Peter has left 17676 comments

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Avianca baggage limits?

These rules have changed now, these days, it's 2 50-pound bags, not 70 pound bags.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on I want Colombian citzenship. How do I get it? At what cost?

The official word: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html "A U.S. citizen may acquire foreign citizenship by marriage [...] U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another citizenship does not risk losing U.S. citizenship. However, a person who acquires a foreign citizenship by applying for it may lose U.S. citizenship. In order to lose U.S. citizenship, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign citizenship voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. citizenship." It seems that, in practice, if you don't make a problem out of it yourself, it's not a problem to get another citizenship apart from your US one. Does that sound about right?

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on importing pets to Colombia

When I took cats from the USA to Belgium, I had to get a heap of paperwork, but in the end nobody ever checked any of it, at any point.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on You are liable to Colombian Taxation if...........

Are there any double taxation treaties? Does the income refer to income in Colombia, or worldwide?

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Organic food in Medellin

"I step out of my front door and buy some peaches that someone somewhere grew on their finca" ... and bathed in pesticides...

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Organic food in Medellin

Bread in Colombia is a health hazard. So says my suegra, and I think she's right: it's just bad for you, full of sugar and other crap.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Organic food in Medellin

Yes a wholefoods market would be awesome, not gonna happen though :) afaik, there are almost no organic veggies for sale. I know there are a few people growing them and trying to sell, but it's still very unorganized.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Paisa beer, made in Colombia

Call the number, I don't have an address unfortunately..

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Paisa beer, made in Colombia

It was like 3 or 4000 pesos, not the cheapest, but very good (much better than the regular beers).

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Can someone fix the Panama forum...........

There's a panama category in that dropdown, look closer.. should be there

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Welcome to the new Panama forum!

We have Mexico :) I should add them all, will do at some point...

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Welcome to the new Panama forum!

Panama was long overdue :)

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Bed & Breakfast, Cali

Looks good, good luck!

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Where is the NEW ECONOMIC FORUM ?

Yeah, I think it's better if you guys start a Ning site :) Cheers! Pure economics doesn't really fit in PBH right now..

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Colombian eating habits

ps: as for hamburgers, there *is* a good (even great) hamburger to be had in Medellin, and they come from Primos. Home delivery: 444 50 64. Hamburgers can hold their own against the best US burgers, imo. Classic burger is 14000 COP (about 7 US$). Don't get fries delivered, they'll get all soggy (they don't know how to wrap fries).

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Colombian eating habits

I have to agree with most of this, especially with the comments about the bread. The bread here is just sad, no wonder my mother in law insists that eating bread every day is bad for you - Colombian bread YES. Mind you, the bread in the US isn't much better, except if you look for the good stuff, but at least there's good stuff available. The baguettes in Exito are VERY oily/salty, but at least fresh. Carulla baguettes are always 3 days old, it seems to me.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on BUYING PROPERTIES IN MEDELLIN

Working link: http://luish.com/

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Did the monkey go on strike ...?

Might be a mail delivery problem..

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on 5 years went so quick!

Sure you can stay for 5 years without visa and then go to DAS and ask for the residency. They probably wouldn't give it to you though ;)

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on

Sounds like a good plan and a reasonable price. Good luck!

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on I will dominate the PBH Mali board!

Now we just gotta start a Mali board and you'll be all set

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Watch TV episodes from Colombia

Lost is not perfect but pretty good. You have to get into it though, which is why watching it on DVD is much better, no lost episodes, no commercials.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Watch TV episodes from Colombia

I'm in a 3-month Lost marathon right now, I got season 1 - 5 cheap on DVD, catching up. Once that's done, I'll get season 6 on DVD.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Boat from Turbo to Capurgana

Yes, you can enter Panama from Capurgana.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Buying a point and shoot in Cali

Supermarkets have them, should be easy enough. Prices everywhere will be higher than what you pay in the US.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on

Yea, awesome story. Colombian food (apart from the really typical stuff) tends to be mediocre, and the Chinese I've had here has been just passable too. All I can say is, whatever you do, do NOT try the Thaico chain (so-called "Thai" food).

