I've barely lived in Colombia long enough for the new to wear off, but on a recent short trip to the USA I couldn't stop thinking about the cost of meals in restaurants.

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When I now go back to the US I experience reverse culture shock.

Like "what the hell is this" giving me a check in a restaurant when I'm not even done eating yet. I'm now used to taking my time in Colombia and being able to sit at a table even for hours and not be bothered for a check.

And paying $50 for a taxi that would cost <$7 in Colombia.

And seeing women dressed so poorly in malls.

I could go on and on and on....

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I moved to Colombia in March of 2012. Spent alot of time in Barranquilla, and settled in Monteria. I returned to the
States in September of 2016. I loved Colombia and still do. It's a great culture overall and is a break from the humdrum of NYC.
On the other hand, you can get just about anything at any time. Its a heavier toll financially though. What I don't like in the states is the way the government tries to protect us from ourselves and govern the taxpayers into submission.
For us older ish gringos I think Colombia is better, at least four me with occasional trips back to the state to fill something I'm missing. On the other hand I now have younger schoolage kids and I think the US have way more availability on energy level. Bi lingual, dual citizens have a high success rate IMO.

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After 10 years as an expat and away from the USA I returned to Panama City Florida to visit my daughter for three days. It was good to be back in the USA wide streets, fast food, 4x4 pick up trucks with big tires and American flags everywhere, oh and a I heard a lot of "y'all". It was good to be back in my home country and experience American culture or shall I say Southern culture (I am from Alaska). Reminded me that the USA is the greatest country in the world.
But with that said it was good to be back "home" in Medellin.

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I've been here in Colombia for 2 years, but I actually still work in Canada so I go back every few months, usually for a month at a time. Here are a few thoughts I have about returning.

I gain weight every single time I go back. I don't eat garbage, but the drive-everywhere lifestyle of North America is simply not conducive to good health.

The prices are shocking when I return. Not everything, of course. Meals and taxis, especially, as someone noted above.

I order something on Amazon there and I get it either tomorrow or sometimes today. Here in Colombia, I order on Amazon, have it shipped to a mail drop place, they reship it to me in Colombia and I'm lucky to get it in a month. Or I order from AliExpress and I get it in 3 months.

Here in Colombia, I leave my balcony door open and, most of the time, it's the same temperature outside as it is inside. In Canada, well, no.

People read and respond to emails back home.

Winter is bloody depressing back home. It really affects me psychologically these days. I'm well suited to not having seasons.

I love being able to communicate at a professional level without thinking about it. That's not possible for me in Spanish.

Grocery shopping back home is not inconvenient but it's way better here in Colombia. Anything heavy (milk, diet pop, cleaning liquids), I just phone Metro and they deliver it to my door within an hour for a dollar.

Driving back home isn't my idea of fun, but it's entirely tolerable. Drivers are generally competent and polite. Roads are excellent. None of that is true here in Colombia.

The food here in Colombia isn't tasty but it's super healthy which is more important to me.

Corruption exists in Canada, but you can easily go a lifetime without encountering it personally. In Colombia, that's just not the case.

You don't really worry about violence in Canada. You don't even think about it. Nobody has a gun and traffic disputes don't escalate into murder. That's not true in Colombia (or in the US). I mitigate this by living in a gated community with armed guards, something that simply does not exist in Canada.

Maybe most important of all, I love having a colaboradora. She makes my breakfast, gets me coffee, keeps my home spotless, and leaves me alone in my home-office to work.

I don't believe there's a "best place in the world". There's good and bad everywhere. For me, Colombia is currently a better compromise than Canada or the US. I love it here.

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Choosing an expat health insurance provider is an important decision. Get a quote from our trusted expat health insurance partner, CIGNA. With Cigna Global Health Options, you can create an international health insurance plan that's perfectly tailored for the needs of you and your family.

I used to work overseas a lot when I was working. 3 years in Saudi Arabia , then back for 5 in Canada. 3 years rotation in Kazakhstan folowed by several months in Trinidad, and then 5 years in Canada. 3 years working and living in Venezuela, Trinidad, Russia and Colombia, followed by 2 years back in Canada. And now almost 5 years in Colombia. Not to mention 2 years earlier living i the US.

I still visit Canada a couple months a year. What I find , every time I go back, is it gets more and more liberal, more and more politically correct, and you cant say anything like you might say in a developing country, otherwise you will offend people.Also people are way more into quietness, anfd their own space (which is OK).

Right now I would never consider going back to Canada permanently. Too cold and too expensive, and way too liberal and PC. Way worse thatn the US under Obama ever was.

