I've been back for a week now, and the withdrawls have not subsided. I am starting to call this sickness "Medellin Madness".

If you have read my trip reports on Medellin, I think I have found my heaven. Sure it has some danger, but if you can get past some of the bad parts some of us have experienced, there is a great city to enjoy.

My "madness" stems from the Paisa's themselves.

I've been to Rio, BKK, Moscow, Costa Rica, BA, Czech Republic, and many more. They all have beautiful women that attend to our every need. They are all intoxicating in their own way.

But what is different for me is that I think that there is an honesty and sweetness to the Paisa's that I don't think exists with these other girls. They don't seem mercenary like the girls in Eastern European locations, disattatched like the girls in Asia, or great acting like those in Rio (real girls in Rio generally don't hang with gringos).

I think a large part of this honesty and sweetness is because they have not been exposed to gringos. They have not been spoiled by our throwing around of money like its a monopoly game, or our continual search for the next piece of ass.

Even the pros in Medellin hold out a hope that they will meet their Gringo Prince. Perhaps not your average street hooker, but even at the massage parlors I found pretty decent girls.

In Mangos and other clubs, they are a virtual playground of beautiful available women. Just be careful who they are with, but they are available if you are a little agressive to meet them.

What is a little disturbing is that many Gringos are starting to treat clubs like Mangos like the Help Disco in Brazil. They are vastly different.

This is starting to tarnish our reputation in Medellin to some extent. I actually found that some girls avoided our table because they knew we were short timers just looking to get laid. It doesn't help when we bring 5 or 6 hookers with us to the club. They stick out like a sore thumb.

Anyway, I'm going back in September to visit again.

Not sure if I will be staying at the Mansion or my own apartment, depends on if I have it furnished by then.

In the meantime, there isn't one day that I don't think about this place and the Paisa that I can't wait to see again.

Hey Sniper,

Hang in there!!! T- 57 days and counting here!!!

Good Luck!!!
Relapse

Relapse, make sure you don't pull off your dick in the meantime

Sniper: I know the feeling my friend. There is only one way to make Medellin Madness ease up. Book the next flight. That is what I am doing now, and it will be the 11th trip in a little over a year.

I agree with you that there is something different about the Medellin chicas. I have a fling with a hot little 18 year old right now who can't stop telling me how handsome I am and how lucky she is to have me. There are TONS of babes there looking for a gringo like me. I am like a freakin rock star there. This babe I am going with would be one hell of a hottie in the states. She is so cute, and the sex with her is unbelievable. She can't get enough. Morning...afternoon...night. And she is so motivated to keep me that she allows me to screw around, as long as I tell her what I am doing. Sometimes she helps me find the babe and invites her back for a threesome. I LOVE this country. Oh, and I met her mom the first weekend we were togehter. Went to her house and the girl asked Mom if she could spend the night at the Mansion with me. Mom said...sure spend the weekend with him if you want to. What did I say....I LOVE this country...and this city. I too have Medellin Madness. What a disease!

radio

I'll be there from September 6th through the 11th and I have another trip for 2 weeks in December.

I just can't stand being away!!!

How do you know you have Medellin Madness ?

Just tried to book the Mansion for the Labour Day weekend but it is full....and I just got back from Medellin.

Does quitting your 6 figure salary job to move to Medellin to earn in a year what you used to earn in a month count ? Not that I did it, but I know someone who did.

That would qualify as Medellin Madness! I'm doing the same, just not right now.

Try staying someplace else besides the Mansion, you know your way around town now that you have been there, try another hotel.

I'm meeting some business people in Medellin on the 7th of September so I need to stay at a place where I can sit with them in a conference room. So the Mansion won't work for me this trip.

Yeah, but regular girls take 2 - 3 dates.

The mansion provides ready access to the 'university party crowd' ....and one usually wants to hit the ground running.

If I wait another month, just about everyone I know will have an apartment/condo in Medellin.

Well actually its very simple, go to massage parlors and make dates with the girls after work.

They'll give it up for free if you take them somewhere.

Works every single time.

If you do that, you don't need the Mansion. There are plenty of girls who will give it up right away.

I was hoping to get something with a little less mileage ....only driven on sundays by a little old man.

(Message edited by scrubb on August 19, 2006)

You think the girls at the Mansion have less mileage? Where do you think they come from? They are the massage girls and club girls.

Really the only reason to go to any place like the Mansion is to hang with other mongerers. That is what makes the Mansion and VIP unique.

So if you want that, go for it. But if you are traveling with a bunch of friends anyway, you don't need it.

