7 days and counting

[goinforit]

Hi guy 7 days till the first trip to colombia, I am headed to medellin.  Just wanted to thank all the boards for great info and advise. Trip report to come

[Researcher]

      That's great goinforit! Have a great time and as far as the trip report we'll be "waitinforit"! hehehe....


      Researcher

[Micky]

GFT -
If you want to PM me,  I can meet you,  show you the lay of the land,  whatever you care for.  Of course not for money,  just an old burnt out gringo helping another fellow out.  Let me know what you need in that way.  I like doing it,  gets me out of the house.  Is this your first time here?  When I first came here,  I was counting the hours,  great feeling it is!!!!!!!!
Micky

[benjio]

HELL YEAH MAN!!! Have a ball!!! Welcome to the club!!!...only way out is death. Not that anyone ever wants to leave. LMAO!!!

[jb]

May the Sun always shine upon your face,
the wind always upon your back,
and may you find not only what your heart desires, but also what you need for journey!

blessings upon you.

[goinforit]

Thanks for all the support, looking forward to this trip. The butterfly is starting to kick in.

4 days wow time flies.

R

[Researcher]

  Butterflies?? Just relax and get ready to change the way you think about dating.This is a whole new dating opportunity for you. A good one at that!

      Researcher

[goinforit]

Well guys 6 days in Medellin and wow great city is all I can say.  I plan to post a detail update later but was wondering if anybody is currently in the city and up for some drinks?

r

[dennislevy]

goin for it..
 
Im in MedlliN have a date at 7.00 PM but Im free before then
dennsiianlevy@yahoo.com send me a phoennumber

[goinforit]

  Well, I am back in the usa now as of last night.  Great trip overall.  Medellin is a great city just be pre-paired for the rain.  The eye candy is amazing;
 
I choose to stay at the Dann Carlton in Pablado very nice hotel.  There is park next door to the Dann and people working out in the mornings and through the day.   
 
I had no problems walking around during the day but took taxies at night to be extra safe.
 
Great location within walking distance to zone rose for dinner and nightlife.  Overall I felt safe in this area. 
 
I meet up with Micky from the board and another expat JC for some drinks.  Great to meet you guys and be thanks for showing the newbie the ropes of Medellin.   
 
This was my first trip to Colombia and I will go back. This was a vacation for me as well at meeting girls to explore my options.  I think Medellin is great for a few days but 8 was a little much for me as I prefer the ocean and beach for a vacation. 
 
The girls are amazing and treat you like a king if given respect.  I have never been treated so good by women.  This would never happen in the USA.  The malls are very nice and a great place to relax and hang out.  The metro was easy to get around the city and explore. 
 
Now for the high light of my trip the return home.  I arrive at the airport 2 hours early.  I would recommend no less than 2 hours.   I get my exit pass before heading to check in. 
 
For first timers you need to know this or you will wait in the check-in line to be told you need and have to do it all over again.  This is where it gets interesting. 



I clear security everything seems to be normal like in the states.  After collecting my carry on I am asked to step aside.  I am told to follow to another room.  For those of you who may watch the tv program Locked up Abroad you know what’s coming next.  I am in a back room security area sat down and told to sign a paper right away. 
 
Given a pen, I tell security “No entiendo”  in my broken Spanish.  They say sign and date.  Since the paper was written in Spanish I say “No”  I am not signing anything I cannot read.  I am given a English version  and essentially is states you certify you care not in possession of narco.  I agree and sign.  I am then taken to another room and told to remove my belt.  No problem.  Then asked to walk  hands in the air over to a free standing machine for a full body xray/scan they are looking to see if I have anything in my stomach.  Since I have nothing to worry about I agree.
 
As a solo traveller we are profiled as drug mules.  I was scared [snip]less knowing I had nothing to hide rather knowing these guys could stick me in some prison in a 3^rd world country is what scared me the most you have no control its in immigrations hands.  I had a connection in Panama and although no body scan I was approached several times and questioned. 



Almost forgot, carry a copy of your passport, not original I was asked for it once before entry to the metro.

 
Anyway I am not much of a storyteller but this was my experience and hope it contributes to the board.
 
 
Ryan

[whitey]

Glad to hear you had a good time, Ryan.

Sorry to hear how it ended ... you must be a pretty suspicious looking guy ... hahaha.  11 trips and so far nothing like that for me, but only one to Medellin.

I did have a buddy held over for a few hours in Miami though after getting back from Colombia, and he ended up missing his connection because of it.

Next trip, I guess you'll be heading for where the really good looking women are ... on the Caribbean coast ...

[utopiacowboy]

Over the years I could have hauled back so much coke from Colombia I'd be living on my own private island by now. Never been searched, never been asked a single question other than welcome home, buddy.

[benjio]

Over the years I could have hauled back so much coke from Colombia I'd be living on my own private island by now. Never been searched, never been asked a single question other than welcome home, buddy.

UC, I'm not sure if you're serious but if so consider yourself very lucky. I have only gone to Colombia once out of dozens of trips where I wasnt X-Rayed, Frisked, my luggage was torn apart and sniffed by a dog, and/or questioned. Ive never included it in a trip report because I assumed it was routine.

[goinforit]

Agree even though you have nothing to hide its not the most pleasant situation to be in knowing you have no control over the situation.

[utopiacowboy]

They use profiles to decide who to search etc. When my two daughters came back from my wedding they got the third degree because they fit the profile. Apparently I am not a match so I go through scot free.

[goinforit]

Which brings up a interesting discussion.  What is the "Profile"??

[utopiacowboy]

There are various profiles. The one my daughters fit was young woman with little baggage making a short trip to Colombia. After they let them go the guy told my daughters that they had two girls like them chained to toilets waiting for the inevitable.

[maritime04]

i left medellin (rio negro) the 29th of June on American 924, and i was searched via x-ray as well, first time in 5 years of going back and forth in Colombia. My girl was watching me, till i passed through immigration and i was every couple mins looking back at her, ( i think this is the reason they choose the Xray) i was able to read and understand the form i had to sign, in that situation i have a fear of the security and police planting something in my carry on bags, as i was asked to leave them aside, but kept them with me near the machine.
 
I really do not trust the police force or security they are corupt, and often on the pay roll of the traffickers, couple years ago they busted a ring of police and airline workers for trafficking narco at that airport and i have no doubt it still continues to this day, thats how things are.
 
In the past they use to un pack your checked bags at check-in, and run them through a machine, this has mostly stopped at least at check in, so i thought security was getting alittle bit lighter.