Pereira, Cali the frontier, Tulcan

[dennislevy]

The long and the short of it is I ve left Colombia...Ive hit the road and gone.....I m amost positive , I ll come back to Colombia...but i want to take a VERY GOOD look ar Equador and Peru.

Let me make some general comments about Colombia. Anyone who has read my posts knows how I feel about this incredible counry. I not only admire the women, I love the country and I ve seen a lot it...especially  when was on the road in Colombia for the last seven months with the exception of a short three days in Equador.

I met 224 different women beginning in mid Janaury 2008, for coffee (just coffee!, lunch dinners and more
I fell in love with three of the women and about 10 or 12 of the 224 got under my skin.....to the point that I thought seriously about a future with them.  My best friend in Colombiai is my ex novia in Medellin, a smart classy and trustworthy woman and we still chat every day.

I would encourage any reasonable man to come to Colombia. 

During my last week in Colombia, in Medellin,Pereria and Cali....stuff happened that made me decide to give Colombia a rest...

None of it was earth shaking or bad.....it just reminded me that maybe it was time to get some perspective. In Medellin in Poblado metro station, I saw an old girlfriend affectionately  close to a very obvious gringo. Was that you, goinfor it? Are you a big tall guy, maybe 6 4, at least 260 with blond hair and a goatee and glasses? jejeje 

I just nodded to the girl, whoever the guy was, I wasn t going to interfere.....I had had my chance with her...and she is a very good lady.....and it had been 9 months or so, since we had been together. That the relationshp with ended was my fault,

I was in waiting in the station for a date who didnt show and when I called, I got the my mom fell on her knee and we had to rush to the emergency room. excuse 

Uh...huh.....

Two days later , I left a woman crying at the bus station in Periera. we had been together 2 days in my last trip to Pereria and I went through Pereira to see her one last time....... I like her a lot... but not enough to stay put and  that s on me 

A day later in Cali, I had a woman from cupido cancel a first date...with my mom had an accident and we had to rush to the emergency room.

Uh...huh

Colombian women blow you off for first dates with silly exuses for one of several reasons
1. They were never interested in the first place...but couldnt say no
2. They were too disorganized to get ready for the date in time
3. They were terrified to meet a stranger......so they crap out,.

And after three years in Colombia...I was still hearing the same lame BS excuses. Its the culture!"

My last official first date  in Colombia was in Cali on the night of the 30th, the same day as the canceled date.
A drop dead  gorgeous  woman in her early 40s, speaks quite good English, which I dont need,  but its nice .....She lives in a town outside of Cali so she took the bus into Cali to meet me. I lmost  always use the pizza restaurant of the Interncontinetal for first dates in Cali. When I heard the story it reminded me of so many first dates in Bogota.

she was two years out of a live in relationship with a Colombian...that lasted 8 years and before that she had had a 5 year relationship with a gringo who visited frequently...but then he ...DIED. so 13 years in relatonships and she didnt get the door prize. She told me that she lived with her mom, and a brother andshe was dedicated to her 14 year odl nephew who she considered as a son.....and she was at a stage in her life when she wasn t thinking about a boyfriend.

And I asked why did you agree to meet me= And she said very directly,you were the most interesting man on Cupido that I had seen in a long time.

I was gentlemanly and direct with her.....I told her if she didnt want to die an old maid, she was going to have to forget the past and try again....

Thank ya vera much...so no door prizes for me and 48,000 pesos.

BUT  I have a good referral for a hotel in Cali!  Hotel Pension de Oueste about 5 minutes by taxi from the Interocntiental...I had an enoromous room, (Number 3) and an Ameriican brekfast for 58,300 pesos...a very good value. It wasn t  the Hiton...but it was asmall hotel, quiet and comfortable, with a huge bed, the kind of hotel I like

Yesterday morning I got on a 7.30 AM bus from Cali to Ipiales, 12 hours later I was in Ipiales  and I crossed the border at Rumichaca last night.

Today I m  in Tulcan... My hotel  room is 10 dollars a nighht WITH Hot water,  I had breakfast for 2 bucks and a terriific Chinese lunch..shrimp and curry, vegetables and white rice and a Coke for 5.75  including tip.  It feels a bit strange to carry American money around again!

