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The grumpy guy has returned from a not too sucessful three week sojourn. I did not find the love of my life but had a good time. I was witness to the fall of  latin love a true example of bad and neurotic management. The result is that a place of great times and memories that could have been saved was allowed to crumble by denial.
I learned this time that other than the on site management by Norman the south is dead. Latin internet initially told Desert Dan and I the they would charge $135 for three days they changed their minds and requested $375 for a one year membership. Naturally we walked  Latin Love forever went under.
  I then was joined by friends I knew from other trips and tried the North.  I went to Margreths and was told no day rate-- $395.00. At another agency a few blocks away we were met at the door By the gringo owner who in a self assured manner informed us the he was the owner, had the best rooms and 1500 girls on the books, naturally the most beautiful in Cali. I resisted the urge to genuflect while basking in the radiance of his brilliance, wishing that I would soon be a millionair like him. He informed Us that it would be unfair to his other "members" to allow us to pay a day rate and that the agencies that did this would fail like LL. I was too shy to ask him what would happen to his business if his "members" were to return and book his services en mass as was their right to do so, would he reject their reservations to make room for the new chumps willing to pay that $400 membership fee ? We then went to Luz Amparo's agency near Exito in flores. Luz was originally Beckwiths partner before he moved south and is friends with Ruby of LL fame. It was just like the old days great books , beautiful women going in and out all day long and guess who else was there, the "members" of the glorius gringo's agency. I picked 15 women and met 8 in two days all between 30 and 40.
This was during the week when appointments are hard to get. She does give a weekly rate understanding that she will make more at that rate by giving good service and encouraging you to return, than hoping to rip you for a one time charge and not caring if she never sees you again. I was unable to attend further appointments having been picked out by a 26 year old fashion model who likes silver hair ( and possibly wealthy men. I know Houndog, I promised. but you omly live once) She asked to meet me. But more on her story later. This trip I discovered the El Pinon section of cali having only visited in the past on sunday for the art sale held in the park. There are close to 15 restaurants within five blockss of each other ranging from  Indian to Lebonese. A very romantic neighborhood at night. Talk more later jim columbo

... in response to trip report, posted by jim c on Jul 11, 2001

...just don't go blindly...;-)..

Sorry to hear no Lightening Bolts..or was there ?

Sounds like some of the agencies in Cali that have'nt gone down "YET" have some explaing to do about pricing, attitude and customer relations ...maybe they don't know some of the First rules of business...

1)If you're in the Service Business...You Dang Well Better Provide Service..and there's even a catch to that...provide the service customers want & need & request...Not just the service you feel like giving them...

2) A happy customer tells one person...but an Unhappy Customer tells 13( or in the case of the internet 1300 or 13,000 or maybe 130,000)..

HD

... in response to Re: trip report, posted by El Diablo on Jul 11, 2001

hey james the area is west of the intercontinental there is an out side restaurant on the river called Obilisko. Across the river are a group of clubs one of wich is a three stoy jazz club with a great sound system. The hotel dan is right there in the district If you were comming from the south behind the IC instead of going to the right around the front you would continue straight three blocks and would run into a circular park . By the by Amanda has moved to the states I assume on a K1 so no more real estate connections. jim c

... in response to Re: Re: trip report, posted by jim c on Jul 11, 2001

Jim

OK, I know that area I just can't remember all those barrio names.  So no more real-estate connection.  I made the mistake of putting Amanda's contact information on the LWL list last year when I got back from Cali.  I hope she forgives me -- God only knows how many cheap gringos may have been pestering her.  The type who want a penthouse for $300 a month and expect her to find it for free.

Jim, didn't you live in the apartment I have right before me about two years back.  The one with the little miniature cars in the master.  I think it was Bud who gave me your name.  Anyway, did you ever see a ghost?  I'm serious!!

I have about five or six independent ghost sightings, including two gringos that aren't the superstitious type and the latest sighting by my novia.    Anyway, I haven't seen him despite pouring him a shot of aguardiente every now and again.  Well I'm a non-believer until I see that shot glass empty the next morning.  (-:

El Diablo

... in response to Things that go bump in the night, posted by El Diablo on Jul 12, 2001

nt

... in response to Things that go bump in the night, posted by El Diablo on Jul 12, 2001

Yess I'm the one. I went on to live with her and it turned out badly. I never saw a ghost I guess the music from Paparazzi kept him away. Are you sure its not the maid. Or it could just be spilling from the vibrations of the music. jim c

... in response to Re: Re: trip report, posted by jim c on Jul 11, 2001

Did you see any cows eating cabbage on your trip ??