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Elex great post ! I, after living out of the U.S for over two(2) years, agree wholeheartedly with your comments.
Yes, there are things that I enjoy while visiting in the U.S. like great cuts of filet mignon at the local Publix & dining at a few favorite restaurants, on Sanibel Island, Florida. Yes, dining cost are
considerably higher in the U.S. Overall...I prefer the people of Colombia & honestly just being on "island time" a little. It just seems too much like a rat race" in the U.S. now...that I've experienced the beautiful people & the lifestyle in Latin America. I like the weather here in Colombia much more than in South Florida. Those are my thoughts. Tranquilo y Paz.
Buena Suerte.

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Canada is liberal, but even better than the US under Obama, not worse! LOL PC normally means being considerate of the feelings of others. Nothing wrong with that.

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I'm 100% with Steve. I love Canada and its liberal ways. It is my home and always will be, even as I travel the world and live in (and love) other countries..

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00abuse

Interesting post and likely will pique interest in that job of yours.

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Yeah, after all it is "2017" isnt it??

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I really recommend my job to anyone who wants to experience the real Colombia. As an English teacher I´ve traveled 5 hours by bus on dirt roads to teach the sweetest bunch of kids you can imagine. and I´ve traveled to the plains of eastern Colombia where I think I was teaching the kids of guerrillas and wondering if i would be allowed to leave alive the next morning. Then I was feted at a barbecue roast where they put a whole damn half a cow on the spit over the bonfire and fed us all like we were royalty. The pay is terrible, but the camaraderie between teacher and students, and parents, is palpable.
Would I give this up to go back to the mid-Atlantic and work for a living? hmmm, not sure. Let me think about it.

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Honestly, I would like to go back to US. I have friends and family there, and the language is familiar. I feel like I could talk there in my native language at a professional level and be understood and understanding. Actually that means something to me.
Here I talk a lot, and am understood, but only at a surface level, nothing deep. Its hard to have a profound conversation with people who don´t have my language and i don´t have theirs. sure, I speak spanish very well, but at their level? no, I don´t think so. It´s like talking ebonics in the US, you just never get it unless you´re one of them.

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Actually, I have a lot of concerns about going home. For one thing, I´m used to Colombianas who are slender and graceful. Then I look at youtube videos about Walmart shoppers and I think , Really? Back breasts?

The women of Walmart scares the heck out of me. Are they all like that? Would I be able to score a decent date in my own country?

Here, in Colombia, I routinely date 20-somethings who are charming, sweet, intelligent, conversant, and who don´t care a wit that I´m older than their father.

In the USA I fear I would only be able to date over the hill floozies with false, or no, teeth, who think Trump is fantastic, and who spend their idle hours feeding the one arms at the casino. Wow, I´m not sure I could adapt to that.

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I read somewhere millions of Europeans emigrated to the US in the latter half the 19th Century and early years of the 20th. It was a lot of trouble. Most traveled uncomfortably at great personal expense-to-relative income on a relatively high-risk voyage. Thousands were turned away at the docks after medical inspection. And 35% of those legally admitted wound up voluntarily returning. It's interesting to speculate how many went back after they calculated they had enough, versus the ones who found nothing.

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Unless you're filthy rich, there's no way you're going to get attractive 20-somethings in the US interested in you assuming you're 50-something. Your other extreme of the toothless Trump voter isn't the only alternative, though. There are plenty of attractive, single 40-something women in the US. Most are set in their ways, though, and many have serious baggage.

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Serious baggage for a 40-something in Colombia means she may have had sex with a few guys over the years. Baggage in the US means a LOT more than that i´m sure.

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Right, we're on the same page. My 40-something gf here has effectively no baggage. In the US they'll usually be fighting depression, will indulge in occasional drug use and alcohol abuse, will usually have 2 kids who can't decide what gender they are, will tell you not to body shame them if you suggest they lay off the donuts, and will ask you if you think getting a large tattoo of a spider on their left breast would be attractive.

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Not to mention the 13 prescription drugs they're abusing while telling you all your problems are due to not eating organic food.

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11abuse

Bleak picture indeed! lol

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I am highly offended by a few recent posts and feel that I must defend the 40-something women in the US and elsewhere against the macho men with little "hands" on this forum. Most women in Colombia have live-in help with the housework and raising their children while they persue their careers and have a social life. In the USA woman have full time jobs then go home to another full time job (cook, clean laundry, care for children) and when the men arrive home to put their feet up, drink their beer and watch tv, the woman put their children to bed and continue cleaning and putting up with your Sh_t. Now most of the men that are living in Colombia are in search of their Latin Lovers to have a good time, but I hope you realize that Colombian women don't care that you are old, overweight and fart. They are just looking for someone with money, usually as an avenue to get a green card, so don't flatter yourselves. You all sound like Trump, denegrating women! You know who you are and should apologize!

