Back from Manizales, ready to return!

[JeffA]

Greetings,

Just got back from Manizales, and I am ready to head back!  Maybe I'm lucky, but the woman I emailed for a few months was as lovely as can be, her family was great, and we're going to get married.  

I went to see a specific person, not on a romance tour.  I knew that  if we didn't hit it off, I'd at least make a friend.  Can't say anything about romance tours... never took one.  However, I didn't fly down to find an 18- year old 'umbligona,' one of the young girls with short shirts... I went down to meet a 33  year old (I'm 41, and too damm old to chase some 18 y.o., and wouldn't have anything to talk to her about, anyway)

So... the wedding's set for November, with the luna de miel in Cartagena... and then the paperwork problems with the US embassy and INS, I suppose (sigh).  

So, good luck!  If you speak fluent Spanish, don't forget Manizales... didn't find many English speakers there... my spanish has improved dramatically as well... a side benefit, I suppose, and a necessary one, since my novia doesn't speak much English.

Well, enough for now, just my thoughts on a beautiful trip...

Paisa is wonderful, and is as secure as any part of Colombia, or at least that's what I was told.

Cheers!

[Edge]

... in response to Back from Manizales, ready to return!, posted by JeffA on Aug 6, 2001

Jeff - 1st of all - congratulations on getting married.  I also traveled down just to see my fiancée and she turned out to be an incredible woman. At that point I was relieved because  I did not have to search further and could concentrate on building our relationship.

Could you tell us more about Manizales??  What type of place is it??  How safe did you feel it was??  I was once corresponding with a beautiful girl there and she dropped off the face of the earth, so I wondered what that area was like.

Thanks in advance for your reply and good luck with the marriage.

[JeffA]

... in response to curious about Manizales..., posted by Edge on Aug 6, 2001

Hello Edge,
Manizales is physically beautiful, and very (and I mean VERY) mountainous.  IT reminded me a little bit of San Fransisco, without cable cars, of course.  If I did my math right, it's at about 7,500 feet.  In terms of climate-- spectacular, if a bit chilly for me. I could get used to it if I had to ( and all I need is an excuse;)  (I'm from Alabama, and I'm a lowlander).

I have to admit, I did get sick while there, probably from the altitude-- it lasted about two days.

The city itself is growing.  From her abuela's apartment we could see into the mountains where a new barrio is being built.  Also, we did travel through most of the city-- even the 'bad' parts.  

I have to tell you, if you go to Manizales, be prepared to speak Spanish. During my stay I met one english speaker, Luisa's (my comprometida's) brother, who worked in New York for three years. No, two... I met a gringo in overalls who has lived there for 11 years, and who teaches English in private lessons.

Manizalenos are different from, for instance, citizens of Bogota.  For instance, the two-hour lunch break is still practiced, and the people move at a much slower pace. Also, unlike Bogota, the people smile a lot, and seem to take time for simple pleasures, like cigarettes, coffee, and conversation. The drivers aren't as frantic in Manizales, either...

So... as far as safety: I walked around the central district day and night, and was steered away from only a couple of streets.  I also found a Tejo cancho, and was dragged to a cancho to play by some young ( or young to me-- early to mid-20's) players who wanted to make sure that I "got a good impression of Colombians."  Even during the Copa America I wasn't concerned with, for instance, being kidnapped, or with trouble.

I did hear from the english teacher that some rebels were moving into some of the poorer barrios. But there's an infantry battalion stationed there-- it's too close to the cafetera to not have infantry stationed around there.  

Also, in driving through paisa-- the region sort of framed between Manizales, Antiochia, and all the way to medellin (once again, don't quote my geography as gospel), there were a lot of carabineros, a lot of checkpoints.  These didn't casue me to feel unsafe, but they did reinforce that Colombia's in a civil war...

I can easily recommend Manizales as a destination.  I think that once the civil war ends, tourism will take off in Colombia, and in this region especially. If someone likes hiking or the mountains, it's spectacular.  Also, shop owners and hotel owners speak openly about how secure this region is.  

Yankees are curiosities here... I saw some graffitti, but it was in the areas near the free university of Caldas, and I walked around the University, spoke to students, and didn't feel threatened.

Well, I hope I answered some questions, and if there are any more, please feel free to ask.

[Edge]

... in response to descriptions of Manizales(long), posted by JeffA on Aug 6, 2001

Thanks for the reply Jeff..  A few more questions.  Is Medellin the closest major city to fly into?  What is the population of Manizales?  What is Caldas like?  The safety issue question I raised was more in line with traveling there from say Medellin since I assume you did not fly into Manizales, but I could be wrong.  You did mention there were many carabineros and checkpoints.  I would think that once someone was in Manizales, it would be a safe city, it is traveling there by road that might not be safe.

My novia has mentioned that she thinks Manizales/Caldas would be a good area for gringos to find good women as well as possibly Medellin.  I would imagine there are not many gringos around there.  You do not hear of many people traveling there.  I have not heard of any agencies there.  The woman I knew that lived in Manizales was really beautiful but probably on the young side for me.  I only corresponded with her a few months and this was a few years ago.  I found her through a TLC brochure.  We lost contact and I went to Bogotá on my first trip.

Best regards.

[JeffA]

... in response to Re: descriptions of Manizales(long), posted by Edge on Aug 7, 2001

I flew into Bogota, then took aces from bogota to manizales.  My novia says there are cheap flights between miami and Pereira ( 45 minutes from manizales by car), and that they're direct, but I haven't found any on the web-- all of the flights I've found go through bogota.  

It's my understanding from her brother that between medellin and manizales is fairly safe, but between manizales and Bogota is dangerous.  

Let's see... we travelled from manizales to pereira, and on another trip to the country, and passed through two checkpoints on both... in terms of safety, I'll be honest-- in the caldas/antiochia region, I don't think there's a lot of risk.  That's my view, someone else could have an entirely different take...

I agree with your novia. Manizales/caldas is a great area for gringos who are serious, but with the receptions from the families, I don't think a gringo who's on a hunting expidition would do too well... there is a lot of family involvement my relations with Luisa-- a lot of chaperonage.

Hope I've answered your questions.

Cheers