My first trip: Newbie report

[Mazu]

I want to say thanks to all the guys that post on the boards (especially Pete, UC, Jimmy St Louis, Hoda and some others). When I first starting visiting there were a lot of clowns posting garbage but for every Clay there were two or three guys giving really good advice (Clay actually gave good advice too, on what not to do).

I took a different route then many of you. I met a guy that owned an agency here in the states, made friends with the guy (I promote web sites for a living so folks like to trade with me) and asked him to find me a few girls that met all my criteria. He ended up coming up with a few names a few weeks later and I started chatting with these gals. My Spanish is bad but passable. Ended up clicking with a gal and made plans to visit her in December. Had a great freaking time in Cali and am taking her to Panama for a week in March. We'll see where it goes.

While there are 800 guys on this site with more experience then me, I read all the stories and hopefully my small bit can add to the whole.

1. Phone cards: I only pay about .02 a minute to call Colombian. The best cards are www.callingcardplus.com. PASSPORTs are my favorites for Colombia. Flowers. www.flowerstocolombia.com. I strongly recommend both and get nothing from recommending them.

2. I had been to Peru when I was 18 (I am 36 now) and didn't feel unsafe in Cali at all. I am sure that people get killed here or there but I sure didn't experience anything like this. There was one time I was up visiting a church with my gal that I didn't think it was the most safe but I never felt like I was in danger and I actually felt that in Mexico and the jungles of Peru but that is another story. The point is GO. If you are looking at the pictures of gals they are as "thick as thieves" down there. Speaking of women.

3. The women. AHHH THE WOMEN. I think there are pretty good looking women here in the US but (in my humble opinion) the women are not better looking in Cali just more of them. I would say here in the states (unless you are in California or Southern Florida)50% of gals kind of let themselves go after 25. Not so in Cali. I was surprised at how many cute women there were. They were plenty of average one too but hot ones all over the place. I think they just take better care of themselves.

4. Kid in a candy store. I can see how guys would find somenoe cute (they were all over after all) and keep looking for someonebody better and better. While I like a pretty girl as much as the next guy, I focused on looks + personality so it did keep me out of trouble.

5. Money: I wouldn't bring anything but about $100 and pull the cash you need out of bank machines. Tell your bank ahead of time that you are going so you won't have problems. The money houses gave terrible rates.

6. Age differences: I wanted somebody close to my age. I am 36 and Novia is 32. I am not saying you can't get someone much younger but some of these guys do have to get real. I ran across Gringos down there that were Fat, old guys that were downright ugly chasing girls that were like 22 and smoking hot. They didn't have a chance. My agency buddy says about 50% of the girls are looking for a green card and the other 50% are looking for love. Who do you want to wind up with?

7. Agency route. If you can speak some OK Spanish you don't really need an agency. Yes I did get hooked up through one but what I did was more like matchmaking then using a real agency. If you are half decent looking, gilrs down there are going to love you.

8. Sex. Yes please. I didn't go down just for sex (or did I) but sex with a latin was a bit different then I thought. I am not new the rodeo and the sex really wasn't better as (of course) the girls don't have any techniques the girls up here don't have with two distinct exceptions. A: They are into it a lot more. Not in a fake, porn star way, I just really think they are more comfortable with sex in general. B: They like to kiss a lot (my novia at least). We must have made out for an hour five or six times. I didn't even do that was I was 20. So in general sex is more enjoyable and thrilling but you aren't reading this for info about sex.

Sorry for the rambling.
Put me on the list for guys that are hooked and plan on marrying a latina (with a big fat pre-nup of course).  

If you want to give me a call you can

Matt "Mazu"
matt@mazu.com
503-614-8221 Ext 202.

[Looking4Wife]

... in response to My first trip: Newbie report, posted by Mazu on Feb 5, 2005

Thanks for the informative, and well-organized post.  My first trip is coming up soon, so this is very encouraging.  Like you, I am doing a lot of "targeted" preparation up front that I hope will increase my chances of finding a "match".  I hope I am as successful as it appears you have been.  Good luck with your continued relationship.