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@happytraveler.

Well said and for the most part true.

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jajajajajaja, happy traveler I think you must be writing tongue in cheek, otherwise I can´t imagine you´ve ever actually been to Colombia or have a clue about the lifestyle of this country. Only a very few women here have live-in help and probably only half or less of the women actually even have a job. If they are lucky enough to have a job they get up at 4:30 or 5:00 to get the kids ready for school or younger kids ready for the nursery or kindergarden. Then they go to work at 7 and work till 6 and on Saturday they might only have to work until 2, and sometimes they get Sunday off.

then pick up their kids and go home and cook and clean and put the kids to bed. Many of them don´t have husbands and the kids have never met their father.

I´ve met at least a hundred women here and not once have I been asked to help them get a green card. Very few of them want to leave Colombia and the ones who do want a green card are easily spotted. and I don´t think very many women are attracted to fat, ugly gringos who fart. Even if you do have money.

When I watch the news and see stories in the US where people are being interviewed on the street I´m actually appalled at all the fat people. In one news show they were interviewing three policemen and a bunch of neighbors and there was not one slender person in the bunch, all were fat and a lot of them were even obese including the cops. Young people too, all fat. I feel sorry for my fellow americans and I can clearly understand why american health insurance premiums and health care costs are so high, these people are so unhealthy its pitiful. Especially noticeable whenever Trump supporters are shown. Those people are really fat and obese, including him.

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21abuse

DEPRESSION! I miss my housekeeper, cheap prices, hot chicas, friendly people, social life and NOT being angry all the time.

Can't wait to get back!

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cafetero you hit the dead on the head my wife is 43 and before the store that she worked at closed up she started work everyday at 7 am and work all day until 9 pm 7 days a week and then go home to cook dinner and clean the house, and before we met her 15 year old washing machine was broke so she had to wash the clothes by hand, find an American woman that would do that,and another thing all of you that complain the food has no taste maybe you need to back off the v**gra anything I have eaten in colombia has great flavor and not bland my wife is a great cook and loves to use a lot of spices (I know I will regret that statement)

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How wrong you are cafetero. I have lived in/visited Colombia since 1974 (43 yrs), since I was in the Peace Corps in Popayan and married a Colombian. I'm sure that this trumps your time there. I do agree with you on a few things. 1. Americans of BOTH sexes are WAY overweight. 2. with the government regulations on minimum wages/health benefits for muchachas de servicio many can't afford live-in help, I was referring to professional women who continue to have daily maids. Many other women have help from family members (easier in Popayan where family usually live close by). In closing, I have to say that regnatarajan must have had a terrible experience with an American woman to be so bitter and I feel sorry for him.

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@GRINGO1459 I'm sorry that many of you expat men have been so dissatisfied with American women. I too LOVE Colombian food. I'm heading to Popayan tomorrow for a visit and to fill my tummy with some buneulos, empanadas, chammpus, chuleta de cerdo etc. and my favorite, bandeja paisa.

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Re: I have to say that regnatarajan must have had a terrible experience with an American woman to be so bitter and I feel sorry for him.

Why hello, happytraveler. You sound neither happy nor well traveled despite your claims.

I'm sorry my harsh-but-true assessment of the status quo in the US has offended you. I made quite clear that I wasn't referring to all American women. On the contrary, many and perhaps most American women are great. I'm good friends with most of my exes, most of whom are American.

I wonder, therefore, what it is that offends you about what I said. Do you live in some dream world where there isn't a significant subset of American women who are entirely dysfunctional, obese, drug abusing (both prescription and recreational), alcoholic, and unable to do even basic exercise? Are the stories I just read in the news about how 47% of women in the US under 40 are tattooed incorrect? This must be an amazing dream world you live in. I wish I had experienced it.

I will leave alone your absurd statements about how "Most women in Colombia have live-in help with the housework and raising their children while they persue their careers and have a social life." Again, it is an amazing dream world you live in.

In your defense of American women, you have chosen to attack Colombian women, effectively calling them prostitutes. You write, "They are just looking for someone with money, usually as an avenue to get a green card". Perhaps you believe this. Perhaps you really are that bitter.

You sound like an older guy, happytraveler, claiming to have been traveling here since 1974. If so, you are proof that age does not always bring wisdom. You say you plan to visit Colombia again tomorrow. May your visit be short. May you leave Colombia to those of us who respect it.

