Nobody Cares, Nobody Believes so what is the point in trying to educate? Thinking of visiting Colombia read this thread first then visit.

[Don Gringo]

The thing is I have experienced sides to Colombia most of you will not. I have tried to educate which is something important to me. I care about people, when I see them enter traps and beleive things that get them in trouble I see how uterly stupid and waistful that is.

I know though that people don't want to learn, they don't want to beleive they just are happy beleiving what they have in their head, defending it right or wrong and living out the catsrophy that follows.

For me I have put myself at risk. Don Gringo, Gringoinbogota has become something that I did not intend here in Colombia. Something dangerous to me and to my family. The truth spoken by anyone is a danger however you try to do it. There is no room for truth here.

When I lived in Italy I asked about some corruption that I saw going on. It was very clear that the mafia or someone was acting on a certain project. I was ask "What mafia?" That is the best way to deal with Colombia. Keep it all nice and fluffy and light and not make any waves.

So that is what I am going to try and do. I tis simly not worth it to try and educate. It also is certainly not valued so why do it? That is my question? I am taking down the posts where i shared personal infomration. It was in an effort to help. You can not trust Colombians like you can trust other people around the world.

They are an envies, jealous back stabbing, unloyal lot in general. There problems they have as a nation, the corruption, the poverty the murders and the drugs all reflect this. If you want to ignore it fine? I don't.

If you can find people here that are not this way, who will not throw you to the lions, people of character? Well then make them your friends. Good luck since they are far and few between. That is simply what I have discovered after over 6 years of living here. Dissapointment in people followed by dissapointment. I have been in 13 different countries, never have I know people like this. Live a superficial life, don't expect anything from anyone and you will enjoy your time in Colombia. I am growing rather tired of superficial relations and the games you have to play to survive.

So Colombia is to be experienced part time. You can come here and staya while and bask in the niceties that on superficial levels are very welcoming and then go back to the US or wherever your from to live the real. This is my decision and is how I am going to live from here out. My ticket to the US is purchased, my plan is in place. I will maintain both residences, it is up to you to decide how you wnat to manage Colombia. If you are smart you will listen to people who have spent enough time here to see through it. I hope I have helped in that.

If your smart you will live as the Colombian people who have the means live. That is they do not spend all their time in the "paradise" that is Colombia. They don't respect or understand why anyone with the means would even choose to do that. Frankly I don't anymore either, I am tired of being seen as strange for wanting to live here. Oh yes they are flattered but really they don't understand it. If given the choice they would live somewhere else. The perfect form of this would be able to live in both, someplace else and Colombia.

I miss Waffle House, Chinese Buffett, Seafood Buffett, Good Sushi, BBQ. Being able to trust that anyone servicing you is looking out for your best interest. Being able to trust in the individual, the system (to a point) Not having to worry if you do this business or that you will attract negative attention. Not having to worry if you upset someoen that they will have you killed. Not have to worry about people who have develeped a street smart way of using and consuming friends and relationships in order to survive.

[Don Gringo]

That is a great house David. You want to see what you can buy here in Bogota for 500K as far as a house? I am going to post it. JAJA Too funny! For 90K omg!

But those houses I don't think I would live in. But still that is pretty cheap. The problem I see from a realestate perspective on thos ehouses is that they are being bought up for rental properties and the whole neighborhood goes to shit. Along with your property values. Now I saw some over there for 220K that I might be interested in? Which to me is so nice as I sold my house at the hight of the hype. Now it must feel really good to be a buyer in this market. You can really talk trash. No one is going to say to me. "Realestate prices are going to continue to go up!" I ask why? There answer was; "Because they always have." Then a history lesson follows. Oh boy am I glad I sold.

[Don Gringo]

You will find out if you ever come and live here full time, I hope you do not do that. I am not alone in this. I know plenty of people who once they decided to move back everything changed for them. When you are going and comming it is different. I have heard this from plenty of people so I am pretty sure of it. Colombians not gringos, Colombians who have lived in the US and come back have the same issues. Beleive me I know a lot of people, it is far from my opinion alone.

So I am really not writing for my personal expereince only, although it sure rings true. It is things you have to constantly dance around with the Colombian. It just gets old after a while. But if you want to beleive it is just me? that is fine with me and all I can say is. You will find out for yourself. jaja I really hope you don't do that. I hope that you continue living Colombia the way you are. I think it is the smartest way to experience it. I really do, I hope you will not wish for it to be different. I hope that you will just enjoy it the way you are seeing it now. I am joining you in that method happily.

[David Barkley]

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Orlando_FL/beds-3/...

I changed the criteria slightly , to only show newer homes $90k, take a look now, could you get something like these in Bogota, jajaja. These look pretty nice, and you get all amenities of Orlando area. Also 45min to Coco Beach, 90min to Tampa beaches.

$220k , is overkill, in this environment, yes you get something great, but you are not taking full advantage of the current situation. $140-160k is the max, should get you a $280-340k type home. $90k nows gets you a 180-260k type home.
$220k over kill in today's market.

DG, tells us how many of your friends in Bogota would go for the $90k deals? what could get in Bogota for that?
jajaja , those JetBlue tickets oneway BOG to ORL, may go up.

[Don Gringo]

I fly for free so that is cool! jaja But yea man I am living in a house right now for sale for 500K dollars! It won't sell for that in this market today. What I see is the little models going up to sell the construction site which needs to sell what 80% before construction? What I see is them getting abandoned in my area as they are not able to sell the minimum.

But yes those look pretty nice to me. Priced about right for that market too I would think. Since a lot of retirement funds went poof I think Florida will be on sale for a while. ;)

[David Barkley]

DG, the question is, how many Colombians you know, would want to move to Orlando and live in one of those $90k homes. What %, would do the switch? How many would , do you think , would do the switch , if they had the VISA?

[Don Gringo]

How many would say they would do it? How many would actually do it. jaja Two different numbers. It seems to me these years living here that there are three catagories of Colombians

The smallest being those who want to stay in Colombia.

The largest being those that want to go.

Then split that into two groups. One group about 30% that will openly admit they want to go. The other 70% who would jump at any real chance to do it. This represents about 80% of the people I know. I know a lot of people BTW. So about 20% would stay and 80% would go just with visa and no house.

If this house went with the deal and a visa? Shit I don't know anyone that would not take it.

Of course this is unscientific but I get an ear full just about every day from someone talking about relatives in the states, questions on how to get a visa, how to go, bla bla. But I am sure that they talk to me like this because I am here permanently. When I was first here all I heard was how happy everyone was to be in Colombia. Funny how much bullshit that was. I live here but then I know the other options. Colombians who know nothing but Colombia paint a very grass is greener picture of the US or Europe.

Let me just say this that I know for sure. I don't trust anyone that tells me that they would not live their life somewhere else if given the chance. To a forigner Colombia is very different and interesting, keeps me here. Or at least it did. What most Colombians tell me is that they are just bored here.

[Don Gringo]

badabing

Live rates at 2009.06.23 17:03:54 UTC
1.00 USD = 2,157.50 COP
United States Dollars Colombia Pesos
1 USD = 2,157.50 COP 1 COP = 0.000463499 USD

[jonny jones]

you fellows are WRONG if given a chance just about every colombian in colombia would not walk but RUN OUT OF THERE and I don't blame them one bit

[jonny jones]

if given a chance just about every colombiana would marry a gringo to get the hell out of there, no matter if the gringo is 60 years older

[Don Gringo]

I don't think just about every Colombiana but certainly every one that you find in an agency or on the internet would do it if he had money. In a heart beat. Most probably would do it even if he did not have money for the visa.