Barranqilla/Cartagena TRIP REPORT - APRIL 2011

[CalifSur]

I recently got back from a week in Barranqilla which was my FIRST trip to Colombia.  I stayed 5 nights at Jamie’s (International Introductions) in Barranqilla and 2 nights in Cartagena.  I had a translator for the first 3 days. I was on my own the rest of the time.

I want to thank all the guys on this board who have provided me with excellent advice and input.  This includes several guys who indulged me in long private e-mails and even phone calls. 

Two EXCELLENT recent trip reports by JAXPAUL and COLGANDO hit the wires just as I was arriving in Barranqilla.  I read those reports real closely.  Not sure I can be quite as suspenseful and interesting but here it goes.  Let me say I am borrowing heavily from Colgando’s (a.k.a. Iz_He_Real) day-by-day format.

BEFORE I LEFT:

I went into this trip with the following TWO key ideas in mind:

1) This trip would be a START to my search for a long-term romantic relationship with a beautiful, exotic, and sweet Colombiana;

 2)  This trip would be an opportunity to EXPLORE Colombia as a TOURIST so that WORST CASE scenario I return home with another interesting foreign country crossed off my to do list. 

I was perfectly willing to spend TWO NIGHTS ALONE in Cartagena.  If nothing panned out at Jamie’s, I figured I would still get to see one of the most interesting cities in South America (if not the world).  Part of me HOPED I would go to Cartagena alone just to test the waters.

A few quick facts about myself:  44 years old, single, never married, no kids.  I have been dating Latinas for the last 15 years (both in the U.S. and abroad).  I speak decent gringo Spanish but it’s never as easy as you think it’s going to be once you get there (in my experience). 

Prior to THIS trip, I always just winged it by showing up on vacation and trying to meet local women on the fly (in other Spanish speaking countries).  Sometimes with success, other times with ZERO success.  This was my FIRST time using an agency.  In fact, I had NO IDEA what an agency was until I joined Planet Love 3 months ago.

KEY PREPRATIONS:

-I read and reread prior trip reports. I asked many questions and got many good answers.

-I brushed up on my Spanish including an 8-week in person class at a private school in 2010.  Plus, a solid 3 or 4 months of DAILY practice at home and in the car BEFORE I left on the trip.  Finally, I paid for a private Spanish tutor once a week for 1 hour for 6 weeks immediately prior to my trip.  Even with all of this preparation it was NOT easy.

-Learned what I could about the cultural and political history of Colombia.  I try to do this for any trip or vacation but it took on added importance for this trip.  These ladies APPRECIATE a guy who knows something about their country.  And I found there was no need to FAKE IT because there is so much to discover.

TRIP SUMMARY:
Overall, I do NOT think I had nearly as much success as JAXPAUL and COLGANDO in terms of total NUMBER of dates and finding a solid number of GOOD prospects to date.  That said, my end result was still good.

SOME KEY HIGHLIGHTS (or LOWLIGHTS) from the TRIP:

-Below average response rate and low attendance at group meetings (more on this below);

-Luggage got lost by the AIRLINE on the way to Barranqilla;

-Only 3 of my Top 10 selections agreed to meet me.  And 2 of the 3 looked nothing like their photos (i.e., I had ZERO physical attraction to these two ladies in person).  To Jamie’s credit, he warned me over the phone that several of my choices had older ID numbers (translation: photos could be outdated).  They were. 

-Also, I did have PRIOR contact with ONE of my top picks on Colombian Cupid but I canceled a trip (and a planned date with her) in Feb. at the last minute.  So to be fair let’s say I was 4 for 10 with my top picks but spoiled my chances with 1 of those 4 BEFORE I signed up with the agency.  Nevertheless, this is still below what Jamie indicated is a normal response rate.
 
-I had ZERO to very LIMITED physical attraction to MOST of the women I met through the agency (at least the ones that were willing to meet me).  Sorry if that comes off as shallow but I suppose it’s no different than walking into a bar. Some ladies catch your eye while there are plenty that do not.