I think my next stop will be Ibarra in Equador. bus fare works out to a dollar an hour.....so from Tulcan to Quito, 5 hours, $5.00.

And, NO I  havent had any dates in Equador..yet!

Vayan con Dios caballeros
Dennis   

[goinforit]

Hey Dennis sorry I missed you for drinks last week.  As for the metro gringo.... Not me! I wish I was 6'4 must be another lone gringo running around town   Anyway good luck in your search and be safe:)

Ryan

[utopiacowboy]

Even after having read your explanation I am still not sure why you left Colombia.

[fathertime]

boy o boy it sounds like a lot of drama for you recently, but 242 is a good number of dates so why not try out another country...i guess there is no paperwork necessary for you to fill out as you move from country to country, it is just a simple border crossing...actually how does that work do they ask you any questions or search you as you go into another country? sounds like you are going to have another adventure dennislevy! maybe you can link up with singlefather in peru, if he is still there!


Fathertime!

[dennislevy]

UC et al.

In  the last seven months, i learned something very important about myself.

I m a gypsy, I like the road.

I lived in Bogota for 21 months, and in Medellin for 8 months...and once I got on the road, or Life on the lam  I loved the life. I havent seen everything in Colombia...but I ve seen a lot.....probably more then almost all foreigners. .

In the last seven months ONLY the last 7 months I was in Apartado and Medellin in Antioqua, Bogota and Chia and Giradot in Cundinamarca,  Monteria and Ayapel:Lorica and Plameta Rica  in Cordoba,  Puerto Colombia Santa Veronica and Baranquilla in Atlantico, Cartagena in Bolivar, Rodadero and Santa Marta in Magdalena, Valledupar in Cesar  Riohacha, Cabo de Vella  and Macaio en la Guajira,  Bucamaranga in Santander  Cucuta in Norte Santander, Cali, Buga, Palmira  Tulua, Cartago, Yumbo in Valle de Cauca ,  Choco..... and Tumaco,   Siogomoso in Boyaca Armenia, Pereria and Manizles in the coffee region   I think  i ve got most of it. but i idnt post about  all of my expeiences!

I am a compare and contrast type of guy.

I know Equador  is WAY cheaper then Colombia....but is it  better? 

Klltboy and some other people seem to think so.....I want to find out for rmyself.

Atr Pervian women better then Colombian women. So,e guys think so.......
but i want to gind out for myself.

And thats how I love my life.....I go and find out for myself...assuming it isn t dangerous or illegal.

And I can always come back to Colombia!.

[Micky]

Dennis,  good luck and stay safe.  I sent emails with foto to all Colombia border crossings,  I do not think you will be coming back.  Hey,  it's for your own good.  If things do get a little bumpy,  you can become SFNMs' wingman,  just tell us where to send the plata.  Do keep us posted on the journey.
 
Micky
 

[dennislevy]

FT

I dont know if it was a typo or your e jsut padding the total, as usual......! jejejeje ...but its 224 

It is a simple border crossing without paperwork, get the passport stamped on the Colombian side, walk over to Equador and get your passport stamped in their  immigration building 

My  luggage  was searched the last time I left Colombia, that was in January 2011 at the same frontier crossing  Two  Colombian anarco cops walked me over to a small building  on the Colombian side just in front of the frontierr bridge at Rumichaca....and before they started, I just said....gentlemen, please  do your job...All you re going to  find is dirty laundry....

And that is all they found, NO WAY would I EVER carry in a country or corss  a frontier with drugs or conntraband...No WAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

They were completley thorough and professional....actually replaced all the stuff they took out of my bags and said to me muy amable, señor.

Only once ihave I been asked questions.

In  Baranquilla when i went to a DAS office...they guy asked me...Señor, do you know that loudmouthed gringo, Señor C.................the one who looks like Unclle Fester from the Addams Family?   

Well, I fessed up and I said................. not exactly...but I know who he is and let me tell you...Im not that impressed with him .

And he answered...

neither were we...

JEJEJE. And that s your payback for the last 5 times you ve teased me....

No, no one has ever asked me any questions. 

Good night!

[maritime04]

i will actually miss your reports on colombia but look forward to hearing your perspective on life in other latin countires.
 

