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Colombia: Can you drink the water in Colombia:
Hahaha........right.....organic iron but not pipescale.....just clog up your system..I drink the water here in upcountry Chiriqui, but its from a beautiful spring high in the mountains, but still requires filtering.......So my spring water here is double filtered and tastes great.....I cant drink the water in David cuz it reeks of chlorine.....Its just river water and then chlorinated and maybe even floridated....Hard to get that info.......But I would only drink it in emergencies....I always carry water with me....And all my trips to Colombia I drank filtered water bought cheaply in big plastic bags....Nobody drinks the tap water in Cartagena or Santa marta or at least I got that impression.......Same story on the coast in Ecuador. Almost everybody buys bottled filtered water.....very few places where you can really trust the water.....I would think in Manizales, Armenia, Salento you should have great springwater sources which would pose no threat but I would STILL want to filter it........Fasted way to attack a metro population would be thru its water sources..........How available are decent water filters on the Colombian market or should it be imported? Remember, there was an American General who not too long ago stated that the next major wars will be wars over water.........Cant overestimate the importance of it............
Colombia: TP7 Pension Visa:
@awalles........Is this the most cost effective residency visa available today in Colombia and how long is it good for until it must be renewed. And how much is the renewal? And when can it be upgraded to a more permanent residency visa? Thanks.......
Colombia: Barking Dogs:
Ohhhh noooooo.............So do you mean that there is no respite from barking dogs and crowing roosters in Colombia either? Tell me true.......is there neither respite from the horrible gut wrenching reggaeton here in Panama? So youre telling me that my quest for peace is not to be found anywhere in Colombia except maybe FARC controlled territory? I too have been driven out of several local barrios becuz of barking dogs and roosters.......But I can also tell you that a few of those rooster ended up in the pot of my workers for a nice sancocho...........and at least a few of the most pernicious out of control dogs were put out of our misery.........I as the only gringo in the barrio was blamed, but I swear it wasnt me...........I did play a supporting role tho...........The old school Panas dont like it either......and some of em believe it or not got some cajones...........So youre telling me I need to move into a gated community to find peace and a good nights sleep in Colombia? Even in the supposedly civilized eje cafetero? Well, sheeeeet..........I guess thats not gonna work either...........Maybe it makes more sense to just stay right where I am...........As soon as the hydroelectric company finishes installing their THIRD turbine, which should be any minute, thenoise factor should be slim to none once again...........just river and birds...............oh yeah, and the milk truck coming up the grade early am................
Panama: Thinking about going to Cuba:
Well said Sunset.........I am in agreement with you.........And I think it was better when I went to Cuba in the late 90s........I think it was a brief window of improvement..........And becuz of my Spanish I could talk to Cubans everywhere I went and I even met engineers who had lived and worked in Moscow....And they ALL wanted to know WHY the U:S. was punishing them so much...........Me too.......And they even tried to punish me when I went back to the States after that visit..........And you know, that at that time the older Cubans were so gratified to see an American visitor....They treated me with the utmost hospitality.....I really like Cuba....but I have to admit....I did get hungry, jajajaja.......and when I got back to Costa Rica, (who being the puppy dogs that they are dobbed me into the American customs ) I did as the old dude did, not quite but almost.......cuz I dont eat cheeseburgers....I am a bit more discriminating in my eating habits......but I ate like a horse........YOu can get very hungry in Cuba..........its true.............and now, back to my yellow fin tuna which is cooking on the stove here in upcountry Panama..........
Colombia: Thinking of moving to Colombia:
@Woahnellie.......Gobsmacked? You must be English.........I picked that word up from my English friend here in Panama......Dont remember having ever heard it before so I assume its an English creation.........good word tho......I use it now.......Yes, yur right! We can blame a lot of stuff on MOnsanto.......They are definately in the corporate crown of evil along with Halliburton, Carlysle Group, CocaCola, McDonalds and many more who seem to be intent on undermining the general health and well being of the public while enriching themselves......But in this particular case, it comes down to general education, knowledge, discipline and physical exercise.........These folks you are talking about in Den Co or Seattle for example as opposed to Tenneses or Mississippi, etc are no doubt more likely to be shopping at Trader Joes and going to the gym or out for some extreme sports than the average joes and janes in the deep south.............But they got soul down there, and lots of it............But no, Im gonna have to give Monsanto a break on this one.........despite the fact that I despise them and see them as part of the problem, not the solution.........
Colombia: Is Cali that crime ridden?:
Pretty much anywhere in Latin America, without any of the aforementioned vices......you can live very nicely.........Costa Rica could still be tuff.......In Cali, dont miss the zoo.......Its very nicely laid out.......and a great selection of animals.......and critters...........and do beware of central Cali after dark........make sure you carry something.......stun gun, pepper gas........at least something as an insurance policy.......Ive had close calls........but long time ago........
Ecuador: "The Great Guest Mentality!":
@Sin......Have you ever considered that maybe thats WHY it is the Valley of Longevity? Cuz there ARE no ChickenShacks around...........Howz about seafood? Can you get good seafood in Vilca? Un guacho con camarones quizas? Or is it just too far from the coast to be practical?
Ecuador: Kittens!:
Hey, I just wanted to say: CONGRADULATIONS for bringing the Ecuador forum back to being a complete and utter bore you silly Hilliary clone........If you work a little harder in your twisted Hebraic fashion maybe you can destroy the entire expatexchange forum.........Buen provecho Catgirl............
Colombia: yellow fever vax:
Does anybody know if the Colombian govt. is now requiring proof of a recent yellow fever vaccination before permitting entry into the country? Just heard about it on the Nicaragua forum......thanks........D.L.
Panama: Purchasing Property in Panama:
I built my house in the highlands of Boqueron in 2007-2008.....Thats right, crunchtime..........And got a 2% govt subsidized mortgage thru my lawyers connections........I already owned the land and had it titled before I started building.........But even then, cement cost me $6.70 or $7.00 a bag......never have I seen it at $4 and change........I wonder what you are talking about............I still buy it at $10 in some places, but normallly youre right, its about $11...........but steel went way up during the China boom and then came back down.....Cariolas are much the same as they were when I built 9.5 yrs ago......blocks are way more.......for whatever reason.....kinda like coconuts or pipas now........labor costs have definately gone up but are still not stupidly high.........Where I live you can hire good workers for $25.$30 a day with all the tools.........If theyre not too busy, cuz most of the good guys are very busy...............But the point is if you are careful and know your way around and stay out of Boquete, (jaja) you can still build a nice arty house for around $35,000 like the lady suggested............give or take............And you dont have to build with blocks....you can now use M3 or whatever its called.....and it snaps together real quick.............whatever you do, dont bring in a concrete truck.......they are rediculous.......better to rent a mixer and do it right there on job site.............I bought finish quality 3/4" ply for a loft today for $28 and change plus tax........not bad......all still doable..........That is NOT the problem here......The problem is buying land reasonable, and finding good help..........thankyou very much and I now turn you back over to your regular host...........
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