Best,
Reg

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@regnatarajan: I do enjoy reading the posts on this forum, they are mostly informative, sometimes humorous, sometimes ridiculous. You are wrong on both counts, I am a woman and well traveled. It seems that this forum is mostly populated by men (sex deprived I might add, by many posts). You seem to have anger management issues that need to be resolved. I hope that you stay in Colombia, where you may find peace and happiness. Good luck in your pursuit.

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Hello again, happytraveler. I'm not sure where you see any anger in any of my posts, but thank you anyway for your well wishes. I wish you well, too. Peace.

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20abuse

Dont think your Colomban dates have told youthier whole life story....

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Happy Traveler-

I really cant believe you posted the statement-

" Most women in Colombia have live-in help with the housework and raising their children while they persue their careers and have a social life. "

That is the most ludicrous, ridiculous,fantastical statement I have heard from anyone about Colombia, on any forum or in real life.

You really must be joking..

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20abuse

After reading the whole post, I have come to the conclusion "Happy Traveler" is a troll...

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11abuse

Funny part of this "debate", is both sides have some truth in what they are saying, but both sides are grossly exaggerating their arguments with "Fake News"..

This kind of debates get tiring after awhile.

It seems the world is polarized..on every subject..

When I go travelling with my Colombian GF, she makes friends with the 5o year old Gringas, with her "cute", They love her, they a pidgin English They are happy for me, say she is quite a "catch" (they don't know all her "blemishes", like I do ) everybody is happy, kind and respectful.

Not every women or man in the US or Canada is fat. Not all women in NA are screaming feminists.

Colombianas have a lot of baggage too. Imagine growing up having to worry about your uncles molesting you..your father killed by Paracos..being robbed or shot at knife point in the street...etc., etc.

Sure I love Colombians and my Colombiana (for now). But what good does it do generalizing and denigrating North American women?

I don't agree with most of what Happy Traveler says, but I do agree that middle aged north American men who come to Colombia and end up with Colombianas, have some basic issues themselves , and have something they are hiding, if they are so vehement, hateful and bitter in their generalization of North American women.

We are all individuals, and all are different , no matter where we are from.

Stop the ancedotal generalizations.

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The fourth paragraph got screwd up with the spell check. Too bad this forum doesnt have an "edit" option for posts,

Jeez these Forums waste a lot of time sometimes. Espescially these types of carzy discussions.

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Elexpatriado,

Your post contains the following two statements. Amusingly ironic.

Stop the ancedotal generalizations.

...preceded by...

Colombianas have a lot of baggage too. Imagine growing up having to worry about your uncles molesting you..your father killed by Paracos..being robbed or shot at knife point in the street...etc., etc.

The truth is we almost all generalize, and those generalizations are often "generally" accurate. Nobody's suggesting that all American women are dysfunctional, obese weirdos. This is a real issue in the US and Canada, however.

I doubt you're suggesting that all Colombianas fit the description above, but you generalized, too. We all do it (yes, this sentence is also a generalization).

Peace,
Reg

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By the way , I like farting too, but NEVER in public or with another person around.

Healthy eating ha sits side effects

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By the way , I like farting too, but NEVER in public or with another person around.

Healthy eating ha sits side effects

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00abuse

" I too LOVE Colombian food. I'm heading to Popayan tomorrow for a visit and to fill my tummy with some buneulos, empanadas, chammpus, chuleta de cerdo etc. and my favorite, bandeja paisa".

You think that crap is healthy? Way worse than anything you would find at McDonalds or Wendy´´s

Colombian traditional food is the worst attribute of the country.tasteless, greasy, unhealthy

Only reason there arentmor fat people aisthey cant afford to buy enough of it.

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Reg--

Yeah I see you backtracked on your generalizations later on-

I have to say as a third party observer that Happy Travellers post is a bit more extreme in the convoluted logic than yours were.

Me- I dont care about drug abusing over weight women (or men) any where because I havent been hanging around these types in over 20 years.

They can eat as much as they want, take as much antidpressants-I could care less.

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ROFLMAO jajajajajajajaja........second most ridiculous statement.....bunuelos and empanadas and bandeja paisa are healthy.....jjajajjajajaja que rico.....come on happy traveler, I doubt you are a woman and I doubt you´ve been in Colombia 43 years and I doubt you know much at all about the typical Colombian lifestyle. I lived in Popayan, too, along with five other cities and five pueblos in Colombia while I move around for teaching jobs. Popayan is not very different from the rest of the country socially and economically. Maybe you´re not a troll, but you´re not a expert on Colombia either.