-Most women were LESS attractive in person than in their photos.  That is no different than my experience with any number of online dating sites in the U.S.  So I don’t hold that against the agency at all.

-Jamie’s staff and accommodations were excellent.  He runs a professional operation and his staff went the extra mile for me.

-Despite the negatives, I did meet an attractive and sweet lady through the agency.  If all goes as planned, we will see each other again sometime this summer in Colombia.

I am not sure I can fully explain the low response rate.  But I am not a complete troll or a circus freak (see my avatar). I eat healthy, stay in shape, and am told I can pass for mid-to-late 30’s.  So I am led to believe that 1) my photos were not particularly good; or 2) I am just not what the typical BQ girl is looking for. LOL! 

I did have some back and forth with Jamie regarding photos but I think it was too late in the game by the time I sent in some new and improved photos.  Also, it is only fair to point out that Jamie sent me a list of over 100 girls that were interested in meeting me (separate from the initial 30 or so I selected).  I tried to keep an open mind with this list of 100 + but most of these women were just not doing to for me.  I did agree to meet about 20 of these women. 

Overall, I would definitely be a repeat client with certain caveats (e.g., better photos or perhaps a test run to see how my top picks react).  I think an agency is a good approach for guys with limited time (like myself).  I would also consider using an agency in another city (just to see another part of the country).  All that said, based on my research Jamie’s database is very deep compared to most other agencies.  I just wish more of the ladies were hot (to echo JAXPAUL’s recent Trip Report). 

Day by Day report to follow......

[CalifSur]

DAY #1:  ALMOST AN UNMITIGATED DISASTER

I arrived in Barranqilla on time on a Sunday afternoon but my luggage did NOT make it. So I was stuck with my carry on bag and the clothes I was wearing on my back.  Jamie warns guys about this scenario and wisely suggests bringing several changes of clothes in your carry on.  I was not so wise and had just one change of clothes in my carry on (still better than nothing).

I was greeted by my translator and a girl from the agency I had never selected. One of my top picks from the agency was supposed to be there but she had to cancel at the last moment.  The girl that was there 25 years old but I had ZERO physical attraction to her. Nice girl but not my type I guess.  

The one saving grace at this point was my translator.  She ROCKED and was very much a people person and would prove to be an excellent Spanish teacher for me as well.  Once I arrived at the agency there was a group meeting set up.  I had just 4 girls show up.  None of these girls were girls I initially selected (as far as I could tell).  I was not physically attracted to any of them but I did tell the translator I’d like to go on a date with one of them. I was trying to keep an open mind.

At this point in the day with lost luggage, low turnout, and zero physical attraction to any of the girls I was thinking to myself, “WTF have I gotten myself into here?  This is looking like a huge waste of money.”

Fortunately, things were about to change.  That night there was a one-on-one dinner date set up with one of my top picks.  I will call this woman Latina #1.  She impressed me right off the bat because she was ON TIME.  Based on her photos on the website I was thinking she could go either way in person: maybe cute, maybe not.  I was PLEASANTLY surprised to see this lady looked much better in person than in her photos.  She would prove to be the EXCEPTION to the rule on this matter.   Latina #1 is in her early 30’s but can easily pass for mid-to-late 20’s.  The translator and I jumped in the cab with Latina #1.  I gave Latina #1 a kiss on the cheek which is not my normal style in the US but I figured I was in Colombia so why not.  