HD

... in response to Re: Re: Re: trip report,,,btw..?, posted by Houndog on Jul 11, 2001

mo-o-o-o-o

... in response to Re: Re: Re: trip report,,,btw..?, posted by Houndog on Jul 11, 2001

nahhh he just saw pigs eating carnations :) lol

... in response to trip report, posted by jim c on Jul 11, 2001

Good reporting.  Yea ...wealth has its advantages.  Now if I can just get some wealth.  "The south is dead?"  Please clarify.

... in response to Re: trip report, posted by buzzy on Jul 11, 2001

I'm not wealthy, she just might think so. Who am I to burst her bubble. The south has one decent agency but there is nothing to do. It is basically residential with very little going on. The heighth of entertainment is unicentro.
   The west Christales, el pinon, santa rita have clubs and restaurants beautiful colonial buildings containing art galaries and feels safer as people actually are walking the streets.not only that but the wind blows and it is cooler with less polution. By the way I have a great apartment in Cuidad Jardin one bedroom and am thinking about sub leasing its a great price $200 plus $50.00 utilities - cable , electric phone. has large windows those neat marble floors  and is two blocks from carefour and a ten minute walk to Unicentro. Its on a dead end street with very wealthy neighbors, good location, quiet.

... in response to trip report, posted by jim c on Jul 11, 2001

Jim,
This is the kind of usefull report guys here realy need.Even though you didn't find your dream girl you had a good time and might expound more for the new guys.I'm sure you had opportunities with many great women.I lost some time pursuing the wrong one when I was there.
I had heard the reports of Latin love closing.I know competition got difficult but with all the agencies going under I would think the climate is improving for the agencies who survived.I have to think bad management caused this closure.Bud did a great job initially,particularly when Ruby was the manager.I loved the place.Even if I hadn't met my wife it would have been the best vacation of my life.If I was going again I would pay $100 a night just for the setting,the house,the pool,the gym.
It looks like Bud got tird of it.Actually I think he wanted to create a business for his wife and relatives when what he really needed was a good on site manager.I don't know this Robert person but it seemed like it really went down hill when he took over.Maybe he thought he was going to make alot of money and kept trying to tweak things to do that.I think it needed to get built back up before any money was to be made.One guy I know called him and he didn't even want to talk to the guy or take a reservation 2 months in advance.I have heard negative comments without much specific.On the positive side they did put Ed out of business.
I have even intertained the thought of trying to revive it myself,living there full time and let my wife manage.She would bounce the player girls real fast and pull in lots of nice girls.What stops me is I am afraid to live in Cali.Its OK to visit but I think if you stayed there full time and seemed to have money you would be a target.It would be too confining to try to live a somewhat save life.Also,just one bad incident like a gringo getting kidnapped or killed and the whole thing will die.Its just not worth it to gamble your life to me.(by living there).The rich people who can are leaving.Maybe they know something.
You didn't say much about Norm's,which seems like a good alternative.It is good to get a run down of the other agencies.Margareth runs Latin incounters,right?I have heard mixed opinions about her.I don't blame a person for trying to make money.She may have the most girls of any of the existing agencies.

Pete

... in response to Re: good report,sorry about Latin Love, posted by Pete E on Jul 11, 2001

they really didnt put ed out of business he went on to open anther agency where i'm sure he is making more money than ever.

... in response to Re: good report,sorry about Latin Love, posted by Pete E on Jul 11, 2001

Jim,
I miss read and thought it was Margareth that made you the short term deal.Luz Amparo has latin Best,correct?
Pete

... in response to Re: Re: Luz Amparo---Latin Best?, posted by Pete E on Jul 11, 2001

When I stayed at Latin Best and met my wife the day rate ranged from $30 (a deal the guy negotiated with Luz directly) to $45 a night that I paid.  As stated earlier women in an out all days and Luz and the girls that work their are nice.

... in response to trip report, posted by jim c on Jul 11, 2001

Thanks Jim C for an interesting and informative trip report. This is exactly the kind of info I think many on the board are looking for. I would like to compare some notes with you including Visa Pensionado info if you're interested in retiring in Colombia. Write me if you care to at enui7@nospam.com. I think we've been down many of the same roads.