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oh oh....wait a second.....I reread your post happy traveler and now I get it, you´re that crazy lady from Sweden or somewhere in Europe who kept trolling all over the other Colombian forums before they were closed. Your screen name was Maarrit...am I right?¿

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00abuse

This is a funny thread.. All I can think is this

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UTkrSNOaxl8

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https://www.google.com/search?q=charlton+heston+it%27s+a+madhouse+gif&client=ms-android-motorola&site=webhp&prmd=ivsn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjC_e6vrYHTAhUC9WMKHQttAoMQ_AUIBygB&biw=412&bih=656

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First of all, I am not a troll, but someone who has a right to give her opinion, just as all of you have. Second of all, I never said anything about healthy food, but that which I enjoy eating. Maybe you should learn to read and stop insulting others. Third I really don't give a flying f__ck what you idiots believe. Enough said!!

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About the live in maids... of course he must live in poblado. 90% of gringos stay in poblado and think this is how Colombia lives. I brought my mom here she waneed to live her life here til I took her to Santo domingo. Then she said..." I want to go back home, where the younger men want me "

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@BJM "This is a funny thread" - agree

Next thing you know someone will sprinkle Monsanto GMO dust from the chemtrails . Then it will not matter because we all will be fat and sick :)

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From what I see of most of the food on the street and in many of the cheaper restaurants (comida tipica) appears very unhealthy. And I see a lot of obese people here. Of course not as many in the States.
I believe that the only thing that saves them here is that most of them walk everywhere thereby getting some exercise. But it is catching up with them.
In the past they were doing hard physical work and could eat anything. The same with me when I was young. When I was in my 20s and had a physical job I ate McDonalds literally 7 days a week with no problem. Of course I had the same problem as with the street food here...horrible gas.
I think you have to really work hard here to have a healthy diet...even harder in the states.
The same thing happened over the last 20 years in Costa Rica...the peoples diet changed to more junk and fried food and less exercise therefore more fat people. It's really a shame. I was in a panaderia a few days ago and seeing a mother give her 3 year old daughter a large pastry with a soda. If you get fat when young you are usually doomed. I know the people here drink a lot of juice, which is a good thing, but I am amazed at the amount of soda they drink. Lets hope they become more aware of healthy eating. They are so image conscious, many brush their teeth 3 times a day, go to the gym, get cosmetic surgery, ect.
If they don't watch it they will be like us fat Americans.

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You are correct in your observation of overweight Colombians. In the past (go way back to 1974) most walked and took public transportation. Although the basic meals have not changed much, back then people did not have junk food/soda in their homes as they do now. Many more now have motorcycles/ cars so are not getting exercise. I have especially noticed this obesity growing worse in the last 10 years or so. Its a shame that Colombians have followed our (USA) bad example.

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Cafetero..not sure if it is Desi...she was more into Cali (in a big way) than Popayan..but still, lot of similarities...married Colombian..very outspoken..

If it is, should be interesting becaus eat least one of her old nemesises is on this site..LOL

Happy Traveler...nothing against you personally, but you did come out with some crazy outrageous statements (espescially the first one LOL) which may have possibly been taking out of context (at least as to what you were thinking, what you wrote was pretty clear.a.ja).

I realize your first post was in reaction to some of the generalizations made earlier by some of the male members.

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Bigjailerman

This one is better, and more applicabletothe discussion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IKVj4l5GU4

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00abuse

Every story starts with ... The names and places have been changed to protect the innocent but in this case to protect the Troll.

If Happytravelor is not Desi it is a person that knows her past well.

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This forum should not be turned into a boxing match, but I will not hesitate to express my opinions. If someone feels the need to vent about their hostilities toward women or men, it should not be on this forum. You will hear from me again, hopefully regarding more civil, pleasant, and informative topics.

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01abuse

Ah yes, total freedom of speech, except in cases where you disagree. lol. Quite predictable.

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01abuse

I guess you are one of those who need to have the last word. Well so be it. I have been defeated!!

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00abuse

Haven't seen that for LOONG time lol

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Elex, her posts follow the Desi-Maarrit pattern.....come out attacking and flaming anyone who mentions women....then call for peace and ask everyone to please get along.....then attack again......keep doing it until a sh¡tstorm flame war springs up......then sit back and wait for the next victim to open his mouth so she can flame all over again.
Never has any thing significant to add to a conversation because all her information is second hand from reading other peoples threads and she usually misunderstands what information she does read then repeat....has very little if any real on-the-ground experience in Colombia or anywhere else for that matter......just another troll who blew up several forums in Colombia a few years ago, even her own.

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01abuse

Thank you bigjailerman and cafeter. I have just had my BIG LOL for the week. I'm glad that I have been able to contribute to everyone's enjoyment. Signing off for now. On my way to Popayan to eat unhealthy food to my hearts content!!I

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00abuse

@cafetero FYI my boots-on-the-ground experience was teaching for 3 years children and working with women's groups in the campo. in ElTambo, Cauca one hour outside Popayan. Also 5 years teaching elementary education in Popayan. Now married to a Colombian. Therefore well versed in the culture and,language. No trolling here.

