Anyone been to Columbia?

hiya

planning a trip to Columbia south America in Nov, anyone been before and got some tips of where to go, what to see and do?

or where to avoid?

cheers
matt

well, I've been to Colombia... if that's any help

I've been to Columbia University NYC, if thats any help..

My wife was in Columbia in the early 1970s, if that's any help

yeah i remember her , she was great

Yup I've been to Cali, amazing. I was there from boxing Day till Jan the 2nd quite a few years ago, massive festival on that was amazing. Spent most of my time going to Salsa clubs and various parades and festival things during the day. Would definitely recommend Cali its a beautiful place with pretty much the most beautiful women in the world there, they're all like super models!

Also went to Bogota, can't really remember what I did don't think I was there that long but from what I remember it was a beautiful city.

Avois men with large repeater weapons................

Go to...

Bogota (except south Bogota)
Cali
Santa Marta and the coast at Taganga
Villa de Leyva
Bucaramanga
Zona Cafeteria

i haven't been to columbia

one day though one day when my mortgage is paid off

You can get shit, overpriced coke in Shoreditch, from Columbia, if that's any help.

PS. Don't Do Drugs.

Try using this first:

http://www.londonfgss.com/forum8.html

If that's any help

yeah i remember her , she was great

paedophile. She was only 10 then.

hiya

planning a trip to Columbia south America in Nov, anyone been before and got some tips of where to go, what to see and do?

or where to avoid?

cheers
matt

Your post reminds me of this.

A person travels to the wrong destination, due to spelling issues.

Columbia is in Ohio, USA.

Colombia is in South America, and is sadly infamous for drug trafficking, and manufacture.

And dancing, coffee. Archaeology, innovative town planning, car free sundays, an amazing gold museum, one of the highest altitude capital cities in the world, music, literature, etc. Three climate zones in one country.

Don't be so blinkered.

my mom's colombian, and that place is AWESOME. go to Cartagena, Bogota, andMedellin.. beautiful food, land, and people.

Don't wear combat trousers / hats. 16 year old army boys with machine guns will think you're FARC.

I've seen teh Space Shuttle on telly not sure if it was the Columbia though, if that's any help.

Snowy, if I said Jamaica is sadly famous for violence and crime, would that make me blinkered?
Or if I said the same about South Africa? Or Nigeria? Its a true statement, but if someone felt that violent crime discribed in total any of those countries, then they are not willing to learn on their own, and ignored geography at school.

I have Colombian friends, and a couple of them are extremely close to my heart, but they tell me that if I were to visit, there are some Do's and Don'ts to remember. I've not been there, but I may go one day. I think its a beautiful place, but sadly infamous.

I didn't mean to denigrate the place.

I see your point Ashe, but if you/one carry on stereotyping places by a minor part of their characteristics, then that denigrates the place and it becomes self fulfilling.

I think Peru was more dangerous than Locombia, as there was a dedicated industry in ripping off gringos. At least in Colombia, my experience was that people were surprised you were there and were interested in finding out what you were there for, as tourism wasn't that popular.

As for Colombia travel now, I don't think the internal security for overland travel is as good as it was the last time I was there... so I was going to suggest the road trip from Bogota, via Santa Marta to Cartagena, but it seems as if you'd need to take some local advice as to whether you're safe from banditry.

Oddly, I found North Bogota to be much rougher than South, but I ended up staying in Candeliera most of the time, as it made transport easy, and commuting easier.

San Augustin in the south, has some amazing archaeological sites; go rent a horse for the day and avoid the peculiar Germans.

Medellin and Cali were great, if soley for the people watching. I've got a hankering for guanabana now. Hmm Bogota street food. I'll be off to Brixton on Monday for empanadas.

Just don't look like an American. I can't stress that enough.

Oh and if you're going cos you think its the land of cheap white. You'll be disappointed. Its there, but culturally, you'll be frowned upon - its a bit like sniffing glue.

I don't do drugs. Never have. Never will. In fact, I think I am the only one of any of my school friends thats not even done weed.
I get my kicks below the waistline baby! C'mon, who's going to chime in with a waistline gag? :)

But, point taken, I'll try not to stereotype countries in a negative way.

thanks to those for the useful replies and advice and thanks to those who pointed out it is a south american country not actually in Ohia USA.

ill have to check my flight details.