Cali: Mini Trip Report

[TBOND]

Cali mini trip


Hello Gents, I recently returned from a very short rip to Cali .. I was there for four days (Thursday through Sunday) , unfortunately I did not have the chance to meet with the resident ruler of the city "Sailover" ..but it looks like I will be returning to Cali soon.. so Sail I still owe you a Cold one.

Observations: Its been more than two years since i last visited Cali much has changed.. for one, the immigration area at the airport has been modernized i was impressed...

#2. When I was last in Cali they were doing construction on the major highly way Calle 14 I believe ? ..It looks like much of that work is completed. It appears they made it a little easier to dart across the street without being hit by a bus cab or Motor bike.. Your chances for survival running across the street to UNI Centro has improved greatly.. (lol)


#3.. It appears they are building an extension to UNI centro, making it a much larger Mall..



Hotel Raddisson:

tengo pena ...as many times I have been to Cali I never knew this hotel was there.. (its kind of hidden) The service was excellent! And I would highly recommend it... the staff was friendly and fast, the food in the hotel was very good.. The room was nice, I also had a guest who stayed with me everynight i was there and I was not charged Extra for this... not like the Carlton Dann in Barranquilla who charged Xtra for my guest even though she never slept over. The hotel even arranged airport transportation so when i arrived in Cali my transport was there waiting. My room had a Balcon you could not walk out on, but you had a great view of the City complete with mountain view back drop

This Is the first time I ever stayed in a hotel in Cali I normally stay with Muaricio from latin love but now that he is in Florida... I wanted to go the hotel route.

MY stay:

I was actually headed to Bogota to meet up with a young lady I had been speaking to ..But at the ninth hour I switched my ticket to Cali ..To spend time with a young lady I was also getting to know.. I wont tell you what Avianca charged me to switch my ticket.. Because I get emotional when i think about it.. but lets just say they really socked it to me..

Also: For those who are not aware it really pays to press the airline for th best rates they have ..you will be surprised how much money you can save by just asking is this the best fare you have... don't be afraid to ask..

Word to the wise: if you get a great fare with Avianca and buy your ticket dont change your plans unless it's absolutely necessary.. Or you they will make you pay!!!!


I spent a short but interesting time with a real beauty who appears to be very sweet.. time will tell but she is worth me going back to Cali to see.. right now for me.. its all about meeting and getting to know women who have promise I have no expectations other than enjoying their company.. ( ODE TO LL!) this weekend was surreal because things happened so fast between me a nd my freind that i need time to digest what happened..passion and Physical attraction can cloud the mind.. if you know what i mean..


Expensive: man I sure hope the US dollar makes a come back soon..traveling is becoming very hard on the pockets. And you almost have no advantages with our currency that you had years ago in Colombia, back when it was three to one, now its less than two to one.. and it feels like you're spending dollar for dollar.

Cali: I know many Vets here swear off Cali and for good reasons.. but this is still one of my best Cities..the woman here are like no other I have met .. and thats for better or worse but the charm and sexiness they have is their own.. I love the city, the vibe, the weather and the look.. I think I always will.. It rained much of the time i was there and still it had little affect on my trip.

Earth quake:

I was supposed to go to Bogota and I am glad I switched otherwise I would have been there when the quake hit... my friend told me her entire building swayed..


All in all I enjoyed my trip and though.. It was the shortest time I ever spent in Colombia it was also one of the most enjoyable!

[LastLion]

Boy am I glad you posted TBOND, I am still in colombia , but you remind me that life is short and we need to enjoy as much as possible! I am so happy you had a good time.

They always say it is not where you go, but it is who you go with!

I love cali, it is not the most beautiful city by far, but it has a heart as big and as beautiful as any of the most beautiful places I have ever seen!!!!

[Micky10]

TB -
Very good to hear from you, glad you are back in the saddle! Just like LL said, more or less, the place you dig, is where you have that good vibe. I am very happy that you had a good, though, short trip. By all means, next time take 10 days and spend some quality time with Sailover, we know that Cali is his city.