We went to a nice Italian place (suggested by the translator).  I had a hard time reading my date during the first part of the dinner.  If anything, the vibe I was getting suggested she was not that interested.  However, when the translator excused herself to go to the restroom, Latina #1 leaned over to me and told me in Spanish that she could be little shy at first.  At that moment, the ice starting melting and we began connecting.  She also scored points with me when I asked about her impressions of the U.S.  Mind you, she has never been to the U.S.  She gave an intelligent and realistic answer about the economic challenges the U.S. has faced the last few years.  This was a far more realistic answer than I got from some Colombianas while I was there who were often quick to tell you how great life was in the U.S.   We also really connected on music (salsa, cumbia, etc) and social/political issues she has been involved in on a local level. As the date ended, I was feeling much more positive about being in Barranqilla!  My quick take away: I was quite attracted to Latina #1 but I did not feel she was out of my league either.  Yet, if you put her in an Italian restaurant in any major metro area in the U.S. she might THINK she was out of my league.  Not the case in Colombia.  These women are very approachable.

[OrlandoGringo]

Nice report and thanks for sharing.  Keep to it and you'll find your lady.  One usually has to go through a lot of frogs to find his princess!   

[CalifSur]

DAY #2:    

-Woke up to good news from Jamie’s office staff.  My luggage was on the Noon flight to Barranqilla and would be there sometime that afternoon! 

-Group session was held early that day which was pretty much of a bust. Four girls in total. None that I had any attraction or interest in.

-Later that day I had a one-on-one lunch date with a girl that expressed interest in meeting me. I had apparently missed her profile on the website because this girl was really attractive.  She is only 22 years old but very mature and extremely intelligent.  A university student with career ambitions that I am sure she will realize.  I was really impressed in so many ways by this girl.  She quickly became a favorite so I will call her Latina #2.  The lunch date ended with a kiss on the cheek. I was a little thrown by the age difference but given the scarcity of girls I liked I figured I’d see her again.

-There was another group meeting later that afternoon including one of my top picks.  Major disappointment in that my top pick looked MUCH different (or LESS attractive) in person.   Her profile was updated on the website while I was there because a day or two later I saw her new (and more accurate) photos posted.  She was a sweet girl but I just had no physical attraction to her.  I had no interest in the other girls at that group meeting either.

-That night I had a one-on-one dinner date with Latina #1.  This was our second date and I went without the translator.  Latina #1 showed up ON TIME again to the agency. We took a cab to an area with lots of restaurants and bars.  As we got out of the taxi, I let Latina #1 pick where we would eat. She chose a very modest restaurant that looked like a TGIF’s in the U.S.  As we sat down, she asked me to sit NEXT to her and NOT across the table from her.  We sat very close and my date was very affectionate and sweet.  The conversation (all in Spanish) was good.  We had our first real kiss and near the end of the dinner Latina #1 asked me if I would like to meet her family.  I was floored by her interest and took it as a compliment.  Granted it seemed really quick but I figured I liked her enough to accept the request.  Latina #1 had to work early the next day so we ended the date after dinner. 

[Researcher]

    Sounds good so far Califsur. Some trips are like that. You can have many no shows or be overloaded with women to meet. I always preferred to be overloaded myself so I always had a big list prepared.

      Researcher

[CalifSur]

DAY #3:

-Had a one-on-one lunch set up with one of my top selections.  This would quickly turn into a date from hell. This lady looked NOTHING like her photos. I had ZERO physical attraction to her.  She is only 26 or 27 so I figured even if her profile was a bit outdated how much could a woman change?  The answer is a lot!  Within the first 20 minutes of lunch even my date conceded she needed to go back to the agency to update her photos.  I felt sorry for her because she was really nervous and said so several times.  The translator and I did our best to make her feel comfortable.  The worst part of the date was her canned answers to my questions and her painful lack of knowledge about the world.  I asked her where in SOUTH AMERICA would she like to travel.  She answered California.  I clarified I meant the CONTINENT of SOUTH AMERICA (but outside of Colombia). She replied BOGOTA!  As if all that was not bad enough, this woman had one of those thick Costena accents that even the translator said was difficult to understand.  This date couldn’t end quickly enough.

