Where you should and shouldn't go in Columbia

The country is spelled Colombia, not Columbia. Aside quoting old news, I don't see anywhere in the article where I should or should not go.

Believe it or not, the authors of these articles don't write the headlines. I contacted one author long ago and she explained that to me - and, you can see that within the article it's spelled correctly.
Colombia ROCKS! I love going there and I'll take a bus anywhere.
It's time to stop all the media driven fear-mongering about travel in Colombia. I wish these so-called "authors" would take a trip to Colombia and see what a beautiful place it is. Colombia es Pasion!

I've been to Colombia several times and I feel completely safe there. The people are wonderful. The cities are beautiful.

I think the United States government could / should write travel warnings for THE UNITED STATES! Gang violence, shotings, DRUGS HERE THAT DO NOT COME FROM COLOMBIA! In truth, I feel safer in Colombia than I do here in the United States. When I retire, I will retire to Colombia.

GLD wrote:

I've been to Colombia several times and I feel completely safe there. The people are wonderful. The cities are beautiful.
I think the United States government could / should write travel warnings for THE UNITED STATES! Gang violence, shotings, DRUGS HERE THAT DO NOT COME FROM COLOMBIA! In truth, I feel safer in Colombia than I do here in the United States. When I retire, I will retire to Colombia.

I'd like to retire there, too. I plan to travel there in 2009, most likely in late spring or early summer. GLD: You're right. Our government should write travel warnings for many places in this country. The warnings should start with Newark, LA, Detroit, DC, Jersey City, and New Orleans.

I'm flying to Bogota for the first time ever in Janurary via JetBlue. This article is a joke. Do any amount of research and you'll see that present day Colombia is nothing like it was 30 years ago.

Would all these new airlines add Colombia flights if it was not safe?? Maybe they should be talking about Venezuela and their nutty American-hating President. That is one place I would not visit right now.
Viva Colombia!

I have visited Colombia on a regular basis for 7 years. I have travelled the length and breadth of the country by plane, M/cycle and bus without a problem.
I did once have my pocket picked by a women in Medellin but realised 5 seconds to late. I feel safer here than in England let alone the USA.
The military are fantastic although like police everywhere on this planet you cannot expect much from them.
The president... Uribe is great. He has done a great deal for the country.
i have travelled to more than 90 countries so feel qualified to speak.
The people are friendly. The terrain awesome and the greenary breathtaking. In Medellin (The city of flowers) a short drive can take you from Jungle to pine forests.
Go to Colombia you will not regret it.

Mike wrote:

<quoted text>
I'd like to retire there, too. I plan to travel there in 2009, most likely in late spring or early summer. GLD: You're right. Our government should write travel warnings for many places in this country. The warnings should start with Newark, LA, Detroit, DC, Jersey City, and New Orleans.

Well you better hurry and buy your retirement home because the prices are increasing by the day. They were cheaper 4 years ago when I bought mine when the dollar was strong like it is today. The rules on money transfers have also changedso good luck.

I have been traveling to and from Bogota for 20 years and it was a far different city than it is today. Today it is clean with better public transportation, E-85 cars an trucks and SAFE. Petty crime is prevalent but that can be said anywhere. Just don't act like a tourist.

My favorite thing about the country is the people are the nicest and most polite I have met in my entire life. Additionally the supermarkets are as large as any in the USA with every thing FRESH instead of canned, vacuum packed, hermetically sealed, vitamen enhanced or dyed to color upon arrival. FOOD ACTUALLY HAS TASTE!

Bogota is one of the best kept secrets in the southern hemisphere with an arts program to rival those in both NY and Moscow. Worth the visit.

hey i wana go there too i wana travel but my mom always scares me into not going. now i'm afraid to travel to forgien places cuz im from (usa). but i want to get to know diffrents places before i kick the bucket i live in newyork and everyday it gets worst here with people getting robbed and killed for no reason so i believe no were is safe right about now.

to cute for u wrote:

hey i wana go there too i wana travel but my mom always scares me into not going. now i'm afraid to travel to forgien places cuz im from (usa). but i want to get to know diffrents places before i kick the bucket i live in newyork and everyday it gets worst here with people getting robbed and killed for no reason so i believe no were is safe right about now.

Get a PASSPORT {if you are old enough}– I never had to ask my mom -- not even when I was drafted in 1968 to see the world during my senior trip from a foxhole in VN – the view was special.

Join the military or get an education that will allow you to get a very good job that can pay for your travels, travesties and travails.

Guy wrote:

I'm flying to Bogota for the first time ever in Janurary via JetBlue. This article is a joke. Do any amount of research and you'll see that present day Colombia is nothing like it was 30 years ago.
Would all these new airlines add Colombia flights if it was not safe?? Maybe they should be talking about Venezuela and their nutty American-hating President. That is one place I would not visit right now.
Viva Colombia!

I agree with you, Guy!

Start by spelling Colombia correct if you are going to make travel recommendations.

A site for lovers of Colombia:

http://www.colamigos.com

Barranquilla, Colombia is a beautiful place. Alot of nice people and things to do. This article is a joke. Do any amount of research and you'll see that present day Colombia is nothing like it was 30 years ago.
Sure you have your crime just like in any other city but you should know not to wear flashy clothes and flash money or jewelry around at night past 10pm in an undesireable neighborhood.
Been to Colombia many times with no problems at all. As long as you know what the laws are and do not bring in any weapons or drugs your good to go!
Take time to learn their customs and culture and find out what this counrty is really about! Don't just go by old research and based your thoughts that this is a country to stay away from.
Hell, I went to see what is was like and ended up marrying a special woman who is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.
Viva Colombia!

