Post: #26

What do you guys do about the language barrier? I was speaking to a friend, and we both really want to go to South America for a bit, but neither of us speak Spanish nor Portuguese. What then?

Post: #27

(10-15-2008 10:44 PM)basilransom Wrote:  What do you guys do about the language barrier? I was speaking to a friend, and we both really want to go to South America for a bit, but neither of us speak Spanish nor Portuguese. What then?

Learn spanish.

Post: #28

(10-16-2008 06:07 PM)Lumiere Wrote:  

(10-15-2008 10:44 PM)basilransom Wrote:  What do you guys do about the language barrier? I was speaking to a friend, and we both really want to go to South America for a bit, but neither of us speak Spanish nor Portuguese. What then?

Learn spanish.

Check out the Pimsleur Method for learning Spanish. I'm brushing up on it now.

Post: #29

(10-15-2008 10:44 PM)basilransom Wrote:  What do you guys do about the language barrier? I was speaking to a friend, and we both really want to go to South America for a bit, but neither of us speak Spanish nor Portuguese. What then?

Learn a few basic survival phrases and wing it. You think most people learn the language of every country they visit?

Post: #30

It could make you less of a target and being kidnapped in the middle of the night and held for ransom.

Post: #31

Ive only been to argentina & brazil.

Its personal preference, but the girls in brazil win by a landslide for me.

Was actually disappointed by Argentina overall. (went to b.a. & salta)...

oh yeah, spent an hour at the airport in bogota during transfer...that in itself was ridiculous for women....

Post: #32

(10-31-2008 12:39 AM)bigxxx Wrote:  Ive only been to argentina & brazil.

Its personal preference, but the girls in brazil win by a landslide for me.

Was actually disappointed by Argentina overall. (went to b.a. & salta)...

oh yeah, spent an hour at the airport in bogota during transfer...that in itself was ridiculous for women....

Got to agree that Brazilians girls are wayyyyy hotter.

Am heading to Bogota in the next couple of weeks so ....

Post: #33

(11-03-2008 09:07 PM)Lumiere Wrote:  

(10-31-2008 12:39 AM)bigxxx Wrote:  Ive only been to argentina & brazil.

Its personal preference, but the girls in brazil win by a landslide for me.

Was actually disappointed by Argentina overall. (went to b.a. & salta)...

oh yeah, spent an hour at the airport in bogota during transfer...that in itself was ridiculous for women....

Got to agree that Brazilians girls are wayyyyy hotter.

Am heading to Bogota in the next couple of weeks so ....

I'll really want to hear a report about how safe Columbia is. I hear it's gotten better, but it's always best to read personal reports. I'd love to check out Columbia. Nearly every Columbian woman I've ever met has been cute at the very least.

Post: #34

(11-04-2008 01:41 AM)speakeasy Wrote:  I'll really want to hear a report about how safe Columbia is. I hear it's gotten better, but it's always best to read personal reports. I'd love to check out Columbia. Nearly every Columbian woman I've ever met has been cute at the very least.

I have never encountered any safety issues. I traveled all over to big cities and small towns using buses. I have taken the metro, taxis, and public buses in cities and sort of hitchhiked at times in the country side.

At times, I made some local friends and hung around with them in their neighborhoods with no problems.

There are areas in Colombia that are to be avoided, like Buenaventura. But these places are completely off the tourist map and you will never find any reason to go there.

The cities are just like any in the world in that there are places to avoid or use caution.

I read a statistic a few weeks ago that since something like 2004, the rate of foreigners being kidnapped has gone from a high number in 2003, to around 5 in 2004, 1 in 2005, 1 in 2006, 0 in 2007, and 1 in 2008. Being kidnapped is the least of your worries as a simple tourist. Its the embassy workers, oil men, etc. who need to worry.

The military/police are stationed are stationed all over the place in busy areas with their big guns, making you feel safe. Even in smaller towns I remember seeing them too, one time chatting up the worker while I was typing away on the internet.

Did I meet other tourists who got in trouble? Yes. These two guys I know met two Colombian men in a bar who befriended them. They suggested they go to a club with more women and ended up being drugged, robbed. and passed out on the sidewalk in a random neighborhood.

One area in particular, La Candelaria in Bogotá is notorious for its nightime robberies where some guys will beat and rob you.

Colombians are really proud of their country and how far it has come. They will do their best to make you enjoy your stay and feel comfortable. I assure you that they will blow you away with their kindness. If you thought the places you visited and their people were really friendly then you will be shocked to see how much further the Colombians take it. There is something like an 80% approval rating for their president, mostly because the measures he has taken to make the country safer.

Post: #35

I've been VERY interested in moving to Colombia and living there for about the past year and a half, and have researched in heavily, again I highly recommend you immediately go over to: Colombia Blog Forum and spend a few days reading through all the threads there. Also, I recall reading a statistic somewhere that mentions how the murder rate in Bogota is actually lower than the murder rates in St. Louis, Atlanta, and Dallas. I have several friends that are Colombian--if you stay in the major cities and don't do anything extraordinarily stupid, you'll be just fine. Also, to be brutally honest, if you're going to be there for more than a week or two, you HAVE to speak Spanish--NOBODY there speaks English.

Post: #36

Okay, I think I'm sold now. So what's the best time of year to visit Columbia? Is there a high and low season, where prices vary? What are the must see cities/regions? I have to admit my main thing to sightsee will probably be the women.

Post: #37

If all goes well i'll be in colombia around april or may

Post: #38

(11-09-2008 10:47 PM)Roosh Wrote:  If all goes well i'll be in colombia around april or may

I will be there in about 12-14 days or so.

If I like it, I could well still be there in April / May