-That night I had my 3rd date with Latina #1.  I took her to a nice restaurant with a great view of the city.  Again, we went without the translator.  With the lights of Barranqilla shimmering in the distance, we talked about a lot of different topics: family, life, and music, etc.  In particular we talked about our mutual interest in Salsa music.  She likes the classics.  This is not a woman who is impressed with drum machines.  Our physical chemistry was strong.  It felt like we were two magnets pulling on each other.  I asked her to name one of the most romantic places she had ever been.  She replied Cartagena. So I mentioned my plans to go there at the end of my stay in Colombia. Her eyes lit up with interest. We talked about heading there together.

[CalifSur]

    Sounds good so far Califsur. Some trips are like that. You can have many no shows or be overloaded with women to meet. I always preferred to be overloaded myself so I always had a big list prepared.

      Researcher

Thanks Researcher. I learned that the hard way. I am prepared for next time (if there is one).

[dennislevy]

Good reporting Califusr

keep them coming.

For any gringos who come to Colombia  if you have ANY interest in a woman......and she invites you to meet her family in her home, accept the invitation genuinely and with alacrity.

Don t impose your American cultural concepts on the invitation, its to early to meet them, yadda, yadda. Jut do it.
BECAUSE
1. its the quickest way to know real things about a Colombiana, where she lives, how she lives, and what her family is like. You learn more about a woman in 1 visit meeting a woman s family in her home, then on umpteen dates in restaurants.
2. its a good way to build your confidence level in Spanish. And it goes without saying, your answers to any questions shiould be exacflty the same as what you told the girl, the truth
3. its a CHEAP date, cab fare, maybe flowers or candy for the mom and that s it! jejejeje.  

I have a rule when I meet parents and grandparents, I ALWAYS call them Don or Doña and their first name. for example Don Francisco, Doña Luisa, I dont care if they live in strata 2, they are Don Francisco y Doña Luisa unless they tell me to use their first names. In addition tio speaking Spanish, ths ALONE is one the single FASTEST ways to be respectful and score some points.

Always kiss a Colombian gorl on the cheek for a first date.....its whatr Colombians do, why show any Colombiana  rigid, cold gringo! jejeje

If you can go on dates without a transaltor why use a transslator on the first date? No matter how plesant a tranlsator is... two s company, three s a crowd.

You come across as a guy who really prepared for the trip.....and I congratulate you. But there s no way to prepare to understand the costeña dialect......you just have to get used to it...and it takes time

[Researcher]

DAY #3:

-Had a one-on-one lunch set up with one of my top selections.  This would quickly turn into a date from hell. This lady looked NOTHING like her photos. I had ZERO physical attraction to her.  She is only 26 or 27 so I figured even if her profile was a bit outdated how much could a woman change?  The answer is a lot!  Within the first 20 minutes of lunch even my date conceded she needed to go back to the agency to update her photos.  I felt sorry for her because she was really nervous and said so several times.  The translator and I did our best to make her feel comfortable.  The worst part of the date was her canned answers to my questions and her painful lack of knowledge about the world.  I asked her where in SOUTH AMERICA would she like to travel.  She answered California.  I clarified I meant the CONTINENT of SOUTH AMERICA (but outside of Colombia). She replied BOGOTA!  As if all that was not bad enough, this woman had one of those thick Costena accents that even the translator said was difficult to understand.  This date couldn’t end quickly enough.

-That night I had my 3rd date with Latina #1.  I took her to a nice restaurant with a great view of the city.  Again, we went without the translator.  With the lights of Barranqilla shimmering in the distance, we talked about a lot of different topics: family, life, and music, etc.  In particular we talked about our mutual interest in Salsa music.  She likes the classics.  This is not a woman who is impressed with drum machines.  Our physical chemistry was strong.  It felt like we were two magnets pulling on each other.  I asked her to name one of the most romantic places she had ever been.  She replied Cartagena. So I mentioned my plans to go there at the end of my stay in Colombia. Her eyes lit up with interest. We talked about heading there together.