I am not yet at a point where I have a little black book...though, my friend(s) keep one. Maybe a few more trips and all will be more comfortable...if not exhausting.

Yeah, I do think some of the uni party crowd has less mileage....but what do I know, I've only been down twice.

Not sure how I stumbled across this thread, but I was intrigued by the statement of -- "What is a little disturbing is that many Gringos are starting to treat clubs like Mangos like the Help Disco in Brazil. They are vastly different."

I really like Rio, but I've seen a serious downturn in the talent. A sweet, honest, and pretty girl you could take back with you would be a refreshing change of pace. Especially, if the girls look anything like these two:

http://medellinmansion.com/Model%20March.html

I used to start planning my next trip to Rio before my plane even landed back home -- we called it "Rio Saudades". I don't get that feeling anymore. Maybe I need some Medellin Madness.

If you want the porno experience, then Rio is great. But if you want sweet fun loving girls, then Medellin is a better bet.

The problem is that the working girls in Medellin are not as good in bed as the garotas in Rio. But if you get to know them, then the sex can be equally good.

Just make sure you take the time to talk with them and make a second date outside the massage parlor or club. You will not be sorry.

Sniper.

Besides the porno sex of Rio, could you make some other comparisons between the 2 places.

For example, if going to Rio(Ipanema) I can accomplish most of my day-to-day activities like having broad-band internet in my apartment, walking across the street to the gym, grabbing a fresh juice, rent a movie at Blockbuster, eating late at night, picking up groceries at Zona Sul, etc. For the most part, everything is easily accessible within the same couple of blocks. I can then go to a termas for 1 hour or spend the whole day by grabbing a taxi and being there in 10 minutes.

Medellin (though huge) seems somewhat rural and spreadout whereas Rio is metro, cosmopolitan with high-densely populated areas off the beaches like Copa/Ipanema.

In regards to the girls. Are Medellin girls "clingy"? -- meaning once you hooked up with them do they just show up uninvited and not want to leave. That was my experience going to Cuba years ago. In many cases, they gave it up for free as long as you treated them nice. After a few days, it felt too much like a marriage. LOL.
Rio garotas can go either way, some go to school whereas others are just "pros". Personally, I like the girl who keeps herself occupied(school, job) during the day so she is not constantly with me and I can engage in other activities.

I suppose what I am saying is how easy/difficult would it be to have what I call a "Medellin-girlfriend"(sleepovers/long-time) while also mixing in some "sport-fucking"(hit it-n-run/short-time))? Very easy to do in Rio in my opinion. Then again, I think the Rio garotas are used to seeing gringo tourists constantly and just label us as "safado" (sex-tourists). Most of them will even say "I know you do it, just don't let me see it" and leave it at that.

Well I wouldn't call Medellin rural by any stretch of the imagination. There are about 3 million people there. However it isn't Rio either.

You can get everything in Medellin that you can get in Rio as far as amenities go, just depends on where you want to stay. There is no ground zero like Rio as far as action goes.

However the taxis are cheap and they are very honest. I have never been ripped off by a taxi, unlike many in Rio that try to gouge during the evenings.

As far as the girls, you can basically do the same thing. Hang out during the day and power fuck at night. But it is easier to get a girlfriend for the week if you need it.

There are plenty of semi-pros that go to school during the day but work at night.

The real difference is that to really get the best sex, you need to see the girl more than once in Medellin. Even the pros are a bit reserved compared to garotas in Rio. So to get your best service, repeat with them.

Garotas just don't care, it is as good the first time as it is the last time.

Just my observations.

A little bit more:

Stay in the Poblado area, it is the safest and you can walk to the stores just about anytime.

Outside Poblado, the streets may be safe but it is easy to wander into an area where it is not.

When in doubt, take a taxi. They are dirt cheap. I mean $1 USD to go across town sometimes.

For a real newbie, if you are concerned about it, stay at the Medellin Mansion or the VIP Club. They cater to those who need other mongerers around to have a good time.

I like the Mansion, but I have some limitations on this next trip because I am meeting business people and the Mansion is not the best environment for that.

If you don't need that, then you can stay at a long term hotel for cheaper and just read all of the posts and you can get around with no problem.

I know what you mean about withdrawals. I'm still in " Pasia Heaven ". Thought of having to go back is killing me.
Please lets keep this under our hats!
" PAISA HEAVEN "

Unfortunately the word is out.

Scooby, I'd second what you said about taxi drivers. They were easy to deal with and I never felt that I got screwed around.

