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Author Topic: Cali photos & Introduction  (Read 1335 times)
cancunhound
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« on: July 18, 2003, 04:00:00 AM »

I do have lots of photos - BUT my wife shot ‘em.  Perhaps it’s time for me to somewhat introduce myself better since I’m a relatively new “lurker”.  I did not meet my wife at an agency, nor did I know at that time what a big business this introduction stuff was all about (I sure as hell would not be embarrassed if that were the case, seems like dating agencies are “in” nowadays).  I just simply had an itch to see all of Latin America, including the Caribbean -  I loved the culture, I liked the adventure, and of course the lovely gals were a definite magnet as well.  Oh yeah, the beer’s cheaper too.  So after college, military commitments, etc.. I set off to explore it as my finances permitted.  Goal was to hit every country south of the border with the exception of French Guyana (yes I was biased against anything French even way back then).  I did the hostel thing, backpacked like a MF, yah, yah , yah.  Well, over the years I did pretty good on my country goals and covered lots of ground throughout Central America(seemed logical to work my way downwards as airfare prices permitted) with exception of El Salvador, then got a call from an old college acquaintance who was from Colombia and gave me an invite to Cali - well hell, I skipped Salvador (wasn’t the best place for a gringo at that time anyway) and I was introduced to my wife - so long story short, the travel quest has been on hold for awhile.

So back to the photos - after she had been in the states for awhile and struggling a bit to adjust, I caught whiff of this agency thing and figured, hey she could soar in an business shindig like that, so off back to Colombia to check it out and learn the ropes, armed with digital camera.  Well, after gaining lots of knowledge and loads of photos of gals willing to sign up, back to the states to setup the website and get things rolling.  Then I landed a big consulting engagement that temporarily relocated us away from home to California for a year - we had a blast and the whole idea seemed trivial.  Indeed, there’s enough quality agencies in Cali that the whole idea was nonsense anyway (it’s the US middleman operations that piss me off - WTF, a grand to join for what?).   One thing guys will learn is that if you marry a knockout from Cali (aren’t they all), your friends are going to jealous - count on it.  I had to refer one to an agency in our absence.  Well, he’s married now (the agency was Latin Best BTW, ask someone else for the current status of that one but back then, they ran a tight ship).  Friends continue to meet relatives, sisters, yah, yah, yah and my little world has become full of married gringos to calenas.  

So, the photos from that shoot years ago are in disks and binders collecting dust in the attic - probably wouldn’t be prudent to retrieve and post ‘em as many of the gals have likely subsequently been married and carried on.  I’m here because I can maybe provide some advice to guys on the Latin quest, I think that I put enough blisters on my feet to say - just go to Cali, maybe you’ll save 15 years of searching.  I’m also here because I can live vicariously through the single guys on their quest, even if they’re 20 years my senior.  Cali is a big town, there’s some good info here - nobody knows everything about Cali.  This board is also damn entertaining, I really enjoy participating here when I have down time.  We’ve got a condo in Cali now and you can bet I’m close to it when I’m between my consulting engagements.

As far as photos nowadays, the digital camera's broke and I could care a less about replacing it, I prefer to just see things with my own eyes and that means travel and travel frequently - I never haul a camera anymore.  Of course, should Calipro post more photos I'll be the first to look (hopefully he can post some avi's from the next trip in December - that would really be interesting).

I’m addicted to Cali and the calena mystique,   Hi - my name is Bob.

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Cali vet
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« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2003, 04:00:00 AM »

... in response to Cali photos & Introduction, posted by cancunhound on Jul 18, 2003

Hi Bob

That was a great introduction and it sounds like you've had a lot of fun traveling the continent. Money permitting that's my next plan. In fact we're going to Peru next month. Curious, did you at any point consider settling (or buying/leasing a residence) in one of the other countries? I am in Cali for now, for my wife's benifit but don't especially like it since city living isn't my thing but as everyone knows country living here for a gringo seems to be almost out of the question.

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cancunhound
Guest
« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2003, 04:00:00 AM »

... in response to Re: Cali photos & Introduction, posted by Cali vet on Jul 19, 2003

Rica is probably the only country where I never thought I had to constantly “watch my back”.  Having said that, the infrastructure there does not compare to that of Colombia.  To boot, property is way over-priced - ticos think they’re gods gift to earth - and the country is filled with gringos that have escaped some sort of serious crime back in the states.  But oh my is the country beautiful and easily explored. (CR lovers this is just my 2 cents).

Most underrated?  Mexico and Panama.  Granted Mexico is rapidly becoming a “Colombia” in terms of kidnapping and crime - but there’s some really neat stuff there.  Panama’s not blessed with massive mountains, but the Caribbean islands off of Panama are amazing.

Have I considered purchasing/leasing elsewhere?  I do lease a condo south of Cancun frequently - it’s not that economical and the heat there at times is a bit too much, but - I use it like a regional hub as far as air travel goes, I put a pen to it and it was cheaper to commute from there as opposed to a South Padre Island in Texas - it was all about the airport and connections - plus my wife’s very content there (Cun does have the best beaches that I’ve ever seen BTW).  

Future considerations?  I was very intrigued with the Dutch island of Curacao off Venezuela.  It’s arid, not that pretty, but the people are incredible - average guy/gal on the street will speak fluently 5 languages.  The old city has a shopping district that rivals/looks like Europe - but without all the a-holes.  That kind of intellect is where I could see raising a nino.

For now, I’m pretty happy with my purchase in Cali, as well as my return on investment - I’m looking at my “Impuesto Predial Unificado” right now - “Estrato 6", now that has to be bullsh%t - my 3/3 condo is nice but it sure is hell isn’t one of those palaces up the hill from chipi - guess I’ll have to wait and see what “Vigencia” they try to peg me with next year.  And WTF, how can one have an “Estrato 6" parking space?

-Bob

PS - if you get to Peru and Machu Picchu, please post the pics, nude Incas or not!

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