       Oh yeah, those dates from hell.Been there myself. That's why I came to the conclusion that spending an hour with a woman first was the best way. I took it in steps to save myself from those kinds of dates.It still was possible to have one but it happened less frequently when I did the one hour "screening" beforehand.

       Researcher

[Alabamaboy!]

I had a couple of those dates myself. And at that point when I knew that there was no way I was going to get with this girl, then I would start asking crazy questions. Because I had nothing to lose at that point. I would ask them if they had other boyfriends, and a few of them said no....then I would say, "come on, I know a pretty girl like you must have other boyfriends, it's normal right?" And they would say....yes...but only a couple. And I would go on from there to try to learn as much as I could about how some Colombianas think and do things.

Every person you talk to, whether good or bad, will give you more and more information and clues about who are the good girls and the bad girls....or I should say, the girls that are not wife material, at least for myself.

[fathertime]

Hey Califsur! 

In case you didn't realize it, your trip was quite a success!
It sounds like you did meet some nice women and you have one that you really like.  You don't have to compare your trip to those two studs that went just before you. If you had a lower response rate than you expected,  it is not a big deal, you found one and that is all that it takes.  Hey if that one doesn't work out, you have a far better perspective on how things work, and you live to travel again.  As I'm sure you are aware, it took many of the married men here, much more than one trip to find their wives. 
Thanks for the report!

Fathertime!

[Jeff S]

I had a couple of those dates myself. And at that point when I knew that there was no way I was going to get with this girl, then I would start asking crazy questions. Because I had nothing to lose at that point. I would ask them if they had other boyfriends, and a few of them said no....then I would say, "come on, I know a pretty girl like you must have other boyfriends, it's normal right?" And they would say....yes...but only a couple. And I would go on from there to try to learn as much as I could about how some Colombianas think and do things.

Every person you talk to, whether good or bad, will give you more and more information and clues about who are the good girls and the bad girls....or I should say, the girls that are not wife material, at least for myself.

So you're saying it WASN'T a waste of time even though it didn't turn into a relationship or get you laid?

Imagine that!

[CalifSur]

Hey Califsur! 

In case you didn't realize it, your trip was quite a success!
It sounds like you did meet some nice women and you have one that you really like.  You don't have to compare your trip to those two studs that went just before you. If you had a lower response rate than you expected,  it is not a big deal, you found one and that is all that it takes.  Hey if that one doesn't work out, you have a far better perspective on how things work, and you live to travel again.  As I'm sure you are aware, it took many of the married men here, much more than one trip to find their wives. 
Thanks for the report!

Fathertime!

All very excellent points FatherTime. THanks! Yes, the trip was a success. And I am perfectly prepared to make multiple tips (as you did) if the present situation does not work out.  Yes, I definitely have a better perspective on how it all works now that I actually pulled the trigger and got on the plane!

[CalifSur]

Good reporting Califusr

keep them coming.

For any gringos who come to Colombia  if you have ANY interest in a woman......and she invites you to meet her family in her home, accept the invitation genuinely and with alacrity.

Don t impose your American cultural concepts on the invitation, its to early to meet them, yadda, yadda. Jut do it.

If you can go on dates without a transaltor why use a transslator on the first date? No matter how plesant a tranlsator is... two s company, three s a crowd.

You come across as a guy who really prepared for the trip.....and I congratulate you. But there s no way to prepare to understand the costeña dialect......you just have to get used to it...and it takes time

Dennis: Thanks for the reply.

This was my FIRST time in Colombia but I definitely took it as a compliment that the gal asked me to meet her family at the end of our 2nd date. I gladly accepted. But I did WONDER if even that was a little early by Colombiana standards?

I grew up in So.Calif. so my Spanish is mostly Mexcian or Central American Espanol.  I recall my first trip to Spain.  The Castilian Spanish in Madrid took me a day or two to get used to. But nothing prepared me for that thick Costena accent in Barranqilla. In the most extreme cases (like my date from hell) it might as well have been Chinese.

