I finally got my apartment yesterday about 6pm.I will move in today.
I was wondering who is this lady who owns this type of property in Colombia?I was thinking maybe nose in the air old money or wife of drug dealer on the run.
But I am surprised that the lady is a very nice fairly young black woman.Her name is Neubellis Asprilla.The apartment actually belongs to her brother,Faustino Hernan Asprilla who I am told is a famous Colombian soccer player who played on several world cup teams.She was very easy to deal with,a joy after some of my other experiences.I had the lease tranlated to english so I can understand and she agrees to several changes.Then,the money please.I paid 6 months +  rent up front plus one months deposit.It was a little over 10,000,000 pesos,only about $3700.But thats a stack of 50,000 peso bills about 3 inches thick.Its a big deal in Colombia to get that kind of money up front.
The apartment is in Juanambu,a strata 6 neighborhood up the hill from Granada,maybe 2 miles from main Avenida Sexta.Its actually
224.74 mt sq ,2470 sq ft.4 bedrooms plus den,5 bathrooms,TV room,laundry area,about a 3000 sq ft patio that overlooks Cali.Private jucuzzi on the Patio.Pool,Gym,extensive on site park like grounds that go up the hillside with walking trails.2 spaces in garage plus storage room and guest parking.Its 1,400,000 pesos
about $500 a month for the apartment.Administatration which is building maitenance, guards with guns ,cable TV,ect is 440,000
about $160 a month.I'm not sure how much energy phone and computer hookup will cost.The whole thing including a maid will probably be about $900 a month.
Today I need to go buy bedding,towels,dishes,blender,toaster,ect.
Its furnished,but I will buy a queen sized bed(about $330 with mattress and night stands) to replace a twin bed in one of the main bedrooms and move the twin to the smaller maids bedroom.There will be no live in maid,I will have one come in twice a week.Its like $7 a day.
OK,if it wasn't a good day already,my 7PM date shows up.Wow.First girl I dated to really get my motor running.We are trying to talk with her limited english and my limited spanish.My Canadian buddy Lenny,who probably will be my first room mate comes in.He helps with translating and we go to Cali Veigo.Veronica who works at LE gets to tag along for the second time in 5 days.I tell her we have an expression in the states,its a tough job but somebody has to do it.
This girl is 31,2 kids,very sparkely,looks better than her good pictures,my kind of body.Lenny says I think you struck gold.I tell him maybe one of us has,with his good spanish he seems to be hitting it off better than me.But both he and Veronica are kind of bragging me up to her,I keep saying what are you saying and they all smile and laugh.Lenny says I don't think you need to look any further.I say we will see when I really get to spend some time with her.Its easy having translaters but less personal.When she kisses me goodnight I tell her next time you and me get to talk.
OK guys,can you believe a woman like this has been at the agency a year and I am her first date? I am tempted to try and explain to her that she really is beautifull,but that lots of these 40 something guys are chasing the early 20's girls and also most want a woman with no kids.To me thats not a problem.I like kids,I did it before no problem(with the kid that is)
and most of these girls either have or want kids and I don't want
to be having babies.Older kids are easier.I have dated several other 30's girls with kids and feel I really need to be carefull not to lead them on,I may be their only chance,ever.They can get their hopes up real fast.Even last night I was starting to feel a little bad for one who is now running second.But I was carefull not to lead her on.
But I have been here before.Beautifull girl,nice and fun person,seems very interested.But untill someone shows me that they are definetly unequivically the girl for me I will keep shoping.This time I want a girl who is crazy about me,adores me,wouldn't dream of disapointing me.Somebody that hugs back in the night instead of being anoyed.And the search is starting to get really fun.Like I told Veronica,its a tough job but someone has to do it.My mother used to say there are too many fish in the sea.I never believed it untill I came to Colombia.

Pete

... in response to Re: The apartment and MORE, posted by Colonialjd on Jan 27, 2004

Thanks,I love it and it might even pay for itself.
What a place.

pete

... in response to Re: Spanish camp , posted by Ricardo on Jan 29, 2004

I took this course for two months and discussed it with Pete. Javeriana university is in Pance the next town south of Cuidad Jardin. Which is quite a distance from Jaunambu. While I was there there were two teachers from the University accross from Unicentro were moderating the course. They were going to start a simular course there. You could check that out and save some taxi fare. I am not aware of any other Spanish courses in Cali except Belitz which is a giant ripoff. Lots of english schools but none for spanish. The course at Javeriana was great and the grounds are beautiful.The school is probably the most expensive in Cali. You will not even get a glance from the rich girls there. jimc

... in response to Re: school zone in southern Cali, posted by cancunhound on Jan 29, 2004

Finally some good advice. You should listen to this guy Pete!

... in response to Re: The apartment and MORE, posted by CaliAdvisor on Jan 27, 2004

Spanish camp in central america?I got lots of time here plus I have a spanish teacher living with me.I just got my
primo apt in city with thev best chicas inn the world.I not heading off to no camp.
But thanks for the imformation.
Hmm,maybe Lenny and I could have a combination place to stay,chicas to meet and spannish lessons deal??
Seriously,I'm sure he would like more work.

Pete

... in response to Re: Re: Re: The apartment and MORE, posted by CaliAdvisor on Jan 28, 2004

Hey I know I need to learn spanish and I intend to.There are  no lack of resources here.Take the idea more seriously?Leave my new beautifull place and my new beautifull girlfriend in Cali and head off to some camp in central america?I would have to be crazy to take that seriously right now.As in no f---ing way.
I'm not saying its a bad idea in general,just a real badone for me considering what else I got going in my life right now.

Pete

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: The apartment and MORE, posted by mar33 on Jan 28, 2004

First lets clear some things up this goes for mar33, kiltboy and craig. There seems to be a lot of confusion about diferent spanish dialects. Yes, it is true, the accents differ a little bit in between the countries of Latin America. But the two main blocks are Uruguay, Argentina and Chile and the rest of Latin America. The difference is marginal in between Costa Rica and Colombia. And in the end SPANISH IS SPANISH. No matter where you are. Do you think Colombians can't get by in Spain?? Of course they can.. Spanish is SPANISH.

The main point of my post is that Pete needs to learn spanish. Realistically, is he going to get that done in Cali were his only friends are gringos and translators??? Realistically speaking, it would be very difficult. But it seems like some of you dont really even think spanish is that necessary for a guy who plans to live the rest of his life in Colombia or that a lax attitude can be taken to learning. It takes 2 years of IMMERSION to become fluent  a language. That is why I have doubts when cats like DallasSteve say they are fluent. To my knowledge he has never spent 2 years immersed in a spanish speaking society. Correct me if I am wrong steve.

Pete has the chance to learn spanish well and use it as an indispensable tool in his search. If he sets out on the right foot, he can make his life a whole lot easier. Believe me, a couple months in costa rica will make his quality of life in Cali skyrocket by about 300%. He might even meet a nice Tica while he is at it. And yes mar33, my contention is that ticas are on equal footing or better than calenas.