brief trip report

[chizz]

Sup Fuzzy,
I've been very busy working, so i haven't really had time to post anything, and also, I didn't have much to post. I wasn't actually going to post anything regarding my second trip, because i figured everything has already been said, but ....what the hell, i'll keep it brief.
I don't know if anyone remembers my last post, but when I arrived in cali the first time, the airline lost my luggage for three days, so flying in this time, that's all I thought about, "please let my luggage be in this plane, please be in this plane". So when we land, i'm the first one off the plane, and i'm making good distance between me and everyone else, because as everyone knows, you will be waiting for a long time, if you take your time getting off the plane. I breeze thru customs in 5 minutes and i'm in baggage claim praying.
Not only was my luggage there, it was the first one out the shute, thank you god. We land at 7:25, and by 7:35, i'm outside. That was beautiful. HOWEVER......I tried latinencounters last time, and i'm not going back there(for personal reasons), so I joined up with ACG. I get outside smiling, because this is going great. I look, and look, and look, and look, and look, and i'm sure you figured it out. Noone is there to pick me up. That feeling I had when my luggage didn't arrive my first time to cali, just came back. I look for about 5 mins, acting like everything is okay, because I don't want to attract attention. But they can smell a distressed gringo, and soon I was surrounded by people who wanted to "help". I'm being poked and having my sleeve tugged quite abit, and i'm not liking it. my spanish is very basic at best, and I'm trying to tell these people to get the hell away from me. One man heard me, and came over to me and in perfect english told me "if you are waiting for someone, you should go over to the other side, by that corner down the street, it's a good spot." I guess he saw lost american, and thought I was an idiot. I "politely" told him what he could go do. I also needed to be careful, because I wasn't in america anymore. Finally, around 8:25pm, one of the helpers pulled out his phone, and wanted me to use it. (just a note, in boston on my way to miami, i passed a internet kiosk in the airport, and thought I should write down the address and phone number just in case. I didn't do this last time, and if i didn't do it here, I would've prob still been at the airport). I take his phone and call ricardo, and proceed to cuss him out, and I mean cuss the hell out of him. however, his english isn't so good, so he didn't understand alot, but he got the point. I decide to go ahead and take a taxi, but phoneman is holding his hand out with 4 of his friends there. I give him about 20,000 pesos, and he looks upset, but i didn't have anything else, and apologized. I get to the agency, and proceed to cuss ricardo out somemore, and tell him to get out of my face. After about 2 hours, i calmed down, and went downstairs looking for an explanation. He doesn't know what happened. I found out later, that felix couldn't pick me up, and asked a friend to do it. Of course, that didn't work out, even though felix said his friend was there, can't stand liars.

[Cali James]

... in response to brief trip report, posted by chizz on Jun 4, 2004

Bummer about not being picked up but not the end of the world.  If it happens again just grab a taxi to Ricardo's, you're looking at about 30,000 pesos is all.  No need for cussing people out, screwed up plans are unfortunately par for the course.  One of the first things you'll notice about life in Cali is that it's unorganized often and time is really slow.  I gave up trying to control things and now if I'm there I just go with the flow.  I find I'm a lot happier that way.

[chizz]

... in response to Re: brief trip report, posted by Cali James on Jun 5, 2004

I felt guilty later for cussing and yelling at him, and apologized, and he understood completly about why i was so upset. Granted, screwed up plans are a part of life, but when you are over three thousand miles away from home, and can't really speak the language, it's not just a "oh well it happens" type of thing. I did end up taking a taxi to ricardo's, but the point was someone should've been there. Nothing happened this time, but who knows in the future.

[colgre]

... in response to Re: Re: brief trip report, posted by chizz on Jun 5, 2004

Yes, after 15 hours or more of travelling, standing outside the Cali airport with everyone crowding around you and wanting something from you can be very nerve-wracking. I always get nervous choosing a cab. I always think: "Am I choosing the right cab? Is this guy going to take me to some strange place or try something funny?".

I have travelled quite a bit in the past though and I have learned a trick which I will pass on: Never take the most agressive cab driver, or the most agressive cab-driver's helper. I always find a more quiet, subdued cab driver in the middle or the back of the cab line. Don't worry about breaking the rules of "the first cab in line gets the next fare". You are in a strange place and you need to take control of your destiny, so find a driver that you can trust. One time in Bogota I had a guy rip the luggage out of my hands and place it in his trunk. I grabbed it back, looked him in the eye, and said forcefully: "No gracias". Everyone around me sort of took a few steps back and left me alone after that, and I walked to the back of the line and found a friendly cab driver.

I did use Felix for my early morning flight out of Cali, and he actually showed up early (4:45 AM) to take me to the airport. He charged me 32,000 pesos. He does speak very good English, however I don't know much else about him. He did tell me in the cab that he had felt really bad about screwing up your pick-up at the airport. I told him that it was a little late for an apology!!!

Later,
Greg

[Calipro]

... in response to brief trip report, posted by chizz on Jun 4, 2004

Who is felix, exactly?