I found most of the cab drivers in Barranqilla to be real honest and helpful. A few even wanted to practice English with me.  But I will NEVER forget the look on this one cab driver's face. I accidentally let some English slip out of my mouth as I was paying my fare. He looked at me in TOTAL SHOCK as if I had just put a gun to his head!   That was part of the appeal of Barranqilla to me.  Not a tourist trap at all.  English is truly exotic there.

[AndyLee]

Excellent trip reports Califsur.....and what a great attitude you have. I wish you all the luck in the world with your latina.
I noticed that Costeña accent too when I was on the North Coast. You're right, when they get going at it they might as well be talking Chinese. Sometimes it's like something like you might hear in a barroom scene in Star Trek.
Some Colombians, like my present girlfriend, "get" the language thing and will slow down and pronounce words carefully to assist you in understanding (except when she's over-excited on the phone). If I don't get it the first time she will slow down even more and change the words around to make it easier for me to understand.
Then, if I STILL don't get it she will give me an encouraging smile and start with the one word at a time thing until I finally get what she is talking about.
The others, the ones who don't "get it", will look at you funny and say it louder and faster, sometimes repeating themselves rapidly. My former Costeña girlfriend was in this category.

[CalifSur]

Thanks Andy. I agree. The girl I connected with in Barranqilla does the same for me: slows it way down for me so I can understand.

And thanks again for indulging my private messages/e-mails! 

[dennislevy]

Caqlifusr
I used to think the same wayt.....its too early to meet the family, etc.

Now i think, the earlier, the better.....and in the boilerplate letter I senfd to internet contacts, i say that a woman must present me to her family, children, brothers sisters that are availabe in a resonable amount of time.

I use it as a weeder outer ....because some women WANT to keep their realtionships especially with a gringo and their family life separate. And so they weed me out...and thats fine   NO woman has ever aked me .....what s a reAsonable amount of time?




When you post, I ll be interested to know how the visit to meet the family went. 

[raycjs]

Califsur,

i am glad your trip went well, i agree with the guys do not worry or compare your trip to other trips.. to each there own...if you enjoyed your time with # 1 then give her a chance and see where is goes.... remember it only takes one... the fact that you met her family is great. i would keep chatting with her and see what comes of it.. you have nothing to loose and all to gain....if you plan to go back and #1 is not the one then at least you have a trip under your belt and then next time around you will be a lot more prepared for the things to come...... all in all i think you made a great chose in life to make your 1st trip to Colombia....

Best of luck to you in your future endeavours




Ray

[Alabamaboy!]

So you're saying it WASN'T a waste of time even though it didn't turn into a relationship or get you laid?

Imagine that!

Yeah, that's right. You can usually learn as much, and sometimes more, in life from the failures than the successes  that you have. Use everything as an opportunity to learn, live, and experience.

[Colgando]

Califsurf!  What up!

Loved your trip report, that sucked with your luggage. You had the same translator as me, you arrived the day I left. She is awesome isn't she?!?! You met Auzzie #1 no doubt, isn't he cool or what and he did well with his novia, very nice!

I am so happy you had a great time and I am flattered that you used my day by day approach! You were much more concise than me though, which is good, I tend to ramble sometimes.

Interesting, you had another 100 women that wanted to meet you, how many of those could have been knock-outs and good catches based on your experience with the photos and real life person? Maybe their characteristics were no good for you. Well, you have a nice bullpen to call upon if you need to.

Yeah, that BAQ accent is strong, they have to take it to half speed so the untrained ear can understand.

You found one that you are keeping in touch with, I would say you had better success than me...jejejeje

Isn't so much better when the translator is not around?

What would you do differently if you did it again?

Looking forward to the rest of the trip report!

Dude, I am heading back in July, I gotta have some more, take another look at this thing, do some things a little different, I am a feign though, at least for now....jejejeje

[utopiacowboy]

Very good report, CalifSur! One of the things I was curious about was the large number of women that you did not find attractive. Do you have a type and these women don't fit the type? I have a definite type and if a woman is not that type she had better be absolutely stunning for me to find her attractive.

