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Where ?

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SkyMan
  1/22/2020 14:30 EST

Please allow me to ask this question.
Those who post on this site...How many of you actually live here in Colombia ? If possible, please just answer Yes (or) No. Just wondering. Thanks in advance.
I'll answer first. Yes.

pascoa2013
  1/22/2020 14:38 EST

Yes I live here, in a pueblo outside of Santa Marta called Taganga. I appreciate all the tax intel on the site because even DIAN in SM didn't know.

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pascoa2013
  1/22/2020 14:38 EST

Yes I live here, in a pueblo outside of Santa Marta called Taganga. I appreciate all the tax intel on the site because even DIAN in SM didn't know.

LaPiranha
  1/22/2020 15:10 EST

Yes .... Bogota

Elexpatriado
  1/22/2020 16:28 EST

Yes Bucaramanga..in a series of locations

flgolfer50
  1/22/2020 16:31 EST

Yes

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Andresen
  1/22/2020 16:43 EST

Yes.

nonames
  1/22/2020 17:41 EST

Yepper! About thirteen Years, same place.

DallasSteve
  1/22/2020 18:24 EST

Sometimes.

Sorry. I don't do Yes or No. Right now I'm here. Later I may be there. Then, later still, I may be back here, if I don't die first.

Oh, right now here is Pereira (actually Dosquebradas).

tubes
  1/22/2020 18:37 EST

9 years, same place

fecherklyn
  1/22/2020 18:52 EST

YES, been here since 2002, but we are leaving in April this year for new pastures

Just like most things in life, we tend to see the bright side at the beginning, but eventually the less attractive attributes become evident.

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JustSomeGuy
  1/22/2020 19:10 EST

I’m here at the moment but for less than 183 days a year. I would say why but it is best not to open that can of worms.

CAtoMDE
  1/22/2020 20:34 EST

yes, 25 minutes outside medellin

saiid20
  1/22/2020 20:36 EST

YES

wannamove
  1/22/2020 21:41 EST

No

justme4641
  1/22/2020 21:52 EST

No, soon retiring to Bogota

Mikepcon
  1/22/2020 22:40 EST

yes

kumusta
  1/23/2020 01:09 EST

No looking to find a suitable place to live moving there in about 2 months.

kumusta
  1/23/2020 01:09 EST

No looking to find a suitable place to live moving there in about 2 months.

ponymalta2
  1/23/2020 03:10 EST

Yes but how much of year depends on work, and i spend month each year in Uk and southern europe

ponymalta2
  1/23/2020 03:19 EST

oops forgot, since 2004, outside medellin except in past worked in narino area.

Wildstubby
  1/23/2020 06:14 EST

No but married to a Colombiana

mattinnorfolk
  1/23/2020 07:55 EST

No, Just a constant visitor for 8 years, and looking to live there 6 months a year, beginning next year.

Paco23
  1/23/2020 08:10 EST

Yes

Paco23
  1/23/2020 08:12 EST

Tyrona is a fun little place. I got certified to dive at Tyrona Dive Center. I know a lot of hippies going through there now but still a cool little place.

canpandave
  1/23/2020 08:29 EST

Tough to answer yes or no, depends, how do you define living in Colombia? I share time .4 of the year in Colombia, .4 in Panama and .2 in Florida....I have my residence property and business in Colombia

PFleetwood
  1/23/2020 08:53 EST

No. Planning a trip to SA later in year. May spend more time in Bolivia as things seem to be calming down a bit.

What I wonder is how many of you that live in Colombia have actually run into each other, or have established a personal relationship?

mikedanbury
  1/23/2020 09:12 EST

Hi mattinnorfolk, weren't you considering Philippines too? Is that still a possibility or did Colombia win out?

ponymalta2
  1/23/2020 09:41 EST

PFleetwood

What are your impressions of Bolivia ? I visited there on business (and definitely prefer to do business there than Colombia) and found it intriguing place.

ponymalta2
  1/23/2020 09:41 EST

PFleetwood

What are your impressions of Bolivia ? I visited there on business (and definitely prefer to do business there than Colombia) and found it intriguing place.

SkyMan
  1/23/2020 09:45 EST

Muchísimas gracias todos ! Buena Suerte !

mattinnorfolk
  1/23/2020 11:35 EST

Yes Mike, and I did 3 weeks in Philippines in November, and totally loved it, the culture and women were amazing, but a 26 hour there, and 22 hour back flight. I may go there and try it for 6 months and see spots in Asia and use it as a base, but just too far for permanennt with kids and grandkids.

mikedanbury
  1/23/2020 11:37 EST

Anything you found much better there than in Colombia? If it was the same distance which would you choose?

mikedanbury
  1/23/2020 11:37 EST

Anything you found much better there than in Colombia? If it was the same distance which would you choose?

projectman
  1/23/2020 14:11 EST

Yes, Medellin

Blenheim
  1/23/2020 16:04 EST

Yes Bogota and south Texas ---- a permanent resident---

Better places to live--of course--the younger ones should explore all different country options----and cost of living--

Do not be preoccupied finding a foreign wife----some places have so many women who would want to be married in the first place-----however there are good women everywhere----even in the states--common sense should prevail and not only their looks in the end---

WhoaNellie
  1/23/2020 16:50 EST

"...not only their looks in the end..."

