Cali Trip Log #1-Anticipation

[littlebhuddha]

I am 4 weeks away from my first trip to LA. I thought it would be nice to post a log of exactly what my experiences will be. I know there are a lot of newbies and lurkers that might be interested in knowing what the whole experience is like. Also hopefully the vets will add their advice.
First a little history. Last November 20 I was scheduled to go to Cali. On November 2 I met a lady from Medellin here in San Diego. We hit it off very well so I cancelled my trip to Cali. We broke up in March and after sulking for a couple of months I decided to try again. So now I am scheduled again to make the journey. I will be there for 12 days. This time I am going regardless. (One exeption might be if my 22 y/o Colombiana salsa instructor(duh-yam!) falls for a 50 y/o gringo. Hey! It could happen!!!) I have decided to go the agency route for my first trip. At first I was leaning toward going to Bogota but the ladies there seem to be much more conserative than Cali. True they tend to be older and better educated, but several of the agencies in Cali have a pretty good selection of ladies over 30. I decided on Latin Encounters to start with because of Alcira. She was so helpful in working with me to answer my concerns. She sent me some additional pictures that where not on their website. She has been very helpful. My back up plan is to use Latin Internet if I don't find anyone at LE. I am staying at Suites Travelers because of the privacy it provides(Two weeks for $700). My reservations have been made and I have purchased my ticket ($700 via American out of LAX). I sent Alcira a list of 30 ladies that I am interested in. She is going to contact the ladies with my profile and see if any of them are interested in me. I would like to have citas scheduled for the first 3 or 4 days before I get on the plane. I speak some spanish. Its very broken but I can make myself understood about 75% of the time. I am doing the Berlitz CD lessons and they are very helpful. So about all I have to do now is wait for the plane to take off. My hope is that this post can start a dialog about first trips to Colombia. The drama around here is getting old. Lets get back to the purpose of this board. I will keep these posts coming as the trip evolves. Please feel free to post comments, advice and questions for the good of all us rookies.
Thanks
bhuddha

[mudd]

... in response to Cali Trip Log #1-Anticipation, posted by littlebhuddha on Aug 17, 2003

50 years going for a 22 year old, it can happen? good luck man... thats asking a lot. just think how your going to feel when men that are 25 to 30 are hitting on her all the time. it may work, but i wouldnt take that kind of chance, but there are exceptions :-) i think i would go to latinbest where the women are a little older,or bogota where the average age is 28, and more mature.any case,just have a good backup plan. meet a someone who is staying down there that knows the city, the agencies and the women, calipro, calivet, travler ext. the more people and connections you have, the better you will do. im going to lima at the end of the month with matchingsys. there average is about 27 soo well see how it goes for me. good luck!!!!!

[littlebhuddha]

... in response to Re: Cali Trip Log #1-Anticipation, posted by mudd on Aug 17, 2003

I am not really looking for a 22 y/o. My dance instructor is from Colombia but she came here with her parents 8 years ago. She is as Americanized as my 24 y/o daughter so the chances of her wanting a 50 y/o gringo are non-existant. But she does have a Calena body and I'd give half the family jewels to spend a few hours with her. For more than a good time I would prefer 34-40. The young ones just don't have enough experience to hold my attention for very long.

[Freddie]

... in response to Cali Trip Log #1-Anticipation, posted by littlebhuddha on Aug 17, 2003

....don't overwhelm yourself with many introductions when you first hit Cali. It will be sort of like if you've ever been in the market for a house. After awhile they sort of run together and you get confused.

It does sound like you've done a great job of preparing yourself. Improving your Spanish and taking salsa lesson's will go miles towards improving your time in Cali.

But back to meeting the ladies. Pace yourself. Give yourself time between citas to evaluate the person and also allow some flexibility in your schedule. You never know who might walk in the door while you're there.

The best approach, which it sounds like what you've done, is to have the girls review your photo and bio and decide if they are interested before you get there. That way you won't waste a lot of your valuable time with ladies that probably wouldn't work anyway.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Cali James]

... in response to The best advice I can give you is...., posted by Freddie on Aug 17, 2003

I disagree, first trip I'd meet a lot of gals but not plan on returning with a novia, just go and enjoy yourself.  First trip is better just for education IMO.  I'd try to meet at least 3 women a day and leave an hour and a half or two hours between appointments.  Try to go out every night with the favorite gal of the day and don't fall head over for the first pretty gal who gives you attention.