[flash]

Great report, but I sense there's more to come. I have to echo UC, do you have a specific type? 

[CalifSur]

DAY #4:

Had a one-on-one lunch date with Latina #2.  This was our second date. No translator. We went to Tajamares Café which is set in a charming plaza surrounded by old colonial buildings.  We sat outside in the plaza since the weather was pretty nice (some cloud cover and a nice breeze).  The setting reminded me a touch of parts of Madrid.  Again, Latina #2 is only 22 years old.  If you removed the tiny bit of acne from her face she looks like she could be on the cover of a magazine.  Latina #2 is an only child and is very close to her mom.  She was very honest with me in stating she would like to find a man either OUTSIDE of Colombia or INSIDE of Colombia if he was a professional man with good character.  She comes off as a very classy girl. Good character, etc.  After lunch we went to the Barranqilla zoo and walked around.  We held hands and talked and joked around. I could tell she was interested.  If it were not for the chemistry I had with Latina #1, I might have pushed this further along.  We did exchange personal information. I figured there is nothing wrong with a back up plan.

One of my BIGGEST mistakes on this trip was spending too much time waiting around at the agency.  Get out and walk the neighborhood.  Late that afternoon I took a walk to the store to pick up some bottled water.  I saw this striking 20-something girl walking down the sidewalk.  Really it was primarily her figure that was so striking (curves, bootie etc.). Even this Abuela who was walking past had to turn her head and look at this girl (from the rear view mirror I might add).  I approached the girl and asked for directions in Spanish.  Next thing I know she invites me to sit down for a coffee with her and her mother.  They were both very sweet.  The young lady was 26 yrs old and she gave me her e-mail and phone number within 10 minutes of chatting.  Her mother encouraged her to do this.  You got to love this country called Colombia!  Unfortunately for me I only had ONE day left in Barranqilla and I already had an important date lined up for the next night. 

[CalifSur]

DAY #5:
My last day at the agency and my last day in Barranqilla before heading to Cartagena.  I had a dinner date set up with Latina #1 and her parents.  That was my big plan for that night. 

For the daytime I had a one-on-one lunch date planned with what looked like a very promising lady (based on her profile and photos) but she had to cancel because she couldn’t get off of work.  That was frustrating because I MIGHT have made the trip that day to Santa Marta to meet a gal I had met on Colombian Cupid.  As a last minute replacement, I agreed to a lunch date with a 29 year old with one kid.  This is the ONLY woman with a child I dated my entire time in Barranqilla.  She was a nice girl but no connection here.  This was her first date through the agency and she kept wondering where the translator was?  I was thinking to myself, “Yes, and are you going to pick up the tab for that?”  We communicated just fine once she learned to speak slowly for me.

That night was a dinner date with Latina #1 and her parents (mother and stepfather).  They came from an hour or so outside of Barranqilla.  We went to a restaurant suggested by someone at the agency.  I brought a bottle of wine wrapped as a gift.  I was mostly nervous about saying something stupid or sounding sutpid in Spanish.  Latina #1 did an excellent job speaking slowly in Spanish for me so I could keep up with the conversation.   Her stepfather could really put back the cervezas.  I did my best to keep up without getting too buzzed.  I learned that Latina #1’s mother is a nurse and that her family roots are Paisa country.  You can see that look very clearly in Latina #1 (although she grew up in BQ).  Latina #1 and I solidified our plans for the weekend together in Cartagena.  We sent her parents home in a cab and she came back to the agency with me for some more hang time.

[dennislevy]

Grat stuff,,,

Based on my eppereince of wahtching guys suffer on agency sofas the last day orso...botrh as a flelow cllient and an agency worker.

Cram as many dates as you can into the first few days, save the last two days for the ones that have imopressed you the most in earlier dates. Hopefully, you will have mpressed them as well.