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But I would love to meet Desi. We must be kindred spirits

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00abuse

Sounds like the CBC doesnt it , Eh Reg??

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00abuse

lol. I still love the CBC.

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00abuse

CBC ..yeah..great for a laugh..just like FOX...Telesur or RT News..
Justcwish my tax money wasnt paying for it

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CBC ..yeah..great for a laugh..just like FOX...Telesur or RT News..
Justcwish my tax money wasnt paying for it

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01abuse

Especially now that the board is dominated by Conservative appointments. Soon they will be gone however and balanced coverage will return.

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10abuse

Thats hilarilous..we have
happy traveler who would be a good buddy for Desi and that adamc465 who would get along great with Gringoloid.

Now all we need are MES and Ronnell.clones....ugggh

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01abuse

What are you smoking?? LOL

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00abuse

In an liberal nation you can smoke what you want. ;)

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10abuse

Not quite yet. July 1, 2018.

CBC Story On Pot Legalization In Canada

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00abuse

Good lord, I can´t believe that idiot Desi has oozed her slimy sack of sh¡t onto this forum, too.

You guys that are disappointed by dogs barking all night and dogs crapping on the sidewalks aint seen nuthin yet. There goes the neighborhood.

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Not liking the nasty tone in this thread.

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20abuse

If your post was aimed at me, SunsetSteve, since I´m the last one that posted, in my opinion its best not to read the threads that are unsettling to you.


Since way back 10 years ago starting with Poor But Happy forum, followed by a dozen other forums, this troll Desi-Maarrit-Happy Traveler and probably half a dozen other aliases has been causing trouble. All those forums are closed now, and if the troll gets a foothold here this one will be closed pretty quick, too.

Elexpatriado should bite his tongue....if that psycho wife beater firebomber MES and his sociopath butt buddy Ronell shows up here, along with the skinny pathetic redneck FannieMae from Cali and the dimwit cueball Redline, then this forum will tank within days.
Just my opinion, others mileage may vary.

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00abuse

time for your pill

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10abuse

@mein - How do you know if it is unsettling or not unless you read it first?
Directed at the whole thread, really. I do not believe there is sufficient evidence in here to convict the suspect. Just my opinion.

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Cafetero, your thoughts about the overweight Americans are on spot.
During a recent visit to the U.. my friend & I were at a packed sports bar...and gosh...4 out of 7 Americans(men & women) were not overweight.....they were F-A-T ! I have jo9gged, worked out in the gym, eaten healthy foods most of my adult live and am 6 ft. and weigh 165 pounds, so seeing all that "beef" on the hoof was just amazing...as they seem to have gotten fatter in my time out of the U.S. And yes...the majority of over 40 females in the states to dome with some serious baggage...just my thoughts.

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This Colombia forum is overly concerned how overweight the next member might be... In addition people concerned where they would live depending on the obesity of their neighbors is pretty shallow if you ask me.. But it is what it is, isn't it.

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As a little addition, I would be way more concerned about the small minded, overly liberal or overly conservative fanatics while peering through their windows and comment on the outward appearance of their neighbors. Colombians don't care about that, That's one of their best attributes.

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It's talk of chemtrails that will win the heart of the local girl you want, at least for those who want an easily duped local girl. Did you know Henry Ford never did learn to read a blueprint? Facts are the bunk in romance in Latin America, usually.

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I would be wary of sanctifying the attitudes of Colombians, who are as fond of chismes as anyone - and who arguably care as much about outward appearances as any people in the world, witness the popularity of cosmetic surgery all over the country.

Nevertheless most do have a "live and let live" attitude for the most part. Except of course for 50+ years there has been an exceptional amount of violence directed against precisely that, when some could not get what they wanted through democratic means...it's a country of great contradictions.

It's easy for comparatively rich outsiders to ignore or not see many of the persistent problems. Often to some degree or another we gringos have a tendency to regard Colombians with a "noble savage" viewpoint, how they are intrinsically good and have not yet been corrupted by our decadent first-world values...

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Speaking of which, when's the last time any of you played one of those bar bowling machines with shuffleboard pucks?

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MeinColmbia-settle down it aint Desi-the lady is from the US, not Finland or wherever-and spent her time in Popayan-not Cali.Lets give her a chance-only been acouple posts.

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and word is MES moved to Florida...he doesnt care about these forums anymore..and to far away for any "firebombing"

Bt even mention of these guys names is illegal on many Forums. So I wont say them anymore..it was just a bad joke.

