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This is my trip #7 to Colombia and #4 to Cali. Arrived on a plane
half empty, no gringos. First I went to see the national beauty
contest in Cartagena. And beauty contest it was. (I posted a link
with pix)  Cartagena is hot year around average around 90-95
Fahrenheit. Beautiful city full of beautiful women. Safe, touristy,
affordable. If you go there try to stay at a place close to the water,
so there is a seabreeze. Mornings are bearable, if you have to do
something try to do it before 10. Between 10 and 2 it is very hot,
luckily after 2 a nice wind comes from the sea. Beauty contest is
a big thing in Colombia. My personal favorite is Srta. Valle who
happened to be the winner also. Midweek during the beauty
contest CTG has a carneval Rio style. Masses of people
dancing, drinking, singing and having fun all possible ways.
Women in CTG: very informal, approachable and very pretty. They
are not so gringo-savy as calenas. A friend of mine introduced
me to his wife's girlfriend. Intelligent, elegant, good manners, but
neither of us wanted to go beyond one dinner engagement. Next
day I got acquinted with a young beautiful woman by chance. She
was sweet, passionate but not wife material.  We danced away
two hot nights and I left for Cali.

In Cali I went the agency routine because of lack of time. This
time I tried LB. LB has been around  for a long time has a lot of
experience and LA takes care of business. She calls, schedules
has a lot of info about the culture and the city and the girls. I
arrived on Friday afternoon, looked at the books, she made
some calls, scheduled 6-7 citas for Sat, maybe 4-5 for Sun, 2-3
for Mo. Hear this: NONE of the women showed up on time. Of
course there is a different perception of time in Co., but if you on
a time crunch it can be somewhat challenging to juggle the
meetings. Generally the girls do not like it if you have a lot of
appointments.Imagine when they are late they see with whom
you are talking and you can bet these girls compare notes. Who
knows ..... maybe this is the reason why they are always late.
Overall  I talked maybe with 15 or so women age between 29
and 40. All were kind and respectful, some of them more formal
than others. About 80 % had college education, maybe 50 % had
a job, 90% had a friend or relative living in the US, some of them
had cars others came with taxi. All of them had numerous
meetings before, none of them looked very sure about gringos.
And gringos they were. None of the gringos I met dressed
decently. There was one guy maybe 45 or so, he was especially
embarassing. Lotsa jewelry, shorts tennis shoes and he
stinked. He ran in demanded to see the books before he paid
anything. Bad remarks about the girls in the books. The agency
owner as a true professional went along the program, only
looked at the ceiling a couple times. Out of the 15 women I had
interest in three or so. Two were not interested, the one I saw a
couple times more has a good job, nice car, stable family
situation. Does not really have an interest leaving Cali. One of
the three I went out with lost interest after a nice expensive
dinner and a night out on town. The one women  I really liked did
not call me back after we had a communication issue about
gringo tiempo and colombiano tiempo. At this point I do not see
any chance for future development with any of the women I met. I
am not totally picky, but she has to be intelligent, attractive and
dedicated with room to grow upstairs.

As far as the agency I visited: LB has a lot of women in the
books, but the books are somewhat outdated. Most of the girls
have experience with gringos one way or the other and
thoroughly gringionized. All of the women I talked with have been
in the books for a while. And guys (unless you have the
experience and attitude of Calipro) forget that you can outsmart a
calena in the dating game. Overall I was somewhat
disappointed with the results visiting this agency. Yet it seemed
that the agency owner did everything possible to facilitate the
process. My suggestions?  Do not date just one girl until you get
involved. The women see more gringos in the same time also.
Always believe in their actions and not so much in the words.
Gringo dating is a national pasttime in Cali. Be nice, considerate
and a gentleman. If they have interest in you they will find a way
to be with you despite communication, job, cost, family or other
issues. It is hard not to be blinded by beauty in Cali. Speak the
language and learn the culture. Do not throw your money around,
impresses only the bad ones. Go slow with the ones you like,
but do it eyes wide open. There is a different sense  of reality int
Co., takes a little (or a lot) time to get used to. If you are lucky and
you find a gem fast, sooner or later you have to relate to the
colombian way of thinking otherwise it will not last.

Safety: Cartagena is very safe, Cali is fairly safe if you use some
simple precautions. Always use taxi at night (it is cheap), be
aware of streetcrime (one of the girls got robbed the night before
I met her). Locals more of less know what part of town is ok for
gringos. On the other hand you never know, see the bombing in
Zona Rosa or the suitcase with remains they found in the river in
Cali a couple days ago. The dangers in Cali sometimes obvious
sometimes hidden. Do not run around half drunk on Ave Sexta
after midnight.