Some people like a big butt.

Vikingo
  1/23/2020 17:41 EST

Yes, since 2005, two of those early years in Panamá

Hinge
  1/23/2020 18:17 EST

Yes

PFleetwood
  1/23/2020 18:51 EST

It'll be first trip to Bolivia. Should be interesting! Especially now. The expat exchange thread for Bolivia is pretty dormant.
Maybe it's just me, but it seems weird to me all you folks that live in Medellin and post regularly haven't met at some point. Unless it just hasn't come up yet on the thread.

mattinnorfolk
  1/23/2020 20:03 EST

Philippines for sure!

JustSomeGuy
  1/23/2020 21:46 EST

I’ve never met anyone who posts here but I keep pepper spray handy just in case.

Some of the folks that live in Medellin have met. A lot of folks don’t live there.

ponymalta2
  1/24/2020 02:45 EST

PFleetwood

One thing to consider is altitude, Didn't bother me but I remember at hotel there was Oxygen machine in lobby and Japanese businessmen constantly rushing to it when they returned from outside- local advise drink local Mate constantly.

Americans have to pay special entry tax unless that has now been stopped. Downtown very safe in La Paz, and while limited shopping what is there very cheap.

SkyMan
  1/24/2020 09:45 EST

PF...Medellín Guru hosts monthly gatherings around Medellín and I've read that a lot of expats attend...although I have not ever been been attendance. Buena Suerte !

Elexpatriado
  1/24/2020 09:55 EST

Bolivia-La Paz and El Altoespescially - is pretty poor and an Indegenoius population mostly

Cochabamba looks like an interesting place but worse poluted than Medellin they say.

Santa Cruz is located down in the jungle and hot and humid.

It was the first outh American country I went to in 2000 and I liked it.

But then I am a Mochilero alpinista..not your typical retired old fart

Paco23
  1/25/2020 13:37 EST

I lived in La Paz for a few years if anyone has questions feel free to PM me. The tourist tax we used to pay at the airport is now rolled into the ticket price.

ponymalta2
  1/25/2020 17:49 EST

Paco23

I have only been there on business, what is it like to live in La Paz, is it expensive compared to Colombia ?

I never visited Paraguay which I understand has very good retiree residence rule,

PFleetwood
  1/25/2020 19:30 EST

I do get the Medellin guru newsletter.
I appreciate the comments about Bolivia. I live at about 5000 feet now and camp regularly at over 7000 but have never been as high as La Paz, almost 12000 feet! Should be interesting.
And La Paz is next door to Peru.

ponymalta2
  1/26/2020 02:29 EST

PFleetwood

Locals in Bolivia swear by drinking Mate during the day to deal with altitude etc. Mate there certainly tastes different than what I have tasted outside country.

Paco23
  1/26/2020 11:04 EST

@ponymalta I found La Paz to be cheaper than Colombia. We didn’t stay due to the government at the time. Now that Evo is gone we are considering a return once they get a government in place.

We thought it was a great place because we were able to afford a very good lifestyle while still experiencing the Latin culture but a fraction of the crime that Colombia has. Of course you better enjoy the mountains in La Paz and if you are a beach lover like I am then you will suffer in that aspect.

Altitude was a slight issue but one can acclimatize.

Paco23
  1/26/2020 11:11 EST

Mate de coca in Bolivia is made with coca leaves. You can go to the coca market and buy a kilo of leaves and chew it (like tobacco) or make your own tea. You are basically ingesting the alkaloids from the leaves just in a natural form and not concentrated. It also is not strong enough to be detected on a urinalysis if that is a concern. If you don’t want to buy and make your own from leaves the grocery stores and tiendas all sell it in tea bags.

dbarnwell
  1/27/2020 15:37 EST

Medellin Poblado.
Part of the year.

Vikingo
  1/28/2020 05:25 EST

For those of you who like to explore Southern Brazil there are a couple of authentic German cities somewhere between São Paulo and Porto Alegre that were founded by German settlers before WW I.
Look up Blumenau and Pomerode.
There is also a large German community in nearby (600km) Paraguay.

awalles
  1/28/2020 11:18 EST

yes

dalepues
  1/30/2020 04:01 EST

Part of the year, on a tourist visa. I’d like to make it at least six months annually but haven’t yet found the right place. I keep returning to Medellín....

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