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and word is MES moved to Florida...he doesnt care about these forums anymore..and to far away for any "firebombing"

Bt even mention of these guys names is illegal on many Forums. So I wont say them anymore..it was just a bad joke.

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Chismosos y bichachon are easy different in my mentality. They may chatter like washwomen(men) but don't seem to harbour negative feelings or have am actual agenda. I definitely don't trust anyone until I admit entrance to the Bigjalerman Circle of Trust lol

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Hey everybody- Sorry to change the subject here, but I'm planning to move to Cali and I wonder if anyone can tell me if the water there is potable for gringos to drink? Thanks for any answers.

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Yes, the water is fine in Cali, they do a good job of treating it - however if it rains too much, or too little, or if they spring a leak, they may shut down the treatment plants or service to at least parts of the city - and this happens far too often. Almost all the rivers which feed the treatment plants are a mess.

If you have any doubts, just mix it with some aguardiente to kill the germs...no, that's a joke, no sense in diluting good guaro...

I've never had any problems at all drinking the water. Here's an article in which Emcali (Empresas Municipales de Cali) assures us that the water is of good quality:

http://occidente.co/el-agua-que-tratamos-es-100-potable-emcali/

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First of all, how dare you change this fascinating subect? Second, the water throughout Colombia, in my limited experience, was just fine. This is not Mexico!

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Are you trying to water-shame Colombia? You must be a very bitter man to be attacking Colombia in this way. If you feel the need to post hostile and defamatory posts about Colombia, it shouldn't be on this forum.

Ok, never mind, the water is fine around Cali.

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Why can't we all just get along?

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Sunset...I agree with your post completely. Altercations -via-
expat forums should be deleted by the moderator(s) or the perpetrator blocked or their account eliminated. There is a line between a disagreement and altercations. Disagreements are O.K. but turning posts into a "street brawl" should not ever be tolerated. That's my thinking.

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@sunset steve,

Yes VERY limited how many days 10 maybe??

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@SkyMan re: Altercations -via-expat forums should be deleted by the moderator(s) or the perpetrator blocked or their account eliminated.

I often agree with what you write here but I totally disagree with what you've just written. This thread was totally harmless. I made some generalizations about women in the US. Happytraveler and a few others disagreed with me and made a few points that many of us felt were ridiculous. Some people called her on it and then went on to speculate that she might be someone they remember from another forum or forums. Nobody was particularly polite throughout, but if this offends your gentle sensibilities, I can't imagine how you survive on the Internet.

I disagree with a whole lot of what is written on these forums. My solution is not to ban people or silence them. I believe people have the right to disagree, even forcefully, over things I don't consider important. If I don't care, which is often the case, I quit reading. Works great.

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Stop trolling me Bob. Thanks.

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@reg

I agree with you 100%. Although I do not agree with the comments made toward Happytraveler it is no reason to censor or eliminate members.

After all I do think she handled it well.

Much respect for her.

To those who want to censor or ban members you are the ones who will ultimately be the demise of the forum not Happytraveler.

Just my frozen opinion.

Chillin in Medellin.

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@steve

Not trolling you I just do not understand that someone with such limited time (less than two weeks) in the country can state that the water is just fine.

I hope Skyman doesn't censor me. For my comments.

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I agree, just friendly exchanges betweenpeople with strong opinions.

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I might have gone a little overboard too!

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I start to like you, happytraveler. I hope you stick around here and give me hell when I offend you, which will probably be quite often. :)

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Well reg, I guess we have a temporary detante.

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Bob - your comment had one intended purpose: to try to embarrass me or otherwise put me down. The "reason" you give for commenting is transparently disingenuous.

The comments of the others made it sufficiently clear that my own comment was inaccurate.

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This is too funny. So after all the comments about water in Colombia I get up this morning and no water in the apartment.

I think Steve must have some connections with the water department here in Medellin.

Chillin without water in Medellin

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??

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LOL bobfrozen I tried to use an emoji but didn't work. We need to modernize this site!

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Happy traveller.

jajajaajjaj claro

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I just hope Bob's comment wasn't intended to be a criticism of Medellin!

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@steve
Of course not. Just normal maintenance on the intfrastructure. After all it is a modern city and they need to insure the water system is well maintained.

Oh by the way spent a week in a very remote pueblo on the Colombian Panama border. You might want to check it out. Capurgana, very isolated.

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I need a population of at least 6,000. Like Filandia. And I need to breathe. :)

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@steve
Sorry population only about 1500. But the air is the best. No cars or trucks allowed only motos and three wheel work vehicles. Lots of horses and carts.

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Next time you go there, actually open your eyes. Your experience of Filandia is unfortunately quite limited.