So why all this trouble, money spent, uncertainity, red tape etc.? If
you went there you already know. If you did not you will know after
the first trip.  BECAUSE OF THE WOMEN OF COLOMBIA OF
COURSE!

My CP 56 worth. ($0.02)

... in response to Cartagena Cali report  (long), posted by gringuitonto on Nov 23, 2003

I wish everyone would share that kind of info.  Now the question is - LB, would you go back?

Thanks!!!

CaliGringo.com

... in response to Great Report..., posted by cancunhound on Nov 24, 2003

Yes, of course on  pay as you go basis. She is
reasonable and the process has good educational
value.

... in response to Cartagena Cali report  (long), posted by gringuitonto on Nov 23, 2003

Gringo dating has become a national pastime in Cali?  I plan on going to Colombia late January or early February.
I was trying to decide between Cali and Bogota.  I actually enjoy hot weather, especially a warm weather trip in winter, and may throw Cartagena into the mix. I'd like to hear more on your view of Cartagena, sounds like you had a good time there.
A1A

... in response to Is it true......, posted by A1A on Nov 23, 2003

I am not partial to Cartagena or Cali. The women are
different in terms of ethnicity, attitude and physical
features.  In CTG  there is more African influence in
ethnicity, music, culture etc. and I found the women a
little more confident.   Cali has a special atmosphere,
the women are sweet, a little more mixed in terms of
ethnicity  and culture, a little more gringionized. These
are my impressions only, may or may not represent
reality. I love both cities.

... in response to Cartagena Cali report  (long), posted by gringuitonto on Nov 23, 2003

Very good post, concise and thorough. But it keeps sounding like Cali has become too jaded, like the odds of finding a good one there are shrinking.

... in response to Re: Cartagena Cali report  (long), posted by Red Clay on Nov 23, 2003

I am far from being an expert, my opinion based on only
going  to LB and ACG on and off in the last two years. If
you speak the language and know the culture you have
better chances to find a gem outside of the agency
scene.

... in response to Re: Re: Cartagena Cali report  (long), posted by gringuitonto on Nov 24, 2003

I agree with you 100%. Most ladies don't like the publicity from being part of an agency. I would guess that for every gem that is part of an agency, there are three or more gems that are not part of an agency.

Zack

... in response to Cartagena Cali report  (long), posted by gringuitonto on Nov 23, 2003

I like the post, it was very informative. I'm going to cali in dec, and i have question for you if you don't mind. I'm staying at LE, how would you compare LE to LB, or the other agencies. You seem to have alot of knowledge in that aspect. thanks.
Bryan

... in response to Re: Cartagena Cali report  (long), posted by chizz on Nov 23, 2003

Chizz

I met my wife at LE and i can give a little advise here.

stay at the agency for at least 4-5 days and then move to a hotel. Being there with all of he girls coming in  and out is an advantage.
Right from the start, have a meeting with the owner , Margareath Marjorca , and explaine to her exactly the type of woman you are lookig for , IE--age, type of body , kids or no kids , job or no job and let her help you with some selections .believe me, she hears about how the women are treating the men and can tell you who to avoid , who is serious , who is mature and who is not.

I would contact her now to start this process. IMHO , december close to christmas is on of the worst times for a gringo in cali as far as going to a agency.

Too many gringos on christmas vacation , many of the women take there yearly vacations or are in church and family related activtes as well. It is best to be prepared ahead of time  , so you wll enjoy your experiance and have a better chance of sucess.

my two cents--Buena Suerte

... in response to Re: Cartagena Cali report  (long), posted by chizz on Nov 23, 2003

I will be there too in December. I never tried LE, only
ACG and LB twice. Supposedly there are good books
and good service at LE. If you stay at a hotel you have
more freedom and comfort.

... in response to Re: Re: Cartagena Cali report  (long), posted by gringuitonto on Nov 23, 2003

Are you saying that the hotel rooms are better? I figured it would be a good idea to stay on-site, for my first time. If i go again, i'll stay at a hotel. I'm going dec 23, if you're going to be down there, maybe we can hook up. It would be good to be down there with an "experienced" gringo.
thanks again.
Bryan

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Cartagena Cali report  (long..., posted by chizz on Nov 23, 2003

I do not know how long you will be there but I will be
there also for the feria. Bring your camera and your
wallet, this is something you will never forget. Anyhow
hotels are better in terms of privacy and intimacy, plus
some of  the girls kinda frown on agency housing.
Pricewise it is a better deal. Email me and I send you
my Co. cell phone #. Maybe we have a beer or two while
enjoying the view.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Cartagena Cali report  (..., posted by gringuitonto on Nov 23, 2003

Grinuitonto,
I don't haveyour email address. Sounds like a very good idea. later.
Bryan

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Cartagena Cali repor..., posted by chizz on Nov 24, 2003

gringitonto@caliescali.com