"None of it was earth shaking or bad.....it just reminded me that maybe it was time to get some perspective. In Medellin in Poblado metro station, I saw an old girlfriend affectionately  close to a very obvious gringo. Was that you, goinfor it? Are you a big tall guy, maybe 6 4, at least 260 with blond hair and a goatee and glasses? jejeje 

I just nodded to the girl, whoever the guy was, I wasn t going to interfere.....I had had my chance with her...and she is a very good lady.....and it had been 9 months or so, since we had been together. That the relationshp with ended was my fault,"

What were your thoughts on that, were you suprised she continued dating "gringos" or just how small the city can be that you run into people you have dated? allot of times i will run into women i have dated, or had encounters with, especially when you consider that "gringos" pretty much only stay in poblado for everything, you would have to assume youll run into a girl you dated in the past.
 

Two days later , I left a woman crying at the bus station in Periera. we had been together 2 days in my last trip to Pereria and I went through Pereira to see her one last time....... I like her a lot... but not enough to stay put and  that s on me 

two day's and already crying....
 
have to agree with your views on the lame excuses, it was getting a little old to have girls give you there number make a date with you then cancel or no show with a lame excuse, lots of wasted time. more so when it happens after date number 3, with no reason. it is very much the culture here

[dennislevy]

Medellin can be a very small cty for gringos! For some as I ve posted.....THEIR Medellin is walking between Bagels and Brunch, Juan Valdez, Cafe le Bon and maybe Il Fornio all within 4 or 5 blocks of each other in Parque Lleras.

I ve been at all those  places, think highly of Bagels and Brunch and Il Fornio .....but when I lived in Medellin, I lived in Veledromo...6 blocks from Estacion Floresta and I almost never saw gringos!

As for the girl....she is a lovely 50 year old woman....and since I bailed out of the relationship 8 months ago..... she was entitled to move on......I emailed her the day after, I saw her at Poblado Station, wished her success and happiness  and apologized for my part in ending the relationship. I dont expect to get an answer and havent received one. 

[maritime04]

did not mean to be nosy just wondering. As i have had that happen to me, as my current girl is VERY jealous i am glad most of the ex-women in my life just walk by with out saying anything, however a few have sent e-mails a day or two after.
 
Honestly in the past 6 months i have barely visted "parque lleras", as my girl and me and new to cooking we enjoy trying to create new meals. and there has been a explosion of "gringos" and local brats, and colombians that has given the place a south beach vibe that i do not look; funny becuase in 2005-2009 i was always haning out there, before juan valdez.
 
We probly have met alot of the same people, but i always tried to keep a low profile, and do my own thing.

[fathertime]

FT

I dont know if it was a typo or your e jsut padding the total, as usual......! jejejeje ...but its 224 

It is a simple border crossing without paperwork, get the passport stamped on the Colombian side, walk over to Equador and get your passport stamped in their  immigration building 

My  luggage  was searched the last time I left Colombia, that was in January 2011 at the same frontier crossing  Two  Colombian anarco cops walked me over to a small building  on the Colombian side just in front of the frontierr bridge at Rumichaca....and before they started, I just said....gentlemen, please  do your job...All you re going to  find is dirty laundry....

And that is all they found, NO WAY would I EVER carry in a country or corss  a frontier with drugs or conntraband...No WAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

They were completley thorough and professional....actually replaced all the stuff they took out of my bags and said to me muy amable, señor.

Only once ihave I been asked questions.

In  Baranquilla when i went to a DAS office...they guy asked me...Señor, do you know that loudmouthed gringo, Señor C.................the one who looks like Unclle Fester from the Addams Family?   

Well, I fessed up and I said................. not exactly...but I know who he is and let me tell you...Im not that impressed with him .

And he answered...

neither were we...

JEJEJE. And that s your payback for the last 5 times you ve teased me....

No, no one has ever asked me any questions. 

Good night!

heheh! my number inflation was intentional dennislevy, but I don't look like uncle fester anymore! jajaja

Fathertime!

[benjio]

Dennis,
 
Good luck on your travels outside of Colombia and please stay safe.
 
Lamentablemente nunca teníamos la oportunidad de tomar un tinto juntos, pero creo que te volverás al paraíso nuevamente algún día muy pronto. Suerte compadre.

[dennislevy]

benjio

gracias amigo mio!  no tengas dudas...nos tomaremos cafe juntos. 

Todo seran en los manos de Dios! jejejeje!

Dennis