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for sunset steve
Next time you go there, actually open your eyes. Your experience of Filandia and the rest of Colombia is unfortunately quite limited,

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for sunset steve
Next time you go there, actually open your eyes. Your experience of Filandia and the rest of Colombia is unfortunately quite limited,

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Bob- I have been to Capurgana to and loved it. Did you stay at the Nautilis?

I have been to many way remoter places in Colombia.

Most remote was probably the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. 5 days in on foot with mule trains.

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I loved it. Had a few beers at Nautilis actually it was the best place on the beach. Stayed at Finca Regalo about 1k from Cap. Really nice. But I thought Nautilis was great too. Flew into Acandi from Medellin and then Launch from Acandi to Cap. Visited Aguacate, Sap, and La Miel. Tell me more about your travels to Sierra Nevada it is on my list for late June.

Thanks!!!

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@meincolombia

That's funny jajajja

Sorry Steve just gotta laugh

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mein - why unfortunate? It is what it is.
I sort of doubt that you have spent 3 - 4 days in Filandia as I have. Not much I admit, but likely more than many who disparage it. Am I to be shamed for liking it more than wherever you have chosen to live?
But thanks for gratuitously sticking your nose into my private duel with Cold Bob. #rolleyes

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@ steve

Its all fun.

Unfortunately at your expense.

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Sure - it's all fun and games . . . until . . . someone pretends to laugh at a lame comment and thinks nobody sees through it. And a pall falls over everything.

SAD!

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@elx

Looking to do a long trip. Santa Marta, Sierra Nevada, Tayrona and Capo La Bella. Maybe two weeks. Any info would be much appreciated.

Finlandia hmmm maybe early June.

Also to stay within the OP intent. Colombia has so much to offer in travel, different climates and cultures. I love Alaska and spent many wonderful years there. But no place like Colombia.

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Capurgana is a lovely spot. They have to clear the cattle from the runway before you land! There are launches that do day tours of Las Islas San Blas on the Panamanian side. Sapzurro is a nice hideaway for the sailors.

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Bob-

Where we went isnt your organized main stream mass tourist place like Ciedad Perdida. It is 5 days into the heart of the range by muleand foot. We climbed the 3rd highest Peak in Colombia , Pico Simonds, 5,650 M (I am an experienced mountaineer).
We travelled over 100Km i9 days and well over 5,000 m up and down.

Very few people have been there in 30 years (because of the violence.rebels, paracos, narcos) and the natives (KOgis in these case) are very aprehensive -espesciallyColombians. We had to get very special permission and pay big "Vacuna" (as part of the expedition fees) to get in. We slept in a Kogi village, Kogi Huts , and in tenets in high camps.

If you just show up out of the blue without the proper cntacts,and try to arrange something on the spot, you could find yourself "detained" by the Kogis (or Aruacas) until you paid the appropriate "fees"..tis happens often, and to a British group when we were there.

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Bob- Tayrona - been there- make sure you take the walk to Arrecifes and Cabo San Juan. You can arrange a tour from Santa Marta no problem

Do you mean Cabo de la Velas in La Guajira? Been all over the Guajira, Cabola Vela , Punta Gallinas.

You can obtain tour packages in Riohacha

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One thing I will say about this site. Hard to review your textdue to tiny writing and small message box, after posting, no spell check, and no edit options. So please, no frivolous irrelevant complaining about spelling and grammar.

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I returned to the Usa 2015 . This last time I lived in Colombia for 6 years. I have lived in Colombia total 18 years since 1970. I a very happy to be back living in a civilized place like Florida. Sure I miss some things about Colombia but the bad outweighs the good. I speak fluent spanish & have been married to a Colombiana 43 years. Colombia is for a young man & I am 73 yrs. old.

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Arnenia, out of curiosity, did you keep your Medicare active the last time you moved to Colombia or did you have to pay a penalty to reinstate it when you went back?

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@elx

Thanks for the information!!! Great to hear from someone thats been there. Planning on starting in Santa Marta then going north and ending up in Cabo de la Vela certainly taking my time and not doing it all in two or three days as I have the time. I did consider flying into Riohacha and going from there as the trip looks very difficult. Just in the planning stage now but will travel probably in late August.

Great that you could go into the mountains sounds like you had a fantastic time!!!

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Regna.....no problema conmigo...eso fué mi pensamiento. Tranquilo. Buena Suerte. I actually agree with your post...it's the "trolls" who seem to want una lucha...every other day. Your posts are good.

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All cool conmigo tambien. This was a stupid thread, and I contributed to its stupidity. I've had my share of bad experiences with women back home, especially when it comes to them abusing drugs (both legal and otherwise), and I can sometimes be a bitter prick about it.

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