However, if you guys are staying at the VIP or the Mansion, then I'd suggest learning the metro system. It'd get you around a lot faster, and it's clean, quick and cheap - 1300 pesos flat fare.

Here is some info on the metro de Medellin, including a map of the stations http://www.medellintraveler.com/Metro.html

My Medellin madness is taking a sabbatical. I certainly am available for questions, please PM me. But I think I am done with hookers for the time being.

Blasphemy you say!

No really, I find regular girls rather approachable in Medellin. In my last three trips, not one hooker, just regular girls. It has been far more rewarding even though I have hooked up with a few needy women, the experience has been great.

In the meantime I've hooked up with a Latin woman here in the US that seems hell bent on fucking up my plans to move to Medellin in May.

She's just way too hot and way too much like a Paisa (even though she's from Spain) for me to just up and leave. She may be a keeper...jury is out.

That being said, I don't mind being a source of information for anyone who wants to know where to go. I still have a lot of ties to Medellin including a business with employees I speak with everyday.

I look back at my last post and all I can say is I made a fucking mistake. I ended up with another girl, moved to Boston and re-joined the rat race.

I need to get back into the game soon. I've been out of commission for over a year and I'm losing touch with my ultimate goals.

Then there is the recession. Looks like I need a strong real estate recovery if I am ever going to retire.

Ouch

Welcome back. I did the same kind of thing, except I've been away for three years (!). That will end on Dec. 21 when I touch down in BKK. Same same on the financial side for me, too.

sniper,

interesting to see you re-surface. i followed your "living the dream" stuff a few years back.

at 40 with a decent size bankroll, i did pull the trigger and quit my job. i've been in asia for most of the last two years.

i'm not sure if i'm retired or on vacation, and i'm not sure if i'm living the dream. when i return to the US (very soon) i plan to start up another "living the dream" thread to post my thoughts/findings and generate some discussion.

despite your "admitted mistake", i hope you are doing okay (or better than okay).

Actually I'm doing ok. I've kept most of my wealth but I do need a return of the real estate market to get me to where I need to be.

So I figure a few years. In the meantime, I guess I will remain a hobbyist.

I spend a lot of time in Montreal since it is only about 4 hours from my new home in Boston.

I'll write some stuff as soon as I have pertinent info.

I still plan on Colombia as my ultimate plan.

Ironically I was working on a book about retiring early when I met up with my girlfriend that took me out of commission.

I figured I would be a fraud if I published it. But its a good book. I spent 5 years of my life building 401K's for clients and even in this market I have done well by them.

"real girls in Rio generally don't hang with gringos"

- If you speak the language and have the right appearance this is generally not true. In general, if you can score girls (free) at home in their 20's and speak the language, you can do the same in Brazil with a little effort. A key is also having a keen understanding of what it means to be a carioca as well.

sniper, good to hear all is well. in a nutshell, i've had a great time over the last two years but i've had similar "great", two year periods living/working in the US with several mongering trips per annum. keep an eye out for the thread i'll be starting in a week or so. any advice on 401k investments would be appreciated.

sorry for the temporary hijacking of this thread.

Look for low P/E ratios from companies that have been traditionally very good at managing through tough times. GE is good, I think Ford is probably better than you might think.

Even more tough to believe is AIG. They actually are a good company once we get through this mess.

But if you don't want to look at your investments daily, look at index ETF's. Diversify into some foreign indexes. I'd avoid Eastern Europe and Asia. I think China's run is going to be short lived, they are overextended. Much like Japan in the early 90's and India is starting to fight back on the outsourcing front.

South American ETF's are good, there are a lot of energy companies represented in those markets and its not all oil.

I think oil will take another run up in the next year. OPEC is starting to fight back after they've seen their oil go from $117 or so to $40 in less than a year. Don't be surprised if we see gas settle around $3.50 a gallon. I think the OPEC nations have realized our tolerance for gas prices is below $4, so they will do what they can to get it higher but not too high.

I also think real estate will start to rebound in late 2009. I say start, not be where it was. The market is continuing to flush the bad mortgages out of the system. I did see a report about "Option ARM's" that will start the next wave of failed mortgages. I think the market is hypersensitive to these and I believe we'll see some sort of bailout of those as well.

Five years from now, I think will look back at 2008 is a tough year but many millionaires will be made.

I purchased 2 homes in 2008. I have no doubt in my mind that I'll double my money (I'm not saying the house will double).

So I guess I'm saying I will need to settle for mongering trips until then.