RAFAEL wrote:

Barranquilla, Colombia is a beautiful place. Alot of nice people and things to do. This article is a joke. Do any amount of research and you'll see that present day Colombia is nothing like it was 30 years ago.
Sure you have your crime just like in any other city but you should know not to wear flashy clothes and flash money or jewelry around at night past 10pm in an undesireable neighborhood.
Been to Colombia many times with no problems at all. As long as you know what the laws are and do not bring in any weapons or drugs your good to go!
Take time to learn their customs and culture and find out what this counrty is really about! Don't just go by old research and based your thoughts that this is a country to stay away from.
Hell, I went to see what is was like and ended up marrying a special woman who is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.
Viva Colombia!

Do not bring a "CUE" stick either they will confiscate it at the airport in Bogota.:) They have a big sign telling you that as you exit the airplane. Unfortunately I never have seen ANYTHING published anywhere that warns travelers of that information.

Bogota certainly has changed for the better through the years. I have been married 17 years to a beutiful lady from Colombia also. She is a doctor now in the USA in the medical feild and allowed me to retire early from AT&T. We have our home in Bogota waiting for us when she becomes sick of the day to day toil for money.

They have something against billiards? I've seen pool halls in Bogota so this is weird.

Post a message about this at www.colamigos.com

MDP wrote:

They have something against billiards? I've seen pool halls in Bogota so this is weird.
Post a message about this at www.colamigos.com

Nope, just the cue sticks apparently as you enter the airport. It must be a weapon thing or something best I can tell because they even have a sign up about it.

I was bringing, a made in America "ADAMS CUSTOM CUE", a very popular and expensive 3 cushion stick with a case for a friend. It was confiscated at the airport when they checked my bags without explanation upon entering the country. Fortunately for my friend he was well connected politically and went to the airport to retrieve it.

Billiard halls are everywhere where aguardiante flows freely while playing chico, tres bandis and their version of pocket pool games -- hit the object ball hard and hope something falls.

I've never seen that sign, but I'll check it out on the next trip. On of my brother's cues is actually a cane that reassembles into a cue. Just like the one on the left here:

http://www.walkingequipment.com/poolstick.htm

The difference is the chalk holder on his actually has a dome-shaped black rubber bumper to be used during play, instead of resting the brass cap on the ground. The walking tip unscrews and goes in your pocket when the cue is assembled.

MDP wrote:

I've never seen that sign, but I'll check it out on the next trip. On of my brother's cues is actually a cane that reassembles into a cue. Just like the one on the left here:
http://www.walkingequipment.com/poolstick.htm
The difference is the chalk holder on his actually has a dome-shaped black rubber bumper to be used during play, instead of resting the brass cap on the ground. The walking tip unscrews and goes in your pocket when the cue is assembled.

Last time I saw the sign was last year but the experience was two years ago.

I getting old have seen that cane and similar ones and often thought of getting one as protection or convenience while in Colombia. Thanks I may buy one myself, it is XMAS you know and saved the link.

It won't replace the Schon cues I have now but it would be far better than the typical bent, no tip sticks located in the typical billiard halls in Colombia. Carrying your own cue around is like wearing too much jewelry in certain parts of Bogota. Tell your brother “MASTERS CHALK” is a great inexpensive gift to break the ice at any billiard hall in that part of the world –it is difficult to get.

I looked at “Colamigos” no offense but I see the same Americans dominating each forum telling everyone else they are idiots and know nothing about Colombia because they do not live there. It is why I never posted more than 3 or 4 times on PBH or ColombianBlog. I do read them from time to time and do thank you for the new link.

http://www.schoncues.com/

Thanks for the link! The true spirit of the Internet - sharing info. I like it.

The difference between Colamigos and the other sites is that Colamigos is a true social networking site for people who loe Colombia and allows users a personal and customizable space where they can upload music, photos, video, even photos and video directly to the site from a cell phone - there are a lot of features, really.

I agree, there aren't enough Colombians as members yet but that'll change as the word spreads. Nobody calls anyone an "idiot" though, there are no personal attacks allowed. The rules are quite clear.

There are two guys who both live in Bogota who are at each other about who's right and who's wrong but at least they both live there as ex-pat's, rather than ugly American's bickering about something they really know nothing about. That's the deal on those other sites, that are just forums rather than true social networking sites.

Thanks again for the link and info - going to look now and maybe the next time I'm at my brother's house I'll beat him on his own table ;P (not easy)

MDP wrote:

Thanks for the link! The true spirit of the Internet - sharing info. I like it.
The difference between Colamigos and the other sites is that Colamigos is a true social networking site for people who loe Colombia and allows users a personal and customizable space where they can upload music, photos, video, even photos and video directly to the site from a cell phone - there are a lot of features, really.
I agree, there aren't enough Colombians as members yet but that'll change as the word spreads. Nobody calls anyone an "idiot" though, there are no personal attacks allowed. The rules are quite clear.
There are two guys who both live in Bogota who are at each other about who's right and who's wrong but at least they both live there as ex-pat's, rather than ugly American's bickering about something they really know nothing about. That's the deal on those other sites, that are just forums rather than true social networking sites.
Thanks again for the link and info - going to look now and maybe the next time I'm at my brother's house I'll beat him on his own table ;P (not easy)

I know which two expats you are referring. The one that like to use the F%$K word in excess is real special in his commentary and seems to be having a problem or too trusting people of late in Colombia. It appears to me his biggest problem is cultural stupidity but that is just a personal observation.

I'll check it out again and if you see me it will probabaly be as "TIOJOE".

A little trick to beat your brother at billiards -- spit on the tip stick when you get the chance. It is always good for a few miscues and and extra turn or two at the table for you -- Have Fun.:)