I also liked your views on beautiful women in the US vs. LA.  I had always suspected the same thing, but of course since I haven't been to LA yet, I couldn't prove it.  In any event I am looking forward to going to LA where beautiful, marital candidates are in abundance, and not in short supply...

Gracias

[JimmySTLOUIS]

... in response to My first trip: Newbie report, posted by Mazu on Feb 5, 2005

It seems funny to me to hear my name mentioned as someone who in some way helped someone here.

It was olny a little over 1 year ago that I know nothing about this whole process. The board is the best!

Good luck with everthing - you know what you are doing.

P.S
I just had a huge dinner of Lomo Saltado and Inca Cola.

TE AMO PERU!!!

jim

[Mazu]

... in response to Re: My first trip: Newbie report, posted by JimmySTLOUIS on Feb 5, 2005

Jimmy,

You are the best but Inca Cola is the worst. I was in Lima was I was 18 (18 years ago) with my folks and my 16 year old baby brother loved the stuff. I thought it tasted like Marshmellows and was nasty but who am I to judge.

[doombug]

... in response to Re: Re: My first trip: Newbie report, posted by Mazu on Feb 5, 2005

To each his/her own.

I dig Inca Kola (The correct spelling, by the way; maybe they wanted to differentiate themselves from Coca Cola), and so do my coworkers, who I'd brought back bottles for as souvenirs.  It has a very unique flavor, and a distinct and eye-catching label (there are a few copy cat-brands being marketed in Peru, as well).  At most restaurants that I visited in Lima, I found the natives drinking IK more often than our imported brands (well, brand; I don't recall seeing a Peruvian drinking Pepsi, Mountain Dew, or Dr. Pepper.)  My wife, however, is particular to bottled water ("no frio" y "sin gas").  She ALWAYS has a liter in hand--or bedside.

I found one site that had this to say about IK:

"In the age of globalization, most product categories are dominated by global brands with the manufacturing, distributing and marketing powers in most countries. Occasionally, there are pockets of local resistance, where it is a matter of tradition and pride to prefer an essentially local product. Such is the case of the soft drink known as Inca Kola in Peru."  

"Usually Coca Cola is my preferred travel beverage, but I am always open to try other things - and I absolutely got hooked on Inca Kola! It is so delicious and I can't wait to drink it again!!"

The site also remarked on the results of a survey done in Lima, in 2002:

"A survey of 1,500 persons between the ages of 12 to 64 years old interviewed [found that] 56% of the people said that they drank Inca Kola in the last 7 days whereas 54% said that they drank Coca Cola in the last 7 days.  This is a virtual dead heat, which is impressive as Coca Cola is the clear category leader in most other Latin American countries."

http://www.zonalatina.com/Zldata278.htm

Peace out!

[Red Clay]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: My first trip: Newbie report, posted by doombug on Feb 7, 2005

I like it too. Mi Suegro taught me to pour some into a beer, not bad actually.

[doombug]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: My first trip: Newbie re..., posted by Red Clay on Feb 8, 2005

Another funny Peruvian quirk.

I recall my wife and her family doing the exact same thing.

I thought it was extremely strange.  Personally, I found the taste of both combined to be terrible.  I think they do it to get both a caffeine rush and an alcohol buzz.

[Chris F]

... in response to Re: Re: My first trip: Newbie report, posted by Mazu on Feb 5, 2005

I cant stand that stuff either....way tooooo sweet.

Peruvians drink it there like we drink bottled water here!!!

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: My first trip: Newbie report, posted by JimmySTLOUIS on Feb 5, 2005

Hey Jimmy,
What is the Peruvian meal you were talking about?  I have not been to Peru, but I really like Colombian food.  My girlfriend has promised to cook me a meal when I get to Cali soon.  So, I am trying to compare notes, on food.
Say hi to your pretty new wife.  Best of luck.

