Any foreigners living in Armenia, Quindío

bufalo says on Jan 2, 2007, 20:02:

I live in Armenia, have so off and on for 4 years or so. My wife is from here, and daughter born here. Been coming to Colombia for 15 years or more, we also lived in Leticia.

Impressions: touristy, but don't know for how long. The main attractions are the parks, but they are expensive for the average Colombian family and after going to them one year, why come back. The coast will always have a beach, it is free and people love to go back, so unless El Quindío comes up with other things I don't see it lasting a long time. Colombia as a whole is getting better, so if people can go to the mountains, it can be a good attraction for sports, camping, whatever (but the beach is still cheaper).

WAY too much construction going on. Will the bubble burst? I'd say so, but have been dead wrong about this in other parts. Even gringos are buying up places like farms here. The farms are also turning from real farms to tourist places with pools - boring. If you want a real farm to step in pig poop, go mostly to the north.

Amazing amount of easy girls and prepagos galore. Kids having kids, but this is a lot of places here.

Also like other places here, very hard to do business, those in the know are very close. Anyone in the government that you know of, you're in if not - good luck! The local govt. also doesn't know about planning. They are building roads called "tipo Nueva Jersey". Meaning New Jersey type roads. Everyone in the US knows how New Jersey's roads are the worst to drive on, but the quindian government has no idea. Now neighborhoods have minifreeways going through them dividing them up (and what about all the little kiddies who play in the street?). The gov't supposedly wants touristic businesses, but just try to get a project up with their support. I have one friend who tried and they basically said "no", took her idea and are cashing in.

OK, enough negative. For the most part it is a quiet place. Way back when with the bombings and all, Quindío didn't recieve much at all. Sure there is stuff that happens, but mostly small stuff. I've never had a problem with the paras here like I did on the coast. It isn't that expensive, but don't think that you'll be vacationing all the time either. The most you'll probably spend in a taxi is like 20,000COP. Nice places to eat too. There is also a lot of good out-of-the-way places to go: hiking, swimming holes (New Years Day at La Nubia!!!!), small towns, farms (rustic ones please!). Nearby is Salento, Valle Cocora, Quimbaya (I'll put a link on tomorrow if possible to a mini documentary I did there of the lantern festival), Circasia just to name a few. My family and I hop on a bike and are at a riverbed or farm in 1/2 hour. Beats 5 hours in car traffic trying to leave NYC with the other million people. Armenia has a lot of potential, much like other parts of Colombia. Recently I have found a lot of movement for film production here. Unfortunately the local govt. isn't helping them out too much, I try though.

I'm trying to think of other stuff here...... not that I'm into it anymore, but there seems to be a lot of movement with music clubs too. DJ's, and concerts. Spectacular views of the mountain chain (La Linea). Contact me through my contact page if you want to.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor Avianca sucks major.

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Goye says on Jan 2, 2007, 20:42:

How refreshing is having this post. Well, this is such a nice surprise. Actually, I didn't know if I was going to get any answer at all, but, look how things turned out.

Yeah, Buffalo, you're the man! That's such a good perception of what Armenia is, in general terms. Four years comming back and forth sounds that, for some reason, you are moving constantly.

Well, discussing about how difficult it could be starting up business on your own: How come nobody has been able to find a particular niche in the food / entertainment market in Armenia?

I mean, Armenia is growing in some sort of touristic bubble, yes. But at the same time, there are still some options to do business here like, say, a bar or a decent grill house.

There's "Rancho Argentino", which actually is owned by an Argentinian, and "La Fogata", which still remains "the" place. Also, there are some interesting bars like "Café Online", just in front of these two business, at the Bolivar Avenue.

Of course than doing business on the long run here, like in most places in "Wonderland" (Colombia) is not quite a ride to the park, but, there are still options to find creative ways to impluse this place and make it more cosmopolitan and less provincial.

Restaurants, bars and other entertainment for leisure activities would do just fine, up to the present. More complex and even more far-seeing projects will demand a lot of investment which turns out to be a burden to most of the foreigners that fell in love of this place.

Now, another good question that would be interesting to see its answer is: If your wife wasn't from Armenia, would you still consider Armenia as a good option to settle down?

Some people consider Armenia as a transitive city, in which there aren't so many options to do as a living on the long run. Do you consider that, during time, things can get better, or worse?

I'm glad for your post. My intentions about this post are quite simple. My fiancè, a wonderful Japanese dame, is willing to come and see, on first hand, this place that I still consider paradise (because of its people, its weather and the landscapes).

I also want her to get objective, non-biased opinions about other foreigners that have first-hand experiences from here.

I could arrange, though, that a Japanese lady that works as a volunteer here could talk to her and give her the good and the bad impressions of Armenia. For me, quoting the good / bad things of an opinion could lead to a more appropriate opinion of how the reality of Armenia is.

Buffalo, again, You're the man !

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bufalo says on Jan 3, 2007, 05:59:

Thanks, you're the third person on this board telling me I'm the man (now how come there were never any hot women telling me that when I was single?).

My wife and I have been checking out the café, bar, restauraunt business end of it and have made some progress. Last night I talked with two people who have the know-how of something simple, that makes money (and the best thing is is that they are honest!) so we might do something with them.
Touristic hotels, fincas and all are saturated already, especially in the south. Last two trips to Salento, I saw too many places offering rooms, apartments, etc. I live by "Casa Hotel el Norte", right by la Fogata. Holidays or no holidays, it is always empty, but from the people in the know it is just a front for laundering. The first one has been empty for 2 years now and they put up a second one, that maintains empty as well. And get this, the "owner" is someone from an estrato 2 neighborhood and still lives there, so how did she get all that money?
Anyway, I got off track. tourism here is mostly only parts of the year. I also don't see international tourists staying for long periods, like in Medellin, Calí etc. One thing I have seen in the last year or two is more foreigners. What El Quindío ultimately needs is for people to be able to feel comfortable to go hiking, biking, to the mountains, the small towns like Buenavista, Cordoba, etc. I mean, I do that stuff but people from here that I know would never even think of going to Cordoba and hiking and such. I said previously that Colombia as a whole is getting better, if the trend continues this will improve (then all those sleepy, cute towns will become Salento's as well...).
There are some Japanese in Salento and there is a Japanese school here as well in case your wife needs company and all. Do you guys live here now?
If I could chose a place to live it would be Barcelona, Spain. Without a doubt. Give me an email if you want if your around and maybe we can start something up.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor Avianca sucks major.

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bufalo says on Jan 3, 2007, 19:24:

http://www.currenttv.com/watch/19151293?s1=newVids&list=newVidsByAssignmentGroup&filterone=1&filtertwo=0&sid=19151293&fr=16

here's the doc/vid

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor Avianca sucks major.

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