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Over 200 murders in Medellin in one month (january)

If I understood correctly and to put this in perspective, 80 of those murders happened in 1 particular bario (info from Semana). The large majority of them seem to be gang-related murders. As for kidnappings, they have declined since 2000 and are continuing to decline. I'm not sure about the stats around petty theft and such, with the economic decline those would probably be up?

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on a peek at a Hospital

Awesome. Would you mind sharing which hospital that was?

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Boat from Turbo to Capurgana

Aug to Nov-ish the sea is calm and clear and great for snorkeling, the rest of the year it's rougher.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Boat from Turbo to Capurgana

You can take an overnight bus to Turbo from Medellin, and yes, it's totally safe. Capurgana is also very safe these days.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on EWR - Newark Airport to go to Bogota

Newark airport is big, but smaller than Miami. I believe you'll have to actually enter the USA before you continue to Colombia? In that case, expect lines to go through immigration (this can take a while). That'd be the main thing to check for.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Arriving in Bogota by plane - cheatsheet

:) Yes, clapping at a successful landing is mandatory :)

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on What's a reasonably priced way to ship things to Colombia

Check out this post: http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/the-cheapest-way-to-ship-stuff-including-furniture-hellip-from-new-york-to-colombia/ It's much, much cheaper than the above methods, 1.2$/pound, takes about 10 days, and is very reliable.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Daycare and preschool in Colombia

Interpretative dance! That's a daycare with their priorities seriously screwed up.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on What part of Cartagena is the best to live in for 3 months?? Best method to find a place to live?

Spend a few weeks finding a place while you're there, it'll be much cheaper than anything you can arrange remotely.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Daycare and preschool in Colombia

I like the "it takes a village to raise a child" concept a lot. Trusted lifelong relationships are very important.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Daycare and preschool in Colombia

Awesome, I'd love to see that study.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Daycare and preschool in Colombia

1 for the family matriarch of course. This thread is great, lots of info and options.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Daycare and preschool in Colombia

And teachers to babies ratio: YES. That's one of the main things I look for.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Daycare and preschool in Colombia

Yea, that's an argument I've heard as well. Of course, it depends on the maid as well - some people may not have training or a degree, but just be naturally great with kids, I've seen some maids who are great. I *totally* agree with the TV thing btw, if I were to leave my kids with the maid, I'd have a "no TV" rule. As for the quality of the teachers: I've noticed in some daycares that they seem to hire young girls who may have some relevant degree but don't seem to have any authority or much experience with kids. But again, it all depends on the particular daycare.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Daycare and preschool in Colombia

Yes, I've noticed that, that's a good option too.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on kudos to fox news.

When any of the media in the US mentions the US's historic responsibility for the current situation in Haiti, I'll be truly impressed. Right now they're just selling disaster advertising.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Supereasy supermarket delivery: Colombia: +1

The one I tried is the supermarket consumo - they actually have a call center and a dedicated van for deliveries and stuff :)

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Is the US Dollar the next bubble to collapse? How will it affect your life in Colombia?

If you have your assets in US$ right now, it's probably not wise to convert them all to some other currency. That's like selling low.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Supereasy supermarket delivery: Colombia: +1

And I'm not too picky about brands and stuff. I tried it with basics like eggs, milk, flower, fruits, etc... all good :)

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Supereasy supermarket delivery: Colombia: +1

Only tried it once, so far so good. They also do returns - if something isn't right, they'll take it back, either immediately or (as I understood) even the next day.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Cemetery in Medellin

Is Pablo Escobar buried there?

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on How I dealt with the runs in Colombia - follow up

The water in Medellin is fine to drink, btw.

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on Adsense payout to Colombia via Western Union

Google's advertising system http://www.google.com/adsense

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) comments on NEW HOSTEL SANTA MARTA - THE DREAMER

You should add it here: http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/travel/place/santa-marta/