to visit.
I have heard Bogota getting knocked - that was one of my possible destinations, due to the tourist attractions there.  Any thoughts on Bogota are welcome.
Also curious about experiences of visiting mid size cities rather than the metropolises.
Thanks for your input..
 
 

[dbmcguinness]

ok it is weird replying to my own post maybe. 
But another question without starting a new thread.  Do you guys think that there is any real value in paying an agency to make introductions when it is so easy to make contact via the internet?
Probably would help to say what I am looking for.  I am looking for a serious relationship and hopefully a wife.  My spanish is getting stronger and intend to be able to converse reasonably well within a couple of months (internet chats are comfortable now, since I have a few seconds to figure out what they are saying and formulate a response.
Thanks

[whitey]

Hi everyone,
I am working on my Spanish by chatting with Colombians on the internet and trying to get an idea of where to visit.
I have heard Bogota getting knocked - that was one of my possible destinations, due to the tourist attractions there.  Any thoughts on Bogota are welcome.
Also curious about experiences of visiting mid size cities rather than the metropolises.
Thanks for your input..

Bogota is cold, rainy, expensive, very congested with traffic, very polluted air, at high altitude which makes breathing difficult.  There is nothing attractive about it for me personally, but my best friend goes there very often and enjoys it ... so ... it all comes down to individual tastes.

On the plus side, it is cosmopolitan, lots of museums, restaurants, nice hotels, upscale malls, etc.  The people are said to be "colder" than the rest of Colombia, and from my personal experiences that is generally true, but this is relative and I find they are still very warm people.  If you are looking for a wife who is professional, educated, could adapt well to American cities and lifestyle ... you'll have more to choose from in Bogota.

[Micky]

Whitey,  typical good response from you,  that being said.  Mac,  the ONLY city in Colombia is Medellin!  (only joking,  kind of). 

 
How long until your trip?  How many trips can you make in a year?  Are you fully aware of the commitment (money,  time,  etc) on YOUR part this will take,  if you are serious?  Not busting your balls, normal questions for a new guy,  by the way welcome!

 
Plenty of guys here with a lot of time in Colombia,  wives from Colombia,  and you will end up with an overload of information to really help with your endeavor.
 
 
Micky

[whitey]

Thanks Micky ... you know I love Medellin!

Pero, por culpa de mi esposita ... en Barranquilla me quedo. 

Welcome dbmcquinness ...

[dbmcguinness]

Hi guys,
thanks for the welcome and the responses.
Thanks for the input on Bogota, polluted mountain air doesn't sound that appealing, I have read some of your other posts Whitey and it does seem like a worthwhile consideration that you would want a wife from a place you will enjoy visiting over and over.  I would like to tour around Colombia some, but given that I am looking for a relationship that seems impractical.  I obviously have to give the location of the search some more thought.
I am looking to go in the summer.  I can make a few trips in a year.  I have done some rough math on the costs.  Just read the Sofia Vergara article, wasn't calculating in the cost of a live in maid to brew coffee every morning; but really wasn't anticipating courting a pampered super model, hopefully I can get by without a live in maid to take care of a princess.
What do you love about Medellin?
 
Thanks
 
 

[fathertime]

ok it is weird replying to my own post maybe. 
But another question without starting a new thread.  Do you guys think that there is any real value in paying an agency to make introductions when it is so easy to make contact via the internet?
Probably would help to say what I am looking for.  I am looking for a serious relationship and hopefully a wife.  My spanish is getting stronger and intend to be able to converse reasonably well within a couple of months (internet chats are comfortable now, since I have a few seconds to figure out what they are saying and formulate a response.
Thanks

Hi dbm,


1.  if you are meeting quality ladies without the agency, then you don't need an agency...if you would like to open up your options further than I say use the agency...also sometimes vacations to colombia are short and it an efficient use of time to have the ladies lined up waiting to meet you....i found value in the agency i used since i found my wife due to it. 
2.  sounds like you are doing the right thing by brushing up on the spanish....and what you want is the same as many of use were looking for and found....It would be useful for you to tell us a bit more about yourself, then we can give you responses that make sense based on your specific situation!


Good luck with everything,
Fathertime! 

[stnmasn]

the full time maid is actually sadly cheap to have around down there and it is a really nice perk if you go with a kid. I always wish i could bring one home and still be able to pay her the sorry wages she earns down there.  The maids also always ask me if i have any gringo friends for them in a kidding kind of way.

I guess what i am saying is that you probably could afford a maid for a week while you were down there. not that you would need one without a house for her to care for, and mouths for her to feed.

aaahhhh tener una empleada de cali aqui en la casa cada dia. Que rico. es dificil por un gringo entenderlo hasta uno tiene una empleada en la casa por 8horas diaro. es lo mejor!!!!!

[whitey]

What do you love about Medellin?

I only spent a week in Medellin, so guys like Micky who lives there and others on the board with more knowledge could probably do a better job, but here's what I liked about Medellin:

- Near perfect climate (daytimes lows of mid 60's to highs of low to mid 80's nearly every day).  It's known as the "City of External Spring", but for a Canadian like me this is more like perfect summer weather. There's no need for either heat or air conditioning.

- The location in a valley, surrounded by mountains is breathtaking ... check it out online

- Metropolitan Medellin is composed of several smaller municipalities all lined up along the valley, so you can choose what kind of lifestyle you want.  You can go for big city (Medellin), upscale (Poblado), small town (Sabaneta), and several others like Envigado that I don't know enough about to comment on.