                    OkieMan

[grant5432]

... in response to Re: Re: My first trip: Newbie report, posted by OkieMan on Feb 5, 2005

Lomo saltado has beef, onions, maybe tomatoes, and french fries.  The
french fries are actually part of the dish.  In Peru, they are so into the
papas fritas... they have papa fritas with just about everything!  

[doombug]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: My first trip: Newbie report, posted by grant5432 on Feb 6, 2005

...with a huge glob of rice.

They love the double starches.

[Pete E]

... in response to My first trip: Newbie report, posted by Mazu on Feb 5, 2005

Sounds like you are doing fine and figuring it out quickly.
The difference between good looking women in the US and in Colombia is that the ones in Colombia are pretty much available to an average guy.At your age you might still be able to get a hot one in the US but wait a few years and difficult becomes impossible.One thing we seem to have in common here is we are not willing to settle for what we can get at home.
Big age differences are possible,but if that includes a
very unattractive guy and he is chasing a hot girl her motivations are the benefits,wether it be green card or sugar daddy.Some guys know and accept this.Others are in for a shock,particularly if they take her to the states.
I used to say the user girls could be spotted a block away.
Some can.Others are much more clever.They can seem very sincere and talk a great game.The best insurance of course is lots of time getting to know them and watching for red flags.

Pete

[pablo]

... in response to My first trip: Newbie report, posted by Mazu on Feb 5, 2005

Hola Matt,

Welcome.  Thanks for posting.  It's always nice to hear from a fellow Pacific North Westerner who's got the Latina bug.  It must be your age though if you feel that the Gringas are just as good looking as the Caleñas only in fewer numbers.  Having spent the last few months in Medellín it never fails to amaze me how many truly beautiful women there are in SA.  From my experience, I would say that not only are these beautiful Latinas in more abundance than their Gringa counterparts but at least a notch or two better looking than the few Gringas I have seen that turn my head.  Every day in Medellín while out and about, my eyes would bug out at some of these incredible beauties.  I never saw so many ladies with long beautiful hair, great figures, and flat tummies.  I feel that Latina beat Gringas in the personality department as well.  

As for age, it really isn't that big of a problem.  I'm not in that fat, balding and ugly category (at least I hope not) and I had no problem dating sincere and beautiful women half my age.  At age 36 you could really date any age lady in SA.  Keep that in mind if it doesn't work out with your present novia.

BTW, you might want to place your contact information on your profile rather than in the text of your post.  It might not be too late to edit that information.  

Again, good post.

Pablo

[fathertime]

... in response to Re: My first trip: Newbie report, posted by pablo on Feb 5, 2005

From what I have seen the ladies of Cali are beautiful but no more beautiful than similiarly aged American girls. If you go to a College campus in California on a warm day you will still see a smorgasbord of beauties with heights and body types for everyone. I found the women from Cali more accessible for slightly older fellas like ourselves. From what I gathered, I liked the ladies attitudes more in Cali than in California.  Perhaps the Northwest and its colder weather keeps them bone white,bundled up, and plumper, generally speaking.

[pablo]

... in response to Re: Re: My first trip: Newbie report, posted by fathertime on Feb 5, 2005


Two things that ring true in your statement: "Perhaps the Northwest and its colder weather keeps them bone white, bundled up, and plumper, generally speaking" and "I found the women from Cali more accessible for slightly older fellas like ourselves".  

Plumper is an understatement.  The average adult female in the US weighs an unprecedented 163 pounds!  I guess the cold and gray skies contribute to our share of hefty women here in the Pacific NW but sheesh, these women are huge.

Sure there are a few young ladies here that can be considered very good looking but, and it is a big BUT, how many of these women would be interested in a guy 10 and certainly not 15-20 years their senior?  Not many.  Plus the amount of guys vying for these few attractive gringas make it very competitive.  What a refreshing and welcomed difference it is in SA.

I'm sounding like Glickman now...lol