Bad news from Cali

[DavidMN]

I haven't been to Cali and I don't follow the headlines in El Pais...just wondered if the murder of six people murdered last night in a record store was gang related, drug related, good section of town? I noticed the headline while scanning El Tiempo...surprised the story did not make it to the Google, Reuters or some of the other English language news clipping services. Submachine guns. Holy bat-sh**, Batman!

[thundernco]

... in response to Bad news from Cali, posted by DavidMN on Oct 14, 2003

Found the story in El Pais:

http://elpais-cali.terra.com.co/paisonline/notas/Octubre152003/C1015N1.html

Basically states that this happened on Monday night, Monday was a holiday in CO, in the south of Cali at a club called Canadonga on Calle 5a & Carrera 39.  Paper said that police authorities said that this is a gang war between 2 rival narcos, the Norte Valle Cartel against a group led by a guy with the alias Rasguno.  Don't know when the incident that kiltboy described happened, but this one was nowhere near Chipichape and wasn't in a record store.  As always, be careful and keep your wits about you.

[Kiltboy1]

... in response to El Pais Story, posted by thundernco on Oct 15, 2003

The insident Pete mentioned and i was present for was in either october or december of 2002 accross the street from Chipichapi. Like everyone says, Just keep your eyes open becauuse you can bet that there are eyes on you .

[thundernco]

... in response to Re: El Pais Story, posted by Kiltboy1 on Oct 16, 2003

Damn Kiltboy, realy... I'm glad I didn't go to the mall that day.  Funny though, I read El Pais more(via website), when I'm out of Cali than in.  I was completely oblivious that anything happened so close to place.  Your comment about keeping your eyes open because eyes are always on you is definitely valid.  Thanks for the follow up. -TNC

[DavidMN]

... in response to El Pais Story, posted by thundernco on Oct 15, 2003

I may have caused the confusion and used the words record store. I was scanning the newspaper headline and my pea brain converted the Spanish discoteca to record store because I know libreria = book store and biblioteca = library (the latter two are kind of counterintutive for a beginnger). My apologies.

[Kiltboy1]

... in response to Bad news from Cali, posted by DavidMN on Oct 14, 2003

Pete

was in chipichapi with my wife when the dude went down . We came out to catch a taxi an rght accross the street from Macdonalds, there he was in a pool of blood. It was only about 2pm in the afternoon if i remember correctly.

We just hit the taxi an got the heck out of there.

On aother subject. The place i stayed at in cali overlooked chipichapi and is owned by a gringo in The states and he rents rooms like you are thinking. It is a nice place. 4 bedrooms all with baths , huge kitchen--living area and nice balconys. Pool , jacuzzi, steam room and gated with guards.

It is about 2200 sqft and he paid  85k for it. I can send you the website  if you like and you  can check it out. Downside, NO A/C--That always killed me, but i liked the location.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Bad news from Cali, posted by Kiltboy1 on Oct 15, 2003

I want to rent in the local market,then rent rooms or sublet the place when I'm not there.I'm looking for Colombian prices.
A friend of mine stayed in a high rise right next to Chipi chapi,brick looking place It was nice.But he paid gringo prices for short term,$75 a day.What you are talking about I think would rent in the local market for $600-$700 a month.My friend had a nice place in  Cuidad Jardine,3br 3ba 2000 sq ft or so for $500 a month.I like Ciudad Jardine but everybody says its so far from the activities in the north.I never did any of the activities in the north before.
I went to avenida Sexta once,but didn't really check it all out.
As for air conditioing,I never felt I needed it there,but I've only been there December to February.My in laws house doesn't have it but we could just open a window,it was not that hot at night.But,other people say you need it,and with this type of a place I wouldn't want any defects.

Pete

[cancunhound]

... in response to Bad news from Cali, posted by DavidMN on Oct 14, 2003

Yes that was in a fairly decent part of town, mainly surrounded by strata 4 & 5, even a pocket of 6 nearby.  But - that area seems kind of "tight", and the slums up the nearby hill to the west are not enviting.  I'm not familiar with the joint but it sounds more like a nightclub than a record store.  That's not major news that would hit google - no bombs, kids killed, etc..  My 2 cents - nothing good happens past 11:00 pm anywhere, not just Cali - especially at clubs during the weeknight, much less a holiday - stay home!!!  

At any rate, here's the location - it's in Comuna 19:

http://www.maporama.com/image.asp?XgoPageName=XMLOUT&XgoUserID=2CADD9594AA64F02&XgoNbReq=19&XgoAnswer=Gif&sizex=740&sizey=526&CODE=COLIN

CaliGringo.com

[Pete E]

... in response to Bad news from Cali, posted by DavidMN on Oct 14, 2003

Well they weren't after records,or those buying them.Sounds like a gangland wipe out.Shouldn't be a problem for a gringo unless you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But its a little scary knowing these things happen.I remember last year there was a hit on a guy in a gas station across from Chipi Chapi.
But the drug dealers are the last on your worry list.Its the urban criminals followed by the rebels if you leave town.
One time I was walking in to Unicentro with a Colombiano I know.There was a group of guys standing in a circle ,almost blocking the entrance.My friend says,after we are past "killers".Glad I didn't tell them to get the f--k out of the way.Oscar who used to work for Diego at his Italian restaurant was always reading these tabloid like local papers that descibed all the killings,with illistrations of people getting shot in the head.A litlle scary,but they are not after gringos unless you somehow run afoul of them,like dating their girlfriend.

Pete