On Medellin itself, I still keep in touch with many of the people I know.

Marisol from the Mansion fame (not a hooker, she worked in the front office) actually came out to California and stayed at my house for a month or so. She's good people.

I'm thinking about starting an investment blog or community board that focuses on those who want to retire and move overseas.

I wrote a book about it and was about to publish when the market started to collapse (in 2007 not this collapse) and I met a girl that I liked enough to stop mongering for awhile.

So I didn't publish because I thought I would be viewed as a fraud. But I think there are a lot of guys like me that are on the edge of making it and just need the next few years to push through this.

I'll post if I do so.

Sniper, how's it goin? I agree with most of what you said, but we are not even close to the bottom on real estate. Although I am not an expert on the single-family market, I think there are roughly twice as many foreclosures on the way than we have had recently. Started with sub prime, then alt A, now to prime.

Next big wave is commercial. As an example, multifamily has had a historical default rate of 3%. Some estimate that will increase to 25%, possibly up to 40%. That is huge.

When you start talking about retail (the first to take a shit), office, industrial, hospitality, all dwarf what will happen to multifamily. This is just the early stages as it relates to commercial. Right now most are just holding on, but that will turn starting next year. We will not see a recovery in 2009, in fact it will get worse in 2009 and 2010.

Wait until the credit card companies start to take a big shit. If people were willing to walk from their homes, what do you think they will do with uncollateralized debt? ugly.

I think we are at least 2 to 3 years out before things get moving again and 5 to 7 years before the market starts to stabilize.

One thing to watch out for is buying too early. Guys did that back in the RTC days and wound up loosing what they bought.

I hope I am wrong.

AZguy, you are correct. The real estate market is nowhere close to reaching the bottom. The market is still trying to adjust to subprime mortgages. Once the ARM wave comes through, I hate to say it, all hell will break loose. Our government is putting a bandaid on a large and deep open wound. This was caused by 35 years of credit companys, banks, lenders, investment companies, hedge funders, etc, making idiotic decisions. You cannot fix over three decades worth of problems within 2 years. Also, Sniper is correct about Ford. Ford has reached the bottom. Therefore, based on the approval of the auto bailout, it is considered a good investment. GE is good as well (Father was a prior Fort Wayne Executive Director of Electrical Engineering). Pertaining to our economy, we will have to let everything zero out so we can begin to progress, which will take a while (5 years or more). Sniper has good picks within the market, I don't think he will double, but he could possibly have a large profit, if he buys numerous shares of Ford (Right Now).

Guys, depending what market you are in on Real Estate.

I buy in constrained markets where there is no more building and wages are stable.

The problem with Arizona is there was so much building and it attracted speculators. To make it worse, there is a lot of land which can be built on.

I own single family homes in Silicon Valley, high wage area, no place to build accept in the boonies, and people just want to live there.

My home in Boston, again constrained building, fairly stable wage growth. Not so sure on livability, I just shoveled my driveway for the first time ever.

But I bought cheap in both areas.

So I do think I'll do well.

On credit card debt, yeah that's a big one. So I'd probably stay away from some bank stocks for awhile. I think personal credit is going to be tougher to get once those defaults start mounting.

The only thing I can say about that market though is that there isn't an ARM adjustment that just came due or a dramatic fall in the price of the product you just bought (anymore than usual that is).

So really the main exposure to those bills are employment.

In the past you would have people refinancing their homes to pay off credit cards, you won't have that.

I stand fast on real estate in good areas (AZ and FL are out!) and only in single family dwellings, not growth but stabilization late next year (I'll let you know what happens to my houses anyway).

For now, my rental income is brisk since people need to live somewhere and Silicon Valley is still generating jobs.

On stocks, you are going to see a lot of volatility for 2009 (at least the first half).

Hi Sniper

Thought you had fallen off the face of the earth. Welcome back! Marisol is good people, we have had some really nice conversations. Wish I had known she was in the States, would have been worth some miles just to say Hi.Keep up posted!

Beware, many more gringos are becoming aware of Medellin: http://www.freep.com/article/20081228/COL21/812280341/1025/FEATURES.

Medellin Madness is a state mind, not a place. I talk about Medellin but it could be just about anywhere.

Well, the real estate and stock market left me pretty fucked. I've not really traveled within a year.

I drive out to Montreal every month or so to sample the local talent.

But basically until we see a rebound, I am stateside.

In the meantime, I live alone in Boston and try the local (not much really) talent and I get by on Craigslist and Montreal.

Shit, I need the madness back.