- It has a fantastic public transportation system (above ground metro rail, with bus feeders, and really cool cable cars that go up the mountains in I think 3 places now).  You can go virtually the entire length of the valley for around $1.

- It's probably the best organized and managed city in Colombia, with the most civic pride.  You don't see nearly the kind of trash and rubble in the streets or parks that is rampant in Barranquilla for instance.  The bus drivers don't drive like maniacs, and people say thank you getting on and off the bus (as an example).

- There's ton's to see and do in the metropolitan area, and nearby daytrips.  There are museums and a planaterium, lots of parks (including Parque Arvi which is a large eco park), el Pueblito, Parque Explora, La Piedra de Penol, the metrocables, the squares/parks in the various municipalities, etc. etc.

- The women tend to get a bad rap here on the board, but I think that's probably pretty unfair and is representative of the ones that are hanging around Parque Lleras looking to give the partying gringos what they want ... not your typical paisa that these guys don't care to meet.  If you like curvy women with fair hair and green eyes, you'll find more in Medellin than the Colombian coast or Cali.  And if you're into silicone, you won't be disappointed ... hahaha.

[V_Man]

Bogota is a BIG city. There are about 8 million people.
Bogota is cool and wet. It is a big, crowded, cool wet city.
 Even people who live in Bogota would rather leave the city in their spare time than hang out there.
 
However you need to decide if you are looking for a city or a wife.
I was looking for a wife and I just happend to find several good candidates in Bogota. This is no accident.

I went there with my limited spanish and I did not use an agency. My plan C was to try Introducitons by Consuelo who has gotten good reports. I never got past plan A so I don't actually know anything about agencies really. If I had to start all over again, I'd still consider an agency but I know for certain you don't need one. What you do need is Spanish. Bad Spanish will do as long as you have some.

Bogota gets a bit of a bad rap. With 8 million people there is every kind of woman. This is a good thing because if you are clear about what you want then you will find women like that in Bogota.

You are more likely to find someone that will fit in more easily to a western lifestyle. This can be very important. For example I wanted someone that had some kind of skill or education that would get her a job in my country. There are thousands and thousands of those in Bogota. Also I need someone that can cope with the complexitites of modern life in my country. Someone with a little drive. You can find such women in other cities, particularly Medellin and Cali but you can find a lot more of them in Bogota.

All the international connections of all other Colombian airports combined, does not come close to the connections with Bogota. Hence it is easier to travel from your country to Bogota.

The majority of people in Colombia do not in fact have maids. That said, there are a huge number that do. It depends on the socio economic class of your girl as to whether she will be used to having a maid. I never bothered to go very far with girls like that, If you do, just make it clear from the strart, that there are no maids in your household. If she doesn't like it she wont return your calls - problem solved.

For me it is very important that my wife be affectionate. Women from Bogota are sterotypically considered colder. However this is relative. The other thing that you have to remember that with so many women in one city you can find every kind of personality that exisits. Lots of them in fact.

What I am saying is that you should consider what traits you are looking for first, then see where that leads you second.

[Micky]

Whitey -

Thanks for the kind words for my city,  brought a tear to my eye.
I agree,  all too much,  the bad rap of Medellin women I think is mostly from the fact that MOST gringos hang circa Parque Lleras,  which is filled with players.  partiers and the like.  Not saying they are all that ilk,  but the majority.  It is NOT reasonable that Colombia's most productive city is filled with women that are players and scammers.  If one goes to a pond that only has Catfish and can not catch a Rainbow trout, who's fault if that?
 

VM -

You know that your posts are almost filled with logic and right reason,  NOW there are expections.  Well made post on the upsides of Bogota.  One should study the cities and regions of Colombia before making the leap.  Everywhere has distinct flavors and styles,  and likewise,  regional biases.  With all of these things,  WE need to keep in mind that all (men and women)  are still individuals and may,  or may not, have many,  all,  or none of any cities or regions attributes,  good or bad.  One of the greatest things of life is the diversity of the people and our world,  a suprise around every corner.

Micky

[Researcher]

      Alot of good points made. Don't think I could disagree with any of them. The place you choose to go is really up to what you like and what you are looking for. Bogota is polluted and the elevation is high. I swear it feels like everywhere I walk there is uphill! But there are some great ladies there but again it depends on what you are looking for. My wife is from Bogota but she doesn't come across as a "big city" girl. We live in a small town and she loves it.

     Researcher

[Cam]

I've been reading up on people's impressions and trip reports, and it seems to me that city size is not well comparable to US standards.
 
A US city of 200,000 will most likely have a sizeable middle class... It can support a couple of malls, plus shopping centers, several movie cinemas, maybe an ice skating rink, a university or two, plus a bit of art and drama. There will probably be various "hobbyist clubs" you can join - like ham radio or rock climbing or bird watching etc.
 
But a South American city of that size, might just industrial plants surrounded by barrios, with a city square where all the entertainment is clustered. People are focused on earning what they need to live, and don't engage in the same kinds of "costs money to do" time fillers.
 
One of my own barometers in the US of how wealthy a neighborhood is, are the business cards you find in store kiosks. A working class area has cards from painters, baby sitters, pest control, etc. A ritzy area has "work for doctors wives" - energy channelers, pet psychics, natueropaths, herbal pills/oils/supplement marketers. I doubt you see much of that stuff down south, haha

[Jeff S]

So I guess my idea of channeling chihuahuas as a retirement business down in South America might not go over too well? Damn.