Love - Micky

[Ricardo]

TBond-nice to hear someone having a good trip. How did you this young lady? Was this the first time you met her in person? I am heading back to Colombia this summer but one of the biggest problems I had on my first trip was that almost all the women worked very long hours. It was tough to get a lot of face time with them due to work schedules.

[TBOND]

LL, MICK RICARDO...THANKS..

LL: Cali will always hold a special place in my heart because it was the first Colombian city i ever visited.. though the early magic, innocence and wonder from 1999/2000 is gone to some extent... i still love the city for what it is.. LL , sounds like your having a great time bro enjoy! ...

your right Cali is not the most scenic though i love that it sits in a valley surrounded by mountains ..the view around sundown can be spectacular..depending on where you view it. Yes , life is real short you have to live each day like its your last! agree 100%!

Mick, not sure if i am back in the saddle lets say i am feeding the horses again and taking care of the stable =) My trip was short because i am having a major transition at my Job.. I am becoming HEAD jefe after my boss retires this week..so i needed to return. It appears my three and four week excursions out of the country may be at an end.. We shall see. I wanted to contact Sail but there was no time.. I think i will be back next month so i catch up to him then.. Good o hear from you and I hope things are going well for you... If you would e so kind as to grant me passage I might visit your part of the Country on day ...

Ricardo: I met the young lady on Latin Cupid. I had no time concerns as it related to her because she is not employed at the moment.. She was in School (29 YEARS OLD) and recently stopped working so it worked out.. she spent all her time with me. Prior to going to Cali i asked her out right ..if i come to see you will you be able to spend time with me.. If she said no I would not have traveled to Cali and would have been in Bogota.. This was the first time i met her face to face after communicating for about three months.

TBond, Yes, It is good just to get out of town. Life is definetely short. Spend the money and get on the plane. I guess in some regards I am not a "one-of-these-days" gringo. If it is a short trip then so be it. I also advocate the one woman trip.

Oh yes, congratulations on the position.

[Cap'n Jib]

TB,

Enjoyed the comparisons. It has beenn almost a year since I have been to Colombia and I do miss it. However, I sometimes wonder IF all of Colombia is not planning to visit us. in Panama.

Another 'batch' is arriving in July.

[STM]

TBOND in Cali 1999-2000, we must have crossed paths in Cali, I was there a lot that time frame.
Weren't those parties and agenicies good back then!

[TBOND]

THANKS EMAN.. YOUR RIGHT ITS WORTH IT... EVEN IF ITS FOR A FEW DAYS IF YOU CAN GET OUT, GET ON THE PLANE AND GO.!!! I ACTUALLY ENJOYED TRAVELING ULTRA LIGHT...

CAP : YOU HAVE BEEN SO SETTLED IN THAT I ACTUALLY FORGOT YOU WERE IN PANAMA NOW .. I HOPE ALL IS WELL AND YES KNOW YOU HAVE MANY COLOMBIANS (MANY UNWANTED I HEAR ) LIVING THERE ... I HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU AND YOUR WIFE AND FAMILY..

STM: I WAS A CRYSTAL PALACE ROOKIE BACK IN 2000... THERE WAS AN AMERICAN WHO HAD A CONDO IN CALI (THOUGH I NEVER MET HIM) I UNDERSTAND HE WAS IN A WHEEL CHAIR AND HAD SOME GREAT PARTY'S I NEVER MADE IT TO ANY OF THEM BUT THE NEXT DAY GUYS WOULD TELL ME OF ALL THE STUNNING WOMEN THAT SHOWED UP.. CANT REMEMBER HIS NAME? I agree those were the days..and Cali was like a dream come true..

[rpcv]

Originally Posted by TBOND

Cali mini trip
Earth quake:

I was supposed to go to Bogota and I am glad I switched otherwise I would have been there when the quake hit... my friend told me her entire building swayed..

TBond, I was in Bogota when the quake hit! That plus the fact it rained every day for about 5 hours..