Cali in June !!!

[tommi]

Any of you vets going to be in Cali between June 6 - 13th. Making my first visit after a few months of research on this subject. I've pretty much read the archives and have enjoyed a little participation at times. I would appreciate any feedback on the following questions.

What can I expect as far as the weather is concerned? Here in Los Angeles I'm used to wearing suits to the hot spots...is it too hot for this attire in Cali, in the evenings?

Do the ladies coming to interviews pay for their own taxi's back home or should I offer? Is it a bad idea to give copies of my bio (en espanol) with pic and e-mail address to the ladies I'm interested in?
How about small gifts like postcards, key-chains, etc?

Any medications I should consider taking with me?

Thanks for the help guys!

[denvermike]

... in response to Cali in June !!!, posted by tommi on May 2, 2001

Hi,

I just came back from Cali.  It was a little hot and a lot humid.  About once a day we had a downpour that would make Noah's decision to build a boat a wise decision.  You may want to take one of those travel umbrellas.  My lady had one and it came in handy several times.

I have never had a problem in Cali with health, but you always want to carry some Imodium just in case. Carry a dose in your pocket, you never know when it could hit.

I assume you are taking only carry-on luggage (a wise decision!), I would keep the gifts from the US to a minimum to save space. You can buy gifts while your are there if you need to. I also carry one of those hidden type money pouches (attaches to your belt or leg) for the times you need to carry money, ATM cards, or your passport.  You will need your passport everytime you exchange money or use your credit card. Carry a notorized copy of your passport at all times for identification, it could come in real handy.

Do NOT wear shorts anywhere accept around the agency.  Get some of those light weight beige or white looking dockers, and some of the mesh polo type golf shirts.  Remember Colombians judge you on your clothes.  Look sharp at all times.  Avoid the too casual T-shirt bluejeans sloppy look.

I have a very light weight sport jacket that matches everthing and some silk T's that I always take to Cali.  I wear them on that one special night when you take a special lady to a "nice" restauarant, but certainly a jacket is optional. Cali is a very informal city.

Always offer to pay taxi fare both to and from. Most will accept, some will not. Be sure to carry lots of small bills (2000 pesos) and coins(1000 and 500 peso) , the taxistas hate to break big bills (like 20 and 10 mil notes).  Also, tip your maid every day with some small change.  

Just a friendly piece of advice, most of the ladies you are about to meet know the game very well,or least a lot better than you.  Many of them have met dozens of gringos. Don't lose your head, approach each lady with a bit of caution until you know them better. Honesty is NOT one of their strong points. Listen very carefully for inconsistencies in their statements. Several of the women I met lied about their age, if they smoke, if they have children and lots  of other little details like that. Don't settle on just one.  Make sure at the end of your week you have at least three to stay in touch with. If my experience is typical, two out of the three will turn out to be bummers!

When leaving anywhere late at night, always have someone call a taxi, try never to take just any taxi after about 10:00 pm or so at night. If you are going to a specific place like back to the agency or to a restaurant (other than the big malls and such) always have an address and phone number on you.  The drivers are constantly lost and they may need to call for specific directions. One night or should I say morning, the cabbie and I had a hell of a time finding the Latin Love with just an address. Assume the cabbies are clueless and you will be generally be right.

I like to go to Chipi and Unicentro to hang out and check my email. Take a chica to a movie there, they both have a nice multi-plex with most films in English with Spanish subtitles.

If you like a little casino action try the Inter-Continental, it's not bad.

Be careful and have a good time,
mike

[El Diablo]

... in response to Re: Cali in June !!!, posted by denvermike on May 2, 2001

Hi Mike,

Sometimes taxi drivers pretend to be lost when in actuality they are not. An extra 200 pesos on the meter is worth the little game that some of them play.  In general the streets in Cali are pretty uniform and it's not that difficult to find most addresses.  

In Ciudad Jardin, Calle Escopeta where Latin Love is located is a pretty well known street.  I've probably taxied their at least a hundred times and I've never had a taxi get lost although about half of them don't know the short-cut.  

Anyway, I don't think they are as clueless as you might think.  

Thanks for the interesting report.  