[Cherinha]

... in response to Cali Trip Log #1-Anticipation, posted by littlebhuddha on Aug 17, 2003

That sounds exciting!!! And yes PLEASE give us updates!!!  I would love to visit Columbia someday!!!!  I know a couple of men from Columbia, and they were gorgous, but playboys/ Machisimo and wanted to play around!!!  I've heard the woman are great and gorgous... so many agencies for men to find women... tear... what about the gringas interested in the Latin men???

I look forward to your posts on your travels.  Cheryl

[Cherinha]

... in response to Re: Cali Trip Log #1-Anticipation, posted by Cherinha on Aug 17, 2003

Hopefully I will learn to spell in these posts.... !!!!  Opps... Colombia

[Traveller]

... in response to Re: Cali Trip Log #1-Anticipation, posted by Cherinha on Aug 17, 2003

A couple of thoughts. One, I think the conservative conotation comes from the fact that it's colder up in Bogota. Or at least, this is what is explained to me by Caleñas. Women in Bogota don't wear the miniskirts and half tops like the women do down here in Cali. Cali is also known as party central for Colombia. Bogota is the capital with all the politics ans business headquarters and apparently more business oriented, so with these things, folks from Bogota are generalized as being a bit more stuffy. From my own perspective with the fashion industry, Cali has the runway shows more geared towards a party crowd where Bogota is more geared toward Fashion TV and world class designers. An interesting story happened a few months ago when a British designer was having a show in Bogota. She brought all her clothing with her for the show and about an hour before the show, she had to refit all the clothing. Why? Well apparently, Colombian women are a bit more voluptous than European models. Make a long story short, the organizers quickly got a bunch of seamstresses together  and they let a little out her and tucked in a little there and they show went off without a hitch. In Cali, world class designers don't even consider the place because the models are known to NOT have a very good work ethic compared to models from Bogota. I guess what I'm saying is, having a good work ethic is also a reason to be considered "conservative." Just a different perspective about why there might be this perception that Bogota is more conservative.
SECOND and pretty IMPORTANT. Colombia is spelled with an O. Got that? an "O". I laugh when I see guys that spell Colombia like Columbia and are planning to come here. It tells me they  aren't doing any kind of homework on the country other than what marriage agency to go to. Just remember when you start to spell Colombia, remember, it's not the shuttle. It's not the town in South Carolina. It's not Columbia Pictures. It's not Columbia Sports wear. It's COLOMBIA as in the country in South America. So, you might ask yourself, why am I making a big deal out of this. Because, I know girls who have questioned the intelligence of "Gringos" that come to their country and can't even spell it. yeah not seriously questioning it but they wonder why you would spend all this money to ocme down and you can't even spell the name of the country you are going to. Some of you guys ever have a girl ask you to spell Colombia? I know a couple of girls that have claimed to have down that, but if they have or if they haven't, it is on thier minds.
I was having dinner with a guy from the States and his Caleña girlfriend that a Colombian friend of mine invited and he quizzed the girl about himself. Apparently, they had been dating for a few months. Well, she didn't know how to say the name of the town he was from. It was like Duluth or something. Well, she just couldn't pronounce it and the guy got mad. Well, finally the guy got on my last good nerve and I said, "Hey, how do you spell Colombia?" Of course, he spelled it with an "U". I said, "How long have you been coming here?" He said about a 4 times in 16 months. I said, "And after all that time with making reservations, researching on the internet, seeing it on your airline ticket, seeing the country in the news, seeing all the signs and advertisements in Cali, and you still can't spell Colombia? So, why are you getting mad at her because she can't pronounce the name of your city. She spelled it right, didn't she?"
"Well, yeah......"
"Well, yeah shut up then."
Ok, well there is just a couple of quick lines about how to spell Colombia and why people from Bogota might be considered more conservative.

[surfscum]

... in response to Re: Re: Cali Trip Log #1-Anticipation, posted by Traveller on Aug 17, 2003

N/T

[Jim L]

... in response to Re: Re: Cali Trip Log #1-Anticipation, posted by Traveller on Aug 17, 2003


"..SECOND and pretty IMPORTANT. Colombia is spelled with an O. Got that? an "O". I laugh when I see guys that spell Colombia like Columbia and are planning to come here. It tells me they aren't doing any kind of homework..."