[chizz]

... in response to I'm bad with names.., posted by Calipro on Jun 5, 2004

He's the guy that the agency always uses to pick up people. From what i'm told he's usually reliable, but there is always a first time.

[papi]

... in response to brief trip report, posted by chizz on Jun 4, 2004

Chiz, paying someone $20000 pesos for the use of a cell is huge. almost $8.00us. the normal rate is 300-500 pesos per minute. so unless you were cussing out Ricardo for a very long  call- you overpayed. he look could not be unhappy - he was probably thrilled and bewildered and did not have change. better to try and learn what things go for and not overpay because they often try to take advantage of us gringos. and paying only makes things worse for us in the future. that is what happened in Costa Rica - it is worse than Miami.

[Pete E]

... in response to cell phone in Colombia, posted by papi on Jun 5, 2004

I have a comcel cell phone (Motorola)that uses prepaid cards.To buy miniutes the cost is 1000 pesos per miniute,about $.35.
The phone cost 230,000 pesos but included 100 miniutes,maling the phone itself 130,000 pesos,about $47.
A colombian guy that sometimes works for me as an interpreter said yesterday,you still have a prepaid phone?Why don't you get a phone plan?When I bought my phone in December I was told it was difficult for a non resident to get a phone plan.But now I have my Cedula maybe I should check it out some more.The prepaid plans have limited options for phones.With a phone plan you can get all the super phones like in the states.

Pete

[colgre]

... in response to Re: cell phone in Colombia, posted by Pete E on Jun 5, 2004

I find a cell phone in Colombia an absolute must. Mine, like Pete's, uses a rechargable phone card. My phone cost about 180,000 pesos and came with 60 minutes, and I can buy minutes anywhere, including grocery stores and cajero's (ATM's). It gives you much more confidence navigating around the city, as you have all your phone numbers right there. The minutes are a bit pricey, but in Colombia you are only charged for outgoing calls, not incoming.

CAUTION: the minutes expire if you don't use them, as I found out on my last trip!

[chizz]

... in response to cell phone in Colombia, posted by papi on Jun 5, 2004

sup papi,
I made four calls on his phone, and I was on his phone from about 8:30pm, to until i got in the cab at around 9:00. His look was very unhappy, there was no happiness here. Honestly it didn't really matter, i only wanted to get out of there, because i had been there too long, and sticking out like a sore thumb. The reason I used his phone so much was I had to keep calling ricardo back, because he kept trying to call and see where the driver was, and he told me to keep calling back. Thus, why i was using the man's phone for so long. Also, you can only be taken advantage of if you allow you it. My actions shouldn't  determine if someone else doesn't have the common sense to tell if a shuckster is trying to take advantage of them. To each their own.

[papi]

... in response to Re: cell phone in Colombia, posted by chizz on Jun 5, 2004

i understand you were distressed. and dont blame you just wanted to make sure you know the price. if you talked for 1/2 hour straight without hanging up the price would normally be 15000 pesos mas o menos - 500 pesos per minute depending on the locale

[chizz]

... in response to Re: Re: cell phone in Colombia, posted by papi on Jun 5, 2004

To be honest, I didn't know how much the price was, in fact I didn't want to use his phone, but I had been waiting an hour, and told myself i had no choice. I don't think distressed was the word. You need to multiply that by ten to get to where I was. The main thing was that since I am a police officer, I am used to being in control of my surroundings and and whatever is going on. Here, I had no control, and I was at someone else's mercy, and I didn't like it one bit. I am not snapping at you, just trying to give you a feel, for the situation i was in. If I spoke better spanish, I wouldn't have been as stressed, but as I am sure you understand, being a stranger in a foreign land, and being hemmed in by strangers can be very unnerving. The 20000 pesos, to be honest, was nothing to me. I appreciated what he did, and probably would've given him more for his help. The lesson I learned was, take nothing for granted, and definately have a back-up plan. peace

[papi]

... in response to Re: Re: cell phone in Colombia, posted by papi on Jun 5, 2004

leaving you stranded at the airport is unacceptable. unfortunately, most of the agencies are run very half-assed. i've had that happen to me in Crica. i've yet to find an agency not in need of improvement - especially when it comes to handling no-shows. they usually dont do much about that

[dolphin]

... in response to brief trip report, posted by chizz on Jun 4, 2004

Wow, what a nightmare.  So how did the rest of your trip go?  Did you meet any nice ladies?  Was the nightmare worth going?  Thanks for the report.  I'm scheduled to go to Barranquilla on the 24th of this month.  

Dolphin

[chizz]

... in response to Re: brief trip report, posted by dolphin on Jun 4, 2004

hello dolphin,
I actually enjoyed myself, I was more comfortable this time. I went to barranquilla about a year and a half ago. Hot, HOt, Hot, Hot, Hot. So be prepared. In my opinion, I enjoyed Barranquilla more, even though I think the girls are sexier in cali. You should enjoy yourself. take care.
Bryan