El Diablo

[Ralph]

... in response to Re: Re: Cali in June !!!, posted by El Diablo on May 2, 2001

Wow, I had a hard time getting Cab drivers to find Latin Love even when I handed them a business card with the address! Maybe they are popular enough now?

You are right about the Taxi game. I never had two taxis take the same route to the same place!

[El Diablo]

... in response to Different experience, posted by Ralph on May 4, 2001

I must admit that I usually go during the day and perhaps that makes a difference.  The sreets in Ciudad Jardin aren't as uniform as the rest of Cali.  I could see some drivers getting confused during the night.

Nevertheless, I hold to my little game theory with at least some of the drivers.  Having been here a while I know my way around reasonably well.

[Hodajr]

... in response to Re: Re: Cali in June !!!, posted by El Diablo on May 2, 2001

Ya gotta go through the Cali airport sooner or later bro!

LOL....Hoda

[El Diablo]

... in response to You still in Cali?, posted by Hodajr on May 3, 2001

The day is approaching "pronto".  Wish me luck!!

[pack]

... in response to Cali in June !!!, posted by tommi on May 2, 2001

dress code - casual, but clean and neat( dockers polo type shirt).    you are expected to pay the taxi for the lady.

[Edge]

... in response to Cali in June !!!, posted by tommi on May 2, 2001

Tommi - Cali is a hot climate.  I do not recall seeing anyone wearing a suit or sportcoat out at night.  I never wore a jacket while I was there.  In Bogotá you would need one.  I do not know if you wear shorts, but most people is SA do not.  Maybe on Sundays or something like going for a run or riding bikes, something athletic.  Don't wear shorts in general unless you want to look out of place.  I remember I was at lunch at the Cali Viejo when a gringo showed up in shorts, I had seen him earlier at the Intercontinental.  This was definitely something that was strange.

I think it is a good idea to give copies of the bio.  They will be interested to see what you do, etc.

I never brought any special medications on any of my trips to SA and luckily, never had any problems.  Most of the same drugs that are availble here are also available there, but you may pay a little more because they have been imported into that country.  Usually you will have a choice of the domestic Colombia product or the norteamericano product.

Good luck and have a good time and enjoy.

[jesse]

... in response to Cali in June !!!, posted by tommi on May 2, 2001

on my last trip, i saw very few people in suits, even in clubs and very good restuarants.  i didnt go to church when i was there, but some people may wear suits to church, you will have to ask someone else

i will miss you by a week, i will be there may 19 to june 2

some women drove their own cars, for them i forced them to take some money, at least for gas

most women needed there cab paid for, a basically said they didnt have the money and wanted to know if you would pay it

one woman took a cab to norms them came with norm to meet me at the airport, then was coming back the next morning, i just gave her $10 to cover all 4 trips

i have a subscription to Latina Magazine, I saved all the old isues and I gave some of the women i met a copy of it, there were also some magazines in both english and spanish i snatched off the airplane, i gave a few women those also

a few months ago the Safeway had a fake beany baby sale, i bought 20 of them at 3 for a dollar, i gave each woman one of those.  it seemed like the uglier they were the more they liked them - go figure

the drug stores where i live have been in a price war, each sunday they have a $0.39 special, like a $4 bottle of european shampoo for $0.39, or bubble bath or makeup.
i got those and saved them and gave each woman one of those.

buy wisely and you can make a woman never forget you for $0.85

I also took my company brochure, which happens to have a picture of yours truly on the second page.  i only bought one copy to show, but most of them wanted to take that one.  I'm bringing 25 copies with me this time.

also in DC there is a hispanic/latino weekly newspaper.  I'm sure there is more than one in Los Angeles.  I'm hoarding up copies and i will give each woman one, so that she can get a feel for the Latino community in Dc, and know that she wont be culturally isolated.

Before i went i sent my pic and bio, in both english and spanish to Norm and LL.  For me, i wanted the women to actively pick me, as much as i had actively picked them.
so i think thats a good idea, some woman may volunteer to meet you at the airport, a First dibs kinda move.

the only medicine i took was kaopectate, ex lax, pepto bismol, Immodium ad and tylenols.  It was uncommonly hot in February, I had 3 ladies ask me for tylenols, that was the only medicines that got used.  

( i only ate at Norms, LL, and sitdown restuarants, i did not partake of any food stands by the road or anything like that)