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Manizales expats

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Tejano3
  6/14/2022 14:14 EST

Hola,

My wife and I moved to Manizales about six months ago. I'm a US citizen, she's a Colombiana, with US residency. We had been living in Northern Nevada, but decided it was time to get before it's too late. I have a Cedulla Extranjeria with M-Visa.

We've bought a very nice house east of the city about 15k, in a "Condiminio" gated and secured community.

I'm observing that there don't seem to be many US expats around here. That's actually OK with me, but surprised that it's gone so undiscovered as people move to the bigger cities, and the issues they pose.

I would welcome inquiries if anyone is curious about this area as a preferable option to the better known areas. I'm not in any sort of business, so this would be just because we all would like easy answers from time to time.

Meanwhile, my wife has discovered the Argentine Tango (something I fell into over 20 years ago), so we're slowly discovering a welcoming community there. I'm also in the process of trying to bring my small plane down to help our adventuresome natures. BTW, it may be a 7+ hour drive to Bogota, but in my tiny, and old airplane, its less than 40 minutes. How's that for a geology lesson?

I'd like to find people who enjoy playing bridge - particularly duplicate bridge. I see a club in Bogota, but nothing local.

I brought a couple of guitars if anyone would enjoy sorting out a few tunes for mutual amusement.

Lastly - once I get a few things ticked off the list, I'm going to explore bringing down a vintage Alfa Romeo. I know it can be done, but haven't walked through the details yet.

Cheers, y'all
Don

[email protected]

oop
  6/14/2022 15:57 EST

Howdy,
I too am interested in Manizales, so thanks for posting. My wife and I are planning to visit probably in February. I'll check in with you before we come to see whether you're still interested in providing some info.

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Tejano3
  6/14/2022 18:05 EST

Definitely stay in touch as your travel firms up.

Some of the things we faced:

Set up a bank account in advance.
Brought down our largish dog with questionable pedigree.
Obtained my M Visa.
Met with law firm to learn about aircraft temporary importation.
House shopping, and purchase.
Importation of sufficient cash to buy a house and car.
Telephones, electric, water and sewer, internet, condominium association fees.
Buying a car.
Hot springs routine.
Plumbers, yard maintenance, electrical maintenance, veterinarian, doctors, health insurance, house cleaning.
Mail forwarding.
Keeping your US bank happy.

It's all acceptably easy, but some of the same issues in the US pertain here as well.

james01nj
  6/15/2022 17:04 EST

Could you please explain more about pet transportation? We have a standard poodle, he weighs about 65lbs. Any information would be helpful. Thank you.

Tejano3
  6/15/2022 18:59 EST

We used "Latamtransport" Mariela Gherghi

They are based at the Bogota airport. Their job is handling the animal and paperwork once your dog arrives at the airport.

There are three stages:
Getting all the paperwork and prep organized before you're ready to ship.
Arranging the shipping and then executing the shipping.
The processing once your pet is in Bogota.

Each stage is bloody expensive and painful. Once we gave it ten seconds thought, we pressed forward. Amelia wasn't going to be left behind.

There are websites that tell you about the pre-ship preparation. A vet has to do a health inspection, PLUS send that info to the USDA digitally, who will then send back an official document that is required by Colombia. All of this must be done within a limited number of days before the pet ARRIVES at Bogota.

When we were making our plans, American Airlines was operating only Airbus equipment into Colombia. These are not equipped for pets. So, we began making shipment plans with a company that specializes in that. About a month before our departure date, AA shifted to Boeing equipment, which do haul pets as cargo. We made a reservation, but we could not confirm it until 10 days before the flight, because that is the window during which AA will not change equipment. We held our breath, but they stuck with Boeing.

AA no longer accepts pets as "checked baggage". They are now cargo. I forget the price, but think it was around $1,500-$2,000 total. Plus approved shipping kennel.

Latamtransport charged, IIRC, about $1,500 to handle the pet through customs.

PAY IT. NO QUESTIONS, JUST DO IT.

Colombia, like some countries and US states, has a list of breeds they will not accept. To be less clear, they will not accept a dog whose "dominant breed" is XY or Z. What determines "dominant"? The vet doing your export examination.

For all I know a huge poodle is one of the restricted breeds.

A) Find out what is on the list
B) Have your vet use another breed as "dominant"
C) Pay Latamtransport to handle it.

Our aging female still gives me the stinkeye about having to travel in cargo for a couple of long flights.

We had tickets to arrive early on January 1, 2022. Turns out New Years was a holiday for customs, so no pets. Day before or after? Nope, still a holiday. Two days before or after? Nope. Holiday.

So, we left Amelia with my niece in Dallas who got her to the cargo people at AA on the January 3, and off she went to join us, on the 4th.

Be alert for no-customs holidays before you book your flights.

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