Sorry, amigo. This has come up multiple times here and I just don't see the big deal with it. Personally my spelling is pretty good (modestly speeking ;-) but I see all kinds of atrocious spelling that squeaks by this board with impunity...but heaven help the guy (or gal in this case) who spells Colombia with a 'u'. It is almost always singled out and corrected and the person rebuked. I'll bet spelling it 'Kolombia' would receive fewer rebukes. LOL

I hear you about the homework amigo, but I disagree that the spelling of Colombia holds quite the importance that you suggest. Maybe just a pet peeve?

BTW, you mispelled 'connotation', 'voluptuos', and 'their' in your above post - but don't sweat it ...I doubt anyone noticed ;-)

Jim L
(posting from just outside Columbia, MD)

[Dash]

... in response to Re: Cali Trip Log #1-Anticipation..Mist..., posted by Jim L on Aug 17, 2003

*

[Traveller]

... in response to Re: Cali Trip Log #1-Anticipation..Mist..., posted by Jim L on Aug 17, 2003

Thank you for making my point about guys spelling it wrong and it's not big deal to them. It's not a major earth shattering deal, but it is worth mentioning.
It's not a matter of misspelling, nor was my post about spelling mistakes by anyone, it's the name of the people's country for crying out loud. Don't suppose spelling Amerika on a continous basis would be that big a deal to you either? Remember, just like myself (and I pay taxes), when you are here, you are a guest of the country.
As I said, it's not a mistake in spelling, people spell it that way, because that is the way they believe you spell it. Before my first trip here in '89, I looked at a map (Kinda had to) to find out exactly where Colombia was. Then when I made my first trip as a civilian in '99 I looked at the map again to see where Cali was and on both occasions and everytime I looked at a map afterward, Colombia has always been spelled the same.
Let's put it this way, if you can't spell the country's name correctly, what else are you missing? I will say this, if you are planning to come to this country or any "high risk" country, attention to detail might not be such a bad thing.
As Jim L pointed out, spelling Colombia correctly is a pet peeve of his. But, it may also be a pet peeve for the women you want to meet here. I know it is for SOME women here. Although you probably won't hear it from them. All I am doing is giving you a little heads up on something small that you might not have consider when talking to a Caleña. I mean think about it, if you send your new friend or Novia a package from the States and it's addressed to Cali, Columbia. She's going to think, "Oh great, he doesn't even know how to spell my country." Not all these girls are backwater hicks (So, I'm half one too) who are after your money and don't give one whit about your personality. A lot of them are very bright and a lot of them expect you to be too.
Although, it really isn't that big a deal and it might only be a bit of an irritation, but not by you, for her. It's something to keep in the back of your mind. Why do I bring this up? Anyone that has been here for a Futbol match has seen the National pride these people have for Colombia. I mean they get behind ANYTHING Colombian. Like when that Colombian guy won a F1 Race, he was national hero for awhile, or the guy who won a big World Bike race, or the gal who won an Olympic medal for weightlifting, same thing. Shakira is like a goddess, along with Sofia Vergara now. These people are proud to be Colombian. So, even though it's something small like misspelling the country, it's a slight to them.
Tell you what Jim L, when I have more time to properly go over my posts and proofread them exactly and root out every possible spelling mistake, I'll do that for you. Also,if you don't want to hear about the little things along with the big things that I have learned about Caleñas and Cali, just let me know and I won't go into so much detail about them. Let me know.

[cancunhound]

... in response to Re:  Re: Cali Trip Log #1-Anticipation....., posted by Traveller on Aug 17, 2003

Mark that - I have not seen a more dedicated folk when it comes to their country, and likewise the respect they recieve from their neighboring LA countries (I just haven't figured out if it's based upon fear!)

[Michael B]

... in response to Re:  Re: Cali Trip Log #1-Anticipation....., posted by Traveller on Aug 17, 2003

Not that I'm the score keeper, but I'm going to have to give Traveller the goal on this one. There are 'opps, I'm a poor typist' errors and 'hey, it's not my native language' errors, then there are 'you really don't have a clue, do you?' faux pax (hope I spelled that right, ja ja) which can really turn a lady off on a guy because 'you didn't care enough to even TRY to find out'. Trust me, I've been there, my X is from Costa Rica and when people (especialy TV news, but regular people also) pronounce it 'khasta rikah' she'll be mad about it for hours, and next time she sees that person, she's thinking 'there's that SOB who can't pronounce MY country'.